thenearshore | [closed] | The family business

[closed] | The family business

Who: Yukio and Edge
What: Prayer 59 - White lies
When: September 16 - backdated
Where: Around the Near Shore
Summary: A white ayakashi plagues the Near Shore and the devil has to deal with lies

[ He hadn't been here long but there was something... strange about a white ayakashi. Most of them had been dark, creatures of shadow and blackness and... just... wrong. A white ayakashi though, made of white lies. Now that was something. It also seemed a little counter productive. Satan having to prevent lies from spreading rather than encouraging it. ]

You'd think it'd be the other way around...

[ When he says it, it's mused - almost a half thought as he watches the crowd. Patrol, he suggested, would be the best way to go about it. Find the source and eliminate. And that's how he's got him and his shinki walking down the street in hopes to find a lead to this mysterious white ayakashi.

He squints, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. Even the dust motes are looking suspiscious. If these ayakashi are anything like the demons from back home, maybe he has a chance to spot them before they converge. But so far, he doesn't see anything in front of him. Around them, people pass. A pair of students gossip amongst themselves. Office workers brush pass them alone and in groups. No one pays them notice so no one stops when Yukio does.

His focus is on a couple a distance away. They're not so close that he can make out what they're staying but there seems to be a slight shimmer in the air around them. A shimmer and a glint of white. It's enough to get him to stop completely and tilt his head to get a better look.]

Did... you see that?

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[Edge isn't subtle, in his flaring cape and mask, but the veil of the Far Shore takes care of that for him. Perhaps more surprisingly, he is patient -- for patrolling, at least, which he takes to with unconscious familiarity.]

[He's already answering Yukio's question by drawing a knife, one of the hiltless ones he favors for throwing, as he hunches slightly over into a posture more suited for combat.]

Looks like our enemy is good at hiding. Not good enough, though.

I've never seen an ayakashi of that color before.

[ He does glance at the shinki though. He's sure his partner knows when the right time to strike is. He has a certain experienced air to him. ]

But... I don't think that's what we're really after. These guys look like small fry.

Seems to me that if there's a boss, we might draw him out by dropping his underlings. Maybe if we put on a pretense that we can't Rend them, it'll think it can take us when we're weak.

[Otherwise, it might just sacrifices its pawns and flee -- no win for them in that case.]

[ ....they really do act like demons. In a way, it's good to know. At least they're more predictable that way. ]

We can at least chase them off... lead them somewhere less populated.

[ He's already fishing out a few small vials from his pocket. Nothing serious, just holy water. ]

....whenever you're ready. This should cause them to scatter.

Hey, I'm always ready!

[That isn't an exaggeration, either. Though Edge does look at those vials thoughtfully, eyes flicking over to the ayakashi.]

Hmm. I could put that right into the middle of them.

[ It sounds like a solid plan at least. With that, he's reaching for about three more vials, handing them over. ]

Here. I have a few more but I'm thinking of saving those for an emergency. Hopefully that should catch someone's attention.

[ Somehow he feels lucky they can't be seen. As far as he's concerned, they both stupidly suspicious. ]

[Yep, but if the Far Shore wants to give them that gift, why waste it?]

[Edge takes a vial, judges his throw for all of a split second, then flips it forward with a startling spin. The vial smashes right into an ayakashi, bursting into shards and a spray of holy water that has them all scrambling away from it. Since his target had been on the edge of the crowd, that got them all moving in one direction.]

[ Please cue the smallest look of surprise on his face. Nice effective throw and didn't even need that much time to set it up, too.

But he doesn't have time to be awed. The little white ayakashi are scattering, alright. Exactly in the direction he wanted them to. ]

Let's go.

[ He's motioning with a jerk of his head, hurrying after the ayakashi that are starting to pool together. It makes him pause. That sort of swarming behavior... he's seen it before. With all the small ayakashi that are gathering, it seems the crowd they bothered summoned more friends. ]

...Edge, I don't think we needed to draw out the boss.

[Edge brags, blusters, struts around with an ego, and generally acts like he's the best. None of that changes the truth: he is actually legitimately skilled. Much to everyone's surprise.]

Uh, are these things about to form into one giant ayakashi? Because I have to be honest -- that's weird.

I'm starting to figure out trying to predict how these things are going it act will always surprise you.

[ Yup, they're swarming... definitely trying to form into something larger. With that, Yuki's ditching the vials. ]

...think we're ready enough to take it on?

The only thing stopping me from taking them down now is that I need you to help me Rend them! [All cocky arrogance, Edge is trying to hide how very frustrating that fact is.] You want me out there to start or in your hand?

In my hand would be best. We've probably gotten its attention so we'd better get to work.

[ He's more of a gunner really... but he refuses to let his shinki's form hold him back. There's a breath though as he holds his hand out, eyeing the ayakashi as it starts to loom before them.]

Haki! Let's take it down.

[The fuuma shuriken fans out as it bursts into appearance in his grip, fortunately far lighter than it appears at its immense size. Honestly, Yukio could use it as a shield and cover if he really prefers...]

No offense, but I really hate this whole system.

You're not the only one... but I'm glad you're willing to work with it at least.

[ While he isn't that proficient at close quarters combat, it isn't to say he's incompetent. There's a pause as he tests the weight and grip a moment, almost steeling himself as he eyes the ayakashi in front of him. ]

If we get through this in one piece... dinner's on me.

I don't have a choice. [Or at least a palatable choice. He could refuse to play along, and then innocent people would suffer because of him. How is that acceptable?] But I can get behind your offer anyway!

Yeah... neither of us do. But thanks for working with me anyway.

[ The ayakashi is already fully formed and ready, charging into them. Yukio dodges to the right, his left hand reaching behind him for one of his gu-- oh, right. No gun. He has Edge. There's a momentary click of his tongue at the fact instinct had overridden what was going on.

But that gets the ayakashi close enough for him to slash at the back of the ayakashi's head, causing it to utter a loud shriek. ]

We can probably take it down with one more strike.

I -- you know I'm a throwing weapon, right? You've got one more strike anywhere you want to stand!

[Good heavens, use him properly!]

Nothing in my dragoon training ever taught me how to use something like this.

[ He's only raising his voice slightly just to make sure it carries over the sudden shriek the ayakashi gives out upon contact.

Another dodge, this one to avoid the rush of tendrils coming in. The damn thing has long reach. It's almost like fighting a squid. His mind's racing and maybe Edge might be able to catch snippets of his options: either get in close and drive the point between the creature's 'eyes' so those tendrils won't reach them so easily or just throw him out while keeping the tendrils busy.

But he trusts his aim more than he trusts his ability with close combat. ]

I'll leave it to you.

[ First to draw its fire. He keeps himself in the ayakashi's sights, lunging and dodging while barely missing the tendrils. That's the entire point. Close enough to make the creature think it's almost got him. It'll keep it striking. But then he spots it: an opening.

The moment the tendrils close in, he dodges the strike one more time before throwing Edge out. ]

Right between the eyes! You have a clear path!

[Well. There isn't really a lot Edge can do this way, being merely shuriken, but there is very little he needs to do. To wield him is to be his master, or rather, the master of throwing weaponry. As such, without any effort on his part, the shuriken cuts through the air on perfect course. Its sharpened edges rip into the ayakashi as if it were air, a buzzsaw shredding cleanly through it.]

[ If there's one thing he knows, at least, it's how to time stuff that's going in midair. ]

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 Haki
And expel thy vast defilement
I cleanse thee

[ The spell is cast the minute Edge leaves his hand. ]

Ravage!

[ By the time the blade rips into the ayakashi, the last word of the spell is spoken which is enough to cause the creature to rip in half and disappear into a shower of dust.

Cue one relieved sigh. ]

...Revert, Edge. Looks like I've still got more training to do if I want to use you effectively.

[In a puff of smoke, Edge drops to the ground, cape flaring around him as he lands quite melodramatically.]

Hey, you did fine and we dropped the ayakashi. If there's room for improvement, we find it, but don't act like you did badly!

[ He's got himself a flashy shinki, that's for sure... ]

I'd still like to be a little more competent... just so I know what I'm working with.

[ Kid's a bit of an overachiever, sadly. But he does remember something he brought up earlier. ]

So... I remember something about promising you dinner once we got through this, right? Anywhere in particular?

[Edge only reinforces that when he turns back to his god with a flourish of his arm that makes his cape snap behind him. Style counts and appearances matter! Even if he doesn't know why he feels that way.]

I'd say I need to try something new, but I'm not sure what's new. Give me an example of some unusual cuisine?

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