009 | Where Your Demons Hide

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Emergency demon fighting
When: Late May 5-Early May 6
Where: Just outside of Tokyo
Summary: The demon from the school has reared its ugly head again and needs to be taken down.



On the evening of May 5, the Heavens suddenly receive an influx of prayers from people in and around a certain town just outside of Tokyo. There seem to be a lot of people in the area that have suddenly stopped responding normally (or at all). The situation continues to spread as the night goes on until not only is the whole town suffering from this malady, but the neighboring towns are starting to become affected as well.

With so many gods and shinki on hand - including new ones that have just appeared - the Heavens have issued a request for any available gods and shinki to go investigate what might be happening down on the Near Shore. New gods and shinki will be given the low-down on what's happening, but not much more than that.

The situation will continue to expand until just a little before dawn, when the demon finally has enough power to revive.



Drained Humans

Many humans in the affected areas are walking around despondently. Oftentimes, they are just walking into things or getting hit by things. There have been a few car-related incidents as well. Anyone who was present for the high school incident will recognize these symptoms as something that was happening to people in the school. The glazed looks, the spiritless responses and reactions. So this should be fairly familiar to some.

No One's Safe

Unfortunately, being in the town will start to wear on anyone who is there. Gods and shinki alike will find themselves growing more despondent the longer they spend in the town. All of their energy will be slowly sapped from their bodies, and shinki in particular will feel almost like their existence is draining away.

Hellish Circle

There is a large park in the center of the town. Drawn all around this park is a magic circle, large enough to encompass the whole park. There are candles around the edges of the circle, and in the center there is a cup filled with blood covered by a mask with a swirling eye pattern on it. Stepping into this circle will not only make you extremely tired and suddenly drained, but it will also bring bat-like ayakashi bearing down on you.

The Demon

The Demon itself rears its ugly head just a little before dawn, springing out from the center of the magic circle and looking right pleased with itself. It stands about 5'8" tall, so it is largely unimposing, but there is an aura about it that makes it undeniable that it is powerful. The demon will gladly fight anyone who comes at it, though most he will just shove out of the way without a second thought.



In Summary:

• Help the drained people
• Try not to get drained yourself
• Be careful about being corrupted
• Fight the demon
• Have fun~

Comments

Yato - OTA (aside from one prompt)

[5yenwish]

Humans

[It had been hell getting Yukine to come out here. The brat was tired and grumpy and very displeased with the nighttime mission, but Yato was insistent. They had to help out here if they could.

So the two can be found trying to gently goad information out of the drained humans and keeping them from falling over or hurting themselves in some way.]

Circle

[Yato takes one look at the circle and tells Yukine to stay the hell away from it. He, however, approaches curiously, peering down at the markings with his hands in his pockets, as if this is a totally normal everyday thing.]

Huh. Never seen anything like this before.

[Apparently it's not totally normal.]

Yukine - Closed

[When the demon appears, it's all Yato can do to get Sekki to come to him right away and start battling off the ayakashi.]

What… what the hell is that thing?!

[He hefts the twin blades of his shinki, growling as he rends another ayakashi.]

Si--no! Seven??? D-dammit. Yukine, you keep count! I can't do it right now!

Yukine

[returnedfromtheline]

[Yukine is disgruntled at being ordered around, but he can't muster the energy to make a retort, let alone disobey and see for himself what's at the center of the circle. He'd been feeling worse and worse since coming here, and it's not just the chest-clenching fear of the dark holding him down...

Huddling under a dim street light at the edge of the park (if these morons didn't want their town to be so gloomy they should've invested in better lights), Yukine exhaustedly slumps further down-- and then he is abruptly called.

As he blinks to orient himself he groans in his throat. One scary human-like thing that wasn't there before, and a whole lot of ayakashi going crazy ... For all he'd like to, he knows he's in no condition to take the 'thing' on. As it is, his attention slips at Yato telling him to keep count, and he becomes too dull to cut the bat Yato's taking a swing at.]

Ugh- 't hell with the count.

[5yenwish]

[Yato frowns as Sekki is battered backwards from the ayakashi. He makes a quick spin around to kick the thing away before squatting down to speak to Yukine.]

Alright, alright. We'll forget the count. You gotta stick with me until we get through this, though. You think you can do that?

[There is definite concern in his tone. He can feel how weak Yukine is right now and it's… kind of scaring him a little.]

[returnedfromtheline]

[Yukine can't help reacting with irritation at the concern in Yato's voice (although maybe later he'd look back on it and be a bit glad he was worried for him).]

'Course I can.

[Although at this point, it's more by stubborn pride than anything. So he grits his teeth and puts all his waning energy into focusing.]

Just don't take forever about it.

[5yenwish]

[That stubborn pride is one of the things that makes Yukine the best shinki Yato has ever had, so he's honestly so grateful for it. He grins down at the swords in his hands before tightening his grip slightly and straightening back up.]

Alright! Then focus on cutting these down. I'll take care of the rest.

[And back into the fray he goes, swinging Sekki with ease and precision, making sure to start cutting them through to an exit. There are enough gods and shinki here to take care of most of these. Yato has to worry about his hafuri.]

[returnedfromtheline]

[Is there an exit away from these swarms of ayakashi? It feels like all he can see is ayakashi and the darkness.
... Did it always take this much effort to concentrate on not cutting things of the Near Shore?

He doesn't know how much time passes, but it- it must have been a long time, right? He feels exhausted. Bracing his hands on his knees as if he's catching his breath from a marathon he squints at the next target, and the next-- and darkness starts creeping into the edge of his vision. No--

He's not going to leave Yato alone in the middle of this!

In that moment of resolve the darkness pauses and he cuts right through the ayakashi, taking a deep nick out of a nearby tree. Yukine winces, but doesn't make any comment.

Focus... focus...
But his breath is heavy and his stance still stooped.]

[5yenwish]

[Yato lets out an unintelligible yell as he sees Yukine's cut go through the tree. Crap, crap, this isn't good. Yukine's at his limit, Yato can tell. This is bad. He needs to get out of here right away.

With another wordless yell, he spins and just starts running. Screw the things coming at him, he'll take a couple of hits if it gets him out of here quicker. A few scratches mean nothing in comparison to letting his shinki suffer the way Yukine is doing right now.

He winces as the blight hits him, but he keeps running - until they break out of the swarm. There is open space here, and Yato laughs giddily.]

We're free Yukine! Just a few more!

[And he'll start fighting again, still making his way further and further from the bulk of the ayakashi as he moves.]

[returnedfromtheline]

[When Yato stops using him and starts running, that gets his attention. Lifting his head he gasps-]

Wha-?! You- [You idiot you're getting stung! I'm a sword- use me!
...Is what all he'd like to say. But by the time he gathers himself, it's almost over. Exhaling a long breath he tells himself he'll chew Yato out for that later. After he's slept for a couple hundred years.]

A few?

[He's held out this long. He'll force himself to keep focus for a few more. But this better be it. Especially since that idiot went through the trouble of running away from most of them.]

[5yenwish]

[Yato is breathing pretty heavily himself now, but he can see the light at the end of this nasty tunnel, so he's going to keep pushing forward mercilessly. He swings Sekki around, chopping down two ayakashi at once.]

Yeah! We're almost there, Yukine. Just hold out. You've got this! I believe in you!

[He offers the loud words of encouragement as he keeps pressing forward. After a few more slashes, though, he suddenly starts running again. And this time, there's nothing chasing them.]

Yukine, I'm heading to the nearest shrine. Hang on, okay??

[returnedfromtheline]

[Those loud words of encouragement do less encouraging and more keeping Yukine from suddenly nodding off, which is fine too.]

Hang on to what. [It's a weak remark, but at least he can allow himself to feel some level of relief for getting away from the ayakashi. He doesn't feel better, but at least the exhaustion doesn't seem to be getting any worse.
And no ayakashi means he can focus on something else. ... Like how his own wretched condition might be affecting Yato.]

What about you?

[5yenwish]

[Even these small phrases are enough to relieve Yato to no end. Yukine wouldn't be giving him sarcastic remarks or worrying about his condition if he was in too bad of shape. It's exhausting being this relieved actually. Or maybe that's something else. Whatever.]

Ha! I'm fine. The best, you know. I don't think you need to be worrying about me.

[It isn't much longer before he skids to a halt in front of a shrine though, the relief surging through him even further. After a small struggle to find the holy water, he lets out a breath, calling Yukine back to himself.]

Yukine...

[He's already fishing up some water as Yukine returns to his human form.]

[returnedfromtheline]

[Returning to his human form, Yukine feels incredibly heavy.]

Mmh-

[They're safe now. And no one else is around. Stubborn pride wavers, and Yukine gives in to gravity, slowly falling to his knees with his head bowed down. But his eyes are open, fixed on the dim pool of light coming from the small structure above the water spring.

Yato should have kept him as swords. He doesn't even feel like he can walk.
Although he can't lift his head, he listens carefully to Yato cleansing himself of the blight. At least that much is taken care of.]

[5yenwish]

[Yato watches Yukine like a hawk as he goes about cleansing himself. He is worried, yes, but he knows that he needs to be free of the blight before he's in any fit state to care for his shinki. However, he will keep trying to talk to him.]

How do you feel? I'm not really sure what's happened, but maybe if you tell me what it feels like I can fix it. Did you get blighted? Here, let me get you some water!

[Okay, maybe it's bordering on panic, what the with the way he's rambling on now. Sorry, Yukine.]

Circle

[revolutionfalcon]

I doubt many of the people here have. Unless you're another one who's come from occult experience.

[Shun knows Tsuzuki has and in some sense, Bishamon, since he spoke to her earlier about this circle, and after his conversation with her here he's been tracing the edges of the circle, trying to find any seeming breaks or weaknesses. It hasn't been particularly productive, so Shun's returned to the lower branches of one of the trees by the circle to keep an eye on what's happening in the middle.

Giving Yato a calculating once-over, he nods towards the center of the circle, and the mask on the cup of blood.] Apparently that's been seen here before. This isn't an amateur job like the school.

[5yenwish]

[Yato glances at the guy with a small frown. Occult is one hell of a broad term, after all, and this circle is nothing like the sort of occult he's seen before.

Looking towards the mask, Yato's eyes widen.]

What is that doing here??

[His voice comes out as a hiss. Obviously, he is none too pleased about the mask.]

...is this his doing?!

[revolutionfalcon]

[Given the only person Shun knows of who recognised the mask is Bishamon - Shun himself wouldn't know it if she hadn't told him what it meant - that reaction puts him a little warier than he was, and he crouches low on the branch to give Yato a more critical look.]

If you mean the "Sorcerer", Bishamon seemed to think so when I spoke to her. You've seen this before as well, then?

[Shun assumes the guy is one of the old gods given that, but which one, he has no idea. He's heard Bishamon rattle off a hell of a lot of names in his time speaking to her.]

[5yenwish]

[Yato startles at the word 'sorcerer' and looks at Shun with wide eyes before looking back to the mask. Geez, is Bishamon just blabbing around?? Ugh, why does she always make his life difficult!]

Yeah, but Her Great Perviness doesn't even know the half of what we're dealing with here. Hell, I don't even know the half of it and I'd know better than anyone.

[He moves to crouch down and look at the mask, frowning.]

I dunno if this is really his style though...

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun really doesn't want to know the story behind why or how this guy is calling Bishamon that - sure, she doesn't wear much, but that generally means it's the other parties doing the staring. He just assumed it was for distraction purposes.

It's good, then, that the god's next remark takes his full attention, and his eyes narrow slightly.]

What makes you say you'd know better than anyone? [He'd almost assume this guy was Ebisu if not for the two-fold rebuttal that Bishamon said he was both a child and didn't remember anything about what he'd done in his previous incarnation. It's possible he's Yato, the other one Bishamon mentioned in relation to all this, but it's a bit early to make that deduction confidently.]

That just makes it sound like the Sorcerer is more than one person, if this is abnormal to what they've done before.

[5yenwish]

[Yato tilts his head back to look at Shun curiously.]

I mean exactly what I said.

[He doesn't seem to think he needs to elaborate further than that as he picks at the pieces of the ritual before him.]

There is more than one 'sorcerer', that's for sure. Whether this is anything of the same variety is a totally different story. This isn't even like the other 'sorcerer' we knew of.

[At the word 'sorcerer' both times, he actually raises his hands to make air quotes.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Screw it, then. If this guy's going to dance around the point like that, then Shun might as well put his guess out there. If he's wrong, then he's been wrong before and it's unlikely to matter anyway.

With a faintly annoyed sigh, he closes his eyes briefly.]

According to Bishamon, there's only two people that should be the case for, so since you're clearly not Ebisu then you must be Yato.

[He doesn't wait to be confirmed or denied on that before continuing, either, opening his eyes and observing Yato as he explains.]

I heard the other one attacked Bishamon's estate, so no, this doesn't sound much like that. But it's also impossible to know whether it's actually another Sorcerer or someone using their image to mislead us, with this little to go on.

[5yenwish]

[Yato pouts. Dammit, he's been found out.]

Geez, she really can't keep her mouth shut, can she? Yeah, I'm the great and wonderful Yato.

[He states that pretty matter-of-factly, but it doesn't have the same grandiose flair it usually does.]

Ha. Yeah, he's a lot more forward about his shit. This is too subtle. But then, I'm not a fan of anything that even reminds me of him.

[With an added grimace towards the mask.]

[revolutionfalcon]

With the number of you that keep your mouth shut all the time, one of you who knows when to open it isn't what I'd call a problem.

[Shun's tone is a little harsh there, because he's definitely not appreciative of how hard it can be to wrest information out of the old gods, and Bishamon is one of the few who's actually been amenable to it.

Keeping his attention on Yato's description of the discrepancy in tactics, Shun's eyes narrow a little in thought.]

So the Heavens have no other longstanding enemies this would fit, or too many? [It has to be one or the other, in a situation like this.]

[5yenwish]

[Grimacing, Yato gives Shun a thumbs down as he stands up and brushes his pants off.]

Sometimes you've gotta keep quiet. Especially if it's not your secret to reveal.

[He tucks his hands into his pockets and leans to one side, looking thoughtful.]

I'm sure the Heavens have lots of enemies. But most people aren't actually stupid enough to stand up against them.

[revolutionfalcon]

When it could be a danger to all of us, it stops being a secret. [While Shun is all for discretion about that sort of thing normally, he doesn't feel that's the case here, and the curt and immediate manner in which he rebuts that remark serves to show that.

Yato's comment on the enemies of the Heavens isn't exactly a surprise at this point, but it is something to consider, and Shun's first thought isn't the most reassuring one.]

These people have enough skill to cover their tracks so cleanly that even you older gods can't pick it up. If they're standing up, it's not because they're stupid.

[5yenwish]

[Yato can tell that this guy doesn't care about people's personal space in this situation and that arguing with him is pointless, so he stops that argument right where it is. Sometimes, he can make good decisions!

He considers Shun's words thoughtfully.]

Honestly, seems to me like they've had a grudge for a long time. Which wouldn't be surprising, honestly. The Heavens have had a pretty ironclad hold on everything for a very long time.