Nonahu 1: Beyond the Beginning

[13:38] <@Genshuku> THE YEAR IS 2003. MELEE HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED. THERE WERE DAYS BEFORE THE TYRANNY OF FOX. BUT IN THESE DAYS OF PEACE, ONE WARRIOR SEES BEYOND. "I WANT TO BE THE BEST. EVERYONE ELSE IS A BUNCH OF SCRUBS THAT JUST DON'T SEE THE TRUTH." AND SO, THEY RISE TO GIT GUD, AND THEY DO SO BY BEGINNING TO MAIN FOX, TURN OFF ITEMS, AND PLAY ON...BATTLEFIELD. THE END DRAWS EVER CLOSER, BUT MAY IT BE AVERTED YET?
[13:38] <@Soft> That ain't Falco.
[13:39] * Soft is now known as Niina
[13:42] <@Genshuku> ...OK, the year isn't 2003, unless for some reason it is. It probably isn't though. In the city of Maebashi, located in Japan (an island region), things are as they should be...for the most part, anyway. That is, there's some things that are most certainly abnormal, strange, and looked down upon, but at least they're not ACTUALLY spelling the end of the world, or even its coming ruin.
[13:47] <@Genshuku> Of course, the one person that fits all three of these categories is convinced of...the exact opposite, though perhaps with less looking down upon. And so, the question remains...is Niina going to ditch school (again) because of some STRANGE ACTIVITY god knows where? ...Not that's it's started, but in a few hours, people will start waking up. Why are you awake at this hour, even? ...Whatever the case, you're definitely up early. The world is but a haze, though that usually sorts itself out.
[13:49] * @Niina set an alarm for this time ESPECIALLY because it's when people aren't up, and the things nobody wants to see (read: ghost, demons, etc.) are. Leaping out of bed with feline precision, Niina reaches on a desk and downs an entire glass of water, barbarically eats an entire stick of Pocky icingless-end-first, and darts out the door, in that order.
[13:50] <@Niina> Hair status: Messy.  Eyes status: Yep, dark bags, whatever, monsters don't care about appearance.  Divine Blade Holy Ascalon st- whoaaaa that's missing hold on.
[13:50] * @Niina walks backwards, grabs a pocketknife off the desk, and then re:shuffles through the door.
[13:58] <@Genshuku> What kind of HERO is without their sword? The answer is 'before the game actually starts'. You're not some half-baked just became protag, no, you've been at this since you were, like, seven. You've got EXPERIENCE under your belt. You've seen a lot of horrifying things that no one else seems to be able to...and that just makes the threats all the more insidious. But as long as evil exists, your fight shall continue! ...Today's destination...a strike at one of the demon's bases, an 'abandoned' house (that's always been put off for a demolishing for SOME REASON, clearly dark work...or just construction workers going on strike, as has been mentioned in the news).
[14:02] <@Niina> The front door creaaaaaaks closed... even if somebody inside wakes up, surely they're used to this by now.  One step on the pavement, and then another, and then another... "That's good," with a relieved sigh she looks up and begins narrating to nobody in particular while walking briskly toward the destination.  "I see you're watching me again.  Like you should be, because who else is going
[14:02] <@Niina> to complete tasks as important as mine?"
[14:02] <@Niina> This is normal.
[14:04] <@Niina> "This time they've put off a demolition.  Why?"  Niina smirks an insane smirk while jumping over a fence, 'oof'ing on the way down.  "Because the demons are stopping it from happening, obviously.  I don't have time to write a diary, so I hope it's being recorded."
[14:08] <@Niina> "Ooh, I don't think I can talk the whole time though.  But if I did it all in my head, how would I know if you were getting it all?  Maybe your technology isn't advanced enough to read thoughts yet."
[14:11] * @Niina wears a hoodie and jeans by the way- there was no need to put them on on the way out, because who WOULDN'T sleep in their clothes before an important investigation? It's not healthy, but neither is any of the rest of this shit so it checks out.
[14:17] <@Genshuku> Of course it's being recorded! Hopefully, it's not also being recorded by the demon army with some kind of scrying crystal orb of darkness. That'd be bad news. Just imagine, if they were able to record your every move...they'd get a counter-attack on you in your sleep or something. Also, it'd be creepy, moreso if you'd actually changed. Scary thoughts. But more importantly, the fight beyond! To invade the demon jerks that took up residence here! You're pretty sure you hear noises inside, so they...have to be in here! Because this is normal.
[14:18] <@Niina> "Alright, silent mode... activated."  She nods to herself as if something actually happened.  "Guato, ci somata tauft- Holy Instrument Divine Ascalon, be at my side."
[14:18] * @Niina takes a deep breath and slips inside the building through the first available entrance. ESPECIALLY if it's the front door, they never expect that.
[14:24] <@Genshuku> Who expects the front door, anyway? She opens the door, and...
[14:26] <@Genshuku> ...well, if there were a demon army here, there would be a demon army to describe. It's the front door. Of course, there aren't actually any demons here, but there might totally be demons here. Aside from what may or may not be here, though, it's sure a creaky abandoned house. Maybe the only reason it wasn't described as haunted was because it would immediately set you off. Maybe!
[14:27] <@Genshuku> It creaks just a LITTLE bit more than it ought to, though.
[14:29] <@Niina> It's still dark and scary, which is the whole thrill to begin with.  Even after having done this for years and years, it's still a tiny bit spooky.  So of course Niina reaches into the hoodie and pulls out a flashlight - of COURSE there'd have been a flashlight in there all along - but, while aiming it, reconsiders with a mumble.  "... Then they'd know I'm here.  Just a bit longer."
[14:29] * @Niina walks further in the dark without even waiting for her eyes to adjust. Like a b- ... like an idiot. There's no other way to describe that one really.
[14:30] <@Niina> And every single creak gets treated to an evasive action, like holding the knife out or jumping to the side.  Every.  Single.  One.
[14:42] <@Genshuku> When evasive actions themselves generate creaks, things certainly start to get out of hand. It's not long before her eyes adjust anyhow, but damn, there MUST be a lot of demons here. In the thick of the moment, though, you distinctly notice that the noise is also coming from behind you. A considerable distance, perhaps, but definitely behind you.
[14:42] <@Genshuku> ...Turning would reveal a couch. Huh, you passed by a couch on the way there, apparently.
[14:43] * @Niina blinks a few times and puts the flashlight away, settling down and finding a comfortable position to stand in that doesn't make a creak. "I don't need you right now. It looks like it's starting already."
[14:44] <@Niina> "... Is what I should say, but did this actually..." She takes a step toward the couch and pokes it a few times.  Losing your sense of direction is something that happens to everyone, yep.  Must've gotten turned around.
[14:44] <@Niina> "So I came from... that... way?"
[14:50] <@Niina> No time tio sit down now, anyway.  Back out the door.  The... front door?  Might as well peek out the corner first in case it's humans, that would mean it's time to stop the investigation early.
[14:50] * @Niina remembers what it was like getting caught the last time and grimaces. Wouldn't want to go through that again, that's worse than fighting any demon.
[14:55] <@Genshuku> The couch bites your hand! ...No it doesn't. It's a perfectly normal, albeit old and neglected, couch...with someone behind it, making a poor attempt to hide, who upon being walked towards, dashes inside one of the house's rooms! It's hard to tell who--or what--it was, if you even know them. Of course, you're also pretty sure humans don't have horns, and you could swear there were horns on that one. Even though your eyes are used to the lightning, it was far too hard to make out any real specifics.
[14:56] <@Niina> Yeah, screw the door.  One deep breath and...
[14:56] * @Niina VAULTS OVER THE COUCH AND DASHES INTO THE ROOM
[14:57] <@Niina> Actually, now's a smart time for the flashlight once it's clear what room they went into.  If it doesn't trip them up a little, it'll at least give a better view of what's really on their head... and if it's a demon, they're weak to light anyway.
[14:57] <@Niina> So are vampires, zombies, and some aliens.  It's too easy, really.
[15:28] <@Genshuku> You could swear you hear cursing! THE PURSUIT IS ON. The room wraps around to another room which itself wraps around back to the living room, and the pursued (dressing in all black, with...is that a hood? Can you even afford to think about this? Hoods and horns?) makes the most regretable decision of trying to go up the stairs. Expecting to take a step up, the pursued does not, which throws them off entirely and makes them fall down. They turn around and god damn it it's someone wearing a black hoodie, pants, and a pair of large, fake horns. She's equal parts kind of terrified at your sudden relentless pursuit with a knife and, if common opinion is to be believed, you. But who is someone? Just 永峯チカ子, who does to some of your classes, and seems to hold the same opinion as everyone else does about you in that you're crazy, but who's more crazy? Someone looking for demons and believes they're there, or someone...pretending to be a demon next to someone looking for demons?
[15:29] <@Genshuku> Either way, she's half catching her breath from the run and her fumble, and half laughing her ass off.
[15:41] <@Niina> As Niina shines the flashlight on Chikako's face, enough to recognize it and, more important, recognize the look of terror plastered on it, she hesitates for barely even a second before pointing the flashlight toward herself in order to make the most horrifying 'I'm gonna kill you' smirk she possibly can.  If she's gonna freak someone out, might as well go the whole way, right?  With a BLIP
[15:41] <@Niina> (or similar noise) her finger slides the flashlight off and puts it up, sliding the knife's blade out (Was it not out already?  Even if it was, it gets closed and reopened just for dramatic effect and also the SFX), and her legs reposition to a very anime-inspired battle stance that makes a few additional creaaaaaks on the floor with its exaggerated movement.  Not skipping another beat: "O
[15:41] <@Niina> Instrument of the Divine Light, Legendary Tool Holy Ascalon, I ask now for your strength in vanquishing evil.  Shining..."  Her toes point inward, the sheer pressure on the floor making another creak.  "Judgment..."  The blade makes an exaggerated movement, being raised from her side and pointed forward.  "... RAY!!"  The sound of crickets (cicadas?) begin outside the building, joined by
[15:41] <@Niina> nothing other than the reverberating creaks of the shoddy floor.  The flashlight in Niina's hoodie compartment rattles a little bit from the movement but, as she becomes still, it does the same.  Once her eyes readjust she continues to hold the position, just watching the girl's face to see how much she freaks out.  If at all.
[15:59] <@Genshuku> hahah--oh god wait right she's actually serious--does she actually think this 'disguise' is----wait, ray? The SHINING RAY™ strikes her, and she...reacts as accordingly, as if struck by a beam of light or something! ...Obviously she's not to any sane viewer, but there's only the insane here to worry about, so whatever. ...She closes her eyes when it's done, and...eventually opens them, seeming particularly groggy. And then...she speaks, equally groggy! "What...what happened?"
[16:01] <@Niina> With a FWIP the knife gets put away.  In a terrifyingly calm voice Niina speaks, "What do you think?  Even if I'm the only one destined to save the world, it's not like I'm a Paladin."  A brief sigh.  "I don't have that kind of power."
[16:02] <@Niina> "So what're you doing here?  This isn't a place for humans."
[16:12] <@Genshuku> ...She's--just keep going. "Clearly not! I wanted to check out the house people were talking about earlier while it was still early, for the...sense of adventure, I guess, didn't know it was a den for those...things, but I...got ambushed upstairs, and my mind went blank from there." Chikako reaches to her own head, and...takes off the set of fake horns. "...I guess they have a sense of humor!"
[16:13] <@Niina> "Oh, so you got infected by them."  Niina nods along understandingly.  "That sounds about right for an amateur, but it's okay-- you can go home now, I have the experience to handle this."
[16:15] * @Niina starts up the stairs, but pauses. "... But if you're really in it for the sense of adventure, you can stay behind me and watch how it's done. Um..."
[16:15] * @Niina scratches her head.
[16:15] <@Niina> "Nagamine-san, right?"
[16:22] <@Genshuku> She...continues to roll with it, it seems. Either that or she is in fact crazy like you secretly. It's hard to tell these days. "Y-Yes. I'd like to see how it's done! And that's who I am, yeah."
[16:23] <@Niina> "Good, because yours is one of the only names I ever remembered.  I like how it's written."  And up the stairs, Belmont-style.
[16:23] <@Niina> DODO DOO DOOOOOOOOOOOO dododododoDOO do doo doDOO` ♪
[16:25] <@Niina> ... For reference, it's the NES-style march, not speedrunner edition from the later vanias where you can jump up the stairs and other dumb shit.
[16:30] <@Genshuku> And it's certainly not 'phasing through the stairs and walls', like in TASs. Thankfully the house has only two floors, so there's not too much more climbing to be done after the only set of stairs in the house. And the second one...huh. Is it different than the first? It feels different than the first. Maybe because it's less open. More hallways, more rooms. Chikako seems to be keeping an eye out, at least?
[16:30] <@Genshuku> You feel drawn to the room on the other end of the house, but that might be all the reason to just go through every other one first.
[16:33] <@Niina> Yeah, or doing that airdash thing.  Man those SotN Richter mode speedruns were something.  That said, a smart person would definitely check the house for anything useful, but that's because a 'smart person' is somebody who wants to raid the house for anything of value and sell it.  Not only is Niina not one of these people, she knows she's specifically here to fight the... what was it, demons
[16:33] <@Niina> ?  Aliens?  African-Asians?  Whatever.  At this stage it's difficult to tell the difference between the actual supernatural and full-on chuunibyou, but, unnerved as she is, our chuuni marches straight for the room the presence seems to be at anyway.  "Just stay calm, I've got this.  Don't try to be a hero and you'll be fine."
[16:33] <@Niina> "... And don't even THINK about backstabbing me, but I shouldn't need to tell you that," shooting a small glare back.
[16:34] <@Niina> Fwip, out goes Powerful Divine Blade of the Gods Ascalon.  Each step toward the destination gets sliiiiightly slower, and slower...
[16:36] <@Genshuku> The door is...imposing? It's imposing. A normal door, by all rights, but you'd probably have to measure it to be sure that it wasn't bigger than any other doors by hand Chikako herself seems a bit unnerved! "You don't, I'm alright." She good.
[16:39] * @Niina looks to it and another door, just in case. Staring at it and thinking for a second, she pulls the flashlight out and hands it to Chikako. "Here, turn this on. They're weak to light. If I didn't use it on you you'd still be possessed by now." It's hard to tell if she's being legit or trying to make a joke, but her voice doesn't even crack a bit.
[16:40] <@Niina> And then, after one deep breath, her non-weapon-holding hand pushes the door open.  Or turns the knob or whatever, sometimes in houses like this doors are slightly off the hinged or knobs are missing or etc so it's whatever.
[16:43] <@Genshuku> Chikako holds the flashlight, and nods in what must be understanding, probably! ...The real question is how much people here are actually joking at one time. There's still a turnable knob, and it's turned...
[16:44] * @Niina gets ready to dash through the door and slice up some baddies like something out of shounenshit.
[16:53] <@Genshuku> ...but something would give Niina pause. Something about twice the size of her head. It wasn't the bucket once filled with water, lying on its side, with a broken rope snagged onto it somewhere, resulting in a kinda wet floor. What it WAS...was a heavily condensed ball of...smoke? Darkness? Tis a cloud of something that is obviously part of her imagination...or it would be, if Chikako didn't nearly drop the flashlight, thankfully saving it to fully take in what she was about to see. Tis a cloud that...opens a single eye, directly at Niina. It does not look happy to see her, or Chikako for that matter. Chikako's plot being foiled by something like this was one matter. Chikako seeing such a thing actually legitimetely exist (at least, giving her reaction to it) is another one entirely. She begins freaking out! "W-wait, what the hell is that?!"
[16:54] <@Niina> GULP.
[16:56] <@Niina> "It's just a... I mean..."  Even Ascalon fumbles a bit.  "I-I expected this!  Right, here goes!"  It's a lot harder to be afraid of something when somebody's watching and could tell everybody, so convinced she'd just chuuni'd herself to the point of insanity, Niina makes a brave step forward with the weapon.  "Get that light steady, keep it there!"
[16:56] <@Niina> Y-Yeah, this'll work fine.  Just fine.
[16:58] * @Niina gulps again, sweating a little bit, before leaping to the right and trying to aim a V-shaped lunge at the creature from the side. If.... it's that close. Not that that's a great idea on wet floor, but neither is 'being here.' BRING IT.
[17:12] <@Genshuku> You can feel the house shake--or perhaps those are your legs? A sound that...are those foreign words? But they don't sound like any particular language. Just...terrifying, really. It sees (ha) the attack coming, and flies back with a speed unlike that which you have already imagined! Chikako continues to freak out. "That thing can't actually be there!  That's goddamned nonsense! See, if I just throw something at it...!" She picks up a vase with one arm, keeping the light focused, and chucks it at the beastie.
[17:15] <@Genshuku> It connects with a crash! Doesn't get it in the eye, but it gets the job done. It's sent backwards, but unlike most people getting hard objects thrown at them, it doesn't seem too worse for wear. "N-no way!" For someone pretending that they were infected, that's a strong amount of disbelief.
[17:16] <@Genshuku> It, however, has more immediate threats to deal with! It flies above Niina, and attempts to smash her into the ground (or, perhaps the first floor)!
[17:18] <@Niina> "D-Didn't you meet this thing before?"  Niina tries to hide her disbelief by questioning Chikako's disbelief, and it doesn't go very well at all.  So instead of trying to apply logic, she just does what she's always done and keeps moving around so as to not get hit.  It... seems to be working?
[17:20] <@Genshuku> It does! It crashes into the floor, leaving a hole. Oh god, that would probably have hurt a lot. Chikako seems to sort of ignore Niina's statement. "This was NOT part of the plan!"
[17:22] * @Niina starts to tingle with excitement. "But it was mine..." The knife spins in her hand and then swipes with such speed that it looks like her arm's following in its path after the fact. It aims toward the beast while it's still in the ground, but she kneels forward a slight bit so as to not get thrown off-balance.
[17:27] <@Genshuku> It strikes home! It's sliced! ...The darkness spasms, but eventually recovers, rising from the hole it had created.
[17:28] <@Niina> ... And then throws a snap-kick in its direction, as a feint.  Even if not it's not like it would hurt much anyway.  "Now!  Throw something else!  Like... throw that bucket!"  HELPing Chikako for a +1!
[17:29] <@Niina> "I got its attention.... b-because this is how I've always done it, y... yeah."
[17:29] <@Genshuku> It...looks less vigorous, but normally when things are stabbed, by holy weapons or otherwise, they tend to stop moving. This thing is still def moving. "A-alright!" SPIKE THROW THAT BUCKET.
[17:32] <@Genshuku> ...And it's thrown! It's almost dead-on, but it floats to the left in the nick of time!
[17:32] <@Genshuku> Annoyed, but still very well focused, the...thing...its pupil glows--holy shit that's a laser.
[17:32] <@Niina> "Rgh..." Back to the combat stance.
[17:35] <@Genshuku> The laser shot is fired in Niina's general direction! Lasers are hard. ...Wait, no, they're not particularly hard or soft, really. They just...go through things. Like the floor.
[17:35] * @Niina dances to its side and stays ready, but has to blink in disbelief a few times afterward. "W-Wh-..."
[17:36] <@Genshuku> With any luck, demolition should be done early! The house creaks in agony.
[17:36] * @Niina shakes her head. "No, no, stay focused. C'mon, we can do this."
[17:36] <@Niina> "Divine Blade Holy Ascalon, I call upon your power for real this time!  I mean it, I mean it, Ireallymeanit..."  Pointed out toward the eye, she takes a MUCH deeper breath than the previous times and PLUNGES toward it.
[17:37] <@Genshuku> "How on earth--no, I get it now! I'm dreaming! This entire plan was ridiculous from the get-go, so I must be dreaming! That's it! It makes sense now!" Chikako falls into her own delusion.
[17:40] <@Niina> As soon as she feels ANYTHING, any sort of contact, Niina RIPS the knife upward and hoists it in the air, using all that breath she'd saved up to shout.  "THIS IS THE END!"
[17:40] <@Niina> In her head energy coalesces into it and prepares for a final attack or somesuch, but really all that's happening is a shout obnoxious enough to hopefully piss it off.
[17:42] <@Genshuku> The blade plunges as deep as it can! It provokes a similar reaction, and despite the HOLY BLADE being deeply embedded in this living nightmare (but not Nightmare), it is still very much clearly alive. A bit tied up with the being stabbed business, but still very much alive.
[17:43] <@Genshuku> Chikako, with a new leap of foolhardiness, enters melee range.
[17:43] <@Niina> "See?"  With a big grin, still holding the blade up for it to 'gather energy.'  "This is what I meant by 'how it's done!'"
[17:44] <@Genshuku> And as it's pinned down, Chikako raises her foot up...
[17:44] <@Niina> Oh, and that was disrupting it for a -2 to its next challenge (I guess that's not how it works in pdf, it needs to be making the challenge first, but whatever) just in case I'm ever going through logs and wonder what the fuck's going on here
[17:46] <@Genshuku> And STOMPS ON IT. "Come on, then! If you're this scary, evil thing, then put up a fight!"
[17:46] <@Niina> "That's the spirit."
[17:47] <@Niina> She had to be wearing jeans, too.  Thing doesn't even get a view.
[17:48] <@Genshuku> She was, so it's not lucky at all. "D-don't compliment me!" Chikako also regains some awareness...and as she does, the big eye decides it's had quite enough of Chikako's screeching, and begins to do a SPINNING TACKLE in her direction!
[17:52] <@Genshuku> It...hit! The sheer difference in power level is obvious. You think you hear a crack BEFORE she slams into the wall. You definitely hear a crack after, but that's because the wall gave in a bit. Thankfully, twas in a direction that's...still inside the house. A scream indicates that she no longer believes she's dreaming! It's either a nightmare or reality, but at least she pops out of the wall. Sure, she's bleeding, and limping a bit, and kind of completely out of wack, but at least she's alive?
[17:54] * @Niina watches in horror and then smacks herself in the face. ... Still awake? "Wow, maybe I'm crazier than I thought. Ugh, I-..." With a furious grunt, the raised blade swings downward through the air into the back of the monster! Or... at it.
[17:55] <@Niina> "... AM THE WIELDER OF THE DIVINE BLADE!  TAKE THIS!!"
[17:57] <@Genshuku> Chikako's definitely out of it, but hooooly shit is she having a rough time now, so she's kind of just BEYOND words at this point. At least she has Niina to cover (sort of) for her! The yelling and piercing...every time that thing is getting stabbed, it unleashes a barrage of things that seem to be words? Perhaps that's what they were, but they grow ever more faint. It's definitely having an effect!
[17:58] <@Genshuku> Chikako, though, thinks that she would rather not right now, and attempts to get...FURTHER AWAY THAN SHE IS NOW.
[17:58] <@Niina> ... Oh right forgot to minor, let's disrupt its next move again when it does it
[17:58] <@Genshuku> Using Niina as cover, she BACKS OFF a considerable distance, a surprising one considering she's limping the whole way there.
[17:59] * @Niina doesn't pursue or even talk at her, fully in focus. Watching the movement of its eye, she darts around to make sure she's in the way of ANY attempt it makes to pursue the other girl. And if it doesn't, still in the way anyway.
[18:01] <@Genshuku> It doesn't seem pleased with the other girl being around, but...it has more immediate threats! If she's in the way, then it's all the same! A flying tackle!
[18:02] <@Genshuku> ...That thing is moving awfully fast.
[18:03] * @Niina is caught off-guard before even making an ATTEMPT to dance out of the way this time, watching the attack wide-eyed. "Uh..."
[18:05] <@Genshuku> Niina is...sent flying into a different wall! It would take quite an active imagination to delude the scene in front of her, but it would take more to emulate the pain going through her body right now!
[18:06] * @Niina at least absorbed what happened to Chikako and tries to use logic (and the fetal position) to cushion the impact as much as possible, but it still hurts like hell. She might even cough up a little blood.
[18:06] <@Niina> ... Absorbed.  Observed.
[18:08] <@Genshuku> Nah, she absorbed it, too. Well, she absorbed something like that which happened to Chikako. With her body. As judged by the coughing--yep, that's blood. Not much, but that shit ain't right.
[18:08] <@Niina> "You're... a real... bastard."  At least her grip on Divine Ascalon never loosened for a second, because that would be unbefitting of the savior of the universe.  Fingers coiled so tightly her knuckles turn while, they loosen up just as soon as she musters the effort to get one arm up and... fling the blade in its direction!  It HAS to be almost dead by now, nothing can survive that long.
[18:13] <@Genshuku> It's stabbed! ...Why is it still moving?! It makes noise once more, but...it shakes the knife off, and resumes the activity of being alive somehow.
[18:14] <@Genshuku> ...It does seem worn, though. That much is clear. But it's hanging on.
[18:14] * @Niina picks up some debris from the wall and tosses at it, hoping to divert its attention somehow. Gotta keep this up.
[18:14] * @Niina picks herself up, too, along the way. Definitely not used to combat, but was more ready for it than Chikako was, so there's that.
[18:15] <@Genshuku> Chikako, having heard the crash, and realizing what she was about to do, decides against the wise course of 'getting away from unholy beings'. "H-hold on!"
[18:15] <@Niina> "S-Stay back!"  Cough.  "Remember what I said... about... being a hero?"
[18:16] <@Niina> "I'm the only... I'm the only one... who can save... the world."
[18:17] <@Genshuku> "You're not saving anything if you're dead!" She chucks a piece of wood dislodged from the wall after one of those seriously wicked tackles at the huge jerk!
[18:17] <@Niina> "Hmph."
[18:18] <@Genshuku> The wood, despite being thrown somewhat well, kind of bounces off harmlessly. This does not do her any favors.
[18:18] <@Niina> "Weird attitude... towards someone you don't even really know."
[18:20] <@Genshuku> "Y-you were clearly right about something, that's all!" The beast cares not for the conversation, and attempts to grind Niina into the first floor.
[18:24] * @Niina smiles, just a teeny bit. Probably not enough to be noticed, 'specially if Chikako isn't even using the flashlight properly anymore. If the flashlight even still works. Taking one deep breath to gather chi- I mean, still be able to move at all, Niina musters all the effort to throw not a kick, but a punch at the creature.... and while it's distracted by the clumsy attack, uses her
[18:24] * @Niina other hand to pick up Ascalon and RIP through it.
[18:24] <@Niina> Her eyes take on a glare that's almost inhuman at this point, not even bothering to shout anime protagonist phrases anymore.
[18:26] <@Genshuku> The flashlight...is, now that you think about it, sort of lying on the ground near the beast. It dropped when she was tackled! Thankfully, the flashlight didn't get hit, and so simply gives the arena some lighting.
[18:26] <@Niina> Convenient.
[18:27] <@Genshuku> The punch connects! The beast is stunned! The knife connects! The beast is...it's leaking!
[18:27] <@Niina> ... Actually
[18:27] <@Genshuku> It glares at Niina with a savage fury, though. Nope, it's still not done.
[18:27] <@Niina> "The light... get that light on it!  That'll kill it for good!"
[18:28] <@Niina> "Aim it right at the..." cough cough blood
[18:28] <@Genshuku> Chikako nods! If she must try the finishing blow, then...!
[18:29] <@Niina> ... ok let's be real, anyone who's coughed blood THAT much would be dead by now, but it's definitely coughing.
[18:29] <@Genshuku> Grab the light! AND PLUNGE IT INSIDE ITS EYE.
[18:29] <@Niina> yesssssssssssssss
[18:31] <@Genshuku> ...IT GOES IN. The things that could be likened to words from the beast are now but screeches! ...WHY IS IT STILL FUCKING MOVING.
[18:32] <@Genshuku> Well, it's thrashing, but...
[18:33] <@Genshuku> At least it's not thrashing too close. Anyone who's anyone would be sure to give this thing a wide berth.
[18:34] <@Niina> "Good work, now..."  Time for something weird.
[18:35] * @Niina holds the knife-blade inside the flashlight for a minute, panting a bit. "Absord the light, to strike down evil..."
[18:35] <@Niina> -d +b
[18:35] <@Niina> er, inside the flashlight's light
[18:35] <@Niina> stabbing a flashlight would be pretty fuckin weird
[18:36] <@Genshuku> Well, it's hardly as weird as a giant eyeball of darkness, or even the delusions of an 8th grader.
[18:36] <@Niina> "And... NOW!!"  After a second or two, the chuuni moves forward and goes for one final, dramatic plunge.
[18:39] <@Genshuku> IN THE FATEFUL MOMENT LEADING TO THE EVENTUAL DEMISE OF THE YOUMA, IT...thrashes out of the way. Boooooo.
[18:40] <@Niina> "Heh, idiot.  I knew you'd dodge that way, now you're staring straight at the light."  It's gotta be hard to see like that.
[18:41] * @Niina turns to face away from it, while either Chikako does something cool or it just keels over. The knife spins once in her hand. "Goodbye."
[18:42] <@Genshuku> It ought be! And...another final attempt! She attempts to give it a very, very firm kick in the eye, which should probably do it. Right?
[18:42] <@Genshuku> Far too exhausted to be cool, she is. Just...fall over so she can!
[18:42] <@Niina> no because the cosmic forces of the universe hate her guts
[18:43] <@Niina> nm lol
[18:46] <@Genshuku> Well, they seem to hate it more! The only truly solid part of its body is--all over her shoe now. She takes a while to realize what she did, there. It's...all over her shoe! It isn't bleeding, no, but black ooze is hardly better! "Ewewnononono get off get out" And despite being wounded, she shakes her shoe off before collapsing a room's length away from that...thing, which has stopped thrashing and screaming, where she can only now afford to think about what just happened in a situation that's not in a fight!
[18:48] <@Genshuku> The rest of the beast starts slowly dissolving. Chikako cannot even begin to say anything. Her stare might go for 1000 yards!
[18:48] <@Niina> FWIP, the knife closes.  Of course Niina's thinking 'Man that "goodbye" was timed perfectly I was so badass' but she supresses a grin enough to make sure the creature's DEAD-dead, or at least not able to fight them anymore, before heading over to where Chikako is.
[18:48] <@Niina> "Um, maybe I sort of needed the help that time.  Thanks."
[19:00] <Genshuku> "I...am so sorry. Sososo sorry. That...whatever that was, I didn't see it until now." Every elipsis from this point is Chikako catching her very short breaths.
[19:01] <Genshuku> "And the dressing up with those...dumb...horns, that was me dressing up to pretend to be...one of those demons you were going on about. I wasn't infected or anything. Just some dumb prank that was supposed to end with a bucket of water on your head..."
[19:02] <@Niina> "Well...." If the horns are still on Chikako's person Niina grabs them, otherwise she just makes horn imagery on top of her own head with her hands, "If you really didn't, that was just karma for trying to lie to me, huh?"  With a playful, snarky grin.
[19:03] <@Niina> "But," a thoughtful look, "I'm surprised I'm really that popular.  Guess you know now not to doubt me anymore, right?"
[19:03] <@Niina> "Now... I-I can handle it," small cough, "but you should probably get to a hospital.  C'mon, can you walk?"
[19:04] <@Niina> yes that was actually just rapid-fire questions that weren't meant to be answered
[19:05] <Genshuku> The latter it is! She took them off before even going upstairs, and she's certainly not wearing them anymore. "It's less that you're popular, and more that I was...bored. Didn't think you were actually having a grand ol' time, wanted to see how you'd react, thought it'd be hilarious...but no, we both ate the karma of that."
[19:05] <Genshuku> If they weren't meant to be answered...then she's already being helped up, cause she's not exactly fit to walk long distances!
[19:06] <@Niina> Good, that's exactly what's happening.  Piggyback wouldn't work with them BOTH being in bad condition, but they can at least use each other for support.
[19:06] <@Niina> "Well, to tell the truth..."
[19:06] <@Niina> ...
[19:06] * @Niina smirks.
[19:06] <@Niina> "Nevermind, it's nothing."
[19:07] <@Niina> "Anyone can have a grand time if you really want to, y'know?"
[19:08] <Genshuku> "I guess...sorta hard when you can't find one, though--" So they were leaving the room, right? The beast behind them had all vanished...but then, with the final bits gone, the world...something...something shifted. "...Did you feel that?"
[19:08] <@Niina> "Eh?"
[19:09] * @Niina looks back, but doesn't stop moving. "... Sort of?"
[19:10] <Genshuku> Niina looks back and whoa hold on there is something there.
[19:10] <Genshuku> ...A rabbit? That's a rabbit.
[19:10] <Genshuku> ...A rabbit with...is that a gear? on its head? In?
[19:10] <@Niina> "Nevermind, just a small animal."  Down the stairs.
[19:11] <@Niina> "A small animal that looks like it's been digging in clockwork."
[19:11] <@Niina> "..."
[19:12] <Genshuku> A voice resonates within your mind, as well as being heard!
[19:12] <Genshuku> "对不起！"
[19:13] <Genshuku> "Подождите, это не правильно."
[19:13] <@Niina> "WHAT NO I-"
[19:13] <Genshuku> "Περίμενε Νομίζω ότι το πήρα..."
[19:14] <Genshuku> "No that wasn't it at all, dammit, which on--oh, no, this seems right."
[19:14] <@Niina> "I-It's another one of those, let's keep moving.  You're not in a condition to..."
[19:14] <Genshuku> "Er-hem! Sorry! Sorry! Don't run, I can explain myself!"
[19:15] <@Niina> "I-"
[19:15] * @Niina goes to stop, but the misses a step on the way down the stairs.
[19:15] <@Niina> +n
[19:15] <Genshuku> The rabbit, despite going off in at least 3 different foriegn languages, seems earnest with its plea. "Please stop!"
[19:16] <@Niina> IT'S HARD TO STOP WHEN YOU START TUMBLING unless magic happens then it isn't
[19:16] <Genshuku> Chikako, just as ready to say 'nope', misses the same step. They come crashing down, thankfully no WORSE for wear. At least they stop once they hit the bottom.
[19:17] <@Niina> "I... think we're gonna need a double-hospital."
[19:17] <Genshuku> Chikako replies. "I...we just might."
[19:17] <@Niina> "... So we shouldn't stop, right?"
[19:18] <@Niina> "I mean, if I were a monster, I'd be trying to get people to stop and listen too."
[19:18] <@Niina> "(Because then I could attack them.)"
[19:20] <Genshuku> The rabbit continues to plea! "It's...it's about whatever thing you just got rid of! That was the only thing keeping me from getting here! That youma, blocking my entry point! For...er....how long is it here...what units of time do you all use? Tahun cahaya?"
[19:20] <@Niina> "..."
[19:21] <Genshuku> Chikako concurs. "I wouldn't be against stopping!" What even is.
[19:21] <@Niina> Fwip.  "I'm... I'm wielder of the Divine Ultimate Blade Holy Ascalon, don't mess with me."
[19:21] <@Niina> But they stop.  "How do we know you won't attack us too?"
[19:23] <@Niina> "Even aliens and demons know how time works, that's how they make plans to ambush people at night."
[19:25] <Genshuku> "You look wounded. If there would be a time to strike, I wouldn't waste my breath pleading. What you just fought was but the first of a real calamity to befall this planet, and I lost...7 옥타 년 just waiting to get out of that thing's sealing me off."
[19:26] <Genshuku> "...I know what night is, but I am lost as to most of the planet's customs. I have languages, but..." It seems troubled.
[19:26] <@Niina> where's that image
[19:27] <@Niina> http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt21/GrayWatch/FunnyNonR/ADVENTURE.png
[19:27] <@Niina> there it is
[19:28] <@Niina> "F-First?  What do you mean, I've uh, been fighting calamities all the time... heh..."
[19:28] <@Niina> Her excitement isn't hidden very well, it looks exactly like that actually.
[19:29] <Genshuku> "...Have you now?" It seems to be gazing into her soul.
[19:29] <Genshuku> "...Perhaps you have. But what you saw, that was of the weakest that which it will have to offer."
[19:29] <@Niina> "Yeeeeah."  On one hand she actually believes that she'd been doing something and this enemy is the first one that wasn't invisible.  On every other hand, she's just trying to sound cool and making a fool of herself.
[19:30] <@Niina> "Well, we handled it fine, right?  If I weren't even that strong," cough, "I couldn't be the savior of the Universe."
[19:30] <@Niina> "Which I am."
[19:31] <Genshuku> "And...by the looks of it, that...won't do, will it?" By the looks of it, Chikako's starting to freak out again. She speaks "W-what do you mean? That thing nearly killed me! N-Niina would have been fine. Since she's...the wielder of the...divine...utima...sword...Ascension?" Nope. "I just...held her back, is all?" PLAY IT UP. It's crazy, so play it up!
[19:33] <@Niina> "Ascalon."  It's still out and spins around in her hand like a showoff... and then almost slips, so the blade immediately goes back inside.  "I dunno, little guy... what you're saying sounds too good to be true, which means you're clearly evil."
[19:34] * Niina sets mode: +o Genshuku
[19:35] <@Genshuku> "If I were evil, I would have tracked you on my emergence and killed you in your sleep."
[19:35] <@Genshuku> Chikako goes pale, as the rabbit puts on a troubled look and continues. "...No, those weren't quite the right way to arrange those words..."
[19:35] <@Genshuku> "...Point still stands though, I think!"
[19:35] <@Niina> "No no no, that's a mindless puppy-kicking evil.  If you were true, scheming evil, you'd tell us what we want to hear and make us believe you so that we do your dirty work and THEN stab us in the back."  She nods at herself, satisfied.
[19:39] <@Genshuku> "I dunno, killing the savior of the universe would fix a lot of evil's problems, and it wouldn't be hard to pull off. That kind of scheming seems like it would backfire somehow. Besides, giving you power isn't really a good way to stab you in the back, is it?"
[19:40] <@Genshuku> "...Speaking of which, that was what the good part was supposed to be. Are you saying the news of the world befalling a calamity is a good thing for you, savior of the universe?"
[19:40] <@Genshuku> "...No, no, I think that one was leaning towards this rude thing. This is hard."
[19:40] <@Niina> "... You never said anything about power.  And the calamity thing was already exactly what I wanted to hear, which means you're almost definitely a mind-reading alien monster demon."
[19:41] <@Niina> "Because if the world didn't face calamities, I couldn't save it, right?"
[19:42] <@Niina> "And..."  A glance to her left.  Right?  Whatever side Chikako's on.  "She needs some help, like, right now.  Thanks to that 'youma' thing of yours."
[19:42] <@Genshuku> "...I suppose if you look at it like that? Interesting people we have here. ...And you, the other one. If she's the savior of the universe, then you're..."
[19:42] <@Niina> "A bystander who got hurt."
[19:42] * @Niina interrupts without skipping a beat.
[19:44] <@Genshuku> A good answer! "...A bystander, but one with a potential power of her own. I suppose this is a bad time, so...try to get...h...hosp....yeah that's right, hospital beds near each other, and I'll see you when you're...b...bloodin--no, bleeding, that was it."
[19:44] <@Genshuku> "When you're NOT bleeding.
[19:44] <@Genshuku> "
[19:44] <@Niina> "..."
[19:45] <@Niina> "Okay, how about a deal?"
[19:45] <@Genshuku> "...Sure? A strange time, but sure."
[19:45] <@Niina> "You're free to go, and I'll keep doing what I've been doing- if I find out YOU'RE causing those calamities, I'll strike you down then and there."
[19:46] <@Niina> "If I find proof that you're actually helping me, the savior of the universe... maybe I'll listen to whatever you have to offer."
[19:46] <@Niina> "But I really, really need to protect the innocent and keep civilians from dying right now.  That's my job as Savior more than listening to monsters is."
[19:46] * @Niina says that like she's not also coughing up blood, which is absolutely untrue because a glob lands in her hand right after that.
[19:47] <@Genshuku> "You won't find evidence of me causing calamities, because it isn't true. It'll be hard for me to help you until you're ready to listen though. All I have to offer are words and a power I can't actually utilize for myself. ...Also, I'm not a youma. I'm a tsukaima." Gotta get names right when you're coughing up blood!
[19:48] <@Genshuku> "Deal accepted. Seriously, I hear humans coughing up anything isn't all that healthy. Get cured."
[19:48] <@Genshuku> "...Ah, and my name is Fate. Pleasure to meet you two!"
[19:49] <@Niina> "Alright, little Fate.  We'll meet again, for sure.  ... Unless you escape to your mothership and tell the Neptunians that it's time to invade because Earthlings are too strong and then use your technologically advanced military might to destroy us all in a single night."
[19:49] <@Genshuku> Chikako, with much less vigor, shoves out a "...Whatever..."
[19:49] <@Genshuku> Fate replies! "It was hard enough getting here. I'm not about to go back."
[19:50] <@Niina> "... But trusting you this time won't be my undoing, because I'm never wrong.  So we'll meet again when we aren't bleeding.  I'll stop those calamities, alone if I have to."
[19:50] * @Niina turns around and says with as much vigor as Chikako, "Later."
[19:51] <@Genshuku> It waves with an ear, as the party continues to go down stairs. Sure feels like there's more stairs than there ought be.
[19:51] <@Niina> So long, Gay Bowser!
[19:51] <@Niina> A step... and a step... and a step...
[19:51] <@Genshuku> Not that there's infinite stairs. You don't have to backwards long jump to get through them all!
[19:52] * @Niina was totally deadpan during that dialogue, but as soon as they're off the staircase (if ever) the ADVENTURE face comes back on. "Eeeeeeeeee I sounded so cool~"
[19:52] <@Niina> Then the realization that Chikako's still there kicks in.  "Um.  Erm.  I mean."
[19:52] <@Niina> "Hospital's that way."
[19:53] <@Genshuku> She...she did sound so cool, for someone coughing up blood! "R-right, hospital's that way!" With the PRESSURE off, she can at least crack a grin. She's not entirely sure why she does, but she does!
[19:54] * @Niina cracks a big grin too, looking off to the side. "Heh... things are really getting interesting now."
[19:56] <@Genshuku> "They are! Sure as hell beats going to school. Boring people doing boring things, and I thought the alternative was to literally go insane."
[19:56] <@Niina> "You can come with me next time, you know.  N-Not gonna lie, it gets lonely."
[19:56] <@Niina> "Just bring your own equipment."
[19:58] <@Genshuku> "But this will do! Kind of always wanted something like this! ...I just valued my head too much to do so, though. Totally going with! ...As soon as I figure out how to explain this to my parents."
[19:58] <@Genshuku> "I don't think falling down some stairs can result in this, right?"
[19:59] <@Niina> "Hmm.  We did fall down stairs though, you wouldn't be lying."
[20:00] <@Genshuku> "Well, yeah. It'd be like...falling down stairs...from a high stair...into a pile of bricks."
[20:01] <@Genshuku> "With a running start."
[20:01] <@Genshuku> "You think that'd work?"
[20:01] <@Niina> "If that doesn't work then, I think there's a term my mom uses for the stuff I get up to..."
[20:01] <@Niina> "Something... syndrome?"
[20:01] <@Niina> "Ah, that's right."
[20:01] <@Niina> "'中二病.'"
[20:05] <@Genshuku> "Yeah, that's it. ...Maybe if I just say I went with you and accidents happened--but that'd probably just paint me as a victim and you as a cause, people are dumb." She furrows her brow. "...I'll think of something eventually."
[20:08] <@Niina> "Y'know, you're much less of a mean jerk than you seemed like in class."  The hand used to support Chikako reaches up and gives her a headpat.  "You'll think of something.  Good luck."
[20:08] <@Niina> "It's not like it's wrong if you say it was my fault... 'sides, it was fun."
[20:09] <@Niina> No way there's not there by now.  "Have my number.  I'll see you next time, 'kay?"
[20:13] <@Genshuku> "...You're right. It might hurt, but...it was pre--owowow--" She falters a bit, but continues! "Pretty fun! I'll see you next time, then!" She makes up for her falter with a boost in her mood! Together, they get themselves TREATED, cause it's not hard to convince them that they're sort of bleeding. NEXT TIME: IDK, MY BFF CHIKAKO?