thenearshore | [OPEN]

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Who: Mai and you
When: End of September/Beginning of October, IC
Where: Primarily at Mai's Temple
What: Training, Dinner...and an accidental Ayakashi release because kitty keychains are impossible to resist. Whoops?

I - Daytime Training

[The sun shone overhead, occasionally disappearing behind a cloud or two. Whenever it reemerged, the light streaming down would gleam off the blade of Mai's sword. She held it confidently, still moving slow but with far more precise movements than when she first started. The weight was good. The balance, perfect. Not a dent marred its polished surface, indicating a lack of use, but when it came time for her to need it in battle...]

[...or if a challenger in sparring should appear...]

[...she would be ready.]

[After running through her latest routine, Mai paused long enough to wipe a few beads of sweat from her brow. She was still wearing her long pants, but had since discarded her coat in favor of a solid black sleeveless top. Modest and slightly loose, it moved easily with her and was clearly intended more for convenience than fashion. Her hat was sitting atop the jacket pile off to the side, where a small bottle of water rested in the grass. She moved to aquire it, uncapping the bottle and taking a large gulp during her momentary break.]

II - Evening Meal

[The scent of meat cooking wafted into the air; Mai had enjoyed the grill from the festival so much, she'd gotten the idea to do it again. A few spears of fish still roasted over an open fire nearby, but there were also slabs of lean cut beef sizzling away on the cooking surface. A bowl of freshly chopped vegetables sat on a small table nearby, and she was just finishing squeezing a few pieces of fresh fruit for juice.]

[There was rarely any concern about the sheer amount of food. If additional guests didn't stop by for a free meal, whatever she and Trunks didn't eat could easily be saved as leftovers for the next day. Food never went to waste at Caireen's temple, that was for certain.]

III - Late Night Shenanigans

[In hindsight, Mai really should have thought things through. But how could she have known? It wasn't as if she pegged herself for a cat lady, either, but...the cute little keychain she saw at the far shore market had reminded her so much of Scratch that she couldn't help purchase it. She kept it in the palm of her hand the entire trip back, occasionally glancing down with a fond smile.]

[Once she reached the outskirts of her temple, Mai moved to clip it to her belt look, when--]

[A sudden, forceful wind blew with such intensity that it knocked her to the ground. Stunned by unharmed, she blinked several times before looking up to find...a large Ayakashi standing before her. Looking both pleased with itself and also trembling with the unbridled potential of its freedom. Mai's eyes widened, and as she moved to get up, she realized the little keychain at her side had mysteriously vanished.]

[There was no time to ponder on that 'coincidence', however. She ran for the nearest weapon--in this case, an actual sword. One of her training weapons, with a dulled blade and several chip marks along its surface, but far better than the wooden broom nearby.]

If you think you're getting past me, you have another thing coming.

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[Hopefully she remembered she'll need him to be in vessel form, before they can rend the ayakashi.

There is a hint of smirk along one side of his mouth, noticing the slower and confused ayakashi. A sense of pride in doing a good job so far, as he noticed her nod from his peripheral vision. Readying another small chi-blast, tempered enough to stun the ayakashi further, Trunks lowered the Borderline. With said chi-blast a half-second behind it, helping set Mai up for a good strike.]

[She remembered well enough. She also knew that there was a downside to calling him to vessel form, however necessary it would be for the final rend.]

[Trunks' aim was true, but not enough. It caused the ayakashi to jump up, and though its movements clearly dictated pain, they also told of an erradic anger that fueled its next movements; when Mai went to strike, it managed to roll just enough out of the way for her to clip it on one side. A hiss of pain as the residual blessed water made contact with its skin, but not enough to completely incapacitate it. Not yet.]

[It saw another opening, and tried to run in between the two of them.]

[Mai looked to Trunks and nodded, signaling for him to put up another wall and avoid a chase.]

[His eye and attention is more on the ayakashi, so if he noticed the nod at all it was out of his peripheral vision. As it is, he moved after the ayakashi not to chase, but to keep it close and herd it himself. Still readying and setting up another Borderline as well, though.]

[Seeing that opening wasn't going to work, the ayakashi tried to sprint back the other way.]

[Mai was there to intercept it. Swiping with her sword, she missed but managed to spray it with tiny flicks of holy water, causing it to falter in its step. From there, she took another swing, making contact and sending it flying back towards Trunks.]

[He was ready, dodging the ayakashi and with another quick and short chi-blast. Hoping to disorient it further, while setting up another Borderline. So far they'd had the ayakashi on the defensive, and they should finish this soon.]

[His blast struck true, and when the ayakashi fell, it took several seconds before it even began to show signs of recovering.]

[That was all the indication Mai needed; flicking her sword at it one last time, she turned to Trunks and called to him, naming him aloud in order to signal the transformation into his vessel form.]

[He'd been expecting it, and wasn't surprised thankfully when Mai called his name. Hints of light, and then the sword and sheath were called present. Only the barest-hint-of-awareness of Trunks's presence, more in the faint hum of power related to his vessel form and sense of his purpose--being her partner.]

[It grew easier each time. No, more than that--it felt more and more right. The surge of confidence. Of strength and power and that overwhelming sense of protection that came with such a partnership. Her grip on the hilt tightened in a brief squeeze, and it took less than a second for her fingers to adjust to the weight.]

[The ayakashi, still stunned but now standing, would look up just in time to see her strike downward in a single, sharp blow.]

[That faint feeling of confidence, of protection, remained whether she drew the blade or not. But when she drew the blade, some of her senses sharpened with greater awareness. Of sounds, and scents, of how the air moved around her. How the air moved with her, buoying her with heightened speed and agility.

Her practice had been worth it, as the blade moved, seeming to almost sing, with how smoothly the air moved around it in her strike. Cleaving from the top of the ayakashi, downwards, and rending it easily.]

[She winced as the residual of the rend very nearly struck her. As it was, she already felt the urge to wash herself. Just in case. But, more importantly...]

[She called for him to transform back. Then, the moment his human form reappeared in front of her, would immediately start inspecting him for signs of blight. So that could be dealt with as well.]

[He was getting used to the change back, but it was still a little disorienting. For at least a second or two, each time. First things first, he was looking for the ayakashi--just in case.

Then breathing a sigh of relief, and then Mai was right there too.]

I'm fine, didn't get close. You get hit?

[Gently batting her hand away, and offering a smile.]

[Hush you, let your goddess mother over you~~r hair~~ for a moment.]

[Although she did lower her hands when she saw no immediate signs of blight.]

Not that I could tell.

Though I still feel like taking a long, hot bath when we get back.

Oh that sounds amazing.

[Instant agreement, as he tried to not blush at her mussing his hair.]

How'd it get here, anyways?

[Here, her frivolous smile melted away into a small frown as she took a step back and started for the Temple. Glancing around to get a feel for just how far they'd traveled while trying to box off the ayakashi's path.]

Apparently, it hid inside a small keychain I'd purchased on the other shore.

I knew they'd been disguising themselves, but I really thought the danger was over. This one must've snuck by getting noticed until now.

[It had seemed farther away than it really was, given Trunks had varied the path and zig-zagged his spells. They were actually several feet from the edge of the forest, on the far side of the temple. Not far from various obstacles that were still set up for games or training.

Moving to walk with her, he frowned too.]

I woke up for a drink, and noticed you were gone. Then I heard noises.

[She sighed softly.]

I'm sorry.

I hadn't expected to be gone so long. And I certainly hadn't expected an attack.

[There's a blink, and his head turned towards her.]

Why are you sorry? I figured you'd just stepped out.

[There is an eyebrow raise as well.]

I'd worry if you had been expecting an attack. Mostly because if you're worried someone's targeting you, I need to know so I can help you.

You know I would tell you if something like that were the case.

[But she was still sorry, anyway.]

[A nod, and any teasing is gone. Replaced by an understanding smile.]

I know. You still don't need to be sorry. I'm glad you're alright.

Yeah. Same.

I guess I'll have to be more careful about what souvenirs I bring back in the future.

Was there really anyway you could've known? Maybe there's a way to tell, or something.

[She frowned slightly at that, folding her arms across her chest.]

I don't know.

I feel like there should be, but...it's not as if I could sense its energy or anything like that.

Maybe ask the other gods? If it's this easy to bring ayakashi into heaven, they'd want to know. If it's a new thing the ayakashi are developing, that's even more worrisome.

[He's frowning slightly too, as it's not a reassuring thought.]

I'll ask around a bit.

But if this is something new, I have a feeling we'll be hearing about it before long anyway.

True. It's likely once the adrenaline wears off, we'll crash. Think you'll be able to sleep now?

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