User:NekoRex/Mound2

"Damn right I am! Ya ready for a fight, Koishi_Komeiji?" Koishi_Komeiji nods furiously, still jumping from where she was, "y-yeah, we'll teach tree a lesson!" Saigyou_Ayakashi At the very least, let us follow your usual Modus Operandi. Spellcards was it, the name of that game of yours that you play to determine whoever has the last word?" Saigyou_Ayakashi says as "she seems to take a standing-straight stance, her clothes fluttering with the small breeze that's lifted up. While the huge whirlpool of cherry blossoms concentrated itself to form the woman that is standing before Koishi and Marisa, some remain gracefully whirling around the area, like a whirlpool of pink. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Eh? Well, I guess if you wanna word it that way, sure, although spell card rules imply you're not tryin' ta kill us, which I assume ya are." Marisa_Kirisame:. (Maybe I shoulda just attacked first.) Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "How many times must I repeat myself? I kill not, I merely lull people into peace." Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "But enough of this." Koishi_Komeiji:. "S-sounds like you got 'peace' and 'death' mixed up!" Saigyou_Ayakashi:. �ACTION does one swift motion with her fan, raising it above her head. It dissolves into a multitude of cherry blossoms, much more than what there shoudl've been -- it's as if immense power had been condensed into this accessory. Floating around Ayakashi like an army ready to answer her command, the leaves begin to glow. They eventually shoot out in quick succession at Marisa, making sure that she has to be dodging Saigyou_Ayakashi -- constantly. As this all happens, the whirlpool of pink surrounding them glowers of a faint tint as well... Marisa_Kirisame quickly begins to strafe out of the way of the danmaku, summoning some sigils to begin shooting lasers in Saigyou_Ayakashi's direction, while Marisa herself begins tossing magic missiles. Koishi_Komeiji gives a surprised gasp and starts to evade the danmaku as well, making her usual, exaggerated movements while retaliating with a few shots of translucent spherical danmaku, basic in nature yet incredibly hard hitting. Saigyou_Ayakashi quickly throws a glance at the attacks that were shot at her. Am attack from both sides... dodging up would've been the easy way out. She stops her barage, lowering her tessen which immediately recomposes itself; and whirling upwards, she executes one half-moon, horizontal slash with her fan -- a magical construct in the shape of a wide open fan appears. Koishi_Komeiji:. ((Tessen?)) Saigyou_Ayakashi:. (( Tessen is the name of a war fan )) Saigyou_Ayakashi:. (( Which is another way to say "fan" )) Marisa_Kirisame moves upwards and to the side back towards Koishi to weave between the bullets, pulling out a spellcard of her own soon enough. "Shouldn't have expected an easy fight from this tree, heh." she says. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Magic Sign: Milky Way!" Marisa yells, activating one of her least tiring spell cards to test the waters. Large star danmaku start radiating out from her in several spirals, while she focuses smaller stars directly at Saigyou_Ayakashi. Koishi_Komeiji:. "Go, Marisa!" Koishi cheers, before yelping as more bullets come her way. She seems to be content with just pelting simple danmaku and watching the two for now Saigyou_Ayakashi:. observes indifferently as Marisa, still on the move, activates a spellcard. Much weaker that what she recalled what the witch could do, but then, perhaps was she just toying around. In fact, Spellcard battles usually began simply as a simple exchange to "feel" how each enemies operated. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. slowly weaves through the bigger stars. She's moving so slow though that she should be an easy target for Marisa's smaller stars, but every time the smaller projectiles are about to hit her, she does one swift motion with her fan and apparently just... stills the danmaku. They hover their in place, not even moving, not growing nor lessening in power. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. <>Ambiance<> The huge magical contstruct shaped like the panels of a fan glowers with power, and it spreads overwhelming danmaku into all directions. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Heh, going all out, eh?" Marisa_Kirisame changes up her spell card to function more like a bomb, focusing on canceling out danmaku and dodging. She calls out to Koishi, "Koishi, show 'em what you got!" Koishi_Komeiji:. "Alriiiiight!" Koishi giggles amid her wild motions and swings an arm forward. With the flapping of her sleeve a string of translucent danmaku circle around her before snaking toward Saigyou_Ayakashi, each of them primed to explode into a scattering of giant roses. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. �ACTION was raining down danmaku onto her two opponents when they answered in kind with their own heavy barrages. It wasn't really a champion at high speed maneuvers, and while with precise and dexterous movement, it could handle Marisa's straight-forward barrages to a certain extent, Koishi's slow, homing shots were more of a trouble. The massive summoned magic fan still floating behind her and increasing the rate of bombardment, Ayakashi decides to dive down and reach for the ground, forsaking the advantage of altitude for gaining speed. >Ambiance<:. The danmaku now fire at both Koishi and Marisa from downwards as Ayakashi litterally elegantly, undisturbed by all of the danmaku following "her". She takes her time to slowly look up at the two, merely sidestepping and beig missed by danmaku everytime by but an inch. All of her body is also strangely emitting a faint pink glower. Koishi_Komeiji sees Saigyou_Ayakashi drop to the ground and her lips form a small 'o' in surprise. She drops a little in altitude even as she dodges the bullets in the same random fashion. More homing bullets orbit around her before lazily swaying to Saigyou_Ayakashi 's direction, seemingly having little urgency in their course. Saigyou_Ayakashi raises her fan and all of the pink glow that had been surrounding her body concentrates itself unto the ornament. One of Koishi projectiles is about to detonate in her face but... >Ambiance<:. A hollow sound resembling a drop of water falling into a hollow cavern resounds through the air as everything seems to come to a stop. Danmaku cease their movements, and even both of Ayakashi's opponents might have trouble comprehending why all seems slow, even the movement of their bodies. However, since they are actual living beings with Shen present unto their soul, they are not frozen still. Saigyou_Ayakashi 's big "artillery" fan dissolves and gathers into her fan as she seems to prepare something else for these two... the sound of the pink energies whirring and an overwhelming presence tremors throughout the Mound of Stillness. Marisa_Kirisame:. (Eh? Did time stop or somethin? This must be what that devil maid goes through) Koishi_Komeiji:. "Ueeh?" Koishi's lips widened more as she sees what is happening. "Marisa...is that cheating?" She asks, her voice a little more high pitched than normal. Koishi_Komeiji sees Saigyou_Ayakashi drop to the ground and her lips form a small 'o' in surprise. She drops a little in altitude even as she dodges the bullets in the same random fashion. More homing bullets orbit around her before lazily swaying to Saigyou_Ayakashi 's direction, seemingly having little urgency in their course. Saigyou_Ayakashi raises her fan and all of the pink glow that had been surrounding her body concentrates itself unto the ornament. One of Koishi projectiles is about to detonate in her face but... >Ambiance<:. A hollow sound resembling a drop of water falling into a hollow cavern resounds through the air as everything seems to come to a stop. Danmaku cease their movements, and even both of Ayakashi's opponents might have trouble comprehending why all seems slow, even the movement of their bodies. However, since they are actual living beings with Shen present unto their soul, they are not frozen still. Saigyou_Ayakashi 's big "artillery" fan dissolves and gathers into her fan as she seems to prepare something else for these two... the sound of the pink energies whirring and an overwhelming presence tremors throughout the Mound of Stillness. Marisa_Kirisame:. (Eh? Did time stop or somethin? This must be what that devil maid goes through) Koishi_Komeiji:. "Ueeh?" Koishi's lips widened more as she sees what is happening. "Marisa...is that cheating?" She asks, her voice a little more high pitched than normal. >Ambiance<:. As these wooden appendages form the shape of a Sakura Flower, the pink glow still lighting up their entire structure, there is a sudden transmutaion and all of the wood turns into a whirlpool of ethereal cherry blossoms... which by now shines an extremely bright pink light. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this is going to be... quite the blast. Marisa_Kirisame eventually gets back into normal speed, although her previous spellcard was interrupted by the timestop. Seeing the bit attack incoming, she yells "Koishi, we're gonna get blasted if we don't so something!" as she boggles over which spellcard she should use next. Marisa_Kirisame quickly decides that she'd have to match a big attack like what she thought was coming with a big blast of her own. She points her mini-hakkero forward and shouts, "Koishi, MOVE!" as she starts focusing her spell, the very familiar thin beam of light beaming out towards Saigyou_Ayakashi's extended "arm". Koishi_Komeiji nods, but even as she backs up her movements were slower than she was used to. "Awaaa, she's really a tree, Marisa! She really is!" Koishi cries out, moving away as Marisa told her to. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Get behind me and cover me! Let's see that thing dodge THIS!" Marisa says, Love Sign 「Master Spark」 ready tto fire. Koishi_Komeiji:. "Beat her up!" Koishi cheers on, swooping behind Marisa. >Ambiance<:. A massive beam of pink energies, swirling with what seems to be ethereal sakura blossoms, is fired straight at Marisa and Koishi. It would've blasted the two away if it wasn't for Marisa's own oncoming Master Spark. The two beams of light clash, like two roaring waves of the ocean fighting each other, trying to overwhelm and consume their opponent. Marisa_Kirisame has to brace herself to not be pushed back by the force of the clashing beams. She mutters loudly, "Whaaaa! What power!" >Ambiance<:. Something dark flashes by in the night sky overhead, the sound of rushing air briefly audible.. the shape's silhouetted only briefly by the new moon that hangs above. But then it's gone. Saigyou_Ayakashi doesn't even bat an eye as the two beams collide and a massive, blinding light shines throughout the place. Her beam of swirling sakura thought seems to be slowly losing ground... which should've been expected. She is far from being complete in this "outpost" that she's established. Saigyou_Ayakashi for the very first time seems to flash a small grimmace, brekaing her generally emotionless visage for a second. >Ambiance<:. A bird drifts to the ground, trilling briefly before being engulfed in black smoke. What appears to be a large hyena emerges from the blackness, making a yipping laugh before excitedly racing over towards one of what appears to be a human corpse, viciously attacking it and beginning to tear it apart. Koishi_Komeiji realises that she should probably be helping, and throws out a snaking line of danmaku that curves toward Saigyou_Ayakashi, much more urgent in speed than they previously were. She doesn't seem to notice Nue_Houjuu. Marisa_Kirisame smirks when she realizes she's winning, and shouts "Ufufufufufu! Here's a proper lesson in danmaku... it's all about FIREPOWER!" Marisa says, pumping even more magic into the beam. Despite this, however, she's visibly sweating from the energy she has to use to keep the spark ongoing. Saigyou_Ayakashi has by now, quite the handful of things to take care of. Marisa's laser that might be blasting her to pieces at any second, Koishi's danmaku that is coming from the side, and... was that another intruder that she felt nearing her dwelling place? Saigyou_Ayakashi has few options left. She could either use up more energy to match Marisa's output, but that'd be taking from the souls of all these people which she's gathered to put into eternal sleep, free from the worries of-- Saigyou_Ayakashi -- feels that someone is disturbing her process of "stilling". One human which she bothered in detaching the soul yet is dying... perhaps even dead. >Ambiance<:. After finding the rather strange conclusion that the human she turned after wasn't actually dead -- though she doesn't cease eating it -- the hyena glances up ever-briefly at the massive lasers that clash and swing about. She stiffens up a bit, fur bristling, before returning to her meal. Saigyou_Ayakashi decides to give up the offense and just... builds a massive wall of roots and branches that cave in around her and form a circular shield. Layers after layers or wooden appendages swarm around her, forming pretty much a certain envelope that will *probably* mitigate the damage from the Master Spark. >Ambiance<:. The hyena seems to be fairly satisfied with her meal after a few minutes of bone-crunching and flesh-ripping, and makes a decent distance between herself and the fight going on. After a few moments, her ears perk up and she darts a good further distance away, tail swishing as she turns to look back. Marisa_Kirisame tears through the opposing beam with her Master Spark, now that Saigyou_Ayakashi has stopped applying power, and the beam begins to collide against the defensive maneuver before Marisa realizes that she's out-beamed her foe and the Master Spark begins to peter out)) Marisa_Kirisame tears through the opposing beam with her Master Spark, now that Saigyou_Ayakashi has stopped applying power, and the beam begins to collide against the defensive maneuver before Marisa realizes that she's out-beamed her foe and the Master Spark begins to peter out)) >Ambiance<:. The central shell and layers break apart under the Master Spark's pressure though as she's spreading her defenses everywhere to prevent more damage from reaching the sea of bodies below her. Most of them still have their soul inside, she can't allow them to die yet. Saigyou_Ayakashi quickly jams her fan forward to make one last area of stillness that holds off the laser, however, it doesn't last for long, and her body is hit afterwards. luckily though, Marisa has begun to end her offense, meaning that she didn't take a lot of damage. Part of her body seems to be... breaking apart in Sakura petals though. Half of her left arm is a flurry of Sakura Petals. >Ambiance<:. The hyena finally darts away into nearby brush, seeming to have been scared off or something -- but a smoky shape simply emerges not long afterwards, twisting up into the air. Marisa_Kirisame stops applying magic when it's clear she's won for now, and the beam wears away on it's own. Marisa carefully watches the dust settle, wondering what's now left of the evil tree. Nue_Houjuu:. Oh, deaaaar.. Koishi_Komeiji peeks out from behind Marisa, "is tree gone?" She asks. Marisa_Kirisame:. "I dunno, but I'm not gonna risk goin' down there without another round o' Master Spark ready to blast it." Koishi_Komeiji:. "You're going to fry the people there!" Koishi chides. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Eh? I thought they were dead myself..." Nue_Houjuu:. How is that a problem? Saigyou_Ayakashi can be seen with Sakura petals twirling around her as she pushes the cloud of dust away. Nue_Houjuu looks over to Koishi, smiling snidely. Nue_Houjuu:. They're as close to dead as they'll ever be. Nue_Houjuu:. Why not do them the favor.. Saigyou_Ayakashi 's missing arm which has been replaced by fluttering sakura can be clearly seen now, as well as her rather unstable avatar having trouble keeping a physical form. She might want to invest all of her power at this point, but... that would be unwise. Not with three people on the scene now. Koishi_Komeiji:. "Ueeeh? Ah, it's the Nyue!" Koishi almost squeals when she notices Nue, and then again when she sees that Saigyou_Ayakashi hasn't been totally destroyed, "ah, the tree is alive too!" Marisa_Kirisame:. "Whoa!" Marisa says, flinching as she was too focused on the tree to notice Nue until now. "Yikes, what're you doin here? One big bad youkai is enough to deal with ya know." Saigyou_Ayakashi still manages to keep an incredibly stoic and expressionless face as she dusts off the dirt that's gathered on her kimono and flaps her fan open, standing upstraight and observing the newcommer... all while missing an arm. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "More troublemakers..." Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "Most annoying." Nue_Houjuu grins, shrugging and letting her tails absent-mindedly twist themselves together as she comfortably sits in the air. Nue_Houjuu:. You can't tell me what to do, human. Saigyou_Ayakashi comments as she looks at Nue blankly. Nue_Houjuu:. You're making a lot of noise, a commotion, it's pretty obvious that you'll attract attention. Nue_Houjuu:. And there's food.. all over the ground.. Koishi_Komeiji exclaims at that last comment, "I think she took a snack!" Marisa_Kirisame:. "Ehhh, well I hope ya don't plan on takin a bite outta me, then, we got enough to handle down there..." Marisa says, looking back down at Saigyou_Ayakashi and half-smirking, half frowning. Nue_Houjuu:. Don't try me. Nue_Houjuu narrows her eyes, grinning maliciously for a moment. Marisa_Kirisame:. "I don't mind a fight, but one at a time, please, heh heh..." Koishi_Komeiji cautiously moves her head closer to Marsia. "Uh, Marisa what should we do?" She whispers, "why were we beating up tree, again?" Nue_Houjuu:. "One at a time".. yeah.. you and your little friend keep fighting one person, mmhh~ Marisa_Kirisame:. "Cause it's real dangerous, we can't just let it sit around down there puttin humans in the big sleep." Nue_Houjuu:. It wasn't killing them, you realize? Nue_Houjuu:. They're not dead. Nue_Houjuu:. Not yet, at leaaaasssttt~ Nue_Houjuu trills with a sing-song voice, whirling around showily. Marisa_Kirisame:. "'Not yet' is what I'm afraid of. At least you take your meals one at a time." Marisa_Kirisame:. "Eh, maybe I should call up Reimu..." Marisa says, sticking her free hand in a pocket on her dress. Nue_Houjuu:. Better dead than the hilarious hell they're in now. Looking at them, they're probably all being eaten alive, slowly, by this.. tree. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Probably ain't puttin them to good use either. Maybe if we can get rid of it, they'll wake up?" Marisa wonders aloud. She's wondering what Saigyou_Ayakashi is going to do next. Nue_Houjuu:. Should at least have the mind to eat them before using them for whatever reason.. Nue_Houjuu:. It's so sad to see nice meat like that go to waste~ Marisa_Kirisame:. "I might get paid pretty nicely if I can save any of 'em." Marisa thinks aloud. Nue_Houjuu shakes her head, chuckling softly to herself. Marisa_Kirisame:. (Course then I'd have to save them from Nue.) Nue_Houjuu looks back to the Saigyou Ayakashi, drifting a little closer. She obviously doesn't see it to be much of a threat at all, chittering softly to herself as she gazes over it and the humanoid form below. Koishi_Komeiji seems lost and confused, her eyes darting repeatedly from Nue to Marisa to Ayakashi then back to Nue. Nue_Houjuu:. What the hell are you doing with all these people and animals, hmmm? Nue_Houjuu:. I'd barely believe you intend to eat them all. Saigyou_Ayakashi was merely observing passively until she let out a single "hmph". Maybe that she doesn't appreciate the situation in which she is, or maybe that it's her generic imppasive character that is keeping up. She was merely playing for time and waiting for her energies to return so that she could do something at least if any of them tried something fishy, but... Saigyou_Ayakashi turs over to face Nue. Nue_Houjuu floats out, tails twisting to and fro and wings stretched out behind her. She gazes over the scene, licking a bit of blood from her hand as she does, smiling to herself. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "In a way, you could call them beings that I assimilate. I do not eat them though, I liberate them." Nue_Houjuu:. Pff. "Liberate". Yeah, I really, really doubt that.. ~ 	Saigyou_Ayakashi states blankly as she observes Nue who's above. Nue_Houjuu:. They certainly don't look like it. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "One does not understand until they experience it." Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "Merely basing one's facts upon the observable only is rather foolish, but then, expectable out of most living beings." Nue_Houjuu:. Mm.. hm. Right. Nue_Houjuu:. I've never known the fear of the unknown, but I understand. I am that very thing. Nue_Houjuu:. How arrogant of you.  whispers to Marisa_Kirisame again, "maybe we should wait for them to beat each other up?" Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "You sound and smell like a youkai though. A Youkai of the Unknown isn't the Unknown in itself, wouldn't you say?" Nue_Houjuu:. Not of it, my dear. I am it. Marisa_Kirisame whispers back "I could use a breather." Marisa looks a little worn down from all the magic she had to put into that one Spark. Nue_Houjuu:. I am a youkai. I wouldn't deny that-- I like to be nice and honest when the situation calls for it. But I still simply am. You expect me to believe your lies, I'll expect you to believe my truths. Koishi_Komeiji nods slowly. Unlike Marisa, she is still rather energetic probably because she hadn't exerted as much in the battle. Saigyou_Ayakashi strangely has a small grin that appears on her face. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "You do indeed seem to not have grasped the entirety of the unknown, of the absurd." Nue_Houjuu:. You don't look like either of those things to me. Nue_Houjuu:. You can't say you know them~ Saigyou_Ayakashi 's grin widens as she breaks into a hysterical laugh. A first in a very long time. Nue_Houjuu seems to breathe out smoke, twirling the dark smog playfully at her fingers, shaping and toying with it. Nue_Houjuu:. ... I never said that we should all stop fighting, either. Human, little youkai, you should keep shooting this one. She's awfully rude. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "You're speaking of looking like, yet is looking like the same as being?" Nue_Houjuu:. Appearances are both decieving and telling in their own ways. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "/I have glimpsed into the absolute essence of a fundamental and understood all of the contradictions its very existence. I doubt that you have done such a thing./ Nue_Houjuu:.	As I said.. arrogant.  Nue_Houjuu:.	Do you even think I really care?  Nue_Houjuu:.	Why the hell are you so serious?!  	Nue_Houjuu laughs to herself, tails flicking wildly.  Saigyou_Ayakashi:.	"The same might apply to you though. Perhaps if you do not care, then I might not want to care for your own thoughts." Saigyou_Ayakashi:.	"Subjectivity."  	Saigyou_Ayakashi notes, having reverted to her blank and expressionless tone.  Saigyou_Ayakashi:.	"But..."  Nue_Houjuu:.	Whoever said I really wanted you to care in the first place? It's obvious you're too caught up in your cute little world and stubborn "better than you" behavior to care at all.  Nue_Houjuu:.	The funny thing? It's kind of cute. You're trying to look serious and scary.  	Saigyou_Ayakashi shakes her reformed hand as the sakura blossoms manage to build it up again, complete with the missing kimono sleeve.  	Saigyou_Ayakashi looks at it for a bit, before turning back her attention to Nue and scrutinizing her from top to bottom.  	Saigyou_Ayakashi doesn't seem angry at all, but then, other than the few strange outbursts she's shown, nothing much has been happening in terms of emotional stirring. Her blank and emotionless facade was the one thing that remained the most prmoninent throughout this exchange. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "Other than blowing out hot air, what exactly do you want?" Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "Be another troublemaker?" Nue_Houjuu:. Well, it'd be all lovely and pleasant if you let the good many things you've lost all over the lawn go. Nue_Houjuu:. I could be a troublemaker if you were desperate enough to want me to, though. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "I want no more troublemakers. Two is enough." Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "But yes, I was going to wait for a few more, yet at the rate at which things are going, more souls might be lost than gained, so..." Nue_Houjuu:. There's no such thing as too much trouble.. Nue_Houjuu:. As a youkai, you should know that. Nue_Houjuu waggles a finger accusingly. Nue_Houjuu:. .. "souls". Nue_Houjuu:. Oh deaaaar. Saigyou_Ayakashi snaps her fan closed and points up. Nue_Houjuu:. You're gonna get in a lot of trouble for messing around with those. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "They came by their own accord." Nue_Houjuu:. Mm~hmm. I doubt it. Koishi_Komeiji slowly tilts her head toward marisa to whisper, "Marisa, we're buying time, right?" Marisa_Kirisame:. "Uh, for what?" Marisa_Kirisame:. "I thought we were just gonna wreck it for bein' evil and such" Marisa whispers back. Koishi_Komeiji:. "I dunno!" Koishi shrugs, "I was sort of wondering why we arne't beating up tree right now." Marisa_Kirisame:. "I thought we were takin a breather while those two suckers go at it" Marisa whispers back, motioning at Nue (who's apparently left?) Koishi_Komeiji:. "But Nue's gone. Do we beat tree up now?" Saigyou_Ayakashi made sure that Nue had left before with her tessen in hand, she turns back to observe these two "annoyances". Luckily, they had decided to just watch her talk with the black youkai and gain some time. By now, Ayakashi had regained its lost arm, and the avatar's energy was being stabilized once again... salvation be given unto these souls. Saigyou_Ayakashi turns towards Marisa and Koishi. Marisa_Kirisame:. "I think it's remembered we're still here" Marisa whispers to Koishi. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. �ACTION lifts her Tessen into the air, the latter eventually gathering all of the cherry blossoms that had been scattered around the place. Every single sprite of pink is brought around Ayakashi, circling "her". Waves of stillness not unlike the one that Ayakashi had used before during the spellcard battle are pulsating, but this time, they're not stopping. A hollow, ethereal howl can be heard as what looks like a blueish-white flame is dismantled from every body that lies by the tree's roots and is slowly drawn towards the massive bark. >Ambiance<:. The sky itself begins to tremble ever so slightly; the horizon blurring and becoming indistinct. A soft ringing sound, like the chiming of a far-off bell, echoes through the air. Barely visible lines criss-cross the sky, radiating outward from a single point, appearing for just a moment before disappearing again. -»	Xiangdeng_Tiandao (CalmRiverperspective.of.reality) has Joined #Mound_Of_Stillness Xiangdeng_Tiandao appears without warning, floating high in the sky, directly in front of, or perhaps at, the source of the disturbance. Gentle ripples spread out from its position, expanding across the sky only to disappear behind the horizon, leaving everything in their wake as normal as it had been before. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. My, my~ What do we have here~? Marisa_Kirisame:. "Oh crap, we gotta act fast, those are the souls of those humans!" Marisa yelps to Koishi. Koishi_Komeiji:. "Zawa...!" Koishi gasps, both at what Saigyou_Ayakashi is doing and the appearance of Xiangdeng_Tiandao. "It's...souls! And Tiandao!" Xiangdeng_Tiandao drifts downward, landing gently a short distance away, seemingly ignorant, or perhaps just dismissive of the strange events that seem to be taking place here. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. Hello, hello~! Koishi_Komeiji 's eyes dart from the bodies and Tiandao, seemingly unsure of which to react first. Seconds later she seems to have decidded by giving Tiandao a cheery wave, "hello, Tiandao! How are you?" Xiangdeng_Tiandao chuckles softly. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. It's a bit early to say, is it not? Now, what might be going on here? Saigyou_Ayakashi:. �ACTION was very much... too busy to hurry up and get these souls inside it to pay attention to ths massive walking mountain of spiritual pressure that had just jumped into the place. Well, the mere fact that it noticed this perhaps did mean that it maybe cared but... no, in fact, it was caring very much and merely continuing because it somewhat recognized that this was the very person that... broke Stillness to pi Koishi_Komeiji:. "Uh..! We're trying to beat up tree and uh," Koishi turns back to the souls and starts to panic, flapping her sleeves up and down, "M-marisa! We should do that right now! Before tree gets all the souls!" Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. I see, I see~ Marisa_Kirisame:. "That's the Saigyou_Ayakashi, and it looks like it's trying to consume a massive amount of souls. Bad news for us, for sure." Marisa says, digging a paper ball full of powder from one of her dress pockets, and dumping the contents onto her Mini-Hakkero. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Alright, Koishi, we're gonna save the day, ufufufu...!" Saigyou_Ayakashi 's voice echoes throughout the place. Marisa_Kirisame points her mini-hakkero at the center of that big mess, the hakkero-glowing madly, charging up one of Marisa's most powerful spells. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "You are aware, that if you blow me up, I will not only lose the souls, but they will all be actually destroyed since they're currently broken into pieces?" Saigyou_Ayakashi asks emotionlessly, which... maybe shouldn't be noted right now, since it'd be easier to say when it isn't speaking in an emotionless tone. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Well I can't go have ya eaten them, that'd be even worse!" Saigyou_Ayakashi however, does stop as Marisa aims her Hakkero and makes sure to display the unnatural souls that have been fragmented and broken into multiple pieces. Xiangdeng_Tiandao opens its eyes ever so slightly, and begins strolling towards the maelstrom of cherry blossoms. Along the way, it reaches into its sleeve and withdraws a single arrow, like one might fire from a bow, holding it almost like a wand and pointing it at the centre of the whirling clouds. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. Now, now, do you have permission to be doing this~? Otherwise, you could get yourself in a lot of trouble, you know. Saigyou_Ayakashi immediately stops as it hears Tiandao speak and actually act up. The Ayakashi might have been trying its chances up to now, but a fundamental... Koishi_Komeiji:. "...Zawa!" Koishi gasps. The whole situation was changing so quickly that she hadn't much time to react to them. She just simply floats in the air, flapping her arms urgently as if something might happen if she did. Saigyou_Ayakashi is indeed very still as "she" ponders what Tiandao just said. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. Not that I make it my business to keep the laws of this place, and even then, I try not to make a habit of destroying interesting people... but all the same, we must pay attention to whose house we visit, and to what rules we must abide while we are there, no~? Saigyou_Ayakashi was already aware that another fundamental might come down onto it -- the one that manipulates all boundaries. However, she had been planning to escape via a convulted plan, but now that she had been found earlier than expected... perhaps was it why she was acting pre-emptively. It was surprising how but one question could have "her" stop and think about it all. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "... no, I haven't been given any permission. But then, no one ever gave me permission to live, even." Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. Funny, I don't think anyone gave me permission either~ Saigyou_Ayakashi lowers her fan and seems to pause the progress of her soul assimilating procedure. The Tree Youkai does not want to show disrespect towards one that could blow it out of existance in the mere wave of a hand... Xiangdeng_Tiandao half-turns, looking back over its shoulder at Koishi and Marisa, and giving them a somewhat casual, nonchalant smile. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. Perhaps now is the time to take advantage of the situation and do whatever you were planning to do, hmm~? Koishi_Komeiji whispers to Marisa, "does that mean we should've asked before we beat up tree?" Marisa_Kirisame:. "Can it and help me out with this spell." Marisa half-whispers back. Xiangdeng_Tiandao spins around to face the tree's avatar again, sweeping the arrow through the air at the same time, leaving a faintly visible streak; an arc of almost-invisible force cut through the air. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. So, you admit then, that you're causing trouble~? Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "What trouble is it for me to merely welcome souls that seek the peace I offer? Look at these down there, animals, humans, youkai, they were all asked wherever or not they sought a still peace beyond comprehension, and they all agreed." Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. It's rather easy to get just about anyone to agree to just about anything, given the right words an their own ignorance of the truth. But the trouble comes from doing things you're not supposed to be doing. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Love is a powerful thing. If ya focus it real hard, it can be a force to be reckoned with..." Marisa mutters as she charges her Mini-Hakkero. Koishi_Komeiji:. "...i don't know if we should interrupt a conversation like that..." Koishi mumbles with a frown, her flapping hands stopping to pull out something from her sleeve. Marisa_Kirisame:. "I think that tree's bluffin about the souls bein worthless if we blast it." Marisa says. "I think that other crazy youkai will live, if it's as powerful as I reckon" Marisa_Kirisame:. "It's a distraction, now's the best time!" Marisa says, her 'whispering' being somewhat loud. Saigyou_Ayakashi has been keeping an eye on Marisa and Koishi all along, and is expecting them to fire straight at it... which there is an answer to, of course. Koishi_Komeiji:. "Ooh..." Koishi's frown doesn't disappear, but she does nod at Marisa's words, "...maybe tree has some plan..." Saigyou_Ayakashi keeps talking to Tiandao until they decide to fire though... because there is a split Avatar that's forming up right behind Marisa..." Marisa_Kirisame:.	"Just concentrate your mind and focus, aiming at someone you don't like... and a magicanon of love will be unleashed!" Marisa says, following it up with, "Alright, let's go! You ready, Koishi!?" Xiangdeng_Tiandao:.	Very little causes me suffering, after all, so all that remains of life is an endless series of amusing moments~  Koishi_Komeiji:.	"Aye aye!" Koishi nods enthusiastically, "aim at someo- oh!"  	Marisa_Kirisame charges up her most powerful spell, Magicannon "Final Master Spark", her Hakkero is vibrating with magic power as the power inside it begins to climb to unreasonable levels.  	Koishi_Komeiji is stopped halway when her arm shoots back to punch at the avatar behind Marisa, so quick it was that it wouldn't be expected by anyone at all.  Saigyou_Ayakashi:.	�ACTION 's split-avatar hurrily brings forward one of its hands and shoots out a quick-- it was about to snatch the Hakkero away from Marisa with its root-like appendanges when... Koishi punched it in the face. If this was the "normal" Ayakashi, the image wouldn't even have flinched, but here, the avatar isn't coherent enough to ignore the damage and the root misses... instead ending up lashing out at Marisa's calf Koishi_Komeiji:. "Sorry!" Koishi apologises as she retracts her arm, though for what reason noone could possibly tell. Just as suddenly, her hands shoot right back out, aiming to latch onto the avatar. Marisa_Kirisame is struck, having been unawares, and loses her concentration. She nearly fumbles the wildly glowing Mini-Hakkero, turning around to see what hit her. Marisa_Kirisame:. "What the heck?" Marisa says, thinking it was Koishi, but upon noticing the avatar she says, "Gah, a cheap trick like that won't stop me that easily!" Marisa_Kirisame:. (woulda been bad news if I dropped the Hakkero though, who knows where it would have gone off) Saigyou_Ayakashi 's split avatar is latched on to by Koishi and still reels from the punch, one that was surprisingly strong. As the "original" notices that not all is going well though, it decides to break the split into a bunch of cherry blossoms. Saigyou_Ayakashi -- In the meanwhile, itself does the same to move to get closer to Marisa and Koishi; of course, Ayakashi does say: "Do excuse me," briefly to Tiandao before trying to go around it. Hopefully the fundamental wouldn't do anything tricky. Xiangdeng_Tiandao simply watches the tree's avatar passing by, not doing anything to stop it. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. I suppose you're excused, then~ Marisa_Kirisame:. "I hope that wasn't your last resort, because you'll need a better one to stop this! Hah!" Marisa_Kirisame whips back around to continue where she left off, gripping her wildly vibrating Mini-Hakkero with both hands as it shines with a dazzling light as Marisa contuinues where she left off, pumping more magic into it. Finally, it emits a pale, wide beam of light, beaming straight at Saigyou_Ayakashi. >Ambiance<:. As Marisa aims her laser and prepares a pre-emptive blast, both Ayakashi avatars seem to have vanished. The Mound of Stillness has reverted back into its prior state: the one of a Cherry Blossom Maelstrom. >Ambiance<:. Petals of a glowing pink surround Koishi and Marisa, circling around them and creating a whirlpool of sakura, all waiting, supercharged, for the one signal to rain down on them. The petal's movements are not hasty, nor are they slow, it is one whole emobdiment of elegance; the very vibrant dance and display of a million. Xiangdeng_Tiandao raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything, seemingly content to stand off to the side and observe for the time being. Marisa_Kirisame hesitates to fire when she notices there's not actually anything to aim at. She sits there for a second, holding the beam back as she tries to think of what she's supposed to do now. Marisa_Kirisame considers her options for another second before thinking of what she CAN do with her charged-up spellcard. Marisa_Kirisame:. (This probably ain't my best idea, but I'll just make it work!) Koishi_Komeiji isn't to sure what she could possibly do either. She simply strikes a pose for counter attack beside Marisa, hoping the witch would know what to do. Marisa_Kirisame looks back and yells at Koishi, "Koishi!!! Give me a hug and hang on tight!!!" Koishi_Komeiji:. "Uwaah?" Koishi widens her eyes in surprise, but she latches on to Marisa's back anyway. >Ambiance<:. Three hundreds, a thousand, perhaps a million? Who knows the numbers that makes up this sea of sakura in which Koishi and Marisa are swarmed. However, one thing is certain, is that they are emanating a threatening pulse, and it would be most unconvenient that they even touch living being's skin. Saigyou_Ayakashi, noting that Marisa is up to something... is quick to send for the assault as the sakura petals fall down onto Marisa and Koishi like a torrent of water from all sides. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Let's go for a ride!" Marisa yells. "I'll cleave a path through and leave nothing behind! Final Comet ｢Blazing Star｣!!!" Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. Ah, well~ I suppose I've let this go on long enough... Marisa_Kirisame suddenly fires her Final Master Spark backwards, turning her and Koishi into a living projectile itself, blasting through the sakura petals at speeds far faster then Marisa has ever dared to go. Xiangdeng_Tiandao disappears, only to reappear almost instantly in mid-air, floating almost in the center of the maelstrom. Opening its eyes, it slowly turns in place, regarding the swirling clouds of cherry blossoms with what seems to be faint amusement, before waving a hand somewhat dismissively. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. Eightfold Seal... [Ritual, Statutes, and Ordinances]~ >Ambiance<:. Dozens of ofuda appear out of nowhere, orbiting in several concentric circles around and below Tiandao. Each talisman draws in a single spirit from the surrounding air, glowing a bright green, before they all unleash simultaneous gale-force winds outwards in all directions. Xiangdeng_Tiandao begins firing off two regular streams of danmaku as it ascends, the bullets being caught by the swirling winds and accelerated outwards at great speed, a near solid explosion of green light that blankets a wide area. Despite the deceptively simple appearance of the danmaku, they explode like bombs upon striking so much as a single petal. >Ambiance<:. The raging torrent of Sakura petals was already well on its way towards Marisa and such when all this happened in a flash. As the witch and Koishi got away, punching through the barrier that Ayakashi had created to entrap them in, The petals are about to clash into Tiandao who suddenly appeared in the middle of it all. Recognizing the folly that is happening, the youkai orders all petals to stop in one brisk motion, which they do. >Ambiance<:. They quickly try to move away from the fundamental, but the gale blows them out of trajectory, and they all begin to disperse as if a child had thrown it all messily in the air. Xiangdeng_Tiandao comes to a halt, now floating quite high above the ground, and ceases its attack. The last scattered remnants of the danmaku spray fall to the ground in the distance, exploding in bursts of greenish light and leaving large craters scarring the surface of Gensoukyou. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. Hmm... perhaps that was a bit much~ >Ambiance<:. As some of the cherry blossoms get hit by the green danmaku, they quickly disintegrate as they're engulfed by the resulting explosions. Most of it all seems unable to run away, however, amidst the green destruciton that seemingly eradicates the cherry blossoms, about a hundred manage to flow down and escape and gather themselves far away from the Fundamental's attack. Xiangdeng_Tiandao makes a show of smoothing down its robes, before calling out to nobody in particular: "I'm in a sporting mood, so if you take this chance and run away, I won't chase you~!" Marisa_Kirisame and Koishi comet-blast forwards around the tree, making a very, very wide loop around it, Marisa barely being able to steer, and makes a pass to blast through whatever is left under Tiandao before the spark peters out and needs to recharge for a second go. Saigyou_Ayakashi witnesses the carnage that Tiandao just unleashed and frowns as she looks at the craters being made far away. It's a little bit more than a frown, for the very first time in a long time, there's a hint of worry on Ayakashi's face. This is a fundamental that's decided to meddle into its affairs right now, and this doesn't bode very well... Saigyou_Ayakashi checks upon its "main host" which is the large cherry blossom that had been gathering the bodies. It appears to have been somewhat damaged, but then, if it had been broken beyond salvation, she wouldn't have felt it at all. Things were still relatively... alright. Saigyou_Ayakashi removes her fan that had been hiding her visage. This usually meant that things were rather serious, or at least, that she was being more attentive and involved than her generic "behind the mask" moments... Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "Aren't you wrecking someone else's house here as well? The very same words that you said to me could apply to you." Saigyou_Ayakashi speaks with a not so indifferent tone this time. One can pick up a hint of emotion in there, though if it is anger or something else, none should be able to tell. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. Perhaps~ Perhaps not. Saigyou_Ayakashi 's avatar is all unstable now though from the damage and loss of power. from what it was before this entire ordeal broke out, it could only be said that around three quarters of its powers have been expanded or destroyed... a major impedement. Saigyou_Ayakashi can be seens constantly breaking off into smaller cherry blossoms, struggling to maintain a composed physical projection. Xiangdeng_Tiandao raises one hand, giving a twitch of its fingers, releasing a small amount of power and chanelling it to the avatar - it's not much, but should be enough to stabilise its condition, at least. Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. As I said, I don't make a habit of destroying interesting people. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "Interesting?" Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "Strange adjective... this is the first time that I'm called something different than 'monster'." Saigyou_Ayakashi lets out an unnatural chuckle. Saigyou_Ayakashi:. "What is so interesting about one that lives from two absurdities?" Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. I think you may have answered your own question, or perhaps it is merely your actions~ Xiangdeng_Tiandao:. Next time we meet, however, you will have a choice to make. How this all ends will be up to you. Mercy is a luxury, and not one that can always be afforded~ Xiangdeng_Tiandao waves a languid farewell, before disappearing into a vanishing point, seeming to quickly float ever further away, until it becomes little more than a speck against the fast-darkening sky. A single, faint shockwave spreads across the sky as it vanishes, leaving everything oddly... still. --	Xiangdeng_Tiandao (CalmRiverperspective.of.reality) has Left #Mound_Of_Stillness (~) Marisa_Kirisame:. "Ya ready ta give up, or do ya want round 2?" Marisa calls out, having deceletated to a more reasonable speed, her mini-hakkero recharged and ready to continue the spellcard. Saigyou_Ayakashi merely seems to look on at Tiandao as it leaves, thinking about the alien memories it has about that one mysterious being. "A choice" it said, well, perhaps it was quit obvious what that choice would be, however, Ayakashi was all aware that it was a headstrong and self-proclaimed idiot. Saigyou_Ayakashi knew that the choice would be about stopping its assimilation of souls and merely accept that the cycle of life and suffering was mere "normality". But even then... was it going to bend? In its current state, ironically, it wasn't composed enough to think about it all properly. Saigyou_Ayakashi however could not ignore the witch which had come back... but it had little to no strength for a fight. Saigyou_Ayakashi seems to give a glare at Marisa before turning away and simply... sinking into the tree. At the same time, the entirety of the souls that had been "borrowed" fall back down into the bodies, and... everyone wakes up. The youkai, the animals, the humans, they all regain consciousness. Koishi_Komeiji:. "Uhooooh!" Koishi claps excitedly as she sees the resulting scene, "You did it Marisa! You beat tree!" >Ambiance<:. Every living being that has been just released from Ayakashi's grip seems to check their bodies and see if they're really whole. There is an entire sense of sleepiness that still permeates their thoughts, but the mere fact of moving about and being alive seems strange to them... Marisa_Kirisame cancels her spellcard... and immediately slumps down, exhausted, as that last spellcard took most of her remaining energy to use. "Heh, I guess we did." >Ambiance<:. They are all unaware exactly of what has happened, and why they're even here. Has Ayakashi perhaps fiddled with their memories? As the animals disperse and youkai go back to their own homes, the humans linger on, wondering where they could have ended up. The air of stillness that still surrounds the place makes them feel at east amongst the youkai, but it still isn't suffcient enough to blot out their worry about their current plight. Marisa_Kirisame takes a second to recompose herself and flies down to above the small crowd, and yells, "Hey! Are and of you folks hurt?" >Ambiance<:. As some of them look up at Marisa though and wave to her, asking the witch what she's doing, some sakura petals grow again on the tree and, in a number that is around ten per people, the petals defy physics and manage to scoop the humans up. Slowly, they are floated back in the direction of what seems to be the Human Village. Koishi_Komeiji starts to float about, waving to everyone else who cared to look at her, though her existence would no doubt be forgotten by them once more. Marisa_Kirisame seems a bit taken aback that the humans are being ferried back to the village by the evil tree, but keeps an eye on them, ocasionally telling people everything is fine. Koishi_Komeiji:. "I wonder what's happened to tree now," Koishi wonders aloud. Without much warning she drifts over to the cherry blossom tree and gives it another brief, experimental poke. >Ambiance<:. Nothing seems to happen. Koishi can feel the stillness within the tree transfer into her body like a current of electricity, but the Ayakashi just can't be bothered doing anything more than taking a break and resting. Marisa_Kirisame comes back after seeing the humans look to be safely on their way to the village. Koishi_Komeiji:. "Muu.." Koishi seems to give an expression of disappointment. "I hope you'll learn to be a good guy after this," she half chides, giving the bark one last prod in reprimand. Marisa_Kirisame:. "Probably won't expect it to, but I guess I should tell Reimu about it later" Marisa shrugs. "Maybe she can seal it or something. Not my area of expertise." Koishi_Komeiji:. "Hmm..." Koishi stares at the tree, then turns back to Marisa, "what do we do now, Marisa?" Marisa_Kirisame:. "I dunno, we beat it, so I guess that should be good enough for now..." Koishi_Komeiji stares blankly at Marisa before shaking her head profusely. "Oh! We have to get a sunflower for sis!" She exclaims after a moment, "I almost forgot, too...!" Saigyou_Ayakashi is now known as Ayakashi|Gardening Marisa_Kirisame:. "Oh, right! Perhaps we should wait a bit, though? I don't think I could survive an encounter with Yuuka in this state..." Koishi_Komeiji nods slowly, "then uh, should we go back to Chireiden?" Marisa_Kirisame:. "Nah, that'll take too long. How about we run down to my house and have some tea?" Marisa_Kirisame:. "Or the village, if ya wanna see that." Koishi_Komeiji:. "Oohh..." Koishi widens her eyes, then nods repeatedly in an almost silly fashion, "I've never been to your house before! How's it like?" Marisa_Kirisame:. "Ah... it's a bit of a mess!" Koishi_Komeiji:. "I don't mind!" Koishi replies eagerly, "besides, there isn't a place to stay in the village, right?" Marisa_Kirisame:. "Nah, but I guess we could have eaten out in town, or something." Marisa_Kirisame:. (Maybe those humans we just saved would be pretty eager to give us some free grub) Koishi_Komeiji:. "Well uh...You can decide for us then!" Marisa_Kirisame:. "Bah, let's go out for a day on the town! I think we deserve it after that fight! Wahaha!" Koishi_Komeiji:. "Alrighty!" Marisa_Kirisame:. "Alright, I'll lead the way then!" Marisa says, going in the direction that the humans from earlier were carried off.