October catchall | OTA + 1 closed

[in_praetego]

Who: Yukio and YOU
What: Yuki has a really bad day
When: One day in September...
Where: Around the Far Shore and the Near Shore
Warnings: N/A

--

i. morning - you can never go home again

[ He thought it would be simple. After all, this was Japan. He knew Japan. He grew up in Japan. Surely the church he grew up in would be there, right? He could easily go home. Talk to his father. Tell him what was going on, report what he had... become.

Of course it wasn't simple at all.

You may spot him in front of a house in some residential area staring in disbelief at it. Thankfully no one's noticed him -- not like anyone can see him anyway. Except others from the Near Shore... with is probably just as well. ]

This... it's not here...

[ Because that wouldn't be creepy otherwise after all. ]

--


ii. a teacher's duty...? (closed to Takuma)

[ It started out innocently enough. He had been walking around Tokyo with the most frustrated look on his face. First his home was missing and so was a giant town he was certain would be within the city limits of Tokyo.

But as he passes a local school, he can't help but notice certain things.

'Ugh... school's starting again.'
'Yeah. We hardly had enough vacation and now it's back to homework. What a pain.'
'I hate school. I just want to stay out late and hang out with you guys.'

There's a frown on his face. Studying wasn't so bad. If people just applied themselves...

And then he spots it: it's a small puddle of black at first but he sees it following the two students as they head toward the school gate. It's not a demon -- far from it -- even if it looks like one. Certainly no demon he's familiar with. But he knows better to charge in, even if he knows how to battle a demon. His shinki's useless and if it's anything like what he's heard... he needs a shinki to take it down.

So he's just going to hang around the gate for now, making sure to keep an eye on the black puddle. ]

--

iii. afternoon - the near shore - fish out of water

[ What a day. He's not sure what's worse - a full day of chasing down demons or a single day chasing down a giant ayakashi. In the heat. Alone. With the oddest shinki.

Much to his chagrin, he's heading home. "Home". He doesn't really want to go "home". His home is missing. His temple isn't home.

Sadly, the fish seem to sense his misery. Maybe it was their way of trying to cheer him up but he does get splashed as he crosses a bridge. ]

Hey!

[ He's sort of soaked as he turns, trying to look for whoever was responsible. But he sees nothing but fish. Unfortunately, while he's distracted, the koi on the other side of the bridge decide to gang up on him. ]

Who's splashing water?!

[ The poor guy is now being double teamed by fish. Please help. He needs a towel. ]

--


iv. late afternoon - the near shore - portable gas range part deux

[ Maybe you've noticed someone new in the neighborhood. After all, it's a temple that's hard to miss. It's a giant cathedral. Gothic. Imposing. And very very very black. Unlike most churches, it's made of black metal. Spikes, gargoyles, it's perfectly imposing if you aren't used to... cathedrals.

Another thing about it is that it has an eerie blue glow about it.

There are small blue fireballs floating in the church grounds, the candles inside are also lit with blue fire. It's just blue fire everywhere even if it isn't warm at all. Maybe it's the blue glow that's called you over to start.

Either way, the owner's home and the minute he steps into his own grounds, two points of blue fire appear like horns near his temples. Though he doesn't seem all that pleased about it. He's already had a hell of a day.

No pun intended. ]

Comments

Might as well get used to it then

[katanas_and_tea]

[Takuma pauses where he is before straightening himself up and taking a step back away from the thing.

He looks over to the person that spotted him, regarding him for a moment.]

You noticed me so easily! That must mean that you're a god or a shinki, huh.

This thing is an ayakashi, right?

[He points to the black puddle.]

shhh as far as he knows he isn't a teacher yet...

[in_praetego]

[ Said black puddle seems rather interested in your finger, Takuma. But it seems to be 'looking' between the shinki and the god as if trying to decide what to do. ]

God, actually... and yes, that looks to be an ayakashi. I can't say for certain but it's taking a particular interest in the students in this school.

[ A beat, finally looking up at the other man. ]

Which one are you?

Ooooh. Okay ~~ :x

[katanas_and_tea]

[Takuma places the hand he pointed with onto his chest. He turns his attention to the black haired boy.]

I'm a shinki. I've just been wandering around, though. Where is your own shinki?

[He looks back at the blob and wags a finger at it.]

Now you leave those students alone.

thankfully he isn't a shinki XD

[in_praetego]

He's... he's not going to be any use taking down an ayakashi.

[ Because he turns into a pot lid. And you can't really battle ayakashi by bashing them on the head with a pot lid, right?

But before he can say anything else, the ayakashi looks between the two of them again, blows a raspberry in Takuma's direction and hops off in a hurry. ]

H... hey! Get back here!

[katanas_and_tea]

Oh that's too bad...

[Is all he could get out before the ayakashi made the taunting noise then bounced off.

He puts his hands on his hips in disapproval.]

How rude. We should chase after it, right? It's going to try and hurt those students, right?

[in_praetego]

Yeah... that's probably why it came here in the first place...

[ Which is exactly why they have to work as quickly as possible to make sure it doesn't get too far. ]

Come on. We'll have a better chance of getting rid of it if we work together. We could probably corner it and chase it off campus.

[katanas_and_tea]

Right! Let's do that!

[Takuma looks over to the ayakashi making its escape.]

Oh no you don't, you rude thing.

[He takes a step off of the ground and goes....too fast. Way too fast! How is he so fast?!

He lets out a yelp and is suddenly sprawled out in front of the ayakashi.]

Ouch...that was unexpected...

[in_praetego]

What the--

[ He stops, surprised by the way Takuma takes off but hurries to catch up to him... where he finds the other man sprawled on the ground. That was something. Definitely something. It's clear this guy is capable of much more than your usual shinki. ]

Are... you okay?

[ He's holding his hand out in case Takuma needs help getting up. But the ayakashi dashing off gets his attention. It's hurrying across the courtyard and to the gym... but it looks like it's getting bigger the further it gets.

Not a good sign. ]

Come on. If it's heading to the gym, we can corner it there.

[katanas_and_tea]

I'm alright! That was just unexpected is all.

[Takuma willingly took Yukio's hand as a friendly gesture rather than actually needing it.]

I'll just need to be more careful.

[He looked in the direction of the god's gaze and also noticed that it was growing in size. That wasn't good, not good at all.]

Right.

[With that plan of attack, Takuma chases after the blob. This time, he is very conscious of his movements to make sure that he doesn't trip over himself again. He doesn't want to end up getting run over by something that can eat him. Especially since he is an unclaimed shinki at the moment.]

[in_praetego]

Let's go. The last thing we want is for it to start feeding off any negative emotions--

[ He's running as he speaks, trying his best to catch up to Takuma. The gym would be perfect. They can probably corner it before it gets too big and he could... bag it, maybe? Then bring it home and bash it on the head with his pot lid of a shin--

Or he could stop right at the gym's door, staring up at the ayakashi that was nearly hitting the ceiling. ]

...any ideas?

[katanas_and_tea]

[Takuma looked up...and up at the ayakashi that had definitely had a quick and hefty meal of negative emotions. Was the gym supposed to have that much negativity in it? Wasn't it supposed to be a fun place? Takuma wasn't sure. He wasn't sure he had ever been in a school gym before.]

Ah...well...

[He looks over at Yukio.]

I don't think asking it to stop doing whatever it's doing would be very effective.

There should be a way to defeat it, right? I'm afraid I can't do much the way I am now. I can't even make a borderline.

[in_praetego]

[ It's the heavy rate of competition -- physical failure, adrenaline pumping, students being carried away and picking on the weaker ones. There's plenty for it to feed on. That and taking little snacks on the way.

... But he does pause, glancing back at the other man a moment. ]

No... I don't think it's going to listen to reason.

[ ...well... he is a god, right? ]

...hey. You're a shinki, right? If it's okay... I think we could probably take it down if I could use you.

[katanas_and_tea]

I'm okay with that!

[There seemed to be little reservation about teaming up with another god. The decision even seemed a bit too quick. Realizing this, he adds]

I want to make sure that no one gets hurt. So please use me if you must.

[He holds out his hand to the god, unsure of how to initiate all of this, but the gesture is an accepting one.]

[in_praetego]

It's... a desperate move but I wouldn't do it unless you were okay with it.

[ Uh... hand... handshake? Yes, a handshake. But something comes to mind, suddenly. Just as good a time as any if he's gotten the guy in a handshake. ]

Ah... what's your name, by the way?

[katanas_and_tea]

My name is Takuma Ichijou.

[He smiles as their hands come together.]

Let's do our best to help these people.

[in_praetego]

Yukio Okumura. A pleasure to make your acquaintance despite the circumstances. And... your name's Takuma... with the 'taku' written like 'clearing the land', right?

[ There's a small smile as he nods back, withdrawing his hand. ]

I'll just... go ahead and get started.

[ He's never done this before but it's some sort of new instinct that's guiding his hands.

There's a blue aura that starts to form around them built by a bright blue fire. ]

Spirit, you are lost and adrift
You have nowhere to go and nowhere to return to
Thus I grant you a place to belong
My name is Satan

[ Damn that didn't sound right to him. Part of him felt the bile building in his stomach at the thought but the words were coming to his mouth without his knowing. ]

Bearing two names you shall remain here
With these names I make thee my servant
With these names I use my life to make thee a regalia fit to be wielded by a god

[ His hand moves to trace a character in the air before him, the strokes appearing as streaks of light. ]

Thou art Takuma, as regalia Hira.

Come, Hiraki!

[ He holds his hand out as he closes his eyes, waiting to accept whatever form this shinki would give him.

...

...

...Please don't be a pot lid. ]

[katanas_and_tea]

[Takuma stood there watching in awe at the lights and flames that started to surround the god and then himself. He closed his eyes as he started to feel a connection--a bond form between them.

A name appeared on his neck, right along the jugular. Unless he were wearing a turtleneck, it would be visible, even if it were just partially.

He felt the air shift around him and then felt his form shift. He became a small ball of light and rushed to his new God's hand.

Thankfully, he isn't a pot lid. He materializes into a sleek black, ornate revolver with a mother of pearl handle . The revolver looks beautiful yet dangerous just like the one that turned into it. Classy yet deadly.

Now Takuma can see from the perspective of the weapon]

Oh wow! I hope this is useful to you!

[in_praetego]

[ Thank GOD he wasn't a pot lid.

He hadn't realized he closed his eyes until he felt the familiar weight of a firearm in his hand. A Colt... much different than his Detonics custom but at least it was something he could use! He found himself breathing a sigh of relief, fingers closing around the stock with a renewed sense of purpose. ]

A little fancier than what I'm used to but yeah... I think you'll be more than useful.

[ Much better than a pot lid.

But he's stepping into the gym, scooping up a stray volleyball as he enters. ]

HEY! There's nowhere left to run.

[ The ball was clearly to get his attention, thrown as hard as the boy can against the wall to bounce dangerously close to the ayakashi's head. It turns, giving a snarl as it turns to the god. He figures he's big enough. He can take them.

So he makes a dive, charging in to strike at them.

Thankfully, it isn't all that different from facing a demon -- at least that's what Yukio thinks. He waits until the last minute, before rolling to the side, landing on his back and facing the ayakashi. Before it can rear up to strike again, he's firing point blank, emptying what's in the barrel. ]

[katanas_and_tea]

[The point of view is odd and he can feel Yukio handling him. He could feel the expert way he takes aim, the comfortable hand on the trigger, the confidence he has in his movements. It was obvious that he had done something like this before.

Takuma is excited. This is his first time being used by a god and he wants to impress him.

What comes out are bullets of silver. They each have an inscription on them that contains purification on them. The bullets gleam a blue light as they zoom towards the ayakashi.

When they connect, they hurt . The ayakashi lets out a pained roar as the bullets penetrate it. Whatever these bullets are made of, they are perfect for eliminating these beasts.]

Good shot! We make a good team already!

[in_praetego]

[ This is so much better than a pot lid.

If Takuma can feel it, his god's heart is racing with a measure of adrenaline and newfound confidence. With a competent firearm, this ayakashi is as good as gone. He's taken down demons around its size. He'll be fine. ]

Our meeting was a blessing in disguise, I suppose.

[ The ayakashi charges in again, aiming to land another strike as Yuki prepares a second round. ]

It's weakening. We could probably take it down with rend the next chance we get.

[katanas_and_tea]

I'm counting on you, Yukio-kun! I'll do my best on this end as well!

[Takuma swells up with confidence as well as they overcome the ayakashi. He's feeling so pumped up that the next round of bullets are just that much stronger with spiritual power. He knows that for sure they will be able to put this wayward spirit out of its misery and save those children.]

Okay! I'm ready for anything!

[in_praetego]

You're doing fine. [ One more shot... just one more shot will do. That's all that matters. At least he can do some good even if he does happen to be Satan. After all, he finally has a shinki he can use in battle. So he steadies his aim, lining up the sight with the ayakashi's head. The words come to him immediately. ] This is the land of the rising sun Your desecration shall not be allowed Hear me, I am Satan I now lay thee waste with the Hiraki and expel thy vast defilement I cleanse thee! [ With that, he unloads the next round. ] Ravage!

[katanas_and_tea]

[Takuma lets fly another round of bullets at the command of Yukio's trigger finger. They're charged up this time due to his enthusiasm, so they do well to pierce the target and explode inside of it.

The ayakashi shines a bright light as it meets it's end. It explodes with a strange light pattern left behind before that too disappears and the corrupt soul is no more.]

We did it! Well done! You were really cool when you finished it off like that!

[in_praetego]

[ He lets out a breath as soon as the ayakashi's gone. But he's quick to draw back and escape the gym. The students don't know any better, the ayakashi's been vanquished... all in all the signs of a successful mission.

He can feel his ears burning at being called cool though... ]

It's... nothing like that. I was just trained to use firearms so... this is something I'm used to.

Return, Hira.

[ Another breath as he finally releases his shinki, allowing him to revert form. ]

Are you okay?

1/2

[katanas_and_tea]

[Once Takuma reforms, he stretches his arms up high and shakes his head out. his fluffy, canary blond hair moves along his pretty face. Then he smiles as he drops his arms to his sides.]

I feel just fine! It was interesting being a weapon. I could really feel your hands and how I was being handled.