thenearshore | [CLOSED]

Last time we saw an ayakashi it was hanging around that girl. That'd make the library the best place for now, right? [ Saitama still knows little to nothing about the ayakashi (not that he was trying to learn more), but he's trying to go off of what he does know. ]

Splitting up though... [ He grumbles and rubs the back of his neck in thought. The whole reason he went along with Genos was because he scolded him for trying to run off alone. ] I guess it's fine since the auditorium and library can't be that far from each other. You've got your phone?

Of course [ Genos pulls it out of his pocket and shows Saitama. Then he hides it right back. ]

I'll call you the moment I spot something, and will not engage until you get there. [ he makes a line in the air with his hand ] I'll just keep them at bay with borderline.

Any other instructions?

Uh... just be careful. [ That bit of advice could probably be repeated to Genos daily and still never be enough. ]

I'll take the library unless you want it? We could meet back here in like half an hour if we don't find anything.

[ Genos nods fervently ] Understood!

[ And with that he's gone. Already knowing the map and room locations it doesn't take him long time to reach the main auditorium. Darkness is not a problem for him, vision enhancements allowing him to see as well as in daylight.

At first the room looks quiet, but the lazily moving shadows suggest something's wrong. A smallest of ayakashi show up on some of the tables.

Genos withdraws, hoping none of them noticed him, and quickly sends message to Saitama, telling him number of the auditorium that's infected. ]

[ Even at this hour, students are still studying in the library. Laptops, textbooks, and note paper are sprawled out on every open table. Luckily, Saitama is practically invisible as it's so silent one could hear a pin drop. Although the atmosphere is silent, the students themselves seem greatly troubled. He can't remember if there was ever a time he was this stressed out over some exams.

As he's weaving in between desks and tables, Saitama starts to notice small shadows dancing around the students. Upon closer inspection the shadows are actually small, eel-looking ayakashi. His phone goes off and as Saitama is reading Genos' message, the ayakashi all begin to jump off their students and scurry out towards the various windows and doors. He quickly calls Genos and follows after the ayakashi. ]

Yeah I found some here too. They were all over the students. I'm chasin' after some of them now. Are yours moving?

Yes they are. [ Genos answers hastily. ] I've been spotted. They are following me.

[ He turns around to draw a quick borderline. It's far from perfect but stops first wave of tiny eels. They fall back for a moment, but second wave finds their way around the border. It was a short-time distraction but it put more distance between him and the ayakashi ]

I'm leading them towards an open space. Meet me there.

Yea I'll be there. [ Saitama hangs up and realizes a moment too late that he has no idea where "there" actually is. He curses before he realizes he's almost let the ayakashi wander out of sight and speeds up to see them.

The ayakashi, while at first seemed to be moving away at random, are collectively leaving the building and running out towards the field behind the school. He reaches for his phone when he sees Genos already standing by the field. The ayakashi Saitama is following are seemingly on a one-track goal and rush past the pair without even looking at them. Saitama subconsciously places himself between Genos and the ayakashi as the little eels run around the field. ]

What are they doin'?

They coordinate..? [ maybe they wanted to attack all at once? Either way they showed a remarkable skill of working together or-- ]

No, that's not it [ Genos draws a border in front of them, but surprisingly enough the ayakashi still ignore them grouping together in a growing pile ]

[ Saitama fully expects the ayakashi to attack at any moment, but they don't. He expects them to be alerted to their presence once Genos draws his (super cool) border line, but even then nothing. ]

These are ayakashi right? [ He's starting to wonder if these are even the right things they're looking for. The ayakashi from earlier was far more aggressive.

It's as they're watching the ayakashi pile that it starts to slowly take shape. It's not fully formed or very neat, but it's growing more into an oversized eel versus a mushy pile. Saitama is reminded of the larger monsters they would fight back home. ]

Ah. Here it comes now. [ It's still weak and barely formed, but a tentacle-like mass of mini eel ayakashi springs out from the mass and at the pair. Genos' borderline sends the weak tentacle flying back, but that small bit of defiance seems to have finally triggered the beast. ]

So it was just one ayakashi all along. [ Genos frowns and prepares to draw another one on the line of attack. Well at least it will make their job easier. Instead of hunting each one of those tiny ones, they need to destroy only the big one. ]

Should we let it form fully, or strike it down right now?

Hm. [ Saitama considers their options. If they cut it down early, it would be easier due to its weakened state. Then again... it wasn't as though they'll have trouble killing it anyways. The small bat went down easy once they figured out what they were doing. ]

Let's see what happens. It'll be easy to get rid of anyways cause we know what we're doing now. [ He most certainly doesn't. ]

[ Almost as if on cue, the ayakashi sends another long tentacle out in their direction and Saitama takes the opportunity to leap on it. It was meant to be more playful than anything, but it just squashes the tentacle and sends it flailing around everywhere. ]

[ Genos blasts the offending tentacle with fiery projectile from his palm ]

Call my name! [ his vessel name of course. Otherwise he can't really transform into the weapon. That's the most surest way to hurt it, and not get blighted in the process.

Almost all of the small eels joined with the big monster, so it's safe to assume that there are none of them left. Another strike is aimed for Genos but his quick reflexes allow him to draw the border. It's weak, barely protecting him, and the force of the hit sends him staggering ]

Ah, shit. Sorry! [ While Saitama is enjoying observing what the ayakashi can do, he forgets that Genos probably doesn't find it a fun activity. The last thing he wants is his partner getting hurt.

He slides down a tentacle towards Genos as if he was snowboarding off a slope. ]

Come here, Ge-- [ He stifles a giggle. ] Genki!

[ Genos groans at that giggle, just before his form changes. It takes a split of second, and... still feels weird. Maybe will forever. Because now he's just an armored gauntlet instead of a person. At least he can still shoot fiery projectiles, good that some things don't change ]

You must be so very proud of yourself. [ Yeah he's referring to the name ]

Wha? No, no. [ Yes. Definitely. ] What's the matter? Don't like your name?

[ He's circling around the ayakashi as it slithers around the small field. So far all its done is uproot a few bushes. ]

Hey, so do you control all that fire stuff or can I do it too? [ He ~~stupidly~~ points his palm at his own face, peering into the hole. Saitama then turns it in the general direction of the eel ayakashi. If his punch could make easy work or ayakashi, would the fire do the same? ]

Please do not scorch your face. [ Genos warns when he notice Saitama pointing up at his own head, and hopes he could stop the blast if he tried to fire it right now. Thankfully it wasn't tested... this time ]

I think I might have some control over it. But so should you. [ For all that badass talk about being a weapon, and so on, Genos still felt weird in this form. ] Should I incinerate it?

I don't think anything will happen even if it goes off in my face. [ He gives a half-hearted smirk. ] Trust me. [ It isn't as though he has anything to burn off either except for his eyebrows. ]

You try it out first and if it's a no-go I'll try to blast him. [ He stops moving around and aims at the ayakashi. Which isn't too difficult considering its size. He holds out his palm trying to strike a cool pose like Genos usually manages to. ] Alright. I'm ready!

[ A huge torrent of fire goes off from the palm of Genos-gauntlet, blinding and burning the ayakashi. ]

Sorry, I didn't properly adjust the strength.

[ As opposed to normal fire, this seems to do monster some damage. But also, piss it off as it lunges forward with intent of hitting Saitama. ]

Ah! [ He's caught off guard by the bright light and power. It's also strange to see something coming out of his palm like that, but not really be feeling it. He's so used to just punching things instead of using weapons or something similar. ]

Nah, it's fine dude. [ He dodges the ayakashi in the last minute, running right behind it. It slams into the tree and ends up uprooting it. ] It doesn't hurt you or make you tired right? [ He waits until the ayakashi recovers from its lunge and turns around. He lines up another shot. ]

No. [ Genos answers during fight are sometimes short and unusually succinct ]

Incinerate. [ And he goes off another flame, this time without prompting, and with similar lack of restraint. That uprooted tree? It might have caught fire a bit, and black smudges are left on the wall. While the ayakashi seems to be more injured, but that just makes it more pissed. ]

Edited (I can't english when tired, sob) 2016-07-06 20:35 (UTC)

Oi, Genos! Warn me when you're gonna do it. [ ~~As if the vocalization of his attack isn't enough.~~ The sudden burst of heat and flames from his hand is rather difficult to control if he's not aware it's coming. Maybe Saitama is too distracted by the ayakashi's tentacles. The beast slams a tentacle down on top of the pair, only being stopped by Saitama grabbing it at the last moment. ]

Huh. This thing is gettin' kinda annoying now. [ He lightly tugs on the tentacle and ends up ripping it off the monster's body. ] Oops.

Woah, impressive! [ Genos gasps with a small surprise, seeing the tentacle being ripped out so easily. ]

Everything's alright? [ In this form he doesn't have as much ability to judge the situation, as he would want to. So he's not really aware if just grabbing it hurt his god, blight and all. ]

Huh? Yeah, yeah I'm fine. [ He tucks his hand behind his back, out of... view? (does Genos even have a view like this?) He's embarrassed to have grabbed at the ayakashi with the wrong hand. He is so used to relying on instinct and impulse over actual technique or planning. ]

This thing is a total weakling. Let's just finish this up and go home. [ He's already growing tired, seeing that the ayakashi is starting to cause more collateral damage than its worth. The last thing he needs is his followers getting pissed off cause he ruined their school. ] Wanna do one more shot before wrappin' it up?

I'll try weaken it as much as I can! [ Genos is always up for some setting things on fire and he does fire another shot when the ayakashi is on line of fire. However it once again makes it only rage more and attack viciously ]

But I can't seem to damage it properly, maybe change of tactic is in needed. [ Or maybe it's Saitama who should be the one in charge of shooting things? The whole 'working in tandem' thing. ]

Yeah. I'll try and get it. I just thought it'd be fun to see if we'd be able to blast it down instead. [ He sighs, a little nervous about what will happen next. If the ayakashi manages to survive a punch, things would be a lot more exciting. If it doesn't... ]

I'm just gonna punch it, kay? [ He takes a moment to ready himself and jumps high into the air. The ayakashi's gaze follows him as he flies through the air until he's just above it. As he's falling down the ayakashi stares right him right in the eyes, unafraid. Maybe this would go well?

The small tinge of excitement he had at the ayakashi's piercing glare fell flat as his fist connected with it's face. Immediately the ayakashi started to crumble under his hand. The angry expression changed to one of fear just before disappearing into a small explosion of the many mini eels that made it up. The eels themselves began to disappear just as quickly as they broke apart from the main mass. ]

Ah, shit.

Spectacular! [ Genos is almost literally vibrating with excitement ] You've disintegrated it!

[ He's also proud, because, well, as god's weapons. he played the part in disintegration too ]

The area is secure, no more targets nearby.

It's nothin' special.

Alright. You can, uh, go back to normal, Genos? Or Genki? I forget which works to get you back. [ He holds his arm out and shrugs. Saitama looks over the remains of the field. The ayakashi is gone, but some of the fire damage and uprooted shrubbery is still present. Hopefully they don't get in trouble over it. He already dealt with enough people yelling at him over crap like that at home. ]

Wanna make sure the students are all good before we head out?

It's "Genos"- [ The gauntlet disappears from Saitama hand in flash of light, and forms into familiar form of a teenage cyborg next to him ] -that triggers the change back.

[ He's excited, looking around, the job well done.. and so epicly at that! Yeah, he just turns blind eye to the collateral damage ]

Yes, let's check on them. But first- [ he walks around Saitama ] - can you show me your other hand?

Hm? [ He holds out the hand Genos was on only moments ago. The other is conveniently tucked behind his back. ] Why do ya wanna see it?

Because you're hiding it. [ he still remember you ripped that tentacle out with other hand, Saitama ]

I'm fine. [ He starts walking away towards the main buildings. ] It's none of your business anyways. [ It totally is in a way, but he's being stubborn. ]

I'm your shinki! [ Genos catches up to him, and grabs him by the arm. ] How is that not mine business?

[ He's a bit surprised Genos would just go ahead and grab him like that, but it's not really the same Genos he knew. He yanks his arm out of his shinki's grip. ]

Fine. [ He holds out his arm, palm side up. His palm is covered in mottled purple and pink blight. It's starting to creep around the backs of his fingers as well. Grabbing this ayakashi was significantly more damaging than the last one. It doesn't hurt him, but it's a steady throbbing pressure. ] I'll just fix it when we get home.

[ He pulls his hand back and continues walking. ]

You don't need to hide that from me. [ For some reason he's not comfortable with that. Oh he knows he's god hides thinks for him. All gods do, right? But now.. maybe it's the god-shinki in-battle transparency thing? ]

It's not like it matters. I'm just gonna fix it at home anyways. [ He mostly feels annoyed at himself. How could he scold Genos to be more careful when he would make stupid mistakes like this himself?

He walks through the large doors he came from at the school originally, holding the door open for Genos. ]

Let's keep one last eye out for any ayakashi before we check on the students.

Does it hurt? [ His didn't. They just felt weird, and gave the metal such weird texture. ]

I can handle the students if you need to go back and-- [ he pauses dramatically, realizing that if they do split, and there are some ayakashi around, he won't be able to handle them alone. ] I mean I'll scout ahead, and return if something is awry.

Nah. It feels weird, but nothin' hurts. [ Really nothing has hurt in years. He flexes his hand open and closed. ]

Go ahead. I'll just wait here. Uh, call me if something's messed up otherwise we can just head home. [ He's not injured, but his mood has really been soured. There's also plenty of weird student art hanging on the walls for him to look at while he waits for Genos. ]

[ Genos nods, and hurries up to the library. He's confused. There's something wrong, something wrong he doesn't understand. They won the battle, but his god doesn't celebrate victory. If anything, one could assume some mistake was made. Was it the fire? The collateral damage? That... truly wasn't on Genos mind, when they fought.

The library seems lively, with influence of ayakashi gone, everyone have more energy. Stress is still the same, but at least no one will be collapsing. ]

Everything is fine. There is no sight of any other ayakashi. [ Genos states upon returning. He adds with more emphasis. ] You won. You've vanquished it.

[ Saitama's attention turns from the decorations on the walls back to Genos when he returns. ]

I didn't really do anything other than punch it. You're the one who even found out about all the trouble it caused. [ Saitama had scolded him for it, but in the end Genos' snooping is exactly what allowed them to be able to find out and destroy the ayakashi. ] Just don't go investigating or whatever by yourself again. [ Saitama would rather have Genos be safe and in one piece especially since he didn't have a doctor anymore. ]

[ Genos looks at him even more confuzzled. He tilts his head and taps his chin. Shouldn't this day prove that his investigations proved to be useful? ]

Should you want to accompany me on my "investigations" I will gladly have your company. Besides two pair of eyes are always better than one.

[ One of the decorations catches his gaze and he studies it for a moment. He wonders how to exactly voice what he wants to say. ]

It would also be a chance to get to know you better. [ He adds finally. His god is so powerful, yet seems to not take any sense of accomplishment of it. He has protective streak, despite being lazy. And can be so confusing at times. ]

If it'll stop you from runnin' off to get yourself hurt I'll patrol with you. [ The word choice hits unfortunately close to home and he frowns. He never bothered to make sure Genos wasn't alone during patrols back home because he had always assumed Genos could handle any trouble thrown at him. Saitama was wrong then. He feels right to worry a little bit now. ]

You know you can ask me stuff as long as it doesn't uh... [ He waves his hand around vaguely. It's difficult to explain the feeling he gets whenever he wants to mention the past or even thinks about mentioning the past, but Genos must feel it too. ] He can't guarantee I'll have all the answers you wanna hear, but I can try. [ He probably would not have given the old Genos that same freedom to ask, but it almost just feels like playing "catch up" in this situation. ]

[ Genos nods vigorously ] Then it's decided! I'll inform you when I plan next.

Don't worry, it won't be very soon. After success like this we deserve a break. [ And by "we" he of course means "you". Genos could jump into the fry right again, but they already have plans for next day anyway - that blasted pool part. ]

[CLOSED]

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