View source for 2014-05-15 - Guess Who Is Back

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! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Guess Who Is Back'''
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|'''Summary''':<br>
''Hotaka Domen has been given a chance to prove himself sufficiently aligned to Alastor's interests to get a chance of freedom.  Sadly, certain troublesome pests insist on interrupting. ''
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| '''Who:'''<br>
[[Hotaka Domen]], [[Asagao Uekawa]], [[Eri Shimanouchi]], [[Mai Tokiha]], [[Aoi Mitsugi]]
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| '''Where:'''<br>
Shinjuku Capital Ward
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| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br>
14 January 2014 - 5/15/2014
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|}

 <Pose Tracker> Hotaka Domen [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
 
The city is bustling and hustling. All types of people and many walks of life roam here. The sun is bright and clouds dot the sky. There is a cold wind breeze in the air and winter has yet to release its hold over the land.

Everything seemed perfectly calm and a young man walked among the people with a hood over his head from his hoodie and rubbing his hands along a black bracer that was over his wrist. In that very hand with the bracer was a flask of some kind. Those blue eyes looking so distant as he came to a cross walk among several buildings.

He then looked up at the sky. "..so I just.. smash this to the ground.." He says softly.

'Yes Hotaka. It will place this area in a disrupted field and should freeze all those within. At least those who are not inclined with any-- special powers.'

"..what about the people outside?"

'It is for that reason we will need to work quick to gather the energy from those within.'

"..I think I liked it better when we didn't have to use such tactics."

'It is because we been proven unable.'

"..I wouldn't call Tokyo Tower unable." Hotaka murmurs to himself as his hand tightens over the vial. "..Lets just get this over with." By this point some people around him were giving the youth a puzzling look, or at least were until his slammed the vial down into the ground.

The vial impacted the ground and like a crackle of green lightning, an explosion blasted up and went straight up into the sky. The area sizzled with heavy magical power as a dark mist of a dome formed around the area and fog of green haze started to move through the air.

The people, at least those not able to change form or had an artifact of some kind were seemingly frozen in time. Hotaka walked up to one lady and gently poked her. "..she feels cold."

'That does not matter. Transform and let us get to work.'

"Right..."

***************

Outside of the dome police were already starting to show up. Some were unsure what it ever was. Others were debating on going in. Inside though for those who were there, it was once bright and now it was dark. The hazy green fog makes it hard to see.

Though they will see for a moment a pillar of blue flame near one of the central cross-road points and one could guess... that is where the true trouble lies.

 COMBAT: Hotaka Domen transforms into Alastor!

 <Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

	Mai's schedule is forgiving today - for once, a school day that isn't immediately followed by a work shift or appointment. It's a chance to replenish a sorely depleted pantry, and there's a downtown grocery store that has some good deals. So, grocery shopping. Get another bag of rice, check the vegetable selection, find the cheapest cuts of fish...

	The sudden surge of energy, followed by that mysterious green haze, might have given her a reason to investigate. The fact that everyone in the store apart from her seems to have been frozen in time, on the other hand, makes it something she can't easily ignore. Setting her shopping basket to one side with a passing moment's regret, she starts looking around. "Okay. So...everything stopped. That doesn't seem like an Orphan... maybe this is what Eri meant about Witches? It's certainly strange..."

	Out the window, she can spy the pillar of blue flame - and her face sets in grim determination. It's probably not one of the monsters HiME are commanded to fight...but she can act, no one else she can see seems to be able to, and if she doesn't do anything...

	"...I wish I'd had Mikoto come along." Out the door, taking in how everyone else seems to have been frozen...then there's no one to see. A moment's focus to summon her Element - flames spinning into golden rings around her wrists and ankles - and she takes to the air, flying towards that crossroads. Something strange is going on, and Mai might have to face it alone, as far as she knows.

	...alone. Because in downtown Shinjuku, there's no way she could justify summoning Kagutsuchi.

 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha transforms into Mai-HiME!


 <Pose Tracker> Asagao Uekawa [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
It happened so suddenly - school is out for the day and seized by both the total lack of desire to study and no scheduled club activities, Asagao Uekawa was actually enjoying being out in the crisp weather. No particular goal in mind and drifting from shop to shop, she noticed everything freeze and go silent before she noticed the green mist.

CLEARLY something has happened; and with no one able to move to worry about as far as secret identities go, she doesn't hesitate to reach for her locket. "Vega Power.... MAAAAAAKE UP!"

Once the lightshow ends, Sailor Vega emerges from the shop and starts to scout for the source of power she feels more strongly now.

"Brrr."

 COMBAT: Asagao Uekawa transforms into Sailor Vega!

 <Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

 
	Tuesday. It had been a splendid, albeit a little blustery day. To the casual outlooker, Eri looked like she was just any other middle school girl, wandering around, every so often pulling out her smart phone to spend an egregious amount of time on it. Truth was, the phone was a front so she could be discrete, pulling out a glowing green object every so often, before making notes in her phone. Playing hot and cold to map something about Tokyo was slow going, but she was making progress. 
 
	Putting both away, she jammed her hands back in her pockets, considering taking a break to drop by the Linden Baum as she walked past the entrance to the Rorschach Bar and under it's awning. When the glare of sunlight hit her again, it was filtered through a green haze of fog. It took her a few moments to register that the sickening miasma wasn't fog. "Oh come on! Not now! Not here!" 
 
	Grumbling, she checked the object again, then looked in her book bag at a single wickedly pointed object laying nestled inside. She started to turn and leave when the blue pillar of flame caught her attention. Looking up, she caught a glimpse of something.. else through the haze. Four rings of flames around a silhouetted figure that looked suspiciously like... her jaw went slack momentarily as she outright gaped under the realization of who it must be despite indistinct figures, "Mai-chan?" 
 
	That pretty much decided it for her, this battle would use up valuable magic but she wasn't going to avoid it. Ducking into the smokey bar, she ran past rigid people, making a hurried excuse for why a middle schooler was in a bar as she didn't exactly realize that they were frozen, or that she needn't really bother anyhow given that middle schoolers in the bar was a common affair, "Ohheysorrybutwhenyougottago!" The women's restroom door slammed shut. 
 

 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi transforms into Puella Magi Eri!
 COMBAT: Alastor has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 3 opponents!

 <Pose Tracker> Alastor [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
 
Where the blue came from was a demonic like figure who stood there with his hand out stretched. In his fingers was a type of sphere that almost had an opal like sheen to it. It was pulling at the energy of the woman before him. Though what that energy was hard to say...

Not even Hotaka was sure on those details, even though he was positive Alastor did-- but that wasn't Alastor's place to say. The only comfort the host told Hotaka was that it wont kill them. If-- that was an honest comfort.

Though those demonic gold eyes glanced over to the corner as he picked up something in the air. How the haze was moving. They were not alone here. His voice was a nearly perfect echo of two. Of a younger male and a slightly older one. Of Hotaka Domen and of Alastor. "Looks like company is coming or.. they are here early."

He pulls the orb away and the energy drain seems to stop as the orb vanishes within blue flames. Those wings of his are capped around himself as he stands there. The haze moving through his curled horns and around the dark black armor with some gold.

As he takes a step away from the woman, the long black strand of hair easily moves, with its silver tipped edge. His demonic eyes glancing in many different directions as he took another very calm step. His left hand extending out to the side as blue flames lick around his finger tips, just waiting to summon the Daemon Blade into corporeal form.


 <Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

	The fog is hazy, green and deep. The pillar's fading means that Mai has to make sure not to get too lost - and she slows down for caution's sake. Flying into a building would not be fun for anyone involved. Still, it isn't long before she reaches the crossroads, and beholds...a demon?

	Well, it's as good a term as any. Humanoid-ish, winged, armored in black and gold, conjuring azure flames, stepping away from a frozen woman... "Okay. Either there's some rational explanation here, or you're some kind of Dark....Something or other." Mai's stance in the air shows uncertainty. Because there's a lot here she doesn't know, for all she knows this monster's some fireproof demon, and she doesn't have any allies in the area...

	...but there's innocent people involved here, and while she doesn't exactly know what this thing was doing to that woman it can't be good. "Either way, these people shouldn't be involved here. So - get away from them!" Flames lash out from her rings - blazing into a wall to separate demon from woman, and hopefully bear down on the demon.

	(...please, let someone else get here.)


 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Infernal Prison on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor narrowly counters Mai Tokiha's Infernal Prison, taking 20 Fatigue damage!  Diversion and Trap applied to Alastor!  
 COMBAT: Alastor's counterattack, Fire Ball Return, partially gets through, doing 3 Fatigue damage to Mai Tokiha!  Critical Counterhit! 
 
 <Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

 
	Eri did not just climb through a bathroom window. That's what she told herself until she realized that she was lying to herself. It didn't take her long to arrive at the scene of the battle, tuning out the police sirens in the background as white noise. Which is when she saw Alastor or rather Hotaka and Alastor in synch with each other, and just stood stock still, staring. This was pretty much the last person she wanted to fight right now, given her battle with their Lord and Master prior to the trip to Hokkaido. 
 
	She had a primal fear, deep within her, of experiencing that sensation again where her soul literally feels like it's on fire. Her hand flexed suddenly, gripping the the vines of her weapon a little fearfully, allowing a thorn to jab into her palm. Her mind raced to come up with some sort of plan, she hadn't finished developing her new fighting style yet, and her current one used up an atrocious amount of magic. But it's what she had to work with. 
 
	Green runic rings appear all around him, just outside of his flames, adorned with sun motifs. Exotic flowers bud and bloom instantly in each of these rings, releasing a cloud of pollen directly on top of the demon warrior, creating a second wave of defenses between the demon and his victim. Each tiny granule containing a small amount of tranquilizing poison. Her voice had a neutral tone to it, "Hello Alastor. You're making it very difficult for me to appreciate the beautiful flowers at the moment, with how menacing you're acting." The flowers all vanish just a moment later. "Would you please consider letting these people go before this escalates?" She glances upwards, reflexively at Mai, trying to predict what she was going to do next. Two flame users in the area could make this.. messy. 
 

 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Pollen Scattering Dance on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor narrowly dodges Eri Shimanouchi's Pollen Scattering Dance, taking 8 Fatigue damage!  Stagger and Tangle applied to Alastor!  

 <Pose Tracker> Sailor Vega [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
The sound of a third Magical Girl rushing to the scene can be heard - high heeled boots running on pavement just a bit louder than background noises from outside the dome.

Skidding to a stop as she reaches the crossroads, and the Demon Sailor Vega takes a deep breath to shout something - probably about the icy grip of winter clutching innocent hearts frozen forever, justice, possibly the dawn... but when she sees Eri, the other girl's emotional state is nigh palpable -- and she DID get there beforehand; Mai on the scene is also good - someone who can fly is good to keep the field of battle contained and fire is quite handy!

As Eri weaves her plant magic, Sailor Vega moves up nearer to her and goes for reassuring - "Don't let this unnatural chill touch you too deeply - we're here with you, you can do this!" she offers quietly, not wanting to broadcast the concern to all and sundry.

 COMBAT: Sailor Vega has used Be Strong on Eri Shimanouchi.
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi accepts Sailor Vega's Be Strong, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Eri Shimanouchi is Cheered!  

 <Pose Tracker> Alastor [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
 
Alastor wasn't looking in the direction of Mai when she appears. However when the flame wall suddenly rises and attempts to in trap him, that azure flame quickly becomes fire itself which he blasts right back.

The flames quickly circle around him and those wings that were around his form suddenly flare out as he quickly makes a 'hiss' at her direction, showing off those sharp like canine fangs. Before his eyes narrow. "..You shouldn't have done that."

That is when he spots the green rings above him and his eyes narrow, before he growls out lowly. "..you.." Crouching down and ignoring the flames that try to reach up for him as he flies upward with not only a hard push of his feet but also with a hard flap of his wings, he races between the rings before they can hold him down with pollen.

Though some of it does get on him and he has to quickly land on a street lamp by the added weight. His right hand clawed gauntlet easily grips into the street lamp, slowly denting it slightly. The woman though wasn't his only victim he could go after. There was several here. From those frozen in cars, to those walking the street. Those in office buildings. This place-- had people, so many people, frozen in time.

That is when Alastor hears the Sailor Scout and chuckles softly as he stands up. "Oh don't worry, her heart is already in question. Happens when your friend no longer holds a warm heart." He states as he closes the gauntlet left hand a blue flame moves around him, seeming to flick off wisps of azure fire and free him from the pollen that is effecting him, including the very flames attempt to lash out toward him even where he stands.

Alastor then pushes off the lamp as the Daemon forms in his left hand. While his right hand extends out creating an azure flamed demonic chain, which he whips out to attempt to snag Mai and send her crashing through a window of a building.

Then as his foot touches the side of a building, his eyes focused on Eri for that moment as he calmly says, "Its over, Eri. I have come to accept my fate." He then shoves off with speed and both hands holding the Daemon sword as he goes to strike out for Eri with a dropping slash of a motion. His foot coming to land on the ground as he gets ready to push himself right back into the air.


 COMBAT: Alastor has used Azure Chain Whip on Mai Tokiha.
 COMBAT: Alastor has used Daemon Aerial Drop on Eri Shimanouchi.
 COMBAT: Alastor has used Hellfire Cleanse on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Alastor has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor accepts Alastor's Hellfire Cleanse, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Surge applied to Alastor!  Cleanse! All of Alastor's debuffs are cleared!  
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha narrowly braces Alastor's Azure Chain Whip, taking 2 Fatigue damage!  Mai Tokiha's Block ability activates!  
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi narrowly counters Alastor's Daemon Aerial Drop, taking 11 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Eri Shimanouchi's Reverse ability activates!  
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi's counterattack, Living Whiplash, partially gets through, doing 8 Fatigue damage to Alastor!  

 <Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

	Well, it doesn't seem entirely fireproof - though it lashes out with fire of its own, and only wobbling to the side lets her escape with a light singing. A voice calls out to Mai's opponent, and the HiME breathes a sigh of relief. Someone who knows what's going on, and might actually be backup...and then the voice triggers realization, and Mai glances down to Eri in surprise.

	"Ah - you know this, er..." She glances to the demon, then back to Eri. "I don't suppose this is one of those 'Witch' things? I'm guessing not..."

	Another arrival - one with a Sailor uniform, so probably one of the good guys. Mai straightens up, confidence renewed, and gives her a grin before turning back to...Alastor, right? The monster's taunt, she doesn't quite understand - but she calls out to the demon all the same. "I'd listen to her. I really would rather not escalate things, myself, but if I have to..."

	Whatever Mai would have said next is cut off by a blazing chain whipping out at her - she manages to catch it on her rings, but the force still sends her reeling through the air. By the time she straightens out - he's gone on the offensive against Eri.

	...okay, then. No regrets about this. Flames blossom again - tightly gathered into a fiery whip - and Mai charges forward, trying to catch this 'Alastor' on the chin.

 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Pyre Lash on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor fails to brace Mai Tokiha's Pyre Lash, taking 15 Fatigue damage!  

 <Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

 
	Eri doesn't know who Sailor Vega is at a glance, having never fought beside her before, but something about her statement makes Eri smile as she remembers fun in the snow with her classmate Asagao in Hokkaido, "Hey. It's okay, even if the weather is unnaturally chilly, you can still make the best of it. I for one love having a good snowball fight with a friend." 
 
	Alastor quickly draws back her attention, and Eri's smile turns into a frown, "I'm pretty sure the Hotaka I know is too strong to accept defeat, because that's what 'accepting your fate' is. If you let Equinox think that this is your situation, and it can't ever be changed, then he wins. You'll be nothing better than a slave, and I know you aspire to more than that." 
 
	Eri looks up to Mai, and that easy grin returns, "Not even remotely Mai-chan. I'll explain witches some other time." ...like a few years from now, if Eri gets her way. She doesn't really want to expose Mai to those. 
 
	As Alastor drops down at her, Eri bends backwards, flipping into a quick handstand then back over to face him, using the upward motion to whip her scourge upward. Each length of vine like tendril whistles through the air, before cracking with magically infused concussive force close to him. Alastor's blade sheers through one of the tendrils and across one of her sleeves, causing a few droplets of blood to splatter on the ground. As Alastor rockets back into the air she states casually, "You know that was pretty painful for someone that I /know/ doesn't really want to hurt anyone." 
 

 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Do you wanna have a Snow Fight? on Sailor Vega.
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega accepts Eri Shimanouchi's Do you wanna have a Snow Fight?, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Sailor Vega is Cheered!  

 <Pose Tracker> Sailor Vega [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Something about the way Eri mentions the snowball fight - when they had their confessorial moment in the snow... well then; there's a sudden surge in her heart, and a mentally marked need to have a conversation in the none-too-distant future. In the meantime; there's a demon to fight!

"If you believe her heart to be frozen, then you don't know her at all!"

There's a flurry of action, and a flurry of whipping attacks from all sides - and as Vega spins to be out of the way of the strikes to not cross the path of a *friendly* whip, her own - the Aurora Ribbon, attached to her wand, materializes in her hand with a swirl of sparkling warmth in the frozen viridian mists.

"If you know only darkness and loneliness, Alastor," (hey, she heard Eri use the name, why not?) "then it is my duty to bring you the light!" -- So saying, Sailor Vega unleashes a bright ball of light from the end of her ribbon as it swirls into a coil in her free hand in synchonicity with a 'ready!' pose!


 COMBAT: Sailor Vega has used Aurora Flash on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor narrowly braces Sailor Vega's Aurora Flash, taking 5 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Vega is Psyched!  Alastor's Block ability activates!  Alastor's Parry ability activates!  

 <Pose Tracker> Alastor [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
 
Alastor was about to shove off when the flame whip kisses his chin and snaps his head upward a bit. The dark brown skin showing not only marks where the whip had burnt, but also a clip of black like blood that rushing into the air; Though little it may be.

Alastor flips with the impact, before rolling back around on his feet and preparing his Daemon Blade for a defensive strike. He glances over to Eri about then and his eyes narrow. "Things change. People change. I'm done with being in denial!" With a hard push off of his foot, he comes to race right at Eri before he seems to disappear right through her in a plum of crimson mist. Only a whisper of words echo around her softly, "Its over Eri. This is it. Its all over. He has won."

He had the chance to attack her right there, but instead it seems his focus is quickly drawn elsewhere for the moment. That is when he sees the bright light flashing toward him and raises up his right arm, the gauntlet flashing a bright red demonic light. The orb slamming into the barrier, wrapping around him and shoving him back slightly from the force.

Alastor then lets out a roar, before shoving off with his foot and then porting in with a plum of red mist, before lashing out with the blade at Sailor Vega, before flipping in the air, vanishing again and then bring down his sword from above Mai in his sudden decent from being suddenly in the sky.

 COMBAT: Alastor has used Blink Trick on Eri Shimanouchi.
 COMBAT: Alastor has used Daemon Slash-n-Port on Sailor Vega.
 COMBAT: Alastor has used Daemon Slash-n-Port on Mai Tokiha.
 COMBAT: Alastor has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega narrowly dodges Alastor's Daemon Slash-n-Port, taking 14 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Alastor is Psyched!  Sailor Vega's Fade ability activates!  Sailor Vega's Flash ability activates!  
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi perfectly dodges Alastor's Blink Trick, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Dodge!  
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha perfectly counters Alastor's Daemon Slash-n-Port, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Counter!  Mai Tokiha's Reverse ability activates!  Mai Tokiha's Tactician ability activates!  
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha's counterattack, Flare Shroud, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Alastor!  

 <Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

	...there's more to this than just some villain attacking. Mai doesn't have the whole story, but the shouted denials are making it clear that this guy's a former friend of Eri's. Or something. Even as she regains her balance from her wild charge, Mai tries to get a better look at Alastor...

	...who disappears. Who literally disappears. She looks left, right, up - and has a clear view of a sword being brought down towards her. She throws her hands forward with a panicked cry, and a blazing crimson barrier appears - one that manages to block the strike long enough for her to get out of its way. Breathing heavily, she glances to Eri. "You're sure this guy ''doesn't'' want to hurt anyone?"

	Mai looks to Sailor Vega, looks to Eri - and moves forward, golden rings gently turning. "Frankly, I don't know what your deal is - but my friend's having faith in you, and you're attacking her for it. So you need to cut that out, now!" It's rapidly becoming a standard tactic of hers - with a hot surge of flame, Mai jets forward. Rings thrust out to clash directly against that blade, to try to disarm the armed demon.

 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Binding Ember on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor narrowly counters Mai Tokiha's Binding Ember, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Exhausted applied to Alastor!  
 COMBAT: Alastor's counterattack, Claw slash, partially gets through, doing 3 Fatigue damage to Mai Tokiha!  Critical Counterhit!  
 <Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

 
	Hotaka comes at her but as the crimson mist flows through her, and Hotaka tries to get into her head. Even as the words whisper into her skull, she rejects it immediately. She's just not buying it today as she yells out "So that's it then? You're just going to lay down and be Equinox's trained attack dog? You are so full of it Hotaka! You're only saying it's over because it's /easy/! Because you don't want to consider that there's a more difficult high road where you can be something greater and nobler than what was decided for you! A road which has dreams, and hopes, and a future for you! Is that so frightening!?" The length which Alastor cut off of her scourge regenerates as she speaks, twisting and winding back into existence in a haze of glimmering green motes and sparkles 
 
	This time she leaps forward, her scourge arcing out, it's purposefully wide, each tendril flowing past Hotaka in a feint, before the living tendrils act of their own accord, circling back around and striking Alastor, attempting to tangle him up, each length carrying very sharp thorns. 
 
	As Eri lands, she answers Mai, "Hotaka doesn't. The devil inside him kind of does, but sometimes I wonder." She looks back towards Alastor, "Could it be that you're someone who accepted their fate too, Alastor, because it's 'easier'?" 
 

 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Flowing Scourge Feint on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.

 <Pose Tracker> Sailor Vega [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Ohgodthat'ssharp! Posing confidently in the midst of gloom and despair may be inspiring - but it's also an impediment to effective dodging and Vega is only *just* able to avoid a nasty slice - the ribbon on her chest is not quite so lucky, a slice of the orange fabric drifting away from her as she moves.

Wiping her forehead and exhaling with relief, Vega takes the bought moment to think about the problem presenting itself; he doesn't behave as though he'll be listening to reason - but that's what happens when one is possessed by a demon: reason goes out the window! "Whoever you are in there - it's *never* too late to try and turn it around! You may feel low now, but you don't have to depend on demons and darkness for strength!"

It's a long shot, but who knows? Maybe Vega can let a chink of light in there *somewhere*.

 COMBAT: Sailor Vega has used Entreaty to the Possessed on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega has finished attacking.

 COMBAT: Alastor fails to brace Eri Shimanouchi's Flowing Scourge Feint, taking 7 Fatigue damage!  Alastor is Quipped!  Diversion and Trap applied to Alastor!  
 COMBAT: Alastor narrowly dodges Sailor Vega's Entreaty to the Possessed, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  

 <Pose Tracker> Alastor [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
 
The bindings impact the sword and Alastor throws it off to the side, which it vanishes into a flicker of azure wisps. "That is because she is an idiot! An idiot who listened to a boy who was afraid to accept his fate!" He snarls out to Mai before he rushes right at her. Those three claws on his gauntlet then swipe upward at her, trying to claw her face, before he brings it back around to back hand her away. "..and I'm tired of fighting with what I can't win. I am Alastor as much has Alastor is me."

There was a single tear that escaped the side of his face while he said that before he teeth clenched tightly shaking his head. "And /I/ will never be normal! I knew that at sixteen, I knew my fate, and was foolish to even try! Because all those who thought they could change my fate-- nearly died to my master's hands!!"

That is when the vine comes from Eri and forces him to suddenly shove away from Mai. Her words hit like the very thorns of the vines that find him and tangle him up. He roars out in pain and struggles with them for a moment. His teeth bared tightly. He has one eye closed and one peering directly at her.

'Why is she being so stubborn...'

'Why won't she just go away..'

Alastor at last forces himself free as he goes dropping to the ground and his claws screech across the roadway. He huffs out softly. That is when Sailor Vega speaks. Those gold eyes peer at her. There was a flicker of red in them as he snarls in her direction.

	Why do you trust me? I am one of them..
	Because not everything can be truly evil and forget what love is...

Alastor's eyes suddenly flare red as he roars out, his wings expand out before he bright crimson flames rush around him. "SHUT UP!" he bellows out, that very crimson wave suddenly rushes out and when Eri still speaks, questioning Alastor's own resolve, he suddenly blinks right to her and his clawed gauntlet hand goes around her throat. The clawed fingers threatening to break her skin.

Poor Eri, how many times has she found herself in this position? Pissing off Alastor to this very point. "I am hatred. I am pain. My power is greater then /any/ of yours combined and I will force you /all/ into submission of my Lord, sooner or later. You will not win this war. You will /never/ break me.. and I know.. I am stronger then any of your.. damn.. " His hand starts to tremble slightly. "...lovely dovish.." His voice starts to soften slightly, "...friendship.."

That is when his hand pulls away. Those eye brows furrow as he suddenly takes a staggering step back. "...love.."

	Come this way! Quick!
	I hope you like surprises.. my friend...

You tricked me!! Everything I done for you!
		..It is not her fault brother.. she was only following orders, haha

Alastor then suddenly falls down to his knees gripping his head as he yells out in what seems like pain. His hands digging into his hair for a moment as he cringes his teeth and tears start to slide down his face.

ELSEWHERE

Two red eyes pierce through the darkness as he they peer down at a pedestal that holds several different closed gem flowers. Each one held in darkness, each one has lost its vibrant color. One that is red has only partly opened and expands out a bit more.

Those red eyes then narrow slowly with a low rumble. "...well then.." The dark figure then extends out a clawed hand before a dark flaming ring forms before the battle field is displayed before him. Those red eyes look at the three girls around Alastor. "..I don't know two.. but I know one.." His head tilts gently. "..and I thought you would have learned.."

 COMBAT: Alastor has used Didn't I Tell You... on Mai Tokiha.
 COMBAT: Alastor has used Didn't I Tell You... on Sailor Vega.
 COMBAT: Alastor has used Hellfire Cleanse on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Alastor has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor accepts Alastor's Hellfire Cleanse, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Surge applied to Alastor!  Cleanse! All of Alastor's debuffs are cleared!  

 COMBAT: Sailor Vega perfectly counters Alastor's Didn't I Tell You..., taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Counter!  
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega's counterattack, Sparkling Defense, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Alastor!  
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha fails to counter Alastor's Didn't I Tell You..., taking 41 Fatigue damage!  
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha's counterattack, Flare Shroud, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Alastor!  

 <Pose Tracker> Sailor Vega [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Where her words to him caused rage - Sailor Vega could sense that, combined with Eri's belief in him, they *did* get through. But he's fighting - struggling with the weight of his choices and circumstance, and very likely the strength of the demon he's been bound to.

When Alastor lashes out, Vega stands firm. Unshaking, unflinching. The flames wash over her, but not before a sudden shimmer of sparkling lights forms around her. As the flames pass, smoke curling from the spaces where the shield stood:

"Nothing is stronger than Love, Alastor," Vega pronounces with the tonal equivalent of a velvet glove worn over an iron fist. In this moment, she feels more like the mythical space princess her cat Orpheus told her and Usagi believes she is.

"Nothing."

And as if to show him, especially since he's *threatening* Eri, Sailor Vega extends both hands towards him with fingers outstretched. "VEGA BOLIDE!"

From the space between her hands, a golden light forms - and then streaks, comet-like and spiral-tailed from her hands towards Alastor!

 COMBAT: Sailor Vega has used Vega Bolide on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega has finished attacking.


 <Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

 
	The reward for Eri's stubborness is Alastor's claws at her throat. How many times has she been in this position? More than she'd like to admit, even as the claws dig in a little, and she finds herself suddenly a little starved for air, his claws drawing lines on her throat. And then he releases her abruptly. She's sent to her knees, coughing and gasping, gulping in air rapidly, "Oh Alastor, you big damned idiot. I'm not trying to break you. I'm trying to reach you. And I'm rather sure I just did. Lovey dovey friendship means..." 
 
	Suddenly there are more radiant green runic circles, all around Alastor, adorned with swirling sun motifs and sigils which don't appear to have any meaning. After all, she's no mage. "...that I always have someone watching my back. Mai-chan! Light him up hotter than the chef's special!" When plants erupt from these circles this time. It's a field of sharp sticks and bamboo, each one a tiny spear, trying to jab into him from below, like a Punji stick trap. It's a little more brutal than her usual solution but Alastor is fairly well armored. And what she intends is for Mai to drive him right, down, into them from above. 
 

 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has started a combo targeting Alastor!

 <Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

	Mai's strike managed to send the demonic sword from Alastor's grasp - but she was thrown off-balance by the charge, and takes a painful strike to one cheek. One hand comes up to hold the injured skin, and she glares at her opponent - even as he rants and rails. Trapped by fate...part of her's sympathetic, part of her's furious, and it's fortunate that Eri's vine intervention comes when it does.

	The demon seems just as indecisive as she is, and Mai's guard drops for a moment.... and then he lets out a roar, unleashing a storm of flames. Mai's ready to throw up a defense, but-

	-but he's grabbed Eri-chan in a choke-hold, she's in trouble-

	-and she's distracted for that critical instant. The crimson wave hits like a runaway truck, and Mai's pained cry can barely be heard over the demonic roar.

	It's not until Alastor has fallen to his knees that Mai staggers out of the smoke. She's walking, not flying, and uncertain at that...but she can still tell where Alastor is, and can see clearly enough that she's managed to get away somehow. Fury crosses her face, and she staggers into an awkward run - one which soon turns into a flying charge. "...leave...my friend...ALONE!"

	A trio of fiery magatama swirl in the air before Mai, forming a blazing barrier - one that allows Mai to act as a flying, burning bludgeon. With as much force as she can, she slams the flames down on Alastor - whether to smash or to burn, who can say.

 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has joined the combo started by Eri Shimanouchi!

 COMBAT: Alastor fails to dodge Sailor Vega's Vega Bolide, taking 29 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  

 COMBAT: COMBO! Eri Shimanouchi and Mai Tokiha have used Combo: Puella HiME Special, composed of Weald Advent and Sanctum Blaze, on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor narrowly braces Eri Shimanouchi and Mai Tokiha's Combo: Puella HiME Special, taking 29 Fatigue damage!  Alastor's Block ability activates!  Alastor's Parry ability activates!  

 <Pose Tracker> Alastor [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
 
Alastor hears Vega's words and chuckles softly, he actually starts to laugh as he starts to stand back. "Fool.." His voice is different, something about the general aura around him is different. "Love just gets you destroyed."

Alastor summons the blade and then it slams into the light, the beam breaks around the sword, however the sheer force eventually breaks past his defenses. With a roar, that was far more human the demonic, he charges forward, blind rage in his eyes and instead of being red, they are brilliant white, like streaks of some unknown power flooding him.

The vines come and Alastor leaps between them, lashing out his sword. "I witnessed what love could do!" He strikes out another vine, cutting it away. "I remember the betrayal because of my /love/!"

When Mai comes in he creates a demonic wall barrier between himself and Mai. Though Mai does break the barrier, her kenetic force was slightly dispersed and when she impacts It shoves him back and he flips with the force. His feet landing on the ground as the vines attempt to wrap around him and though they gain a hold, he breaks free and flies directly into the skies.

"I remember the pain thanks to you!!!" That is when Alastor dives down and slams his sword into the ground. The area rumbles as suddenly dark spikes rise upward from the ground and out of buildings threatening to impale and to destroy everything around him.

ELSEWHERE

Those red eyes peer away from the view and look back over at the crystal red flower as it starts to reclose, his own finger rolling around this time a red dew-like crystal, "..that is better.."

 COMBAT: Alastor has used Leveling The Playing Field on Mai Tokiha.
 COMBAT: Alastor has used Leveling The Playing Field on Sailor Vega.
 COMBAT: Alastor has used Leveling The Playing Field on Eri Shimanouchi.
 COMBAT: Alastor has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi narrowly braces Alastor's Leveling The Playing Field, taking 5 Fatigue damage!  Eri Shimanouchi is Quipped!  Eri Shimanouchi's Block ability activates!  Eri Shimanouchi's Parry ability activates!  
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha narrowly braces Alastor's Leveling The Playing Field, taking 6 Fatigue damage!  Mai Tokiha is Quipped!  Mai Tokiha's Block ability activates!  
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega narrowly braces Alastor's Leveling The Playing Field, taking 3 Fatigue damage!  Sailor Vega is Quipped!  

 <Pose Tracker> Sailor Vega [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
The sheer anger and velocity of the fighting - focused more furiously on Eri and Mai than on herself - is enough to buffet Sailor Vega, taking a single half-step forward and lowering her center of gravity through the brunt of it, her golden brown hair flowing behind her even as she lets out a soft gasp.

When she straightens, her wand is in her hand once more - minus the ribbon, though the star at the top of the curling river is glowing quite brightly. Her face a mask of determination.

"Circumstance has turned you to Darkness, Alastor - Angels may fall and become Demons, but the choice to remain in Hell is yours alone!" she announces with loud confidence. "I, Sailor Vega, the Pretty Soldier of Devotion won't allow you to draw these innocents into your pain! Instead, allow me to remind you of the embrace of Heaven!"

Thrusting her wand high into the air, the star glowing even more brilliantly, Vega intones "AURORA..." Each pulse leaves its glow in place, burning brightly until a small constellation has been drawn - Lyra, for anyone who might recognize it. Each star burns fiercer and fiercer, suffusing even the greenish miasma with an incandescant glow.

"REVELATION!!!" Sailor Vega finishes, once more pointing the Star River Wand at Alastor, directing a suffusion of beams of perfect light from each 'star' towards him!

 COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Vega has used Aurora Revelation on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega has finished attacking.

 <Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

	The opposing barrier wasn't entirely expected - Mai finds herself out of control, and she hits the ground hard. Alastor's followup attack just makes things worse, and Mai's tempted to just not bother getting up. But... 

	"Eri...are you all right?" Mai staggers to her feet, trying to get between Eri and the maddened demon. She tries to split her attention - making sure that her Sailor Scout ally and Eri are still all right, and watching for Alastor's next move. His furious ranting is surprisingly hard to deny. But...

	"...is that a good reason to do all this? Just being angry over-" Mai grits her teeth - and has a sudden realization. "Loving someone can hurt. Because you care about them, because you'll let yourself be hurt for their sake... And if they don't feel the same way, that can hurt too..."

	Mai trails off, uncertain. She looks down at the broken ground - then up at Alastor. "You - have people who care about you, who are fighting to try to bring you to your senses. And I care about my friends." She steps forward, determined - too exhausted to attack outright, but staring down Alastor, stepping ahead of Eri and Vega. "So I won't let you hurt them."

 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has used Impassioned Speech on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.

 COMBAT: Alastor narrowly dodges Mai Tokiha's Impassioned Speech, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Alastor is Quipped!  
 COMBAT: Alastor fails to brace Sailor Vega's Finisher, Aurora Revelation, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega is unable to keep fighting!
 COMBAT: Sailor Vega transforms into Asagao Uekawa!

 <Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

 
	Eri is still rubbing at her throat afterwards as she answers Mai, "F-Fine Mai-chan." 
 
	"Did you?" At first her voice is soft, but then she speaks with a conviction as unyielding as a Sequoia in a hurricane. Her voice picks up in tempo as she speaks, her body beginning to glow a bright yellow as to match to her emotional state "Do you think you're the only one that has ever been betrayed by someone they loved!? Guess what? So was I!" She points at her chest, "But I'm no victim! I survived. And I'm going to grow stronger because of it!" 
 
	The maelstrom of spikes comes. And Eri's scourge whips about in circles actually tearing apart each spike as they come near her. She moves ever forward like as a juggernaut, taking a few wounds from the spikes, but fending off the worst of it. By the end of the assault, her words are almost growled out as the photosynthetic radiance reaches it's crescendo to match her anger, "Grow up! There's a lot of pain in life. The world can be cruel and pitiful, but it can also be beautiful too! There are things and people I still love and want to protect, I'm not going to give up on it because I was betrayed once!" The finger moves to point at Alastor. "So stop acting like you're the victim and let these people go. Can't you see that they're the real victims here?" 
 

 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has used Stop Acting like a Victim on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor narrowly counters Eri Shimanouchi's Stop Acting like a Victim, taking 0 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  Alastor is Taunted!  
 COMBAT: Alastor's counterattack, Fire Barrage, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Eri Shimanouchi!  

 <Pose Tracker> Alastor [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
 
Alastor points his blade toward Mai and snarls at her, those burning white eyes. "Your words you believe may be honest, you may think that someone can be forgiven!?" He swings his sword to the side as his hand comes to clench tightly. "I will make them /burn/. I will make them all pay! My rage! My anger! The betrayal! I know what I am fighting for!!"

Mai's words do clip something. It is the only reason he seems to even be trying to argue back. To hold onto perhaps what some subconcious side of him knows-- and more correctly, what Hotaka within understands.. if Hotaka was even awake.. or even checked in. It was hard to say what the state of Hotaka Domen is in with Alastor in such state.

Then when Eri speaks he glares at her, "..it was never just me.." He then narrows his eyes, "I don't remember the details.. I can't remember them.. no matter how hard I try. Vague, glimpses, but it was never just about me.. it was everyone! Don't you understand!? It was my---" That is when Sailor Vesa's beam of light slams into the back of Alastor and he screams out in pain.

****

The figure that has been watching hears that and his hand sudden grips around the red dew crystal. His own fangs bare against the darkness. Then suddenly there was the bright flash of darkness and the Demon Lord who has been watching has to quickly close his own viewing. His own face burning gently.

"He can't remember..." The Demon Lord whispers to himself, before he suddenly walks right out of the chamber. "He will not!!" The Demon Lord then extends out his hand, before he closes it gently. "..no.." He then lowers his hand. "..let it play out.. the flower is still closed... it will be fine.."

****

When the lights swarms around Alastor it does something wierd and because Eri and Mai are right in the path, something flashes around them. Images, sights, places, words. For in that moment of brilliant light, the demon before them is but a mere shadow of another figure that has golden white wings, brilliant white armor with red decorations, and brilliant violet eyes.

Even the Daemon sword has changed. Eri has seen its twin before. She has seen a blade that looks just like it.

Once the light fades, Alastor falls down to his knees His hands digging into the ground. Whatever was going on there seems to have faded as those gold eyes look up at Mai and Eri. "..what did.. you do to me.. to him.. to /us/!?"

Alastor then shoves himself right into the air before his blade becomes engulfed by blue flames. "STOP IT AND LEAVE US BE!!"

That sword then suddenly becomes one of crimson red as the flame extends out ever further. Eri knows too what is to come. It may not be Mai who needs to protect Eri, but Eri get Mai out of harms way! Because as the flames extend out he lets out with a roar, "BURNING HELL FIRE!!!" He then spins his body around before he comes back around and the massive wave of demonic fire comes rushing down, seeming to claim the buildings before it as if they were not even there and just continuing to roar down in its destructive fury. "UNLEEEASSHHHED!!"

 COMBAT: FINISHER! Alastor has used Burning Hell Fire: Unleash! on Mai Tokiha.
 COMBAT: FINISHER! Alastor has used Burning Hell Fire: Unleash! on Eri Shimanouchi.
 COMBAT: Alastor has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi fails to brace Alastor's Finisher, Burning Hell Fire: Unleash!, taking 77 Fatigue damage!  
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha narrowly braces Alastor's Finisher, Burning Hell Fire: Unleash!, taking 23 Fatigue damage!  Mai Tokiha's Block ability activates!  


 <Pose Tracker> Aoi Mitsugi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.

	There's someone leaning against a tree, a bit away from the central conflict, but beneath the magical dome that Alastor has erected to drain energy from those within. This someone is leaning against said tree, arms crossed over her chest, looking remarkably unconcerned considering what is going on in front of her. She is smoking a cigarette, held between two fingers, the smoke trailing lazily up into the branches of the tree, her slate-grey eyes watching the conflagration of the battle playing out, but her expression showing little of concern either one way or the other. It is, in case you haven't guessed, Aoi Mitsugi. The Beast of Calamity is in the hood, although for whatever reason, she appears disinclined to lend a helping hand to Alastor on this particular occasion- perhaps she has orders to let him do this on his own, or perhaps she's just feeling contrary. Only she knows the answer to that, but for the moment, as Alastor unleashes his big ol' fire attack, she does nothing but stand there and watch.



 <Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

	Mai tries not to flinch as Alastor points his blade at her. The words, however, are harsh, and a choked gasp escapes her mouth. "...I...whatever betrayal happened, there has to be a way to make up for it." Alastor's fury has her shaken, though. She glances to Eri as the younger girl comes up with a better rebuttal - and a guilty look comes over her face. Those words seem to have had an influence.

	Then, there is light. Light, and strange shadows, strange images. One of the nearby stone spikes has a hand slap against it, so Mai can steady herself - and her eyes are filled with baffled concern for the demon before her-

	The fire comes before she can act. No chance to throw a barrier against it, or to do much more than hope to endure. All she can do is cry out - not for her sake, but for the sake of her friend, thrown into the same peril. "Eri-" And the flames engulf her.

	The demonic fire blazes - and then the inferno grows hotter. Within the flame, something snarls, and Alastor might glimpse something that looks like eyes. Many eyes, glaring in fury, and there's a strange beast's cry-

	Brilliant crimson is the firestorm, hot with passion and fury and vengeance, tearing through the demonic flames to strike at their originator.

	And the inferno dies down, to reveal Mai once more - drained, but intact. Slowly, she turns her head, looking for her friend, throat too hoarse to call out.


 COMBAT: FINISHER! Mai Tokiha has used Ardent Light on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Mai Tokiha has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor fails to dodge Mai Tokiha's Finisher, Ardent Light, taking 127 Fatigue damage!  Critical Hit!  

 <Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

 
	Images assault her mind. Of.. things, places she doesn't recognize. It's dizzying, setting her off-balance. What she's being shown becomes reality for a time, while the physical world becomes distant. Alastor's words a white noise. She vaguely recognizes through the haze of vertigo Alastor's blade, appearing as a twin to one she's seen before. She hears the words coming. It doesn't occur to her to set up a defense. 
 
	The wall of flame hits her head on, the massive pressure and blast wave from the fire casting her backwards like a rag doll. Her clothing is charred all over, and her skin isn't much better. The world remains distant, unfocused, her ears ringing with a tinnitus of that same white noise from the concussive force of the explosion. Where did she land? She looks around through glassy eyes, seeing that she's draped upon a car that's whining loudly in protest. Sliding off of it, she stands upright, and stares at Alastor. Alastor's command to stop it and leave them be finally registers in her mind, and she states only one word in response, having barely enough wherewithal or the consciousness to say anything else. "No." It is a denial that doesn't seem to know it's own defeat, her voice sounding more like the mewling of a newborn kitten. 
 
	How she's still upright is anyone's guess, perhaps it is sheer stubborness or grit, or something else that can't quite be described with a single word. However, all of that fury from before that was in her voice now appears to have been shifted to her actions, as radiance she'd gathered from before is imparted into her hands. She places her palms together, and allows it's release. It erupts forth into a massive beam of solar energy, in the form of light and heat. 
 

 COMBAT: FINISHER! Eri Shimanouchi has used Solar Flare on Alastor.
 COMBAT: Eri Shimanouchi has finished attacking.
 COMBAT: Alastor narrowly braces Eri Shimanouchi's Finisher, Solar Flare, taking 23 Fatigue damage!  Alastor is unable to keep fighting!  Alastor's Block ability activates!  Alastor's Parry ability activates!  


 <Pose Tracker> Asagao Uekawa [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
As the light pours out of the stars above her and into the demon, Vega lifts her other arm to try and give the spell more power - but Alastor very strong, and the chains of Hell keep him firmly grasped.

It won't be enough - but now that she's seen what was and what can still be, Sailor Vega will *never* forget.

But as the light of the Lyran Aurora fades... so too does the magic that makes up the battle form of Sailor Vega. Her wand fades first, then the rest of her outfit - melting/shimmering from Senshi Splendor back to Sweater Set.

Spent - all she can do now is try to find a place to take cover.


 <Pose Tracker> Alastor [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.
 
The Flames come and Alastor doesn't have time to react, he never does after such an attack. It is where he is at his weakest and the when the flames hit, they hit him hard. They wash over him in return as he struck them.

The smoking figure of Alastor comes crashing down the ground, a wing snapping under the weight of the impact, some of the armor burnt away and cracked. Alastor staggers up and that is when Eri fires off her own beam, but out of no where a cop car is thrown in the middle of it.

The solar beam wraps around the car and the vehicle is thrown back. Aoi may need to side step, she has time, though for Alastor he is only clipped by the beam thanks to the well time shield from-- someone. But he is worn out and he looks ready to just face first on the ground.

Though as he does a orange mist moves around him like a serpent before a feminine figure catches him and those golden eyes look out toward the heroes. Her armor is black with orange and her eyes almost hidden behind what is like a visor.

She then grins and gives them a blow of a kiss, before her form seems to wrap around Alastor and they seem to vanish in puff of gold smoke. There was also then another figure. One who was another male figure but his armor was black with orange as well. "That is far as you heroes will go with this." He says firmly. "Our Lord and Master sends his greetings and each of you will find whatever is dear to you suffering a fate worse then death soon enough."

"This we can promise you." He then turns to face Aoi, giving her a respectful nod before he seems to then just--- vanish into the ground. As they leave the area starts to reform itself. The damage done starts to repair and soon the green haze of fog starts to swirl and then goes back to a center point before it explodes out with a brilliant bright flash.

Sadly (or thankfully) for the mundane-- they have forgotten this has even happened...



 <Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

	Mai isn't in much better condition than Alastor, all things considered - fallen to her knees, breathing heavily, looking almost lost for a moment. The demon's fate is less than important at the moment - but when Eri's own attack is unleashed, she slumps in relief. Whatever else, she's at least alive...

	...their demonic opponent is being rescued by other demons. Whatever sympathy Mai might have had for Alastor, she finds it difficult to get too worked up about the fate of whoever was saddled with that curse, and she makes no effort to move further.

	Until that threat is made.

	Mai's eyes widen, going unfocused as horror sets in. Legs refusing to support her properly, still she tries to move. "No - you wouldn't-" There's only one choice - if they're determined to hurt Takumi, then she has to... Mai's voice screams at them. "KAGUTSU-"

	-and the demons are gone. Damage repairing itself, the world returning to normal, Mai left with nothing of the threat but her own injuries. The last, critical syllable dies in her throat, and all she can do is stare in horror.

	Even as people begin to move again, she remains seated on her knees. What can she do?



 <Pose Tracker> Aoi Mitsugi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.

	A car flies towards Aoi, blasted by the explosion of fire it was thrown into. Rather than get out of the way, the diminutive girl snaps her hand up.. and /catches/ it. Yes, the 4'11, completly normal looking girl catches a car flying at her with one hand- in fact, her fingers sink into the metal, twisting it, and there's a small shockwave from the sudden stopping of the car's momentum that causes dust and leaves to blow out around her. One of her eyebrows arches, and she turns to one side and drops the car, with a crash, to the ground. The demon who is rescuing Alastor nods to her, but she flips him the bird, muttering, "Watch it with the cars next time, idiot." Of course he's gone by then, along with Alastor and the other demon.


 <Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

 
	Looking at the female demonic figure, Eri looks half-abstracted, half-dazed, before her legs start to tremble. There's no strength left in them, after taking so many burns from that wave of hellfire. They tremble, then give out beneath her as she settles for sitting on her posterior given that seiza is more than she'd be capable of at the moment. 
 
	When her transformation gives way, it's willingly, all of the adrenaline of battle draining out of her and leaving her exhausted. Fortunately none of her civilian clothes are damaged, as she's in her school uniform overlaid by an overcoat and a scarf. Looking upon a gem in her hand which is now swirling more with darkened mist than without she sighs, before her face contorts and she's wracked by a coughing spell from her singed airway that she hadn't even realized was burnt until now. She gasps and hacks for a bit until it passes, rubbing her mouth with the back of her mittened hand, speaking to the demon in reply, "I'm not going to let you do that..." 
 
	The soul gem is held up like she's going to risk transforming back, right now, and burning the magic she has left, but then Mai says that word and Eri's eyes grow wide, all thoughts of politeness and formalities and honorifics fading in light of the gravity of the threat, "M-Mai no!" However they vanish, and she slumps back down, the gem disappearing, thanking whatever gods may exist that it wasn't necessary for her to do that here. 
 


 <Pose Tracker> Asagao Uekawa [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Once the world around them begins to return to normal, Asagao nearly *ducks back down* when she hears Mai about to summon the Dragon - great for rides, but that was open sky. It doesn't happen though, and there they are - slumped, threatened... but victorious.

Moving from cover, Asagao jogs over to the other two girls, "Are you guys all right? I'm sorry he focused so much on you, but he just wouldn't... or couldn't list--"

"Did that girl just catch a car one-handed?"


 <Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

	Mai is trembling. Terror, fury, some unholy blend of the two - it's hard to say. Eri's and Asagao's words are heard, but not truly understood immediately. It's not until Vega mentions the car that the statements get absurd enough to shake Mai out of her thoughts.

	A shaking hand is placed on the ground, and slowly steadies. "...who...are they. To threaten-" She shuts her mouth. She doesn't even want to risk mentioning his name.

	Slowly, she turns to Eri - and as bulky as the clothes are, however concealing the overcoat, Eri's face alone belies her injuries. "You're...hurt, aren't you?" She turns to Asagao, who's apologizing, and Mai's too worn out to make the connection. "Thank you. I'm sorry you got caught up in this." Slowly, she tries to stand.

	Tries.


 <Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

 
	All of the righteous fury has long drained from Eri. What's left is fatigue and charred wounds. The chill wind picks up as the barrier fades, biting into the sears across her skin as she looks at the other pair. "This isn't too..." She swallows, it still hurt to breath, to talk. Her throat felt like it was swelling up. "..terrible, Mai-chan. I just need time to heal." Which will use up more magic. So much for being slightly ahead. She needed to find another witch soon, once she got rest. 
 
	Glancing sidelong at Asagao, she blinks multiple times, as if trying to figure out why she was here. Suddenly the gears in her head stop grinding together. A metaphysical lightbulb ignites, sputtering. Eri's reaction is elegant in its simplicity, her eyes widening as she emits a sound of surprise, "WEHHHHH!?" This causes her to double over into another coughing fit, "Eheh. Well you did tell me. I just didn't know, whom." She glances back to Mai, "Um. Yeah. Maybe a lot more time than usual, Mai-chan. Are you okay yourself?" 
 
	Asagao calls into attention the girl who caught a car, and Eri looks her way, squinting through her glasses, "Oh her. Don't worry, we should be okay for now. Alastor and her don't usually play nice together. She'd probably prefer to attack us on her own." 
 


 <Pose Tracker> Aoi Mitsugi [Juuban Public School (11)] has posed.

	Aoi indeed does not seem particularly interested in leaping into the fray. When she sees some of the people in the group looking her way, she smirks and raises one hand, wiggling her fingers towards Eri in a small wave. Then she shrugs and turns away, the smoke from her cigarette drifting up over her head as she stuffs her hands into the pockets of her coat and starts to walk away down the sidewalk, unconcerned.


 <Pose Tracker> Asagao Uekawa [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Smiling at Eri, Asagao reaches over and puts a hand on her shoulder, "I put it together as soon as you mentioned snowball fights, but the middle of a battle isn't the best place for this sort of talk."

The smile turns to Mai then, and even... brightens? "Oh don't worry about that, I got caught inside the dome just like you two - I'm glad I was on-hand to help. I'm just sorry I didn't have enough power in me to *truly* help him."


 <Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

	After another couple of tries, Mai gets a foot under her, then a second. She looks at Eri with concern - redoubled as the girl starts coughing - and moves to try to lend her support. Four legs might be better than two, in any event. "I'll... probably be okay. I'm used to fire. You...look like you might need help getting back to the dorms."

	Aoi is pointed out, and Eri's words of 'preferring to attack on her own' give some pause for concern - but when Mai looks, the other girl is already walking away without a care.

	Asagao and Eri seem to...know each other? Mai tries to give a smile back, as weak as it is. "I'm glad you helped as much as you did. I'm Mai." She extends a hand to shake - realizes the bangles are still there - and dismisses them with but a thought.

	Mai looks overall uncertain, glancing down. "I...is that it, then? He gets dragged off, and there's nothing more to be done here?" She looks to where the demons vanished. "Because...I need to check something at the dorms."


 <Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

 
	With Mai's support, Eri finally manages to get from a sitting on her rear end to an upright position at least. She doesn't protest, though she looks a little sheepish. "Maybe a little." She offers quietly to Mai, before looking Asagao's way, "Ah um. Yeah I guess that would be a dead giveaway, Asagao-chan." She looks towards Mai again, "Oh right, Mai-chan, this is Asagao Uekawa, she's a classmate. They call her the Queen of the Crafs Club." 
 
	Some more sheepish laughter, "Yeah, I think the dorms would be wonderful, right about now." 
 

 <Pose Tracker> Asagao Uekawa [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
"Well, come on then - unless one of you has a magic carpet I don't know about, try to stand up and you can lean on my shoulders until you can hold yourself up!" Asagao offers, bracing her heels and offering a hand to each girl, "Two friends, two shoulders! Nice to meet you, Mai-chan!"

Asagao does spare a glance for the departing Aoi - one never knows, things in the world, mysterious combatants, girls who can palm cars...

Anyway! "Come you two, up you go!"



Alastor pages Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi: Ok, for you guys..
Alastor pages Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi: The images showed of a high mountain and a stone walls that were past the calls, there was a village there and even a castle.
Alastor pages Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi: there was normal people, but also those who had armor with wings, much like what you saw for a moment Alastor looked like.
Alastor pages Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi: Though words of concern as something about "guardians" were going missing or being killed.
Alastor pages Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi: there is image of beautiful groves inside mossy structures with sunlight that shines upon an open crystal flower that shimmer beautifully.
Alastor pages Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi: these come in many different colors, and then they suddenly start to close one by one.
Alastor pages Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi: conversations are voiced about this, about the groves dieing and Alastor's voice stating firmly that they must not alarm the people. They will find who has done this and will make things right.
Alastor pages Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi: and then there is the image of the Demon Lord himself smiling directly at where Alastor would have been looking, stating something-- and Alastor suddenly attacks out in rage toward him while several demon warriors stand around to watch.
Alastor pages Mai Tokiha and Eri Shimanouchi: aand there you guys go.


[[Category:Logs]]