thenearshore | 27 - The Gods' Meeting

[Shun raises the hammer over his shoulder, which casts the crack down its length into the light.] If you've got something to weaken it more before I take it down, it'd be better. It's a big one for a fragile weapon.

[Kotori huffs a bit in his head, though it's more in the tone of someone reluctantly allowing themselves to be helped. Being a cracked vessel presents its own risks, and neither she or Shun want to exacerbate them.

Nonetheless, when Caster lands the first hit, Shun starts to head in, aiming around the ayakashi's legs instead. The sword in his hand shines faintly with some kind of unnatural coating, and when he slashes it across the back of the ayakashi's leg, it screeches and jerks away, not dissimilarly to how one might react to blessed water.]

[ That's when Caster notices the crack ]

How-? [ This is a first time he saw damage on the shinki's vessel form. Can they even get damaged like that? ] Is your shinki alright?

[ But the question might be said too late, besides there is a fight to be done. Later he can inquire about the cracked vessel. Caster flanks the ayakashi, keeping the optimal distance he needs for accurate shooting. He's no sniper, so he'd rather keep for mid-range as opposed to longest distance possible. Archer and his ideas be damned. It splits ayakashi's attention, it looks back to the annoyance and suffers more damage dealt by Shun- However, it's not stupid and realizes eventually that the biggest danger is in front of him. ]

She's fine, but I'm not taking unnecessary risks. [Shun calls that over his shoulder as he goes. Kotori herself is much more fine than her vessel form is, honestly, her scars from the ordeal near faded. But the vessel has never healed the same way, and from what he hears, even removing the name and renaming wouldn't achieve anything.

Since Caster is still drawing the lion's share of the ayakashi's attention, Shun takes the opportunity to slash at its other leg on the way past before going for its underbelly as well. Drawing his focus, he lets his god power bite out at it too, decaying shreds of its surface and stripping them away into the night air.

Chances are it's going to pay a little more attention than he'd like to the sword getting dragged along its stomach, but he really does need it weak.]

[ Caster mentally files a note to ask about that later. If there is something that could damage shinki, he'd rather know about it. Maybe he should hang around those lectures for new gods again. But right now, he's working the distraction job, and should the ayakashi decide to rip Shun apart, it would make him really bad at that job. ]

Hey, ugly!! [ He moves even closer on that mid-range he was trying to keep. Archer at least adapts and changes the bow into shorter form of a composite bow. A bit more force on a draw, but easier to use while mobile- and hits just as hard on this range ] Take a look here, that's right, here.

[ He could be reciting the poetry instead because it's the sound that's supposed to draw the ayakashi attention to him, not the words itself. The moment the head turns in his direction he fires an arrow aiming for the eye. ]

[Shun is quietly appreciative of the fact that he's at least got someone who knows how to be an effective distraction, because otherwise he imagines he would've had to teleport out from under the belly instead. He might need to in the end, though, because since he's already heading for the beast's front, he has a good idea of what he should be doing when he gets there.

Pulling his blade out once he reaches the equivalent of the ayakashi's chest, he uses its roaring distraction from the arrow fired at its eye to leap for its front legs. First the left, slashing quickly but efficiently through the ankle area, then leaps into a roll and leaps out again, slashing through the right front leg even as he makes a quick move out from under the ayakashi. With all four legs having been impacted, the ayakashi collapses in towards the last leg hit, where its weight was favouring. It means it's falling towards Shun, but he makes a hard leap forward, landing on one hand and then propelling himself again to land skidding on his feet well clear of where the creature thumps to the earth.]

[ He might have added few more arrows onto the ayakashi tho- they wound and then disappear, as to not to put the strain on the shinki conjuring them. But at that moment something different show in Caster's hand. Not exactly an arrow- more like a sword, just meant to be fired.

Ah, of course, the ultimate Archer's schtick. He saw that, had few of them fired at him even, during their time in that city. Caster gets a feeling this one is powerful enough to finish the ayakashi off now, but he hesitates ]

Kurosaki! The finishing blow is yours-!

[ But he's ready either-way, ready to fire that thing off should something go haywire. ]

[Shun glances over, noting the change of weapon - if that's courtesy of Archer as a vessel, in theory it should be able to finish the fight as well. But since Shun is currently closer to the fallen ayakashi, he barely needs the prompt to head back over to where the ayakashi is laid out against the ground.

When he swings the hammer, it's in a calculated motion. Hard, but not overdone, just enough to make an impact while minimising recoil to the vessel. The telltale white light of a rend flashes out and, for a moment, is visible at the depths of the crack in the vessel he's using. Nonetheless, despite the damaged vessel, the light rips through the ayakashi as normal and scatters its form, turning into little more than fragments on the air.

Shun watches it go, as if to make sure there's nothing remaining afterwards.]

Hey, that was a nice fight both of you.

[ Caster shoots at a smaller ayakashi scuttling around, rending it with ease- but aside from those small fries, it seems they might have a break before finding next opponent. That might be a chance to ask the question that has been bothering him for the entire fight. And he goes for the forward and blunt way with it. ]

What happened to your shinki?

[ Was the crack caused by some strong opponent? Or is it something else- he's got three shinki under his command now, each with a completely different type of vessel form. Learning what kind of dangers there might be out there for them is his responsibility. ]

[Initially, Shun doesn't answer Caster, instead deciding it's a better idea to make sure Kotori's still in decent condition.] Return, Kotori.

[The hammer glows and reforms, turning into the shape of an adult woman in a carelessly-worn yukata, who withdraws her hand from Shun's. When she raises her arm briefly, there are signs of old scarring, very clean wounds that look like they were made by a knife.

Shun looks her over briefly - she looks a little exerted, but otherwise fine - before glancing back to Caster.]

I'm sure you've heard all the stories about how ayakashi will eat unnamed shinki. Their attacks on them can do permanent damage. The blight from it doesn't come off with blessed water, so it needs to be cut away.

[ Ouch ]

Right, bits and pieces.

[ Of course, there's a price for being saved. The damage reflects not just on the body of the shinki but also on their vessel form.

Like that matters- Battles leave scars, warriors wearing them have something to show off for being accomplished. He turns his attention to Kotori and greets her with his best smile #21 ]

It's an honor to meet you! Thank you for that splendid display of your power today. [ The praise is entirely genuine, that's for one thing- the second is that, of course he's going to pay her more attention than to Shun right now. S-sorry ]

[Caster's very pointed reaction to her gets a wide, but clearly more amused than flattered smile from Kotori. She hadn't been able to see him while she was in vessel form, but the consistent voice is an obvious enough tell this is who Shun was fighting with.]

Well well, you suddenly turned charming. Right, Kurosaki-sama?

[Shun just gives Caster a rather pointed side-eye before turning his attention to scan over the area.]

It's only my problem if it stops him thinking with his head. [It might be a surprise that Shun knows what's going on here, but...yeah, he knows what's going on here.]

[ That reaction does not deter him, but he's also just keeping it light and casual. Not making an actual move or something. ]

No wonder. There is time for charm, and time for battle, we've all been busy with the latter. [ Not that battle-flirting is foreign to him, he just wasn't aware who the shinki was during fighting. And he's sure as hell not going "charming" towards Shun.

But then his face goes sour for a second, when a voice in his head- or just on the god-shinki line- snickers and comments something about showing off, and being probably able to think in limited amount even in that implied state- ]

I didn't ask for your opinion, Archer. [ That he says much quieter, but his smile is back at the end of sentence ]

It's still not the time for "charm". [Shun puts that very flatly, and that last word is definitely said in the tone of someone who has several serious doubts that Caster's current behaviour counts as charm, or possibly just doubts the concept of charm in general, or both. It makes Kotori's smile widen a little, and she actually laughs outright when Caster's expression tanks.]

Aren't opinions what shinki are for? [She doesn't know Archer, but is making an educated guess. Shun, on the other hand, gives a faint snort at the quiet remark.]

Can't blame him for not wanting you doing that while he's attached to you. [Or being used by him, or however someone wants to put it. Kotori's giving Shun a bit of a sidelong look at that comment, her amused smile still lingering, but she's not outright saying anything, and he doesn't appear to have caught the pointedness of the expression.]

Haha, you got me there young lady. [ Every lady can be a young lady in the right circumstances. True enough Caster can almost feel Archer rolling his eyes at this display of dumb flirting, sharing the exact concerns Shun has.

It's not right time for that. ]

I value his opinions but this time he might be - simply put - just jealous. [ No, he's not. Annoyed yet, but he knew what he was signing for. Or rather with who. ]

But can't you blame him? I imagine there must be a lot shinki turning green at the display of your skills and performance.

[ Yeah still talking with your shinki, not with you, Shun. ]

[Kotori lays off giving Shun that pointed look in favour of turning her attention back to Caster, smile slowly getting more amused as he goes on. It's more in the sense of an adult humouring a child's shenanigans than anything, though.

She outright laughs at his last comment, though, politely hiding it behind her hand before glancing to Shun, who mostly just looks rather bored with Caster's obvious attempts at flirting with Kotori.]

Well, I could certainly show you a few more of them, unless Kurosaki-sama wants to claim the honour of punching you in the mouth for me. He has a bit of a record with people who try to romance people inside the temple...

[Shun just shrugs.] You can do it if you want. Saves me the trouble.

[ Caster, in turn, takes the threat in stride. With a short laugh, he puts his hand on his chest in theatrical gesture, as if his heart just got seriously hurt. ]

Oh, what a swift rejection! But that's perhaps for the best- [ So he won't get his hopes up- not that he ever had them in the first place. It's just how he is, unfortunately.

Anyway, while that was a funny way to end the fight, it's also time to get back to business. ]

No ayakashi around for now, I say it's time to scatter and look for survivors. [ The weapon in his hand changes into a spear- nothing legendary or related to him. Just a simple polearm weapon he prefers. Thanks Archer, for once. He twirls it once and rests against crooks of his shoulder. ] Looking forward to joining forces with you again.

[ General "you" not just Kotori "you." ]

[Kotori shrugs slightly, not looking particularly apologetic, but still seeming more amused than anything.] Most likely.

[In any case, Shun is only too ready to get back to business, and Kotori heads to his side as he nods slightly in agreement with Caster's mention of survivors.] I was going to go through these buildings to see if there was anyone left. That ayakashi had to be around here for a reason.

[Perhaps it was the movement of gods, but perhaps it was something more. Can't really tell until he investigates. At the very least, Caster seems to have expanded his attention again, so Shun takes that one even as Kotori inclines her head politely.]

I'm sure we'll have enough opportunities in the future. [With that, he starts to head out to the nearby buildings, Kotori following behind him.]

27 - The Gods' Meeting

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