Description: Kyo Kusanagi couldn't care less about his destiny or the role of his family in the fate of the world; unfortunately for him, it seems like everyone else is intent on making up for his apathy ten fold. A new religious cult founded by dubious individuals has labeled the Kusanagi family a bane to the world's pure existence that must be removed before rebirth can truly happen, and taking this message to heart, those cultists have come to remove the heir from the Kusanagi clan from this world - in force. Facing down a veritable army of crazed fanatics with unusual powers, Kyo may very well be in over his head -- but he is not alone. The only question is, is Ash Crimson's unusually timely arrival for Kyo Kusanagi's benefit... or his bane?
THE KUSANAGI ESTATE
OUTSIDE OF SOUTHTOWN
AFTERNOON
As modern and developed as Southtown and its environs are, there are always a few anomalies. There are some antique-looking dojos around, for example, and Chinatown probably has a few buildings that look out of place in a heavily Westernised Japanese city... But the fact that the Kusanagi clan maintain an actual, relatively sprawling, traditionally Japanese estate on the fringes of the city's suburbs is kind of out there all on its own. Everybody knows who lives there, of course, as if the sign by the gate weren't indication enough; it even has the family's sun silhouette crest on the gate itself. A wall surrounds the grounds, which are well-landscaped in traditional styles, emphasising imperfection and transience as well as tranquility, and there's even a pond and a small artifical waterfall and one of those bamboo things that goes 'tonk'.
Though on the outside the house looks traditional, the inside is a bit more modern, though the Kusanagi-ryuu dojo looks like it hasn't changed since whatever ancestor first built the estate in the Southtown region (this is a lie, the ceiling is quite often badly damaged by the antics of Saishu 'senile' Kusanagi, on the rare occasion he is actually around) and generally speaking it's quite a nice place, comfortable and well-appointed, pleasing in both form and function.
BUT...
"Zzzzz," says Kyo Kusanagi, former (and /future/) King of Fighters, reigning World Warrior Champion and onetime SNF Champion, along with numerous other accolades likely only he and his fans can be bothered to recall. Despite everything going on in the world, the machinations and schemes finally coming to fruition elsewhere, the Kusanagi heir is... Taking a nap on the wooden floor of the Kusanagi-ryuu dojo, having found a particular sunbeam exactly to his liking and reclining on his side there. This scion of legend has one arm under his head as a pillow, this descendant of myth is wearing a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt that says 'TRUST ME, I'M A JEDI' on the front in a familiar yellow font. One of his socks has a hole in it.
He's also drooling a bit.
But how long can this peaceful moment of blissful ignorance last...?
They know where the Kusanagi family resides. They do not hide. They do not need to hide. People know the power the name holds, of its crimson flames, of its young champion. They are celebrated, for their eccentricities and their markedly poor academics. There's even some saying that Kyo's success as a fighter is providing an extremely bad example for other students, thinking they can shirk in their studies and just make up for it by being great fighters themselves.
Others have far different opinions, and yet, oh so similar - in fact, one might say academics of an entirely different level is about to be thrown into the Kusanagi heir's face.
There is no need for subtlety on their part, roving bands of people dressed in black cloaks passing through and giving disturbing glances to people nearby. They let themselves into the estate grounds - forcefully, if need be - without any regard for such things as subtlety. Brazen displays of power is perfectly fine for what they seek to accomplish.
They have all split up into groups of three about the grounds in search of their mark. The young man, wherever he is. Three of them just happen upon the dojo - two older members and a younger disciple that has been chosen to follow and learn from the expedition, perhaps even ascend the ranks on their success.
Is their success a foregone conclusion?
"He is here," one of them hisses quietly as they all approach quietly. Their steps are empty... hollow. Their sleeves are pressed together, as they recite a silent chant before going about anything involving any sort of practical threat.
The younger disciple among them makes a fatal mistake of stepping in the way of the sunbeam as the three of them all surround Kyo.
In fact, the only other person currently 'at home' is Shizuka Kusanagi herself, who no doubt would defeat any assailants by sitting them down at the kotatsu with some hot cocoa and a cheerful but brisk air of command. That lady is scary. There really aren't a whole lot of Kusanagis left in the world, which is probably why everything seems to be focusing so directly on, you know, this one. The... The kind of douchey one.
Anyway.
Otherwise it seems like the mysterious bad guys' plan is going off without a hitch, as they almost perfectly manage to track down Kyo in the midst of his lazy afternoon nap, but foolishly... Foolishly, one of them /interrupts/ his /sunbeam/.
"Mrn," Kyo mutters, a clearly grumpy sound as the perpetual highschooler is stirred towards wakefulness by the younger disciple's foolish mistake, one eye cracking open to look up and see... Some guys in black cloaks. Okay, this is pretty new, actually. "Lemme guess," Kyo says without actually stirring otherwise, or giving any other outward sign that he's been woken up, just to make himself look cooler and more mysterious. "Girl Scout cookie time already? I hope you're not down to just thin mints already, I /hate/ those things."
One of the squads of three has indeed ventured into the house. Their fate... well, we'll be discussing that later. The final band is seen roving outside and about the grounds relatively aimlessly, as though waiting for Kyo to just appear from outside. One would think they'd think to bring something like walkie-talkies to communicate to one another with, instead of just splitting up aimlessly.
"Young Kusanagi," rasps the voice of one of the two elderly members with a wicked smile from underneath the cloak - well, assumedly elderly. They both look awful alike. The guy over there in the sunbeam's path looks younger. If the younger one is actually the mastermind, that'd break the pattern, wouldn't it? The younger cultist visibly flinches at Kusanagi's awakening.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry. I would so assume they still deliver to the netherworld, do they not?" He looks to the others expectantly. Either they don't know about whether or not Girl Scouts deliver to the great hereafter, or have decided this was a very poorly done threat.
The younger makes another fatal mistake of visibly drawing a dagger, a foul glint of light even though where light wouldn't reach, something that should tip off to Kyo immediately that they do not mean well.
"Go back to sleep," one of the older men commands, "and you'll never see us again, young Kusanagi."
Sitting up finally, Kyo lifts his right hand... And extends his pinky, which he uses to start scratching inside his ear, one eye squinting closed and the other looking up and away as he does so, presenting what could be described as a look of complete and absolute unconcern that there's three mysterious guys in cloaks here for mysterious (but probably nefarious, he's pretty genre savvy) purposes, right up in his own home.
"You know, this never works out for anybody, right?" the arrogant Kusanagi heir says, flicking a bit of wax off of his pinky as he rises up to his feet, rolling his neck a few times. "Back when the Legion of Dumb decided to take over Southtown a buncha goons ambushed me in a Wendy's, and the only thing they proved was how flammable they were. So I dunno what you guys think you're going to accomplish, but..."
He cuts off when he sees the glint of the knife, and he turns to look right at the youngest of the crew, with that peculiar sort of expression and silence that suggests he's /very embarassed/ for that guy.
"First day, huh?" Kyo wonders, sympathetically.
And then, quick as a brushfire, Kyo reaches to snag the younger cultist by his cloak, with every intent of swinging what he figures to be the weak link up over his shoulder, to smash him roughly into the hardwood of the dojo floor... Before then falling shoulder first on /top/ of him, just to make it that much worse.
COMBATSYS: Kyo has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Kyo 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Kyo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Cultist1
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Kyo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Kyo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Zealot2 0/-------/-------|
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Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kyo knocks away Cultist1 with Hatsugane!
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Zealot2 0/-------/-------|
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Cultist1 1/----===/=======|
The older two members of the trio reflexively take a step back when Kyo decides to scratch his ear. It's a very familiar gesture to some of them, a gesture of warning for the sheer innocence of such movements. As though it suggests weakness and vulnerability. Anything but.
"Rest assured, young Kusanagi, your very death will be of great benefit to all of us," one of the older zealots reasons more or less peacefully, for the dangerous glint in his eyes - well, all their eyes, drops of blood dripping from their sleeves for reasons not currently obvious.
"Thou shalt die for our Lord!" The young one replies to Kyo's earnest question about it being his first day (it is). But, moments after this yell, Kyo goes to make rather quick work of this young fellow as he snags him and slams him into the hardwood floor. This description's simplicity defies what he manages to inflict on the poor, young fool.
The boards part underneath the point of impact, and the younger cultist's body falls through with a weak, whimpered curse as though one or both of his lungs were punctured in one fell swoop.
The other two older members look to one another. To bring that one was, truly, a mistake and a regret - he was not ready, nor worthy, to fulfill what duty was asked of him! It falls to the other two, now.
"Young Kusanagi!" Bellows one of the long-timers - the zealots - as they try to hoist him by his shoulders, as though expecting to be able to withhold a young man of Kyo's significant strength, skill, and social graces.
The other brandishes that curved dagger, raising it dramatically before the sunlight outside as though to say to the sun, 'this is how the future of the Kusanagi bloodline will set into darkness forever' or some tripe of that matter.
"Your struggling will soon be over, so please, relax," the knife-bearing one offers none-too-helpfully as they attempt to plunge it somewhere shoulder-length (thanks to the boards underneath him creaking, natch).
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 takes no action.
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Zealot2 0/-------/-------|
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Cultist1 1/----===/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ash has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Ash 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
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Cultist1 1/----===/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ash effortlessly dodges Zealot2's Righteous Blow.
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Ash 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
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Cultist1 1/----===/=======|
KER-SMASH!
Suddenly, a section of the roof is torn asunder by a bolt of green flame, the conflagrant wreckage colliding with the wooden dojo floor. Dust, charred leaves and splintered tile spin out, and the shrapnel is flung in all directions. In the midst of the destruction and horrible property damage, straightening slowly, it is the figure of a man. A man who may very well be Chaos himself, granted human form, illuminated by the sun's magnificent light. He has platinum blonde hair, a freckled face, and wears one of those pleasant, amiable smiles. His aura is somewhat creepy. He has also handily interrupted the fight, arriving between the zealots and their target. Sorry about your house, Kyo! Saishu has probably done far worse.
ONE HOUR AGO...
Talk about your shady characters!
Out and about, rested and ready to greet another long day, this man's reasons for wandering the streets of Southtown may forever remain an enigma, perhaps even to himself. Why he chose to follow those in hooded robes is similarly shrouded in mystery. There is no explanation, but his decision has proved fruitful, nonetheless - the journey ended at the Kusanagi estate, and the wielder of strange emerald flames pulled himself up onto a nearby tree branch, observing the ensuing search. Some aimlessly milled about the grounds, others are stationed at the entrance, and yet more enter the home itself. It is they who receive the bulk of his attention and interest, one eyebrow lifted high on his pale forehead.
TWO MINUTES AGO...
Who else could these men be searching for but the legendary Kusanagi scion, the lean man deduced smartly, interested blue eyes watching the sliding door to the dojo, and when the sounds of a brawl floated to his attentive ears, they are certainly not here for a friendly chat. "Nine against one? That sounds like terrible odds." So he swung from the branch to the roof, dress shoes clacking on the tile, and his entrance was made.
BACK TO THE FUTURE...
Posed between an elder zealot and Kyo as he is, there is no time initially for idle chatter and false apologies. This man - Ash Crimson - has a dagger swung at his interfering self, and he clicks his tongue before whirling around the robed one, diverting him with an arrogant swat, "This seems a little more fair, mais non?" Ash comments with an effeminate giggle, and he surges forwards without hesitation, "Kusanagi Kyo!" The Frenchman is right there in the fray with him, reaching for his attacker's cloak, bubbling mass of energy present as he attempts to light his target up like a Christmas tree, "I'm afraid this is a terrible way for us to meet, ahaha!"
Now, let's see what you look like, mister!
"There's more of them outside. You're going to need my help." Blue eyes travel to their limits, and Ash is smirking all over his pale face. Be arrogant all you want, but Kusanagi is grossly outnumbered.
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Zealot1's Quick Throw.
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Ash 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
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Cultist1 1/----===/=======|
Now, normally Kyo Kusanagi is not one for bullying the weak; there's no fun in it, for one thing. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, and this is definitely one of those situations where you can't feel bad and hold back just because the guys attacking you /aren't/ superpowered engines of destruction. But, quite aside from all that: That was /pretty funny/.
Kyo practically puts a guy through the floor, but in the process places himself in a precarious peril, the two zealots making their move. Kyo is hauled up by one of them, although the grip isn't that steady, and the Kusanagi heir figures he's got room to maneuver anyway to avoid the knife when....
Someone CRASHES IN through the ROOF.
As Ash Crimson makes his heroic entrance, interceping the knife-wielder and then using some kind of... Weird energy...? to attack that zealot, Kyo just looks slightly put out, which isn't the sort of grateful expression you'd expect from somebody who just got their tuchus saved. "Did I leave the 'Open House' sign out?" Kyo wonders of nobody in particular, breaking out of the first zealot's grasp and whirling around, half-ducking to swing his leg up in a vicious kick for the side of the older man's head.
Once he's done that, Kyo dives for one side of the room, half-scrambling along the hardwood floor. But he's not trying to get away, no: A pair of fingerless, elbow-length gloves are next to some workout gear, black with orange stripes and the Kusanagi crest on them. Once the World Warrior has gotten the gloves, his next step is to tug them on.
Then he can stop holding back.
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 endures Ash's Ventose.
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Ash 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Zealot2
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Cultist1 1/----===/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 dodges Kyo's Strong Kick.
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Ash 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Zealot2
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Cultist1 1/----===/=======|
For those who were looking to surprise Kyo Kusanagi and snuff his flame out before it could be used for purposes he may in fact have them to begin with, one would assume they would be more expecting of the concept of people rushing in to his aid. After all, Saishu could return at any one moment...
But when Ash just crashes through the roof, there are gaping mouths all abound, the knife-wielding zealot's blow casually redirected, pushed on only by zealotry as the green flames envelop the cloak and - somewhat eerily - the cloak starts to burn with a bluish-purplish hue. It's kind of worrying to watch, and maybe even vaguely familiar for Kyo.
"Interlopers shan't stop the lord's will!" The surprised second zealot says in sheer defiance, as though frustrated with this turn of events - they dispatched nine to take care of Kyo, /this/ stranger complicates matters significantly. He responds as he sweeps his hand out about the flame, overpowered but hardly stopped as he swings a leg upwards towards Ash's jaw.
The first zealot, the one that grabs Kyo, tugs a little harder at Ash's entrance but loses his grip when Kyo moves to plant a powerful kick on them, the movement of his head missing the face but knocking over the cloak about his head in short order. He's old, his face is veiny, and his eyes... those eyes have this odd glowing blue quality to them. It's not a pleasant face - this gives Kyo the opening he needs to dive for his gloves.
"You cannot run, Kusanagi," the second zealot says as he steps around the gap with a relatively casual stride, "physically," he produces a dagger in one hand to cut across his hand as part of some sort of scary ritual for power, summoning his powers - a dull gray-ish chi wave that seeps from the wound and may, in fact, be a discolored gush of blood - towards the Kusanagi fiddling with his gloves, "or metaphorically."
Meanwhile, the youngest of the trio gropes around for one of Ash's feet, his bare hand reaching for his left ankle. "Thou cannot escape, Kyo," he declares proudly in the heat of the moment of debilitating injury and mistaken identity.
COMBATSYS: Ash blocks Zealot2's Strong Kick.
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Ash 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Zealot2
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Cultist1 1/----===/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ash interrupts Quick Throw from Cultist1 with Rapide Ventose.
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Ash 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/=======/=======|
Really, Kyo? Considering that top the Kusanagi heir is currently nerding around in, wouldn't just removing it mean he's pulled on the big boy britches? Ash here is gloveless and not holding back already, like a real man.
A man whose apparel consists of an expensive fleece jacket, tailed dress shirt and fitted brown slacks. ... Okay, so he doesn't much fit the mold either, according to his appearance. "Ahaha, does this happen often?" He jokes.
Soon, the slender one of two flamewielders' pupils dialate at the resulting reaction of green flames and black cloak, and he is awash with a strange sort of interest. A knowing understanding. Their 'Lord' has become apparent to him, as it likely does Kyo, who has dashed away. This is further emphasized when, pushed towards the downed youth as he catches the kick in hand, Ash lays eyes upon the other aged zealot's face, and notes that eerie glow. He frowns.
"Zut, you will have to try harder than that, monsieur." Despite his pensieve expression, the Frenchman is still able to feign a jubilant, musical tone, taunting the attacker who has deigned to label him as an interloper. What's this? He can feel a hand groping around at his ankle.
Peering down through the lengthy fringe of blonde hair, "I'm afraid you're sadly mistaken." And his movements are chilling. Summoned forth in an instant, there is blaze of writhing flames in hand, and this guy might want to consider retiring early, because Ash carelessly flings a crescent of fire right at his hood, so that it may burn, wondering if the reaction will have indentical results.
COMBATSYS: Kyo overcomes Gospel Blast from Zealot1 with Yami Barai.
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Ash 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/=======/=======|
Star Wars is a classic enjoyable for all ages, and anyone who disagrees either has no joy in their hearts, or is secretly a member of an evil cult devoted to an ancient incarnation of nature's wrath.
Or both.
Though he's focused on what he's doing, Kyo Kusanagi has reached a certain level of /awareness/ that the vast majority of human beings can't possibly match. As such, he's aware at least on a subconscious level of the way two of the interlopers go after Ash - if, in one case, mistakenly - and a strange, strangely familiar power flares behind the actions of the zealots.
When the zealot pursuing him actually /cuts himself/, producing some sort of chi istead of blood, the Kusanagi heir is, for once, actually at a loss for words. At least for a second or two, which is something! His expression turns bewildered, but he snaps his fingers, swinging his right arm in a precisely timed arc, a seed of flame falling from his hand and striking the floor to create a 'blossom' of the orange-crimson Ever Burning Flames of the Kusanagi, the very power that's /caused/ this entire confrontration in the first place, the blossom racing towards the zealot, meeting and devouring that wave of greyish chi before continuing towards its source.
COMBATSYS: Kyo successfully hits Zealot1 with Yami Barai.
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Ash 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/=======/=======|
"My Lord, it BURNS!" The youngest of the trio cries from the explosion of green flames as he slinks back down into the hole that was made by, er, mostly his own body. Kyo helped with that. A bluish flame rises up from the hole once, but soon enough fizzles all the same.
"He was such a promising follower too," the second of the two zealots hardly mourns as the kick is deflected handily, "but let it be known he is hardly the only one whom shall fight tooth and nail to see your end, Kusanagi, and... yourself," he addresses Ash passively. Well, passively enough before he thrusts both arms forward to try and grab Ash from under his arms, as if to try and lift his arms out to the side before delivering a series of kicks from his left leg.
The zealot that had tried to snuff out the Kusanagi flame with his own fell power finds that there is a reason the Kusanagi flame is feared and, yes, even much a threat to their aims, by so aptly demonstrating what it can do to /his/ power, a sidestep not enough to stop the flame from hitting them square in the knee and forcing them to a kneel, as the chi collision with the cloak manifests temporarily in blue flames. There is something awful about these cloaks that will probably need to be burned by some other means.
"Hm, does your blood not speak through you? Is that how you've come this far?" The first one asks with a sly smile as he rushes forward for Kyo, trying to bring his bleeding hand down upon Kyo's head - a distinct lack of chi aside from the inherent ickiness of the whole ordeal - to force him into a kneel prior to lifting him up by his very throat with this same hand and threatening to crush his neck or, at least, slightly inconvenience him. Very slightly. "How well did that man raise you, Kyo?"
Before we forget all about his pitiful existence, there is something about that poor, misguided, terribly unlucky younger disciple whom, bless his twisted human innards, would not want his efforts to reflect too badly upon his devotion, his sheer rage at being so casually put down enough to see him climbing back up out of the hole, brandishing a dagger upon high and just trying to get some sort of stab in Ash's leg, as though his weak mind mixed with pumping adrenaline began to simply not care if that was in fact someone other than Kyo he's devoting his energies towards.
COMBATSYS: Ash dodges Zealot2's Holy Beatdown.
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Ash 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Zealot2
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Cultist1 1/-======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ash dodges Cultist1's Fanaticism.
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Ash 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-======/=======|
Such a level of awareness is something to aspire to, and Ash could potentially match it one day himself, were he not so exceedingly lazy. The Frenchman does not bother with far more than Kyo ever would, as he shuns effort and all things associated... Within reason. You see, here, he has a clear purpose in aiding the Kusanagi heir: The death of Kyo would hinder him in many ways unspoken, even more than his continued existence and eventual resistance.
Ash is somewhat relieved that he misses the man cutting himself, preoccupied as he is with other matters and clearly not quite as alert, but the crimson flames of the Kusanagi clan are far more difficult to ignore. Head twisting around as the youth howls in the dome-shaped depression, a bluish flare confirming his suspicions, the Frenchman observes once again with unabashed interest mingled with odd hunger.
But blue eyes flash in a rapid succession of blinks, and it would appear that he is in demand, so he heaves a forlorn sigh and his attention returns. The thin, freckle-faced fighter curls a long strand of hair around his finger, brushing the tips against a high, elegant cheekbone, "Saa, if you say so." He is infuriating, shrugging, smiling, fair head canting to the side as his eyes close. First denying the grab by slipping underneath outstretched arms, his form practically gliding across the wooden floor, the dagger is met with Ash neatly hopping it.
"But monsieur, I think you, ah, should avoid pushing us too far." His leg draws up, knee snapped to his chest, and then the bubbleflame wielder thrusts it in a straight kick for the zealot's back - the one who seems to have all his attention stolen away from he who was supposed to be ended a while ago. Like, before Ash's entrance. Whether or not he kicks the man in the back, head, side, or even misses entirely, that's up to the fates to decide.
COMBATSYS: Kyo counters Converting the Non-Believer from Zealot1 with Nue Tsumi.
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Ash 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Zealot1
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Kyo 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-======/=======|
Now that he's got his gloves on, at least, Kyo can rely more completely on the 'whole style' of Kusanagi-ryuu Kobojutsu; though he's certainly no slouch physically, the style is based around the use of the Ever Burning Flames, and the World Warrior himself is obviously more effective when he's actually able to bring the power of his bloodline to bear. Although, one might well wonder, why /does/ Kyo need to use the gloves? None of the other wielders of similar powers need to use anything like that.
Of course, Yagami trades in the glove usage for horrible pain! So hey maybe the gloves aren't so bad.
Kyo frowns a little at the /blue/ flames that occur when his fire meets that cloak, but there's no time to give it his full attention, on account of how there's still a murder attempt going on. "Is this going to be another speech about me resting on my laurels and wasting my gifts or something?" Kyo wonders, meeting that sly smile with an arched brow. "Because I gotta tell you - I get like five, six of them a day." As the cultist's bloody hand comes down for Kyo's head...
Kyo's gloved hand comes /up/ to intercept it, the strange material of the Kusanagi glove meeting that seemingly corrupted blood, and Kyo uses that hand to /tug/ the zealot off-balance... Even as he drives his other hand up in a vicious uppercut, slamming his fist into the underside of the older man's jaw, hard enough on its own to put some serious hurt on anybody; the fact that Kyo unleashes an explosion of sacred Kusanagi flame at the point of impact is just fiery icing on the proverbial punch cake.
"As for 'that man'," Kyo continues. "He raised me well enough to put you and the rest of the Death Eaters in the hospital, at least!!"
What? He re--goes to the movies.
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Zealot2 with Medium Kick.
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Ash 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-======/=======|
Ash proves to be an elusive bugger, arrogant in his apparent superiority in eluding their collective grasp between the relatively collected zealot and the... much, much less composed cultist who is still frothing at the mouth.
Ash's kick hits true, knocking the second of the older cultists onto his seat against the somewhat jagged hardwood floor.
As for the younger cultist, there is no further description that needs to be made other than the poor fool going crazy in his zeal to slash Ash into tiny ashes (...that makes no sense), a guttural yell and all but frothing from the mouth as he tries to dig the dagger in /somewhere/, and then continue to make with the stabbings in a vague, random, but largely dangerous pattern.
"I am afraid that you may be putting too much stock into your considerable talent," the second zealot says as he rises with blood pouring from his face, though it is hard to notice his blood upon that black cloak. Hec rosses his arms together underneath those robes, bowing his head in mock humbleness and a sort of stoic disregard for his younger compatriot going completely batshit crazy in front of him, "for you see, I am sure the others will catch up with us shortly."
The second trio has since decided that they'll be performing some sort of profane ritual on one of the gardens outside, as if to make the metaphysical equivalent of a teabag upon the very sanctum of their greatest enemies. The third trio... now's not the time to say. The second zealot lays the situation bare, as if letting them know would not help them. That knowing smile - he's willing to stall if need be.
"Then thou shalt receive seven if he is wi--" If he's what? We'll never know what he has to say, as Kyo goes with the clean, smooth hard stop to put /his/ attacker off balance, and send him flying over into that wall to those flames that they so detest as it washes over them, an agonized yell that otherwise allows Kyo to continue with his taunts uninterrupted.
At least, until he pulls himself up, his breath heavier. Raspier. "Curse you," he says with significantly less calm than his more or less equally aged and experienced brother, "you try to play us as mere fools," he growls as he comes forth, hunched over from the burn of those righteous flames as he sticks his bloodied hand out in a straight, frills-free punch somewhere around face level.
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 focuses on Zealot2's next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Ash blocks Cultist1's Doctrine Basics.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/--=====|
Kyo can re--go to the movies and actually sit for two and a half hours without falling asleep!?
This is startling news.
Heel of his polished shoe clocking the zealot in the face (or at least his skull) and sending the man to take a seat, Ash throws his head back with a lilting, airy laugh, mostly because he finds the reference, overheard just barely, highly amusing! The Frenchman has read Harry Potter, and is quite a fan, seen in a previous fight held ages ago. He can barely remember those carefree days...
But he is put off-balance by his actions at the same time, leg dragged back towards the dojo's wooden floor to steady himself. The wielder of green flames, who strangely does not feel the burn when it comes to using his powers, stomps down on the younger cultist's dagger as he flails around in a frenzy, clearly losing what precious little there is to his mind. Ash's expression pulls down into that frown once again, almost looking at him with pity, and then his blue-eyed gaze returns briefly to the elder, calmer of the two, "Ahaha, I figured you'd say something like that."
After all, he is here because of the odds stacked against the Kusanagi scion - there is no need to tell him that. It is inevitable that they'll join the fray at some point, and these three men are stalling.
The freckle-faced Ash feels absolutely no remoarse, knowing this and knowing it all along, in attempting to wrench the weapon from the frazzled man's hand with his foot. At the same time, arm cutting an arc through the air above him, he windmills once and sends the most vicious of punches straight at crazy down there in his hole. If the cultist is knocked out with just this, then perhaps the Frenchman may focus on the second adversary - or Kyo's opponent, it doesn't really matter to him.
A brief reprieve between waves would also be nice. Maybe he'll have enough time to check his nails.
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Zealot1's Strong Punch.
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Ash 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/--=====|
True fact: Stuff like that never stops being really satisfying.
Kyo remains focused on what he's doing, although he's aware that Ash is doing a pretty solid job of taking care of the other two mysterious cloaked bad guys - although it's highly unlikely that the Kusanagi heir would actually /say/ as much - which means whoever he is, he's not /just/ a weirdo. He's a weirdo who happens to be a cleasrly competent fighter. Kyo often wonders to himself why there are so many of those in the world, and why so many of them are so incredibly bothersome to him personally... But at least Ash isn't shouting at him and trying to kill him for some perceived slight.
That is a step in the right direction.
"Yeah," Kyo agrees with the zealot's raspy assessment of things, as his natural roguish charm and insouciance begins to /grate horribly/ on his assailant. Just as planned. The incoming punch meets Kyo's solid forearm in a controlled impact, the force of it largely blunted. "I wonder why that is?" he asks - rhetorically - as his other hand pistons out in a straightforward, powerful punch of his own, a single smooth motion that puts his body's full strength behind the strike.
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Cultist1 with Messidor.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 interrupts Strong Punch from Kyo with Raving Faith.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
The laughter could be seen as grating, laughter from one who so seems to be joining into this ordeal out of mere amusement? Perhaps much more amusing is how the raging younger cultist is so easily brought down to heel or, rather, put down the hole - it's over as soon as the dagger is knocked clean out of the guy's hands (if he's even much of a guy now), and that punch alone is enough to put the lights out of this ornery occultist, whom froths at the mouth one last time before collapsing down that little hole to a somewhat exaggerated chorus of things being broken. Probably bones, probably part of the house's foundation, maybe even both.
"Ah, he is fallen," the second zealot says with no real measure of surprise, another smirk on his face, "but your victory, thus far, shall prove most hollow." There is no brief reprieve for Ash, unfortunately, as this second cultist rears back a bloodied hand. It's almost mocking, how much it is telegraphed. "Your bloodletting will do fine, all the same," he concedes as he thrusts this arm forward - an arm enveloped with a somewhat unnatural grayish color as it is thrust forth, a sort of clawing motion as it draws near that clamps into a fist at impact and expels this force outward, a far less calm, pained look on the man's face for the moment he flexes this force.
The first one (hmm, why are we talking about the first zealot second, come to think of it) hisses at Kyo's little rhetorical question, his wit hardly waning in the face of mortal danger. Kyo lets loose with a well-executed punch that speaks many great things about the technique of his ancestors.
The punch is suddenly met with a clawing hand, the force of the blow being felt well up the zealot's forearm as he spreads a disturbing grin, following it up this block with sudden, disturbing speed - an upward clawing motion with one hand, one of the other, rapid-fire. It ends - somewhat unmercifully - with raising Kyo up by his neck and then spreading his curled fingers outward for one last series of scratches, a knowing, maniacal grin on his face even as the arm that overpowered Kyo's punch visibly shudders.
"Do I take it that thou hast desired to play this part now, Kusanagi?" The second zealot asks in mockery.
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 successfully hits Ash with Sanctimony Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Zealot2
Perish the thought, Kusanagi Kyo, Ash will do neither of these things. He has no reason to. But Kyo might find that he shall, in future, be hunting the Frenchman down for some perceived personal slight against himself. What a change of roles! C'est la vie!
And who're you calling a 'weirdo', /JERK/.
Punching the frothing young cultist in the face, his victory is indeed hollow, as the zealot says. It is only because there are far more to deal with than these men here - Ash utters a snort of mirthful laughter, back straightening, standing with an aggravating, petulant air. Hand finding his narrow pelvis and resting upon it, the other combs out small tangles in his platinum blonde hair, all while the newbie slumps in his depression and is down for the count. "Quoi? My what? Mon dieu, you are boring me."
A bored Ash Crimson is not the sort of person this elderly fellow wants to deal with, let me tell you.
Without skipping a beat, the bloodied, clawing hand forms a fist, and the wielder of green flames is both equal parts confused and surprised. He's never seen anything like that before, and so his defense is flimsy, strange chi burning him - it's not the most terrible thing, but it leaves Ash feeling cold and numb afterwards. Perhaps even empty. "My my, it must be awful not to have a will of your own." His head is given a shake, and then Ash strikes. Strikes just as Kyo is on the receiving end of a nasty looking hit, but the Frenchman cannot be distracted right now...
Reaching for the man's hood, if successful, the lean fighter practically diving-drives his knee into the unprotected solar plexus, following that with a left hook. He then withdraws, only for a moment, before sending an open-handed uppercut at the jaw, black fingernails flashing bright in the sunlight.
"Guah!!" exclaims Kyo as the zealot actually manages to get through his strike to deliver a vicious attack; clawing and slashing, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him up, scratching him further. It's not like he's bleeding all over the place now, or something, but that definitely hurt, and it definitely left marks...
And it definitely made the Kusanagi heir /angry/.
Putting a hand to his throat, Kyo gets back up to his feet. "God... Ow, what... What the hell kind of technique was /that/ supposed to be?" he wonders, unable to put the smart mouth away even with his ire raised. "Some ancient technique you learned watching a bunch of junior high girls fighting? Are you gonna pull my hair next?" Rubbing his throat, the World Warrior drops his hand back down to his side. "Come to think of it, I'm surprised they even let you within a hundred yards of a school."
And then, Kyo just erupts into forward movement, thrusting his elbow out in a stunning strike aimed at the zealot's solar plexus!
If he manages that, then Kyo /keeps/ moving, shifting his weight and turning his body so that his other hand lances out to grab the zealot by /his/ throat and lift him off the ground in turn. "Here, let me show you how to do that right," Kyo offers, companionably, letting the older man dangle for a few seconds before he unleashes another, more massive blast of sacred Kusanagi flame, which if all goes according to plan will hurl the cloaked figure /away/ explosively.
"BURN!!"
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 interrupts Vendemiaire from Ash with Smite.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ash 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
COMBATSYS: Kyo successfully hits Zealot1 with Koto Moon Positive.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ash 1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Kyo 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
Truth be told, the second zealot is growing a bit less tolerant of Ash's presence by the moment. There was perhaps a faint hint of amusement at the beginning of it all, but now, clearly he is in the way of what should have been a sure-fire victory against one of their most hated enemies, now meddled with by an... outsider, with seemingly little to no reason to be here other than their own entertainment.
His bloodletting will still do, however, as the man gives a knowing, dangerous smile. "Mine will is the same as my Lord's." Raising a bloodied hand upwards and shouting something that is either arcane chanting or some sort of very, very, very ancient 'your mom' retort, he points his bleeding palm towards Ash just as he yanks him in and nails him in the solar plexus, a burst of particularly disgusting - almost liquid-like - grayish chi threatens to shove Ash a ways back, the second zealot doubled over with his breath growing a little heavier by the moment. He has exerted himself greatly, beyond the point of bantering dialogue casually.
The first zealot, meanwhile, flicks his fingers out as poor Kyo actually feels something approaching legitimate pain. "Actually, that... that is about right," he muses about an earlier failed attempt to infiltrate Kyo's supposed high school, "in a manner of speaking, ahem."
The ahem is not a cocky clearing of the throat - no, that's him having to clear it out in order to breathe after Kyo gets his elbow into the solar plexus, doubled over with his weight shifted to the left which suggested at least /some/ passing idea of moving to the side before he is lifted up off the ground by his own throat. Maybe it's good that Kyo is wearing gloves - nobody wants to bodily touch what's under there!! The sacred flames of Kusanagi overpower him, the cloak at last giving way and burning to reveal the older man is wearing precious little underneath. His entire body is scarred, discolored... injured. As though he were, in some form or another, used to pain.
"Kusanagi," he hisses as he rises from the heap of a ruined cloak, a last few blue sparks as it disintegrates. His discolored, pale hand reaches for Kyo's throat after a short dash forward, as the two become enagaged in some sort of long-lived contest to see who can choke one another to death first.
He is content to try and leave Kyo dangling there with a hiss, nothing less than pure rage in those blue eyes.
Don't you be insulting his mother, you douchebag zealot! ... Not that the Frenchman possesses any clue just what the man is spewing, only that he isn't a fan, and this is why: As his knee collides with cloak and body, Ash is struck in turn. That chilled feeling envelopes him, summoned forth by the eerie individual, and he's pushed back - shoved - into a sudden stumble. Recovering smoothly, long fingers splay across his thin chest, massaging the area where the chi was mostly concentrated. He is unharmed, and giggling, "Your Lord must enjoy losing."
Playing the fool, pretending that this 'Lord' is unknown to him, blue eyes vanish beneath pale lids. When they reappear, for someone supposedly only here to entertain himself, the Frenchman's level, penetrating gaze is shrewd and calculating. At least he isn't sassing the zealot like Kyo over there? Wouldn't want to play up the angle too much or anything.
Stretching, his movements are deliberate and misleading, to provide his opponent with a false sense of security, and a measure of worthless self-confidence. Ash lazily can't help but wonder what's going on with the Kusanagi heir, and so he extends the moment in his interest, observing casually. This probably ticks off the elder, calmer cultist more than anything. First the platinum blonde haired fellow interferes, and now he doesn't even care!
But the Frenchman feigns startlement, "Oh, I almost forgot." And then... he's no longer there. With great speed and perhaps even greater accuracy, suddenly Ash is right in the zealot's face, swinging his leg around in some strange pirouette-type kick, but he's not some dainty ballerina. If it hits, it's going to hurt.
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Zealot1's Strong Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ash 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Kyo 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
"That's the name," Kyo confirms, as he gets hissed at; being as he is not particularly interested in getting grabbed by the neck again, the Kusanagi heir intercepts the zealot's grasping hand, and otherwise he seems remarkably unfazed by the murderous rage being directed right at him. Although, you know, maybe he's just used to it: People trying to kill him is sadly not as uncommon as he would probably prefer. And who can imagine why? He's so nice!
But Kyo doesn't stop there, given that the furious older man already has plenty of momentum behind him. Instead, Kyo ducks slightly and turns /into/ the zealot's path, using his own body as a pivot and his grip on the leading arm as a lever, with every intention of giving the guy a straight up judo throw - which he probably learned from Goro Daimon, the unsung judo hero - right out of the dojo and onto the grounds.
Notably: There is little pirouetting.
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Zealot2 with Floreal.
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 refuses to stay down!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Kyo 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Zealot2
COMBATSYS: Kyo successfully hits Zealot1 with Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Kyo 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Zealot2
"Eighteen hundred years," the calmer, second zealot says through heavy breath, "is a long time... five minutes more, the Lord can surely wait," as he is of the assumption that this is how long it will take to DESTROY them once the others arrive. What are they doing?!
The second team is still undergoing their ritual. Saishu is going to have to burn one of those gardens clean to purify it of its taint whenever he shows back up.
Ash does not forget to rub in insult to injury as he spins a leg into the face of the second zealot, and he collapses into an evil heap of cloth and disgusting old man... at least, until it stirs unnaturally. Bones creak loudly as he once again rises with mirthful laughter.
"If that is all, I do believe it is, shall we say, my turn." Blood flows freely from his face, staining his cloak as he yanks the unconscious body of the younger cultist from his little hole, as though willing to wield him as a weapon...
No, worse, a sacrifice.
"Begone!!" He channels the grayish chi into the unconscious, broken body and sends it hurtling towards Ash as though fired from a shotgun, the body's size alone possibly a formidable weapon in its own right.
"Hoowah!" Goes the first, particularly ugly older zealot, though they are all almost undoubtedly as rotten on the inside as they are on the outside. Nonetheless, Kyo does his family friend Goro well with that little display of bits and pieces he might have picked up watching him train within this hallowed dojo, expertly redirecting force and sending the more or less hardly clothed zealot out a window and into the sunlight outside, screaming some sort of eldritch curses to the team that seems to be camping about outside and otherwise doing the creepy occultist equivalent of roasting marshmallows. He soon passes out.
The second team all carries a knowing smile. In a short time, they shall be ready, now that they know where the Kusanagi scion resides.
The two of them together should have enough time to clean up this last zealot and take a quick breather before the next team arrives.
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ash dodges Zealot2's Large Thrown Object EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/-----==/=======|
Only in motion temporarily, upon landing and raising his fists, Ash blinks those blue eyes, then smiles icily, "Why not another eighteen hundred years? I'm sure your Lord is used to it by now." Catching a blonde strand that had fallen out of place, the Frenchman tucks his hair back and rolls his shoulders in an easy, nonchalant shrug. More light floods the dojo as the other zealot exits the stage, and he can't help but think Kyo's idea isn't very wise. Nonetheless, Crimson is unable to voice such concerns. Not yet.
Ducking low beneath the rocketing body, allowing the unconscious cultist to soar straight into a wooden wall, what speed there is doesn't matter. In order to beat the emerald flamewielder, the zealot will need to rethink his plan of action... Should Ash provide him with an opportunity to do so.
Yeah, not happening.
The blonde haired Frenchman is gliding forwards again, great green gouts of fire pouring from his fingertips and palms. He reaches for the elder man's bloodied face, "Looks like your turn is over, monsieur. Bonne journee!" Hopefully upon contact, there is no great explosion, no spectacular flare, or any showboating, like a certain someone. It is just a brief flash and pain, furious and searing. Ash laughs pleasantly, all sweet and saccharine.
In some ways, he may be just as creepy as this strange cult...
It might not have been the wisest thing he's ever done, no... But then a list of wise things done by Kyo Kusanagi would not necessarily be all that /long/, given that the arrogant young man is descended from a line of people who are rarely known for traits like 'thinking ahead' or 'being particularly subtle'. If he's managed to draw the rest of these guys directly to him, well, that actually suits Kyo just fine now. The last thing he needs is for some of them to scuttle into the woodwork and vanish; they'd never be able to get rid of them completely, even if they fumigated, and there'd be nothing but cultists nibbling on the food in the pantry, getting underfoot when people tried to go to the bathroom, probably chewing on the wires, too.
Maybe they could get a cat or something...
"Whew, good old fashioned hospitality," Kyo says, dusting off his hands as he turns to see that his mysterious sidekick for the day is in the process of dealing with the /other/ remaining evil cloaked cult guy. Ash looks like he's got that well in hand, though, so far be it from the Kusanagi heir to interfere when he'd probably just be getting in the way. Instead, Kyo takes the moment to catch his breath a bit, regain his center, that sort of thing.
COMBATSYS: Kyo gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 fails to interrupt Brumaire from Ash with The Gospel of Orochi.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Ash 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 1/----===/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/------=/=======|
The zealot seems all too inviting of Ash's slender, loving touch, the searing flames hardly blotting out the very sight of those blue burning eyes. /Those eyes./ There is mirthful laughter, as though he were anticipating a coup de grace in the face of such a pathetic comeback!
"Indeed," he hisses, "bonne journee to you too--" his arms spread out wide with a loud, great shout as the furious flash of fire washes over him. Something bad is about to happen, most assuredly, something very bad indeed... until he loses his balance underneath a creaking floorboard from the hole made by that poor young cultist, where his knowing smile turns to complete anguish as he is engulfed by a truly powerful, vile column of energy that cackles, pulsating brightly enough to leave spots in one's vision for mere moments. The important thing, however, is that this energy comes quite short of making any sort of contact with Ash. He is spared, if only just so.
The unconscious body of the young cultist, too, disappears in a far less vulgar display of power. Between the two columns, only scorch marks, a few ashes, and the strong smells of sulphur remain between them.
But the two, yet, can hear footsteps coming in from outside. The next team has found them...
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Cultist1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kyo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Cultist1
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kyo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
"Ahahaha! Thou art trapped!" Cries a young woman whom has decided not to bother with getting the hood of their cloak up. Let's say she's pretty ugly and that may as well be a good reason as any for her to be part of some crazy-ass nihilistic cult, as she is flanked by her... inferiors? No, her superiors, certainly, two more older members of the cause.
"Ahh, Kusanagi, the things we will do to thee," the first one sneers, "I hath always wondered how well thy blood would work for our latest sacrifice!"
"Thou petunias now belong to our Lord," the second informs matter-of-factly with a respectful bow, "and we have his favor... beware!"
No rest for the wicked, it seems, or... well, no rest for the righteous.
No rest for anyone, ever!
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kyo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kyo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kyo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
Cultists: The very worst kind of infestation. That would have to be one large and ambitious cat.
Fingernails curling into the man's face as the flames scorch him, as the Frenchman turns away from his adversary, he spares one last glance towards--! Ash's shock is evident and genuine, written all over his pale, freckled face. There is absolutely no way - were they both even human? Well, this certainly is the most interesting of developments!
Sashaying along in order to join Kyo, Ash's movements are relaxed and unhurried. He beams, lifting a hand and gesturing to the next grouping, their words falling upon deaf ears - he doesn't even look at them, yet! No doubt the trio will be as surprised as the first that they face not one, but two opponents, "Ahaha, there's still six left, from what I saw. It'd probably just be better to escape now, rather than fight your way through them all, oui?"
That indicating hand is drawn to his mouth, prodding the protruding lower lip with a long finger, "Of course, if we work together, Kusanagi Kyo... We might be able to overcome them all." The Frenchman finds this suggestion, regardless of its truth, highly amusing. He chuckles softly, smiling as his teeth lightly come in contact with the polished surface of the painted nail. All the while, the wielder of emerald flames is silently gathering his bearings, preparing for what's to come, should it.
... What was that about petunias? Ridiculous.
COMBATSYS: Ash gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kyo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
The fact that the cultists vanish in what is kind of a horrible display causes Kyo, too, to show obvious surprise... And then dismay... And then annoyance. "Man, someone is going to have to clean that up," he complains, and there's a decent chance that Shizuka Kusanagi will end up making her son do it, because after all he wouldn't force his dear mother to do all the work herself, would he? With a grumbling sigh, Kyo turns to look towards Ash as the Frenchman sashays towards him, and suggests escaping. "If you want to help, you're welcome to. Seems to me the Scientology Squad is gonna be after you too now, Freckles," he says, abrasive and flippant as per usual.
When the next three cultists enter, led by a rather unfortunate-looking woman, Kyo gives a start and looks briefly horrified, because he is a terrible person and also extremely shallow. "Oh /wow/," Kyo says, amazed. "I bet all the guys back at the compound tell you they're eunuchs, don't they?" he wonders, before finally turning his attention to the two robed guys. "/Yikes/," Kyo directs at them, with exaggerated faux sympathy. And then he lunges at the guy who was talking about his mom's flowerbeds.
Closing with tremendous speed, Kyo swings his right fist in a hooking punch, flame trailing behind the arc of his fist and then erupting in a small explosion at the point of impact, if any; if Kyo lands the first hit, then he keeps right on trucking, stepping in to deliver a second hooking punch with his left fist, and then abruptly twisting in the opposite direction in a whirling kick, driving one socked heel into the cloaked man's temple.
"GET LOST!!"
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 fails to interrupt Aragami from Kyo with Small Random Weapon.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
Where do these people even come from, one may wonder, just appearing all of a sudden... so very blatantly and flagrantly, as though it were all right to just throw off the entire veil of secrecy for mere shows of power where it would, in theory, count - if they could ever get on the scoreboard.
The second zealot withdraws a petunia that has been twisted into something... decidedly not, holding it forward as Kyo rushes in. Perhaps it is an offering, maybe it is a warning in flower language. However, let us say that it is an extremely ineffective deterrent as the flaming fist obliterates this retrieved blight from the tainted garden, the flames that make contact with the robe turning a sickly blue to show that the strike alone hits true - the second hook punch and then that final whirling kick are icing on the cake, as the burning flower turns to ash upon the hardwood floor.
The second zealot, not quite ash, but bloodied as he crumples down to a heap. With the three of them this close and Kyo having decided to join the melee, however...
"That sounds like quite a good idea, Kusanagi," the young woman smiles that same really creepy smile some of her predecessors have shown, "one supposes that ending the bloodline /that/ way shalt do the trick," she says as her robe ruffles slightly, a clear indicator of the intent to - what else - try and knee the fired up man in the groin.
The first zealot nods approvingly of this course of action, taking advantage of the difference in attack heights - where the young female cultist aims /low/, the older one certainly aims high, fingers curled in an upwards scratch with a hiss.
Ash might want to step in at some point.
Head canting towards his left shoulder, Ash's blue eyes lid gently, "Scientology? Ha ha, Yuki never told me you were such a comedian." But his words of caution and offer of cooperation goes, for the most part, ignored. He had expected such an outcome-- wait, why does 'Freckles' know the girlfriend of the Kusanagi scion? Judging from the enigmatic expression, the Frenchman will likely provide no answers until the ordeal is over, if he's even asked.
Attention drawn properly to the trio by Kyo's thinly veiled (yeah, no) disgust, the second flamewielder is equally surprised by the girl's appearance, but doesn't verbally abuse her for it. His face says enough on its own! Freckled bridge of his nose wrinkling, Ash's tongue is out - it's like a small child saying 'ICK!' over and over again, poking some fat slug with a stick until it bursts. He actually has to turn his head away, Kyo lunging at that moment, searching for something else in this place that won't make him go blind...
Or maybe he could just watch the Kusanagi heir punch flower man's lights out.
The swell of power, that sweet scent of the man's fighting spirit, is intoxicating to the Frenchman, but... he will not be swept away. And is it just him, or does this group seem a lot more unbalanced than the last? Bluish glowing cloaks snagging his attention eventually, Ash understands that unless he gets involved SOMEHOW, the three of them will probably unleash whatever it is upon Kyo, be it horrible death, or something with the ugly girl... He doesn't want to fight the ugly girl. Crimson leaps, head-seeking fist attempting to plow into the first zealot's noggin before he can do any real damage, instead.
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 successfully hits Kyo with Light Kick.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Zealot1's Righteous Blow.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/------=|
Straight up: Kyo gets kicked in the balls.
One of the few flaws of the Aragami technique - and of many Kusanagi-ryuu techniques in general - is that it requires the fighter to overcommit somewhat, which can pose some problems when it comes to defending afterwards. Though the results are, generally, both terrible and amazing, one can end up paying for it when facing off against multiple opponents, as the Kusanagi heir is right now. Finding himself the focus of a high /and/ low attack at once, Kyo blocks the scratching rake with one arm, blunting most of the impact, and then gets kicked right in the beanback when he tries to deflect the cultist's foot.
Kyo, very slowly, squints, his teeth gritting. He forces himself to swallow any sound he might have naturally wanted to make in response to that.
"Was it good for you, too?" Kyo wonders, a moment or so later, before suddenly moving again, ducking down and putting all of his weight on one leg as he swings the other one up and back, pistoning it out in a savage mule kick aimed at the cultist's rather unfortunate face. And as he does so, a thought occurs to him: Why the hell does Freckles know his girlfriend?!
COMBATSYS: Kyo knocks away Cultist1 with Strong Kick!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ash 1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/---====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 interrupts Strong Punch from Ash with Gospel Blast.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Ash 1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/---====/=======|
Straight up: there is much merriment, especially for the young lady upon her apparent success against Kyo's chance at having heirs - to destroy the future is almost as good as destroying the present, she believes.
She believes in a lot of things, but she foolishly does not quite believe in Kyo's physical strength against adversary, which is why she will always be a lower rung cult member. She's... not going to have much luck sleeping with anyone else to get ahead after that kick, and the agonizing scream as she corkscrews back out the door should answer the question of how good it was for her! It... wasn't at all.
With the raised hand of that first zealot, it is but a mere trifle for him to flex his fingers and channel his very life essence into that same grayish blast others before him have seen prior, the only additional pain being Ash's fist hitting the raised palm. "Give me thou hand again, and I shalt take it as mine souvenir, woman!"
...Woman?
The flower-bearing zealot, no longer with a flower, rises up with a sinister little hum. "I doth agree, she ought to produce most interesting results! I can see it verily, yea, how she writhes." One of those other sadistic smiles creeps on the man's face under the cloak, even as he bleeds and steels himself from the shock of one of the trademark techniques of the Kusanagi bloodline. "But alas, she must wait! IT shalt be your turn shortly, milady."
The gender confusion aside, he takes a claw swipe at Kyo's side. They're sadistic and perhaps significantly less self-aware of their circumstances in comparison to the previous elders, but no less skilled - just significantly more enthusiastic!
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Ash 1/---====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
That is not the only thing the mysterious Ash Crimson knows about Kyo, but another time. His thoughts may drift briefly to Yuki as that arm swings in roughly, but instead, the strike meets palm, not skull. The Frenchman wears a beautiful frown, knowing this cannot end well, and he is blown back into a queer sort of somersault to recover, shivering involuntarily due to the unique chi, feeling utterly gross. At least his fate is by far an improvement over the young scion, who gets kicked in the bits.
Bet that hurt.
Ash winces, expressing something akin to real sympathy for once in his life, but it passes quickly (and if it didn't, it would at what Kyo has to say), and hunched over, soon the man draws up to full height. The wielder of green flames sneers outright, his words caustic, "Je suis un homme." A gentle sigh, knuckling his temple in irritation, Crimson continues in his native tongue, "Vous avez le cervau d'un sandwich au fromage." Actually, not just the first zealot, but his flowerless friend, as well. They /BOTH/ do, for thinking that he's a goddamn /woman/.
... Nevermind. Just forget it, they'll likely not understand him, uncivilized as they are. With the snap of his fingers, verdant plumes of bright fire cast an eerie glow upon his fine freckled features. Ash grins, perfectly delightful again, and says, "Brule en enfer." Though his tone is a sing-song, there's nothing musical about the fierce, blazing crescents flung at the zealot - the first today to make that horrible mistake of his gender.
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Zealot2's Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Ash 1/---====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
For the record, Kyo doesn't speak a word of French, and frankly has no idea what Ash is saying to the cultists. Maybe he's speaking in tongues?! Could treachery be far behind?!
Well, maybe not, since he does seem to be making a concerted effort to set them on... Green fire. That seems kind of odd to the Kusanagi heir, but at least it's not Kain's black fakey flames, or that Stray Dog guy's white /fakey/ fakey flames. Buncha copycats. "You guys have some serious problems," Kyo informs the zealot, helpfully, as he intercepts the clawing slash with his forearm, the strange material of his black and orange Kusanagi glove refusing to tear, blunting the worst of the damage. "That's what happens when you decide psychology is evil, you know. You get all messed up in the brain, and then what? You can't go get therapy."
Maybe he actually thinks they /are/ Scientologists?
Pushing off of the zealot, Kyo takes a step backwards and then bounces off of it, flipping over in midair on his side, one leg tucked in and the other extended, his stretched out foot tracing the outer parabola of his abbreviated, indoor arc, kept well short of brushing the dojo ceiling...
And then he attempts to bring that extended foot down on the zealot's head. "Hua-!!"
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 endures Ash's Ventose.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Ash 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 fails to interrupt RED Kick from Kyo with Smite.
> Determined Hit! <
*KNOCKED AWAY*
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Ash 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 1/=======/=======|=======\======-\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
The first zealot, let's say, the one decidedly less flowery, has himself a good laugh at the dialogue - does he know what Ash is saying? Does this mean the two of them may share, in some fashion or another, a common ethnic background aside from their seemingly different charges in life?!
"Thou must not be good at it to be seen as the fairer," he offers in something like a quarter-apology, half-insult, quarter-bad comeback as he shakes out his bloodied hand as the command to burn in hell is met with those blazing crescents. Beyond all reason, beyond all sense, this one rushes through the wave, a pained yell for every green flame that clashes against him (and turns blue against the cloak), his hood falling over to reveal a burn taking up a good quarter of his face. It's... not a fresh burn.
"Meet thine oblivion, where no light of heaven nor flames of hell shalt greet thee!" He taunts Ash as he leads forth with a series of palming strikes - sure to get blood on Ash's clothing - and ends with him attempting to press both palms up against Ash's chest, to drag him close before forcefully shoving him away with little effort, should he be caught.
"Our problem is that thou still breathes, but we shalt find interesting uses for thy lungs yet!" The second zealot promises with a dangerous grin. "Thy death shalt be mine therapy, to say nothing of what we shalt do to thine lifeless husk!" A dagger is retrieved to cut a new wound into his palm, a bizarre chant as he raises his hand to meet with Kyo's foot...
But even without the flame specifically behind it, Kyo's foot strikes the palm just as it unleashes that grayish energy, and pushes it back inward. The explosion is sizable and, even for a clean success, might even push Kyo a little but otherwise leave him unharmed as the sleeve burns away entirely and the zealot writhes with an unearthly scream, slammed into the hardwood floor hard enough that it shakes as his body bounces along to the wall, much too dazed to rise back up immediately for the insult.
That ugly girl from before will be having none more of it, as she rushes in. "Where art the third?" She screams at the other two, as though they were of the knowledge as to where or why!
Meanwhile, elsewhere... three hooded figures are seated, kneeling in front of a table. None of them are wearing shoes. They wait patiently.
Back where such matters are actually relevant, the hissing young lady points a finger with a rather lengthy, curved nail towards Kyo. "I shalt enjoy thine fall! It shalt be euphoric, to create a destruction equal to thine act of creation!" Whatever... that means, as she runs in towards Kyo and tries to grab him by his forearms and, rather forcefully, cross them inward into an 'X' pattern while she leans in with an angry face, those burning blue eyes certainly no pretty sight up and personal... if Kyo lets her.
COMBATSYS: Ash dodges Zealot1's Holy Beatdown.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 1/=======/=======|=======\======-\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ash has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/=======/=======|=======\=------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zealot2 1/-======/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-======/=======|
If Kyo thinks that this lot are a bunch of Scientologists, then he has to be the stupidest person alive. Stupid, but still smart enough to own some rather awesome gloves. Ash might have to get himself a pair, sans emblem. They seem tear-resistant, and the Frenchman can appreciates any article of clothing that won't rip in a fight - oops, he's getting distracted. Pay attention, Crimson! You're getting sassed! "Hmph, like I care."
The less flowery, French-understanding zealot runs headlong into the blaze at last, screaming and yelling as it burns him. With an exaggerated quirk of an eyebrow, Ash laughs, speaking confidently, "That's not going to do you any good, you know." He's right, of course. The fanatic's cloak erupts with blue, and all his efforts are wasted, just as the flamewielder says. Flipping the long fringe of platinum blonde hair out of sight, the Frenchman casually side-steps his opponent's palming hits, and flings out a taunt of his own, "You are perhaps the ugliest, saddest excuse for a fighter I have ever seen, monsieur. No wonder you'll never be more than a mere follower." His shoulders roll, and he's a touch annoyed.
Ash's one hand locks on the man's arm, the other at his belt (waist, pelvis-- please say he's wearing clothes under those robes), stalling the cultist's forward momentum. This should be clear indicator that bad things are going to happen, whether he likes it or not. Whether he even resists or not.
It takes so much effort to lift the larger, scar-faced man that Crimson's knees shake dangerously. But by god, once he's able, the slender combatant just hurls the zealot across the damn dojo. Ash trips afterwards, crashing into the wall, barely aware of where the man ends up - looks like he's aimed for a head-on collision with that hideous girl, currently attacking the Kusanagi heir. WATCH OUT! The Frenchman wheezes, "Mon dieu, this is getting bothersome." And that guy smelled like bathing was an annual thing. Nasty.
COMBATSYS: Kyo fails to interrupt Holy Lock from Cultist1 with Oniyaki.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\======-\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-======/=======|
"I can't even understand what you guys are saying," Kyo grouses, with all the archaic language and /somebody/ using French over there. Regardless, he manages to quite satisfyingly boot one of the zealots in the head, which is pretty rad all things considered, regaining his footing with only a slight loss of balance. Surely, given the gap in ability he's already demonstrated between himself and the mysterious robed figures, he should be able to compensate for this no problem, whatever tricks they might pull!
Maybe!
The scary looking lady grabs at his forearms, and Kyo - being Kyo - figures he has the best idea in the universe for how to deal with it... Unfortunately he is, at least for once, actually wrong. The Kusanagi heir tries to force his way out of the joint lock by pure strength, flames sparking at both of his hands, but in his current position he can't quite manage it. Instead, he's left struggling while the cultist's face gets /way way/ too close for comfort.
Kyo, at this point, lets out an exaggeratedly girlish, horrified comedy squeal, flinching away in a similarly stilted, affected way. Because, let's face it, you can't expect him to take this very seriously at all.
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Cultist1 with Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 1/-======/=======|=======\=------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 1/-======/=======|=======\======-\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
You should, Kyo, you really should. It's in her eyes, delighting in Kyo's mock screams - this very act of mockery going well over her head. She thinks she is dealing with legitimate, true fear. Like every other new upstart from Gedo or alley thug, basically. Kyo's done this dance many times before, to be fair.
"Thy fear doth taste almost as grand as thy blood wilt," she promises, "for I shalt lick it from the floor with--"
A body crashes into her, releasing Kyo from her grip and, potentially avoiding - well, maybe even just theoretically, on a mathematical improbability (if not zero) - a grievous end by her poorly manicured hands as she and the bold, French-understanding first zealot collapse in a heap that is hardly lovingly, but who knows, the two might introduce more indoctrined minds into the world one day. (Ew.)
Kyo had best watch out, however, for that second zealot he's bested has already lifted a charred, bleeding arm from his own heap with the dagger intact, and thinks nothing of trying to plunge it into his foot as he hisses in pain.
"Fool!" The youngest one, that ugly girl, rises from the heap. The zealot is remarkably chilled in the whole ordeal, instead deciding to seek guidance from within as to how to best handle these two before him, digging his clawed fingers into his palm.
"Thou hast interfered long enough! I shalt take thy arrogant face and paint a mural across the very Earth with thine entrails!!" She promises as she withdraws her own sacrificial dagger. There's no fancy energy at play here, just a whole lot of furious stabbings coming Ash's way. He's so going to wish for more tear-resistant clothing soon enough.
Elsewhere...
A mysterious, slim figure - a woman - comes to the last three cultists with a teapot, a cup for each before them.
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 focuses on Zealot1's next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 1/-======/=======|=======\==-----\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 1/-======/=======|=======\======-\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ash dodges Cultist1's Doctrine Basics.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 1/-======/=======|=======\==-----\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Kyo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-------/=======|
Fully leaning on the wall now, how nice it would be if he could just go home, maybe curl up with a cup of hot chocolate... And then this high-pitched, petrified scream leaves Ash's ears ringing; it's not even coming from the only girl in the room! Blue eyes widen to their very limits and he kinda gawks at Kyo. So the Kusanagi scion just got hit, but the Frenchman can't help it! He lets loose a loud laugh, stopping only because he can't breathe, clutching at his stomach through both winter jacket and shirt, "What was that, ahaha!" Honestly, wouldn't it make more sense for such a noise to come from him instead?
And who knows if Kyo is just playing around - the cultist girl /is/ beyond ugly.
Also, Ash has attracted her attention. How unfortunate for him!
Rising from the heap on the floor formed by two bodies crashing into one another, the threat is met with a challenging, "Oho?" The wielder of green flame drifts away from the wall, standing at ease, twirling his hair, even as she attempts to ventilate him with holes. Each stabbing motion is met with a gentle swish here, a calm walk there, and when at last the woman seems over-extended, Ash crouches down and smiles a pretty smile, "Cherie, have you ever considered joining the circus?"
Dick.
Since the zealot focused on him seems to be taking this moment for a brief reprieve, Crimson instead attacks their 'female' cohort. He pivots on the balls of his feet, then kicks right up at her jaw, continuing on into an acrobatic backflip. His heel ignites with that bubbling, strange chi. It traces after him in a flaming arc, and when his lithe form is righted once again, Ash's arms fan out to the sides so that he may land gracefully, hopefully uninterrupted.
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Zealot2's Light Random Weapon.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 1/--=====/=======|=======\==-----\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Kyo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-------/=======|
It's always a tragedy when the bad guys don't realise that you're making fun of them.
As Ash saves him from the horrible grasp of Cultist Bertha, Kyo is sadly not left with much time to relax, even though two of the cloaked figures are now going directly after the Frenchman... Because that guy from before is trying to shank him right in the leg, forcing Kyo to move at the last moment, twisting to one side; he can't completely avoid the cut, but he manages to avoid getting his foot stabbed completely through, instead opening a painful gouge and soaking his sock with red, red blood.
"Oh, you little shithead," the World Warrior champion growls, turning around and, without anything even resembling finesse or style, swings his uninjured foot out in an attempt to kick the zealot right in the face, exchanging all that finesse and style for sheer, brutal power. "Pack it in already!!"
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 fails to interrupt Nivose from Ash with Light Random Weapon.
~~ Alluring Hit! ~~
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Kyo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Zealot2
[ <
Cultist1 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Kyo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Zealot2
COMBATSYS: Kyo successfully hits Zealot2 with Heavy Kick.
> Determined Hit! <
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Kyo 1/=======/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
She tries. Oh, she tries, slashing away at the coy Frenchman... or at least the air that's been formerly occupied by himself. Some of those might come close, but Ash's grace, arrogance, and skill all serve him quite well. With his question, she has this answer.
"Perish before our Lord!" She screams as she raises the dagger upon high - just in time to be shut up with a flaming green flipkick to the chin.
Teeth are everywhere. They are highly collectible!
With a blood-curdling scream, her limp, disgusting body bounces across the hardwood floor and... yep, down the little hole of her predecessors fell into.
The second zealot delights at the little crimson at the tip of the blade, the sign of Kyo's mortality - he can be touched, he can bleed. He will bleed. He will die. Such is their creed. Kyo's creed is, of course, 'you little shithead' which is dictated through a powerful boot to the head, sending him tumbling into that little hole where the cultist was put into. Now it's more like a pile, since he doesn't go all the way in.
The first zealot's eyes open anew. "I see that mine comrades have fallen already," he concedes, "it is no mistake they have sent as many as they have. Why, right now, they wait to strike."
Elsewhere...
"This is marvelous," says a raspy voice.
"I hath never tasted such great tea," says an older voice with much enthusiasm.
"I... I don't mean to trouble you much more than we already are, ma'am, but may I have another cup?" Asks the youngest of the three.
"Oh, certainly," replies a familiar female voice, "have as much as you would like."
What sort of foul things are they up to?! Back to the present...
"I am sure you have heard it today many times, Kusanagi, but I must inform thee... it wilt not be the last," he chortles as he rises, renewed in his bloodletting and purpose, "so if you will, please get with the dying for our Lord!"
He reaches forward, bringing a palm onto the top of Kyo's head where possible, force him down into a kneel... and lift him back up from underneath his arms, to get his arms straight, to toss him up and away.
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/=======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/=======/=======|
Will the teeth remain, even after their owner has faded? Landing lightly, brushing bits of lint and dust from his jacket, the Frenchman is curious as to the fate of the girl, and moreso the origin of these 'people'. He looks to the cult-pile, eyebrows knitting, and then... Oh, a devious urge overtakes him. If there are three left, and Kyo insists on fighting them all (really, it'd be more sensible to escape), then why not eliminate the last of this batch quickly and move along?
Ash's mentality: The faster they beat them, the sooner he can go home.
The lean fighter strolls on past the indentation upon the dojo floor, right up behind the scarred, attacking zealot, "Ahh~hhh, have you forgotten about me so easily, monsieur?" Like how it's kinda hard to murder the heir to the Kusanagi legacy when the French flamewielder is attempting to kick you in the head? Well, the back of the head. He thrusts the toe of his dress shoe, body twisting, directly at that tender place where skull meets spine.
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Zealot1's Converting the Non-Believer.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\===----\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/=======/=======|
Yeah this is getting messy, between the hole in the roof, and the char marks from the earlier cultists, and now /this/. It's going to take weeks to get the cult smell out of the room!!
Kyo frowns down at his bloodied foot, when he finds himself face to face with the remaining zealot, who tries to force him down into a kneeling position, hand pushing forcefully down on Kyo's head... But Kyo pushes /back/, straining against the effort to force him to genuflect. "I hate to disappoint your 'Lord'..." Kyo says, gritting his teeth a bit as he pushes back against the effort, the accumulated damage so far, the accumulated exertion actually starting to take a bit of a toll on him.
"...Ah, who am I kidding? No I don't," the Kusanagi heir corrects himself, accompanying Ash's attempt to kick the cloaked man in the back of the neck by swinging his own leg up, right between the zealot's uprights. Really, really hard.
Just, so hard.
Like the guy's balls were responsible for this whole day even happening.
Oh, the humanity.
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 endures Ash's Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\=======\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/=======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 endures Kyo's Strong Kick.
> Determined Hit! <
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > // ]
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
Just like the coordinated (...of sorts) attack upon Kyo's person from earlier, do Ash and Kyo take advantage of the same - one comes in from the front, the other, behind, even as Kyo wrestles free of his grip.
"Thou shalt wait!" The zealot commands to Ash even as he nails him in the spine. Something cracks under that magnificent foot, for certain. Ash has little to worry about in regards to putting the hurt on these people.
"As I do, Kusanagi, as I do!" The zealot concurs with the first half of Kyo's statement as he takes another breath, where Kyo corrects himself and proceeds to boot him in the balls which... needs little more additional flavor text, other than where his body jerks upward a little, a wince turning into a sick grin - as though he is plenty happy with the two of them being there together.
"Now, Kusanagi!" He cries in a high-pitched voice rather humorously as he brings both arms upward in a clawing motion, a sickly gray chi following behind where he intends to rake them across Kyo. "PERISH!"
At which point, there are several more of these claw-like swipes ending with a final, thin column of light with the visage of a skull. Assuming Kyo doesn't up and smite him for the attempt, the body - all of them - disappear in the same columns prior.
ELSWHERE...
"I feel it is time we leave," says one of the gathered zealots.
"We thank you for the hospitality and your understanding of our position," the other bows.
"The tea was most marvelous, ma'am," says the youngest among them, "I am sure our Lord would feel the same."
The three of them see themselves out of the house just in time to see those odd lights coming from the dojo. They know what this means... as they do the corrupted petunias out on the lawn.
"I do believe we must hurry," says one zealot.
"Yes, quite. He is there." Says another.
"What's she going to say when she sees these?" The youngest asks of the others.
All three agree they need to very much hurry and take care of business before /she/ sees them.
In the present, assuming Kyo isn't murdered outright, both he and Ash will at least have a moment to catch their breath.
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 successfully hits Kyo with Holy Beatdown.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
His foot connects with solid bone, but there is no follow-through. The man won't budge, resisting him, and he similarly endures the Kusanagi scion's own strike. Is getting mashed in the tenders going to become a running gag here? Ash wants absolutely no part of these reindeer games.
With the zealot facing Kyo still, Ash is unable to see what comes next. Why? Because after lowering his leg with a quick snap, heel clicking on the wooden floor, he is blinded by a flare of sickly chi. Crimson shields his blue-eyed gaze, struggling to adjust, unable to tell what happened until it fades... and there are scorch marks. Like before, the three have disintegrated.
Head swiveling in the direction of the Kusanagi heir, the Frenchman gives him a look of appraisal, noting the bloodied foot, "I guess he decided to go out with a bang." His mysterious, soon utterly fox-like expression is enhanced by the way Ash clasps his hands behind his back and rocks to the balls of his feet. "Sure you want to keep fighting?" Far from tired and worn-out, the freckle-faced flamewielder seems... fairly perky, if bored somewhat and annoyed.
more fighter/. He assumes it's just because Kyo is similar to Shenwoo, and wants to assert himself as the GREATEST THING EVER, but is ignorant to other reasons... Kyo, isn't your mom home?/Drawing in a deep breath, Ash takes this moment to compose himself, knowing what the answer will likely be - /more fighting/. He assumes it's just because Kyo is similar to Shenwoo, and wants to assert himself as the GREATEST THING EVER, but is ignorant to other reasons... Kyo, isn't your mom home? Don't you want to protect her?/more fighter/. He assumes it's just because Kyo is similar to Shenwoo, and wants to assert himself as the GREATEST THING EVER, but is ignorant to other reasons... Kyo, isn't your mom home?
COMBATSYS: Ash gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 1/=======/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
Fortunately for everyone who is /not/ a supervillain, or in a nihilistic cult dedicated to the end of the human world, Kyo does in fact not perish.
He tries to deflect the crazed zealot's slashing, though, which doesn't quite work out how he was hoping it would; rather than the seemingly unbreakable material of the Kusanagi gloves absorbing the clawing motions, the bare flesh of his arms further up is what gets it instead, leaving a set of bleeding furrows in the World Warrior champion's skin. It /hurts/, and a lot more than anything else that's happened so far today, but it's still more annoying than really crippling.
"Seriously, these guys," Kyo mutters, shaking his head and ignoring, for the moment, his injuries. Instead, he looks over towards Ash, tilting his head a bit as he regards the Frenchman. "If any of these dingleberries are still running around my house, I intend to teach them a lesson," Kyo says. For a moment, flame stirs, erupting in the palm of his right hand before he snuffs it out by clenching his fist. "Besides, I'm too dumb to know when to quit. You got a problem with that, Freckles?"
COMBATSYS: Kyo gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Ash 1/=======/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/=======/=======|
"Kusanagi... Kyo, are you here?" Comes the voice of a young man - obviously in robes - as he leads two of his superiors inside the dojo. "Oh, there you are, you have a friend, well, that's... that's fine."
"We should say ahead of time, Kusanagi," one of the elders says, "we mean you no further harm beyond what is required of us, which is to say, your complete destruction, but..."
The other elder nods. "Your mother serves most excellent tea. You should be honored that she was the woman to bear you."
"B-But, um, we're also in a hurry now," the younger one corrects, "can we... can we hurry up and get this over with, please? We'd... we'd like to be out of here as soon as possible," he looks back behind himself nervously, although those attuned can see that despite their amicable greetings, there is a great sense of urgency.
That these three may yet, despite demeanors, be the most dangerous of them all.
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Cultist1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/=======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kyo 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Cultist1
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Zealot2 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Cultist1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/=======/=======|
"Ash Crimson." 'Freckles' corrects the scion with a lilting chuckle, and he is quite certain that Kyo is so very pleased to make his acquaintance... Meaning totally not. A warm introduction or welcome is the last thing Ash actually expects, and he 'hmmms' thoughtfully, "Non, I don't have a problem with that." Aside from, you know, the fact that this isn't very entertaining for him, even when the newest batch walk in for a royal rumble.
Sighing, arms wrapping around his mid-section instead, the lean fighter's rocking ceases, and he is the first to speak of the two flamewielders, "Zut, are you an idiot?" Platinum blonde hair spills away from his freckled features, a grin splitting his face. It stretches from ear to ear, "You can't possibly be this silly. Who would be jumping to acquiesce to such a request?" Ash likely speaks for both here; his very stance and presence is a testament to the fact that he doesn't care what they want.
But Ash is a little inwardly surprised, because there seems to be something different about these three. They are not stuck on thy's or thou's, and seem more pleasant... which puts him completely on edge.
Should he attack or defend?
At last, the Frenchman opts for what seems like the safest choice: His flames. He touches long black nails to his lips, then exhales (!?) a crescent of green fire right at the nearest zealot, as soon as he draws within range... Not that it honestly matters, as long as he's in the room. Ash tucks away his fringe behind his ears afterwards, sorting his headband.
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Zealot1 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/--=====/=======|-------\-------\0 Cultist1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 1/=======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/--=====/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kyo 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/--=====/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kyo 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
When Ash actually provides his name, Kyo lifts his hands and shrugs, shaking his head. As if he can be bothered to remember who other people are! So very, very bothersome.
Still, before Kyo can continue to demonstrate his sparkling social skills, his deft interpersonal grace and the way he makes new friends with speed and aplomb, they're interrupted by what he really sincerely hopes is the last batch of these cloaked weirdos, who are... Oddly polite about it, this time? And they don't even talk in funny old timey speech!
"I hope you guys thanked her," Kyo says, as if it were perfectly reasonable that a bunch of crazy people would barge into his house and end up getting served tea by Shizuka Kusanagi - because it totally is, because Kyo lives in a world that is not by any stretch of the imagination normal or reasonable. "But hey, you want to wrap this up quickly, why not?"
As Ash attacks, hurling a crescent of green flame at one of the zealots, Kyo charges... At the /same/ cloaked figure, timing his approach to come in while the zealot is hopefully busy dealing with Ash's attack, swinging his right fist in a brutal haymaker, sacred Kusanagi flame trailing behind the punch, and of course - erupting at the point of impact, if any.
Also of course, if he hits... Kyo doesn't stop there.
Stepping in, Kyo will then swing his left fist up in a short, fiery uppercut, and then keep twisting and /rising/ with that motion, to drive his back and shoulder into the cloaked man, the Ever Burning Flames coursing along his form at the Kusanagi heir's will, adding more bite to the strike. "Uryaa-!!"
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Zealot2 with Rapide Ventose.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Kyo 1/-======/=======|===----\-------\0 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 Toughs Out Kyo's Dokugami!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/-------|
"O-Of course we did!" The younger cultist looks flustered. "I mean, we also made sure to take off our shoes, what... what do you take us for? We're not savages, just... just devoted, right?"
"Quite." The first zealot nods. "Now, yes, of course, we can't just... simply ask someone to die and have them do this, so, you see, we need to make this happen. Will of our Lord, and all, nothing... too personal."
"Personal for our Lord, though." The second zealot says.
"Which, um, would make it personal for us in theory," the cultist says, "but, but, I... don't specifically hate you, okay? So..."
So, Ash hurls those flames off towards the second of the two zealots, whose low crouch suggests he was intending to avoid it entirely and not end up being burned in the face, where the flames turn blue in contact with the cloak before dissipating.
Kyo goes to make good on wanting to wrap this up quickly, going in with the vicious flaming swing that pushes the second zealot further back with some unsteadiness. The hood pops off to the burning strength of that fiery uppercut, the final shoulder hit (and flaming effects) painful to watch. Flesh even /sizzles/ where it makes impact, and yet, that second zealot holds strong.
"I, I thank you for understanding, yes, we should hurry," the second zealot says through clenched teeth from having to take this pain for his Lord, but, it is necessary, as he reaches out with a clawed hand to swipe across Kyo in a return effort that pales in comparison to Kyo's own strength against himself.
"I understand you are... a friend of his, yes?" The first zealot looks to Ash. "This, I assure you, does not need concern you and if it is quite all right if you leave, we've been a bit more open about our presence lately, but, if you would like to stay," he brandishes a dagger and tries to stab it somewhere into Ash's person, "you could donate your blood, that would be much appreciated."
"I'll, I'll help you!" The cultist calls to his injured zealot friend as he suddenly leaps forward and, in a complete show if incompetence, just tries to tangle his arms around Kyo's legs. Which... might be somewhat familiar. "Please just don't struggle too much, I beg you!"
COMBATSYS: Ash effortlessly dodges Zealot1's Small Random Weapon.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/=======/=======|=------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\===----\1 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/------=|
Should certain events transpire, then regardless of how he shrugs it off now, the Frenchman's name may be burned into the young Kusanagi's mind, just like the impressions left behind on the wooden dojo floor - the only proof that the previous fanatics even existed. Ash is unperturbed by such flippant rudeness, hardly perceiving it as a slight against him. On the contrary, as mentioned before, he finds Kyo rather predictable, given his behaviour thus far. He also has a high-tolerance for this sort of bullcrap.
Unrelated note: It's kinda funny, the scion's reaction to his mother serving these people tea. Because of it, the wielder of emerald flames pictures Shizuka Kusanagi to be something of a terrifying woman, especially when angered. She would have to be, to tolerate the likes for her arrogant son.
When his sentiment is not expressed in turn by the younger fighter, the Frenchman shakes his head, blonde bangs immediately free and half-obscuring his freckled face. There was really little point in tucking them back, "Do be careful, then." He says to Kyo, right as the heir trails his flames and charges down the zealot he attacked - clearly this is some form of teamwork, right? But while the blue fire dies away on the cloak's hood, it would seem that the Japanese man isn't quite so lucky.
Sure, there's the smell of burning flesh, to which Ash wrinkles his nose in disgust, but the guy stands there and takes it, clawing at Kyo in turn.
That's about when Ash has his own problems to be concerned with, and as the sun's rays glint off the steel blade of the dagger, he decides, "Merci, but I would rather not." The zealot misses spectacularly, and though his dodge carries him away, the Frenchman also counter-attacks at the same time, "And believe moi, this concerns me." He strikes out with a leg, spinning, in the pirouette kick seen earlier, reaching for the busted-up ceiling and arching his back.
He doesn't have anything to say about the friends remark, because really. Kyo doesn't have friends. He's too much of a jerk.
COMBATSYS: Kyo just-defends Zealot2's Strong Punch!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/=======/=======|=------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\===----\1 Zealot2
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Kyo counters Quick Throw from Cultist1 with Nue Tsumi.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ash 1/=======/=======|=------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\===----\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ash has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zealot2 1/----===/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-----==/=======|
Sometimes, a person has just /had enough/.
And apparently being polite when trying to murder Kyo counts as /enough/.
The World Warrior champion finds himself the focus of two of the three cloaked weirdos this time, which for most people would probably be a troubling situation, one to stir doubt in the stoutest of hearts. But you know what? Kyo Kusanagi... He's not 'most people'. The cloaked zealot's attempt to claw him across the face is met with a disdainful snort as Kyo actually /catches/ the clawed hand, in an example of nearly perfect timing, of virtually inhuman precision. Why, it's actually so amazing that Kyo almost impresses himself, a fresh surge of confidence putting new strength into his limbs.
Which doesn't bode well for the other guy.
As he shoves the zealot away, the cultist attempts to grab him by the legs, which all things considered is something Kyo would rather avoid, and his dark brown eyes turn down in a look of mild annoyance at the eager young apocalyptic devotee. "If you're gonna beg," Kyo says. "You might as well grovel on the--" At this point, Kyo brings his fist down on the top of the cultist's head, to drive him face-first into the wooden floor with an explosion of sacred Kusanagi flame!
"--GROUND!!"
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 interrupts Prairial from Ash with Sanctimony Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\===----\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-----==/=======|
"Well, it's hard to find someone /willing/, but," the first Zealot laments, but nonetheless pushes on with the full belief of his Lord behind him as Ash nimbly dodges away. He takes this moment to cut his palm instead as Ash comes at him with that kick, thrusting a palm forward in that grayish chi that's now more than familiar - intercepting Ash's ankle with a disruptive, explosive, sickly gray chi blast around the force of his own palming strike. Despite their similar temperments, their techniques are virtually identical. "If it does concern you, well, our apologies," the first zealot adds, "but we'll... need you out of the way too."
The second zealot's clawed hand is cleanly caught - his blue eyes widen. Pretty impressive, a little frightening, but with the reassurance of his faith that this setback is only temporary, he rears back to clench a clawed fist into his palm and let the blood flow in some sort of sick prayer while Kyo suggests the younger one is groveling. "They... already are, Kusanagi, all due respect."
"Owwwww!" The lone young cultist cries as he is faceplanted into the wooden floor hard enough to make a face-shaped imprint. "I'm sorry, Kusanagi, I'll do better! I'll do better! Because I know you're going to be suffering a lot from here on out and, and I'd like to end that soon as possible," he gibbers on and on as he stands up. He does have a kind of familiar personality, like... a certain someone would get along with them.
"Okay," he quivers as he cuts open one of his palms and sticks it out towards Kyo, "HOOORYAH!" If he were anything like this person, this palm would be useless and come up absolutely and entirely short of anything at all. Unfortunately, he does manage at least a little puff of grayish chi. Not a lot... but some. Enough that it might actually touch Kyo.
Maybe he's better off than that other guy. Sort of.
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 focuses on Zealot2's next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Ash 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\====---\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/-----==/=======|
He is thankful that the zealot's not raking those disgusting hands down his face, but this is still an unappreciated result: Caught in the midst of his kick, Ash's ankle is suddenly covered with that sickly chi. His thin lips pull back in a faint sneer, flashing white teeth, and he is instantly bowled over. The lean fighter crashes into the wooden floor hard on his side, rolling over twice and laying on his back, gazing up through the hole in the ceiling, made much earlier in the day.
It almost seems like eons ago.
The Frenchman can't help himself - he begins to laugh anew. It's not some light, mirthful chuckle either, but one of derision, "I feel sorry for you, because you have absolutely no idea who you're dealing with." Soon sitting, then standing, Ash brushes splinters and bits of dust from his blonde hair. His posture is decisively petulant, and the manner in which he speaks acrimonious, "You can't beat me."
By this point, perhaps the wielder of green flames has gone from annoyed to legitimately pissed off. It's extremely difficult to tell just what he's thinking on a good day, and made next to impossible to decipher now that he 'vanishes', a wax-like inferno having 'consumed' him. Perfectly calm and at peace in the centre of absolute chaos, the verdant conflagration rages all around him, its fierce roar deafening. Ash smiles, his eyes have changed colour, and extending his hand, the blaze heeds his command and /slams/ forwards, like a wall of pure burning force.
"Kusanagi Kyo," Ash calls out to the other, half-lidded, red-coloured eyes flickering in the scion's direction, "Let's make this a fair fight."
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Cultist1's Dogma Surge.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Kyo 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\====---\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/---====/=======|
Ugh, you know what, that's exactly what this is like. This is like having to deal with some kind of... Cloaked cultist Shingo. Did Shingo secretly fall in with a cult, is that where he's been lately? No, no. Not nearly enough kicking for it to be Shingo Yabuki. This is just, like, Shingo's evil twin.
The *paff* of greyish chi meets Kyo's upraised guard, sending a faint stinging feeling up along the World Warrior champion's arm... Before he aims a dubious and slightly irritated look at the cultist, seemingly on the point of asking if he is, in fact, for real when... Ash Crimson, of all people, tries to get his attention. The Kusanagi heir looks towards the flamboyant, flame-wielding Frenchman curiously, /sensing/ the sudden upswing of power from the other young man even before he can actually see it, the greenish conflagration that seems to devour Ash in its center.
"Heh," Kyo breathes out, half a laugh, and he snaps the fingers of his right hand, raising it above his head, and in an instant his ragged form is enveloped completely in orange-crimson flame. "Guess you guys brought this on yourself," he notes towards the robed figures, his voice oddly modulated by the sheer, overwhelming /power/ radiating off of him, and then in a heartbeat the Kusanagi heir is rushing forward, pulling his hand back and then throwing it outward, all that collected power, the flames covering his own body /peeling/ off of him and joining the brilliant Ever Burning Flame in his hand, the wave smashing into Ash Crimson's green fire...
And continuing onwards, the two disparate bloodline flames never mingling, never mixing, but careening forward in a deadly wave of orange and green, two strange and inexplicable powers working in concert - barely - to really, really ruin the first robed zealot's day.
"--EAT THIS!!"
COMBATSYS: Ash and Kyo successfully hit Zealot1 with Plan B - Kill it with FIRE.
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 refuses to stay down!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ash 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/---====/=======|
There is something very beautiful to be said about how Ash and Kyo combine their flames in that grand bid to, as Ash cleverly puts it, even up the fight. The way the green and orange join together into that single old zealot, there's no flash of blue on impact to speak of. A humanoid figure stands tall, arms spread out, as a pillar of fire engulfs them.
The other two cower before its might, as if learning the true nature of what it is that directly opposes their Lord - something truly powerful, truly great. The cultist sheds little tears of awe for whatever reason. How the hell do people like him end up as a cultist, anyway?
More importantly, as the flames die down, the first zealot - effectively naked and a burnt husk, is in a kneel. He rises up, slowly and maybe a little unnaturally, both arms outward with blue rage in his eyes, as though allowing himself to give in to the very nature of what he embodies.
"All due respect," the second zealot says, "to be pushed to that degree means he will rage to his very end." He nods as he looks up from his prayer. "But just as well."
"I like those green color flames." The younger cultist says, a complete non sequitur.
"Kusanagi," the first zealot's voice hisses, suddenly running over towards - of all people - Ash, even as the open air's contact with his horrible burns make every single moment completely and utterly agonizing to deal with, but whatever it is that their spooky cult powers give them, it's taken over that first zealot wholesale as he brings his burnt, clawed hands upwards to a grand column of that foreboding energy with that skull laughing, as if intending to take Ash all the way down.
"Brother, that's not the Kusanagi!" The young cultist says as he runs over towards Kyo and tries to headlock him, pointing a clawed finger his way. "This is! This is! See? C'mon!"
"It cannot be helped," the second zealot is at peace with that fact for the most part as he also strides along over to Kyo, seeking to rake a claw upwards in what he would consider a righteous blow. Not particularly polite, but, their business is clear even in spite of these... setbacks.
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 successfully hits Ash with The Gospel of Orochi.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ash 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|=======\======-\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
His irises remain red - a deep, endless crimson - and Ash is impressed by the scion's destructive power. Positively thrilled, even. He may be utterly enamored with it...
But his elation stems from dark, ulterior motives: Ash Crimson intends to take the Ever Burning Flame for himself, one day. He's not captivated because Kyo is awesome.
The first zealot embraces the twisting, emerald-orange conflagration, while his companions cower at its might, as they should. How the two flames, essentially identical, remain separate, unwilling to combine, yet still prove effective shall forever remain a mystery. He doesn't care to question it, just as Ash has not reconsidered the opportune moment presented prior. Logically, after taking down the initial six, why exchange blows with three? It makes sense to reduce their numbers further via any means necessary.
Unfortunately, even though that was likely the first time Kyo's ever agreed to anything in his entire life, their efforts do not prove fruitful, and the fanatic still stands, charred... smoking... quite possibly naked and also hideously scarred. As his identity is mistaken, the Frenchman's smile grows contemptuous, but the man has nothing more to say before he strikes. Once again, he's lost to a column of pure energy, except this time, it's different. It is not one of Ash's own creations.
With a pained cry, the slender flamewielder is forced into the wooden floor at incredible speed, so much that it cracks beneath him, forming an entirely new crater. Blood seeps out from the corner of his mouth. The colour of his eyes gradually fades back to blue...
"Ahaha..." Ash lifts his arms, pressing his palms to splintered wood behind his head. Long, thin legs curl towards his chest, then he flips himself back onto his feet and into an all-out charge, "Just give up!"
It's not very pretty, it's not very flamboyant - the effeminate flamewielder just tries to knock the guy out with a left hook (HE IS LIKE SOME SORT OF BRUTE), stumbling afterwards.
COMBATSYS: Kyo blocks Cultist1's Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ash 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|=======\======-\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 successfully hits Kyo with Righteous Blow.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ash 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|=======\=======\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
What in the... How is that guy even still up after that?!
Kyo isn't even impressed, he's just annoyed that the rather heavily charred zealot is still trucking, but on the upside he seems to be addlepated enough by that fiery assault to focus his attentions on Ash instead of on the Kusanagi heir himself... Which, unfortunately, still leaves Kyo to deal with the other two cloaked figures, who at least are able to think more clearly than the guy who just got set on Double Fire. The young, eager cultist tries to headlock Kyo, but the World Warrior champion powers out of the grip before it can fully get into place, pushing the (annoyingly!!) exuberant younger man away... But when he tries to deflect the older zealot's slashing attack, he ends up getting his arm cut again.
This is actually starting to get a little dangerous.
"I think we're just about done here," Kyo says, stepping in close to aim a knee at the zealot's gut, before bringing his right fist down in a hammerblow aimed at the side of the cloaked man's head, once again trading style and panache for brutal strength.
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Zealot1 with Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Ash 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|=======\=======\1 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Kyo successfully hits Zealot2 with Strong Punch.
> Determined Hit! <
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Ash 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Zealot1
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Cultist1 1/--=====/=======|
Let it be known that Ash has physically touched that scarred, burnt, horrible wreck of a man with that left hook that very may well be a meat hook at this point to hang this walking carcass with, the nearly skinless head turning so sharply as to suggest a snapped neck as a serpentine hiss escapes the (formerly?) polite devotee of this weird-ass cult that opposes the Kusanagi bloodline, stumbling forward until he falls down...
...you guessed it, that very little hole Kyo made in the beginning with one such cultist.
"Aie!" It's funny how even a simple escape sees the younger cultist fall to the floor in a clumsy, pathetic display, while Kyo states that they are, in fact, about done here - a hammer-headed blow pushing past the second zealot's raised arm to soundly thump him on the head down into a mere crouch.
"Please don't make sport of this, Kusanagi," the second zealot speaks, "I assure you this is a legitimate attempt at your life, although it is ultimately well-intentioned."
"H-Hey! You!" The cultist looks to Ash. "Do the green flames thing again! It's actually kind of neat. Can you show me how to throw those? I mean, the gray stuff is fine too but green's actually my favorite color, and, um," he just up and runs up to Ash to just grab him by his hands and shake him, "c'mon, tell me! I mean if green is that much better than gray then it'd be so much easier to destroy the Kusanagi bloodline once and for all, wouldn't it? Wouldn't it?"
...
Meanwhile, back over to the second zealot, whom is now in possession of a great concussion and a large bruise underneath his cloak, straightens himself out as blood is let from one of his hands. "I do find no real amusement to be had here, so I hope you will treat it much the same way," he says as he moves forward with those palm strikes - a very familiar technique seen, although this one seems to emphasize largely just the palm strikes - and the blood being shed as he subjects this limb of his to such pain against the Kusanagi scion.
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/-======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-======|=======\=====--\1 Cultist1
COMBATSYS: Zealot1 can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/-======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-======|=======\=====--\1 Cultist1
COMBATSYS: Ash interrupts Holy Lock from Cultist1 with Rapide Ventose.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Cultist1
/WHAM/!
The crack of Crimson's fist meeting skull echoes throughout the dojo, impact possibly breaking the zealot's spine!? But they're not actually people, so no need for concern.
Normally, this is the part where Ash would be awash with sweet satisfaction at such a spectacular hit, inwardly pleased with himself... but it is the furthest thing from his mind. Instead, the flamewielder is preoccupied with weighing his options: How will he scrub the stench off? Soap? No. Wire brush? Too painful.
Overcoming his stumbling momentum at last, drawing in a deep and shuddering breath, what is it with these crazies and falling down that hole? He doesn't understand it - did the first drop a cultist magnet in there before he left this plane of existence? At least the zealot's not getting back up for any kind of last stand, complete with snapped neck, like something out of a horror movie. Ash is somewhat relieved.
Looking a little worn, turning away, he is about to interrupt the two versus one happening on Kyo's end when the friendly, Shingo-like young cultist arrives, seizing him by the hands. The lean fighter's thought is now moot. It's a little funny to watch what happens from there, the kid shaking Ash, who is caught off-guard, babbling away about green flames! But with a cold smile, cultist boy gets exactly what he asked for, because when grip tightens, be it by accident or not, the Frenchman retaliates.
He lashes out, breaking free, verdant fire trailing those painted fingernails and blasting straight into the youngster's face. "Your Lord is going to be disappointed, asking the likes of me for help. We're enemies, you and I, or did you forget?" Ash pushes his hair back, then starts to twist it around his fingers... He can feel dirt and grime entangled with the blonde strands. Disgusting.
COMBATSYS: Kyo fails to interrupt Combo Attack from Zealot2 with Oniyaki.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Cultist1
"Do I /look/ amused?" Kyo wonders, noticing that they're /finally/ down to just two of these jokers. Surely, between himself and Ash, they can wrap this up no problem. Yes, surely by this point nothing else can possibly go wrong. The Kusanagi heir faces off with the approaching zealot, who goes for a series of palm strikes, but unfortunately... Well, not even somebody as transcendentally amazing as Kyo Kusanagi can make the right call /every/ time.
The World Warrior champion steps /in/, with the clear intention of powering through the cloaked man's attacks, but misjudges the timing; instead, Kyo gets struck solidly enough to stop him from whatever it was he was going to do - and whatever it was, it was probably going to be pretty bad for the other dude - staggering him and leaving him open to the rest of the strikes, driving him back by inches.
Could this be... Peril?!
Hooray, green flames! The young cultist would rejoice were he not set ablaze by them, flying away from the Frenchmen as the flames turn blue against his cloak. He screams rather comically, where with the rest it was rather... spooky, or blood-curdling. This one is purely comedy, through and through, the body bouncing across the floor. He dazedly looks up for a while like the general incompetent he largely is.
"With the somewhat sarcastic dialogue you've bandied about, er, yes, I'd say you were making sport of this," the second zealot says, finding no excessive maniacal glee in successfully stuffing Kyo's attempt at showing him down, "when you are clearly in peril." He remarks this as he steps forward once, but stops to spread his arms out wide and clenches his fists. "But do not worry, I will ensure it is as painless as possible. Though, I am sad as to how this would make your mother."
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 focuses on Zealot2's next action.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Cultist1
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Ash 0/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/--=====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Cultist1
Kyo gets totally stuffed, but someone here is on his side... Kinda. "Like you care about his mother." Ash says with a giggle, fussing now over the state of his hair, combing through his fringe again and again with those slender fingers and their black nails. His blue-eyed gaze drifts to the shrieking, fallen mass that is the younger cultist, cloak alight with blue again. The Frenchman is sorely tempted to kick the pathetic kid while he's down. If he doesn't, this 'entity' will likely be back later, with even more friends.
The effeminate man sighs. Really, it won't do at all for Kyo Kusanagi to die before his time. For that very reason alone, Ash sashays on over and aims a half-hearted, silencing kick straight at the young cultist's stomach, chiding him with, "Stop being so pathetic."
He feels almost cruel, but just keep telling yourself this, Ash: They're not people. They're like illusions, but more solid, and will fade when this is all over.
That was absolutely terrible, and rest assured Kyo accepts no blame whatsoever for how it turned out. Instead, the oft-arrogant Kusanagi heir narrows his eyes slightly at the cloaked zealot as the man postures and pontificates, and actually... Brings his mother back into this? What the hell, that is not cool at all! "Yeah, well," Kyo says, irritably. "/Your/ mother."
You tell 'em, Kyo Kusanagi.
Still, this is no time to stand around and let the bad guys do whatever they want, so even as Ash goes after the younger cultist, aiming to fix his proverbial wagon but good, Kyo himself goes after the remaining zealot, looking to grab the older man by his cloak and pull him off of his feet by main force, before simply and rather brutally smashing him back down against the much-abused floor.
He is so far beyond sick of these guys!
COMBATSYS: Kyo successfully hits Zealot2 with Strong Throw.
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 refuses to stay down!
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ash 0/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Cultist1
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Cultist1 with Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ash 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Kyo 0/-------/-======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Cultist1
The fatigue off of these gentlemen that stand against the (seemingly, for being a single-digit number) endless horde of... uh, a horde of cultists of a wide variety of personalities and tempers, aside from their more or less single-minded drives to fulfill some malicious prophecy or another by bringing about the downfall of a young man who, up until now, has had absolutely nothing to do with any of this. It's not even his fault, it's just the blood that goes within him and those flames that he has so very much enjoyed the power of with... precious little of the responsibility.
The whimpering young cultist that is an awful lot alike THAT GUY squeals pathetically underneath Ash's kick, seeing him as less than people and being treated accordingly as he rolls across the floor. The meditation of his older ally is completely broken of his concentration by a Kyo that is absolutely done with this mess, slamming him into that hardwood floor which is looking more and more like the recipient of a meteor shower or at least a gopher infestation, the two of them being crumpled together in a heap together.
"Oww... I give up," the young cultist says.
"No, you do not," the older one says as he rises. "Come. To not give us our all would be a disservice to our Lord, and to these gentlemen whom must fall."
"But I'm hurrrt," the younger cultist complains.
"Please, be strong, brother." The older cultist nods as he helps him up. The two of them join bloodied hands. "You remember the chant, yes? We are... definitely letting out plenty enough blood."
"Uh huh, but--"
"Now focus!"
The two chant. A fell energy seems to fall upon the room. /Something/ is going to happen. The air around these two take a certain haze, an unnatural wind kicking up from below where there is no real breeze indoors. The very dojo starts to shake between their combined power - feeble as they may have been compared to Kyo and Ash together, they attempt to call upon something far greater than themselves! Something that will almost assuredly bring the very end of the Kusanagi bloodline and whoever that fruit belongs to in a flash! One final, fell swoop.
"Would you two happen to have had something to do with my petunias?" Asks a female voice. A so very familiar voice.
The whole phenomenon stops, as both the young cultist and other surviving zealot look at one another. The unnatural blue in their eyes are supposed to represent the rage, the gift of their fell Lord in which to serve his aims.
They also now house complete and utter terror, as they both start to grovel at her feet.
"We apologize, we had no personal hand in--"
"We're sorrry!!" The younger cultist interrupts, tears streaming down his cheeks.
...
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ash 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Cultist1 can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ash 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ash 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 0/-------/-======|
Ooooooooh snazzy. It would appear that the Kusanagi heir has abandoned all his former wit and glory to dish out the /mother/ (ha ha) of all insults. But as the Frenchman figures, if they're not exactly human, then these fanatics probably don't have parents, or really anything. Way to go, Kyo. Their 'family' is likely composed of each other, and if all the women are as ugly as that girl, then what a sad, sorry state of affairs it must be.
Toe of his dress shoe soon buried in the kid's stomach, something strange occurs... Ash actually feels a slight pang of guilt, because he really is pathetic, but it is swiftly chased away. Everything happens for a reason. Even this. The man smiles, bright and cheerful, glad that the entire ordeal is almost over. Maybe he'll invite Kyo along too for a cup of hot chocolate, but probably at the nearest cafe. Are there even any cafes around here? The Kusanagi estate isn't exactly in Southtown-proper-- what?
At the joining of hands, the hair on the back of Ash's neck rises. His entire body even tenses, acutely aware of the swell of energy, suspecting that both will sacrifice themselves to bring a greater evil into this world... An evil by the name of SHIZUKA KUSANAGI?! The wielder of green flames is completely dumbfounded by the woman's arrival, so much that his jaw drops slightly, and then he looks to the scion and doesn't really know what to say beyond, "Ha ha." He scratches at the back of his head, mussing his own hair, "Now what?"
COMBATSYS: Ash takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Ash 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zealot2
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 0/-------/-======|
Nothing good ever come from chanting, not ever. Kyo knows this, because he is somewhat on the genre savvy side, and so when the two remaining robed guys start chanting, focusing their energies through all that spilled blood to start bringing forth /something/, some expression of power that only true believers working completely in concert could amange, the Kusanagi heir actually starts to get a little worried... Not that he'd ever admit it. He tries to plan his attack, a possibly desperate last-minute gamble to disrupt whatever shenanigans are causing the unnatural wind, the shaking of the dojo, when--
--Kyo's mom comes to the rescue!!
They are so totally safe now, thanks to the timely intervention of Shizuka Kusanagi, and with a relieved sigh Kyo sinks down to sit on the floor, still managing to ignore the pain of his accumulated wounds as he leans back on his hands. "They made a mess in here, too!" Kyo calls out helpfully, because he is ever willing to pass the buck, and twice as quickly in a situation where it's actually deserved.
Kyo glances over at Ash, when the Frechman wonders 'now what?', and then he shakes his head. "I dunno about you, but I'm gonna go grill me a cheese," the Kusanagi heir says, providing insight and perspective on the day's events. He's probably going to hit up the first aid kit too, who knows what was under those freaks' nails.
"You... you are on your own, brother," the elder zealot looks upon his older, beaten companion with sad eyes.
"W-Wait... what?" He whimpers.
From the hole one of the latest casualties fell to and next to the poor young cultist, a column of energy appears, flashing a skull as they teleport to safety. This one didn't know that particular technique.
"Ummm... hello?" He looks around weakly and meekly as Kyo runs off to go get himself a grilled cheese sandwich. "Um, anyone here? I, um, I'm... stuck here."
"Did you want more tea?" Asks Kyo's mother, who stands resolute and - oddly - fearless of what just transpired in front of her, as she also looks to Ash. "I presume you would like some as well?"
"Y-Yes, I'd love some more tea!" The young cultist looks up, tears falling from his eyes. "Yes, that would be most nice, I'd... I'd really enjoy it!"
"I'll allow you another cup," Shizuka starts as she looks upon the bowed young cultist with a completely neutral expression.
"Oh, thank yo--"
"...As soon as you fix these holes and remove those weeds you placed in my garden. I'll be waiting then." She turns around to leave, perhaps to go help serve Kyo that grilled cheese sammich he so loves. She'll have plenty of words for him, certainly.
Ash is of course welcome to tea.
COMBATSYS: Zealot2 has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Ash 1/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 0/-------/-======|
This woman's presence is most terrifying, but soothing all the same. Ash asks himself, in shock, /HOW/ Kyo can be related to Shizuka Kusanagi, but then again, he wondered the same of Yuki (girlfriend, not relation). The Frenchman smiles as the offer is extended to him as well, "Tea would be lovely." Shame that one zealot ran - what if this happens again? And there's that cultist who will also be joining them. What of him?
This entire experience has left Ash with many questions and very little answers, but at least his clothes are intact. That is very important.
COMBATSYS: Ash has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Kyo 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Kyo has ended the fight here.
Log created on 20:23:39 02/05/2011 by Kyo, and last modified on 01:35:41 02/19/2011.