SERIOUS - DemonBeast and SandFlame Chronicles: CHAPTER II (Open: To ONLY Nikz and Cryptic)

[DEMONBEAST]

The sky was streaked with fire as the sun set, casting a warm, golden glow over the sea and into the training facility aboard Kiana's ship.  She had spent a great deal of time and resources, building an obstacle training course designed to help one see with every sense but their eyes. Her forge had not gotten so much activity in quite a long time and the course had been more effective than she had hoped. Now Satoshi had arrived at the final form of training.  He was battling a live, skilled warrior with a well-honed blade - and even with his own equally sharp instruments of death, had to overcome every reservation of holding back.  The golden light of the setting sun streamed into the windows, bathing the fighters and the dojo in golden light. The whispers and crashes of steel on steel echoed softly over the empty sea.

Kiana winces as she jumped backward, the tip of steel barely grazing her bare abdomen. Moments later, tiny trickles of crimson sprouted from she shallow cut. She was breathing hard now - Satoshi's progress was rapid - stunningly so. She licked her lip, satisfied by how far he had come in such a short amount of time.  It was so difficult at first, as he learned to trust his other senses - even then she was hard on him.  He did not have the time to be coddled. It took some time to convince him to not hold back, to not fear harming her, to tap into the rage and to only perceive her as an opponent. Once he overcame this, he progressed quickly. She returned his blades and their training battles had gotten progressively more aggressive.
 
She wiped the blood from her abdomen with satisfaction. She was covered in cuts from their day of training.  She was clad in a grey short sleeveless shirt that stopped at the top of her ribcage and loose-fitting black pants.  Each garment sported its share of small cuts or slight gashes, the worst of which was the strap of her shirt being cut away on one side. It was better for him that he could not see the fruits of this particular battle - his shyness and concern would certainly get the better of him. She enjoyed the dedicated ferocity behind his attacks and perhaps not being able to see her was what allowed him to not hold back. She was eye to eye with the green-eyed Beast - his sightless condition never tempering his ferocity.

Sweat dripped down her shoulders and glistened slightly on her forehead and collarbones. She snarled as her gaze met her opponent. Her dark hair was tossed to one side and a bit messy, but she was still composed, bringing her katana to perry yet another vicious blow. Something about this environment was so natural and pleasing to her that despite her disheveled condition she possessed a beautiful, ethereal glow. She was focused, but her eyes were a tranquil, deep blue rather than their usual demonic glow.  She never used her heat ability in his training, since it would only be useful for fighting her, specifically. She held back a whimper as the blade tip ever so slightly impacted the delicate skin of her lip, leaving the tiniest scratch. The slight pain was invigorating, even pleasurable - he was finally out for blood.

Her luminous azure oculars glimmered with amusement as she stabilized her stance and began her attack with an upward oblique angle guiding her katana, pressing the deadly force of her left shoulder and abdominal obliques into it.  The sound of steel on steel was more delicious than usual, giving her pleasant shivers - the sweet reward of a worthy opponent. It was nice to feel challenged again - her breath was ragged - it actually felt good to battle without her fruit abilities. This was a feeling of rare freedom to get to work on her raw technique while helping to improve his. She could keep up with him, barely.  Her skills were formidable and top tier, but his were among the very best in the world and it was humbling and rare to cross blades with world-class talent. This reminded her why she asked Anubis for his assistance in hunting the minerals for the perfect blade - her weapons were custom built for skills like his.

She watched the precision, elegance, and power in his movements - a blacksmith can only hope their blades end up in such masterful hands.  She probably should have been blindfolded too - since she would catch herself admiring his movements, almost forgetting to defend herself against his beautifully executed attacks. Even the small slashes she received from the blade at the last moment were more likely to inspire groans of pleasure rather than pain. She had never been on on the receiving end of his technique - so alluring - she had never been more attracted to the swordsman than she was now - as he tried to end her in a flurry of steel and blood. She was holding that blade and watching carefully, waiting for the next gift of steel and beauty to ring against her own katana. She could almost feel a radiant anger, slowly being unleashed and directed at her - a slight smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she welcomed a new challenge.

[SANDFLAME]

Kiya's eyes glimmered as she peered into the abyss, watching glimmering flecks of gilded sand surface.  It was hard to tell where the sand began.  She glanced at the yonkou, seeing the gold-lust in his eyes. She recognized that he could see the potentially endless potential of these vast riches.  She could also see that the historic value of the place was lost in the hungry blue eyes of the yonkou. She wasn't sure what motivated him at times.  He criticized her constantly while only knowing half the story.  He never had to worry about obscurity.

It was the notion of accomplishment that drove her - the ability to live outside of identity she had been given - being the child of some greater accomplishment, protected and held prisoner like a piece of glass. It was why she worked so hard to learn about everything in her industry, why she slaughtered her potential opponents and why she secretly she sent her father away on a prolonged "absence" - to have an opportunity to to accomplish something and her own slice of immortality.  So far no one had noticed - no one had suspected or challenged her, bathed in flame and in possession of the same talents as her father, she maintained the illusion and only the yonkou knew her identity but even he never know the truth of what truly happened to the original Flamecloak.  

The yonkou - a member of a dynastic monarchy would never know what it was like to fall into obscurity.  Even if he was ostracized or had a failing rule, his name would transcend the ages, long after his lifetime - whatever his motivation to acquire this gold, to achieve greater influence, she would never know or even understand - she just knew his ambitions were something else, something foreign. She cloaked her own ruthlessness in innocence as she watched her new ally with eyes of puzzlement and distrust. Her pale green eyes never missed anything as they flickered from the yonkou to the steady stream of golden sand.  They may have an alliance now but she could see in those cold, calculating, and beautiful blue eyes that he would force her out at the first opportunity, claiming this legendary prize for himself. It made her shudder, partially with dread, but mostly -- excitement.

[[Demonbeast]]

Aboard as the battle waged between the two , there was no lingering thought inside Satoshis mind, however , before todays training began, Satoshi did wonder if he should take it easy on Kiana, after all she had worked tirelessly with him, training him day after day trying to hone his senses, he himself was shocked at the progress he had made without his sight, Satoshi had clawed his way back into form, it wasnt at all easy, the training for this was brutal, he felt sore on his body from the previous days. But now was no longer the time to wait and see, Satoshi had made a conceited effort, he was going to try it while blind, he had no choice especially with the fight coming soon. When the battle first started, Kiana had tested his basics, he matched each strike rather easily using his base senses, feeling the air around, the sound of her steel and feet moving. It was all so fine tuned to the point where he could now block basic strikes, but as usual, Kiana increased the pace, and Satoshi followed, the pace increased and became harder discerning her movement and positioning. Satoshi had to spin more than once, using 47 Ronin defensive technique more than once.
Satoshi slid back as she had hit him with a offensive vertical slash. Satoshi was now getting more and more foward with his attacks.

Satoshi was beginning to lose himself with the brutality he was feeling, because he had lost his sight, he could no longer see the person in front of him, he simply now saw Nightingale, he saw Nightingale threaten to harm Kiana, he only saw the frustration of that lost fight, he only saw his father in front of him now. Satoshis breathing had calmed as he began to growl, twirling the god of cloud, a gleaming white katana in his right hand, and in his left hand, a pure katana with a golden hilt, the god of lightning. He was now breathing steadily, his aura intensifying, the katana were no longer simply katana, they were extensions of his arms, they were his claws. Satoshi began lunging foward with vertical strikes, brutally slicing downwards and then upwards in quick motion. The beast inside him was now awakening slowly, it was time to fuel it.

[[Sandflame]]

Anubis waited, he had waited patiently, the time for waiting was about to end. Anubis stepped up from his seat of sand collecting the sand in the area, he had decided as to how he was going to go about this. It was simple to him after all, he only had to claim this island, and subjugate all who oppose him. That was all he needed to do and he would have all this fabled treasure, treasure most rare in this huge world. Anubis grinned to himself as he walked past Kiya "Ive had enough of skulking around in caves for a lifetime.... im going up to the surface , the truce is over, now its time to see if they can actually make me feel something....."


[[In the forest]]

The bounty hunters were running through the area heading for their ship, but one by one they were being hunted down. One of the bounty hunter tried to hide behind a rock breathing heavily he looked back. He had heard some of the veteran commanders had been hunted down in the forest. Something ominous hanged around here. The bounty hunter pulled out his rifle and aimed but could see nothing, he heard creeping, the sound of sleek metal around the area. The bounty hunter roared as he could see the corpses of his squad in the area "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU!!!!" Suddenly he felt a tugging around his neck, strangling him and dragging him into the abyss of death. A girl dropped to the floor, sporting a tattered suit wearing gloves. The girl adjusted her glasses which look like they had been through hell as she looked to the side , she wondered where her boss was, she had to get Lady Kiya even if it meant decimating these bounty hunters, she hoped that the purple claded swordsman who had beaten her earlier was still around, there was a score on that end to settle along with the rescue of her employer.

[[Ariel Greaves]]
[[Flamecloak Security Head]]

[[WOG]]

At the table there were worried faces all around. Eagle sighed as he tapped the desk. Cassandra looked pissed , Owl looked annoyed. And why would they, of the forces they brought along with them, within one week about twice those numbers had dropped thanks to guerilla warfare within the forest and also due to Ibis's betrayal which caused the death of countless officers. Cassandra aka The Hawk , then spoke "Of the original commissioned officers, the remainder is as follows, Me, Owl, Eagle, Falcon, Nightingale and Hummingbird. The rest have all been killed. Two of them was killed by this mysterious marauder, and the rest you have heard by now.... as per rules, Falcon will take the place of Ibis and gain control of your own unit. You hear that Nightingale?? We cannot risk losing officers so openly like this, we need everyone to fight the yonkou, his power is astronomical not to mention there is a possibility that flamecloak is still around as well with god knows what up his sleeve!!!" Eagle sighed as he looked down, it wasnt Anubis killing their officers right now, so who could it be? Was it the Lightning Beast? Perhaps he had recovered? No it couldnt be, Nightingale had reported that he had removed Lightning Beast Satoshi Miroku from the field for a while. So who was it then?.

[[In the middle of the island within the temple of the ruins]]

Nightingale was polishing his blade as he sat listening to the Den Den Mushi, he heard Hawks voice through the device but simply lifted his blade to feel its weight "No im not coming back Hawk... you knew this right? Im staying here, right here, im not interested in the yonkou or flamecloak or whatever it is you are after, i just want Miroku, i just want the head of the lightning beast, the rest is all shit to me, ive been awaiting this duel ..... no one will take it from me... you got that......." It was a scary aura, the animals around the ruins could feel the shivers of terror emitting from this man. It was so sharp and so suttle, it wasnt overwhelming, it was the kind that would slit your throat from behind and then stab you. Nightingales presence was starting to frighten even the man sitting next to him "ummm... well dont worry Lady Hawk.. ill bring him back ... somehow....." Hawk then continued "Listen another thing Nightingale... Pelican and Lark were killed, by the looks of his corpse, it was not Satoshi who did it... it was the Blacksmith, the Demon Blacksmith killed Pelican and Lark, so be wary of her as well understood?!" Nightingale then grinned in satisfaction "The woman.... good .. good, her presence here will make the Beast more sharp, more deadly, and if she interferes in our duel, ill kill her where she stands and parade her head in front of the lightning beast, it will be sure to give me the fight i deserve, so that when i win and take his title, there will be no question that i won while the lightning beast was giving it his all!!!!!!"

[DEMONBEAST]

For a while the slender blacksmith kept pace with the recovering swordsman.  She had kept one arm tucked behind her back, allowing her to quickly and silently turn to the side, disappearing from his frontal box of attack.  This trick worked briefly until he learned to really listened to the information his surroundings were giving him - the vibrations of her feet on the dojo's floor, the turbulent swirls of air from an unmet slash bouncing off the walls, her elevated exhales - he even noticed those slight hesitations when she would get distracted by the beauty of his movements and he wasn't afraid to take advantage of those brief moments of lost focus, of weakness.  He probably though she was showing him a moment of mercy to land a slash now and again - thankfully he could not see the look on her face, a mixture of admiration, pride, and ... hunger.

His slashes became more insistent, more powerful and daring in their ferocity. She had to take a second blade now and was still barely able to keep up with this new intensity. Something was different, she could tell in his relentless barrage of attacks that he was no longer holding back - more than once her blade came up at the last second to prevent her head from leaving her body.  He no longer saw or sensed her, he was somewhere else, fighting someone else.  Really, it was all she could hope for as dangerous as it was - she needed him to push his potential without worrying about her safety.  She knew he outmatched her at his peak - but since he always held back slightly, he never really got to practice with it - which was unacceptable.  At last she saw a beast rising, sword in hand and she would do nothing to discourage that, even if it killed her.  

She may not survive this training but she would die having seen a magnificent creature rise to greatness in the face of adversity - and would see one of her blades in the hands of a master.  it was a good death but she needed to live to see that Nightingale creature on the ground, in a puddle of his own blood, watching as the last flicker of light disappeared from those cold, dead, black eyes of his.

For now, she needed to survive this training.  He was getting close no not only beating her but killing her if his current attacks met their trajectory.  There was no way she could avoid those vicious downward slices.  She brought her blade up to meet every slash.  The power behind those slices was intense, jarring her entire frame, with every one she intercepted. She needed to keep this up so his ferocity could fully emerge.  She rapidly brought her blade up in a crossed x formation to catch his blades on the downswing, attempting to trap them momentarily as she rapidly increased the angle of the cross. Her foot comes up, hitting him squarely in the chest, kicking him away as she pulled herself and her blades backward.

Her breathing was swift and ragged now.  She moved to the side, gaining a brief reprieve from the devastation that was about to be unleashed as his anger continued to grow.  There was little place for her to go as, during the last barrage, he almost completely cornered her.  The far wall of the dojo was not far behind her. He had gotten very good at finding her when she moved away which was great for his training but also kept her on her toes. As he approached her, she crossed her blades over her chest like a mummy before rapidly opening them in opposite arcing forward crescent slices at her approaching enemy.  It was very very a risky move - if her blades failed to connect, her arms would be open wide, holding the blades to her sides and her entire body wide open from head to toe.




[SANDFLAME]

Kiya looked sincerely sad when Anubis proposed leaving the caves containing the legendary treasure.  She could spend a years exploring, studying, and appreciating the wonders of these caverns.  She wanted so much to be excited - and she was- but the excitement was tempered with dread because she knew should could never trust the Yonkou.  He would probably never trust her either and she couldn't really blame him.  One doesn't get to be a Yonkou by being and overly-trusting doe-eyed idiot. She respected him well enough but she'd never tell him that.  He was too insufferable and obnoxious to be worthy of that knowledge.

Her dread grew further when he mentioned a dissolved alliance.  So quickly betrayed!  Her eyes were wide for a moment and flames trickled down her shoulders, an involuntary defensive reaction that she hadn't learned to control. After a moment, she realized that Anubis meant his truce with this bird creatures was over, not the one with her empire.  The flames that flickered over her frame gently died away as the immediate threat dissipated. She quirks a brow at Anubis, rather hoping he hadn't noticed her random combustion when she assumed he was about to attack her over the gold. "So soon. I do hope our understanding is more long-lived than this one.  Though you aren't wrong to want to leave this place and attack.  Only idiots would stay in a cave after their enemy possesses their position.  There is no doubt they are regrouping to come after both of our heads again and I have no intention of giving them that opportunity or pleasure. If we didn't have those feathered clowns to worry about, I'd offer to make you ... feel something ... as punishment for the transgressions of your venomous tongue. Double cross me and I'll have your pretty royal pelt over my fireplace, dearest Yonkou."

[Demonbeast]

Satoshi staggered back the kick making the connection as he took the blow and had to alter his position. At his current mode the kick simply heightened the beast inside him, made it more feral , more angry and filled with rage. Satoshi lunged foward with each strike being met till he had somehow cornered her. To Satoshi in his current form, the beast inside him had cornered Kiana, it was almost something organic, something natural and carnivorous, a sense we get from birth that we share with animals. The ability to hunt.

Satoshi sized up his blades as Kiana had taken some sort of stance, obviously without his sight he did not know what kind of stance Kiana was taking however from the noise the steel of her blade made and the movement of her feet shifting along with the contractions of her muscles gave away that her attack was to come from a vertical crescent angle from the mid section. At this point Satoshi countered each strike using the breath of the beast, weaving his body and blade to parry and dodge and weave past Kianas defences. Satoshi then lunged, the predator had found its prey, his blade had found a spot where he could cause the most damage. The beast roared as it lunged the blade foward using Bolt his god of lightning blade swiftly moved upward, the blade about to connect with the tender vulnerable neck of Kiana.

As the beast closed in for the kill, within himself Satoshi was realizing the rage he was in, he was trying to understand it during the course of this spar with Kiana. Satoshi in the deep recesses of his own mind was trying to grasp the idea behind his beast mode. Simply put when entering a humans peak, if one dedicates himself completely to focus, to only destroying the opponent in front of them, then it would be possible to gain a higher plane of ability like the beast mode. He had so much pent up fury and anger inside of him that it channeled into his blade. Even Satoshi didnt understand why he felt so angry, but he knew he had to concentrate it with each strike, the only way he was going to beat nighingale was if he brought out his feral nature in a concentrated manner. He wasnt messing around anymore, this was not a game , at least that wasnt how Satoshi was meant to treat this sword fight. It was now a death match, a battle of the best, a title he didnt really take too much pride in until this last week.

Satoshis blade stopped at Kianas neck, poking and grazing Kiana's skin at the neck as his breathing returns to normal. Satoshi stepped up, his blade still at Kianas neck her body firmly against the wall. "Kiana san... thank you.... im fighting form now thanks to you..... i dont know how i can ever....." Satoshi was panting, he had been training hard over a week now, it was tiring stuff, he didnt even realise his yukata had dropped to his waist in the middle of this battle. The sweat drenching his back and his chest as it trickles down his face.


[[Sandflame]]

Anubis made his way to the entrance of the cave. It was quite interesting how Anubis was so enamored by this treasure earlier on, and now he was willing to leave it. Anubis knew the reason why he wanted to leave the cave. In truth it was a feeling that he got from these bounty hunters. Insects they may be, but not without strength and talents. Anubis could find some level of empathy with these bounty hunters, they were trying to catch him, so that they could make a name for themselves, they had ambition to go after the best. This was all traits he found noteworthy in challengers. Anubis climbed out and placed his foot on the grass, the sand forming at his feet. He looked back at Kiya "The same stands for you, betray me and there isnt a ocean big enough to protect you from the suffering i can incur on others, but im sure we havent reached that stage yet. It is too early to talk about betrayal when we still havent left this island yet." Anubis was now forming sand in his hand and surrounding him like a veil of protection. In a distance he could here some rustling as up in the trees a girl perched watching over them. The girl jumped down, her gloves bloodied and her suit looking tattered along with bandages on her body. The girl kneeled before Kiya "Lady flamecloak, i apologize for my delay, i was injured in a battle......" Anubis chuckled, this must be Ariel Greaves, Hibiki mentioned her in a few reports before Anubis had agreed to meet with the flamecloaks. Ariel was also a former bounty hunter.

"Impressive, you fought on your own in this forest for a week against half an army of trained bounty hunters? You should consider joining my crew girl, im far more suited for your skills then just some mineral trade." Anubis laughed saying this , he knew that Kiya would get more furious, but since when has that been a factor in him saying anything.

Ariel simply shook her head "Im afraid i will not be doing so Yonkou Anubis. My employer is Lady Kiya/ Flamecloak, and hence i will serve my employer alone. Only she possesses the will to decide my fate and i will protect her till she decides i am of no use to her...." Ariel looked at Kiya, something was different about her, very different, it was as if she had grown with power in the cave. What was it that made her so?

[DEMONBEAST]

Kiana's eyes narrowed as he staggered backward from the kick that had been harder than she intended, watching the rage in him grow even more.  It was getting more dangerous for her, espically since she wasn't using her ability - but none of that mattered.  She needed to antagonize the feral beast so he could get the training he truly needed to defeat his adversary.  Time was growing short and so she fought harder, her own ferocity surfacing as she lived in the thrill of matching blades with the best skill she had ever experienced. For the fist time in a while she felt very alive.

He had steadily been driving her backward with hungry fierce attacks, his breathing and the wild look on his face told her everything.  He craved and yearned for bloodshed and she was the target - the prey.  She held him off as best she could, meeting every slash but the intense shock of the strikes always drove her foot backward to stabilized her stance.  Her eyes were starting to glow slightly as the spar turned into battling off a very real threat to her life.  At last he was where he needed to be.  Her last attack that was risky, but had a high probability of confusing him as her blades went swiftly in opposite directions from each other. This was read with stunning accuracy and the dual attack that came next shattered her defenses.  She exhaled sharply as his God of Lightning, with speed like she's never seen, bypassed her defenses and found the most vulnerable part of her flesh.

As the cool steel pressed against her neck and she stared into the soul of a true monster who she barely recognized at the moment - the hilts of her two treasured katana slipped from her fingers, clattering to the ground. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as a ragged breaths escaped her lips.  She would never treat her blades this way ordinarily, but in this moment, it didn't matter. They had trained all day and now as the sun was setting he had finally bested her. She pushed him hard, never yielding a inch.  Her blade skills were formidable but no match for his beast form. She remained unmoving as she gazed at him with curiosity, not fear, despite the blade still resting on her neck, the wicked edge she had honed herself, earlier that day, ever so slightly slid against the tender skin of her neck as tiny trickles of crimson ran over the blade for the shallow, harmless cut. A soft, breathy whisper escaped her lips "Satoshi ..."

It had been a privilege watch him blossom so quickly in the face of such extreme adversity.  They had been through so much together and had grown so strong - she still remembered running into him quite by accident on that beach - it seemed like so long ago. Several times she even thought she lost him forever but they always managed to survive and find each other again. She knew she would not have come this far without him and so she could not leave him now.  She would spill every drop of her blood if she had to - to make sure he was perfectly trained and prepared to destroy the monster who did this to him and after he defeated him, he could then thank him for making him that much stronger and that much more deserving of his rank.

She was still in awe over his unlikely progress and the elegance he still managed. Never had she heard of a sightless swordsman but she never once lost confidence in his ability of overcome anything - she had seen too much to believe anything in the world could stop this beast.  Just watching him made her feel odd things and even as she stood there with the blade on her neck, she was still affected. Something about his skills made her blood run hot and his current close proximity and his fallen yukata wasn't helping matters. Her eyes briefly wandered over his well-trained bare abdomen, glistening with sweat. Was there nothing about him that wasn't perfect and tempting? What had gotten into her? Her breath was slowing but her heart rate was still increasing as his warm breath danced over her skin.  Her hands slowly moved to untie the black silk blindfold covering his eyes. The fabric fluttered to the floor, landing on one of her discarded blades. It had been too long since she saw those intense green eyes.

Pinned there with a blade against her neck, having witnessed a move of stunning skill she never would have even thought possible, triggered something and she was unable to resist him further. Her hands moved to cradle his face. With her breath stable, her voice was low and inviting, she brushes her lips against his cheek and murmurs against his ear. "I yield. You've won." Her hands slipped over his sweaty bare chest, her eyes reflecting a visceral hunger. His husky, battle-worn voice pushed her over the edge. "I do ..." Her lips slowly find his, unsure if his unleashed anger still stirred - but not really caring - it was worth the risk - she needed to taste his rage. She kissed him with a daring intensity, completely lacking the shy and apologetic innocence her kisses usually possessed - this time everything she always held back was released. While still kissing him with steadily increasing passion, her hands ran down his arms until she tugged insistently at his bare waist, fingernails slightly raking against his skin, pulling him roughly and firmly against her, effectively pinning herself against the wall with his frame and not really giving him time or option to protest. More than one beast had been awakened that day and she certainly wasn't finished with him. With any luck, there would be just enough ferocity left in him to meet this new challenge.

[SANDFLAME]

"I wouldn't accept any less of a threat from you, Yonkou. There is no forgiveness for betrayal - I hope even a pirate can appreciate that."  She had come to recognize to look of desire in his eyes from their several encounters with gold within the caves.  She was reluctant to leave but his distraction and eagerness to leave the riches behind did not escape her notice, particularly when she could see that hunger on his face.  She wasn't sure what he was after - spilled blood was too simple and too common, and simple revenge was to petty to drive him away from such a vast discovery.  There was something - or someone out there he viewed as an acquisition and a challenge and whatever it was was attractive enough to draw him away from the boundless potential of the cavern's riches.

As they exited the sandy, subterranean labyrinth, a familiar form staggered up, looking worse for wear.  She shook her head as Ariel kneeled before her.  "How many times must I ask you not to kneel?  I appreciate your loyalty but I'm not bloody royalty and am not worthy of such a gesture of submission. Furthermore you are in need of medical attention.  I can cauterize your wounds for now - please remain silent concerning what you have seen here."  She shot Anubis a look as he actually propositioned the girl to join his crew. She narrowed her eyes for a moment before bursting into laughter.  

"You are too much!  You really do view absolutely everyone and every talent as property to acquire, don't you? Ariel knows I don't have her chained, she can come and go as she wishes - I only require her silence regarding anything she has seen or done. She found me, I did not seek her out - I merely decided she was too good to pass up.  If she had a desire to join you, she would have come you your doorstep rather than mine - you are wise to recognize her talents - but even those pale in comparison to her loyalty.  I would not trade this prized loyalty for all of the wealth beneath our feet.  Riches can be taken from you but loyalty can only be surrendered, my dear prince. I only hope you heed how seriously I adhere to this."

She turns her attention back to Ariel, examining the girl with fresh appreciation.  She knew how valuable the girl was but now she had something the Yonkou wanted.  While she would never trade the girl for anything and would, indeed, let her come and go as she pleased, she enjoyed knowing she had something the Yonkou wanted and something that he could not just take. The girl would die before she broke, even if he did take her by force, he would never have her loyalty. She smiled as she approached the girl, invading her personal space. "You may go to him, if it is what you desire, I'm sure he would appreciate someone who seems to enjoy kneeling.  I will always have need of you but you are not my possession, Ariel." She steps still closer to the girl. "Now - please hold still - this will hurt but do not be afraid."  Flames danced in Kiyas eyes as she prepared to seal the girls wounds in flame so they would not become infected.  She trusted the girl with the knowledge of her new power - and something about the Yonkou made her worry about him less than before.  She did not believe he would hostage her guarded secrets - not now, anyway. For to moment she tried to remain focused, her powers were still new and unfamiliar - any slip up would leave her with a cooked Ariel.

[[Demonbeast]]

Satoshis rage was still lingering from the beast mode even now as he came back to some form of normalcy. He felt Kiana move, her hands moving to his blindfold. Satoshi began to wonder what was going on as he panted normally, his body was raging inside still from the beast mode as Kiana removed his blindfold and and then moved to his face as he remained still. HIs heart thumping even harder as she moved and brushed against his cheek. Her aroma intoxicating to him, making him lust and hunger for her. He even growled as she yielded to him and as she began to kiss him he too returned in kind, the feral nature in him simply wanted her now, wanted to make her his, to claim her. Satoshi didnt know what to do, he simply kissed her and felt her hands moving on him as he to pressed onto her, his sword now dropping between them. He pinned her against the wall as he began to devour her, his yukata dropping further past his waist as he slowly pulled apart her clothing, it was easier since he felt the clothing had been partially torn. Due to his blindness the sensation of her kissing him had heightened his sense of taste , smell and feel making it twice as amazing. He firmly lifted her up to kiss her further, their lips never once parting, his body was on fire, it was like nothing he felt before, this passion that burned inside him. He remained standing as a bastion, cradling her , lifting her with his arms and pressing her against the wall as he felt his way around her body.

He was completely and hopelessly aroused now, there was no going back from this and Satoshi knew it, even he could not have fathom they would become this when they met on that island so long ago. Satoshi hesitated before entering Kiana , his body against hers on the wall as he let out a hungry growl against her ears, the hot air fleeting past her ear lobes. He then slowly moved his hips upwards , letting out a soft howl as he did, in complete ecstasy now.

[[Sandflame]]
Anubis watched Kiya cauterize the girls wounds. Ariel was grimacing as Kiya closed up her wounds "Apologies Lady Kiya... i will be sure not to do it again in the future.... and i would not want to leave your side boss, i will stay as long as you would have me." Ariel got up as Kiya sealed her wounds, it hurt a bit, but after a while it was like a warm glow had entered her body. Ariel smiled at Kiya , she had come to respect and somewhat become attached to Kiya, it was something she could not herself understand even if she wanted to. Ariel was worried at how Anubis would react to the rejection, if he suddenly became hostile towards Lady Kiya, Ariel would stand in and protect her by whatever means necessary.

To her shock however Anubis chuckled loudly. Anubis himself was now laughing loudly in the forest as he walked foward "AHAHAHAAHA, amusing, your so very amusing, loyalty in itself is a given. Loyalty is sworn upon service, and those who lack loyalty die like dogs, that is all there is to it. Her loyalty makes me want her in my group more, but i suppose these things take time, and in time all things will become mine.. it is not a premonition, it is a natural occurrence like the sky being blue or the sun shining, in the end i will have all things, even loyalty!!!" Anubis calmed himself , Kiya had managed to make him lose his calm slightly but he shrugged it off and moved forward "It matters not for now...." Anubis suddenly thought about loyalty, there had been those who betrayed him in the past but he had disposed of them as if they never existed. There had been those who died, like Spade... who had showed him loyalty to the bitter end. And then there had been those who have seen him at his worst, like Satoshi, Ryan and Maxulus, even Zalton, though Zalton was more of a maverick before anything else. Anubis's mind wandered to his crew. Johan , Hibiki, Alfresco, Tanith, Lucas and the others must be awaiting his arrival. Anubis raised his palm to the sky "Im going to clear a path through the forest, perhaps you might want to join me oh noble lady of the people."

[DEMONBEAST]

Kiana's eyes flare into a gentle blue glow, as he growled at her - pleased the feral beast that possessed him had not melted away.  She snarled softly, her competitive nature only prompting her to challenge his aggression more to keep this illusive savage side of him surfaced for as long as possible. She suspected and feared her attentions would make the timid shy part of him return, particularly since she had been so overtly predatory - she was worried that she may have frightened him. She had always been the aggressive one and always felt guilty for pushing his comfort zone. This time the battle, the intensity, her admiration of his skill, the excitement of being so near death drove her to unapologetically take something she's always wanted but could never identify.

Kiana's eyes went wide, as quite unexpectedly, instead of shyly pushing her away after a moment like he usually did, he returned her kiss with a matching intensity and delicious savagery that took her breath away. An intense warmth seized her body as she shivered - how could someone so shy have such alluring potential? Reality seemed to blur as she barely noticed the echoing clatter of yet another precious katana hitting the ground. She groaned pleasurably as her back roughly hit the wall, her eyes flickered with vicious antagonism as her hands found their way through the silver white tresses of his hair, tugging slightly. She would have never imagined being so rough with him before, he was too innocent and gentle - but now that he was uncaged, her wild demonic side was set free to truly taste and even challenge him. She growled assertively against his mouth as he lifted her, the soft skin of her back scraping against the wall.  

Just when she though he'd reached his limit, his intensity increased still more, his mouth possessing her as his hands explored without restraint. Gasping with surprise and pleasure, her own appetite for his flesh grew more urgent and pleading and her legs looped around his hips for stability as she remained tightly pressed against the wall.  A cool breeze washed over her as she noticed the tattered scraps of fabric that now littered the floor as though they had endured an attack by a pack of tigers - she barely noticed their violent removal as the taste and scent of him dominated her attentions. She closed her eyes, drinking in the delicious sensations as her arms slipped around him pulling his bare skin more tightly against hers.

Her lips find their way to the side of his neck, her warm breath and hungry nips leaving fiery sensations in their wake and slightly torn skin on his shoulder. Something changed as he growled at her again - her eyes opened, a whimper escapes her lips as her bites and nips suddenly halted. She was definitely surprised but far from resistant as she leaned into the warm breath against her ears, her fingernails slowly raking down his back has he claimed her entirely. Her breath was shaky and pleading as she whispered against his neck, "Satoshi ... " Her hands slowly made their way back to his chest before coming up to cradle his face again. Her lips met his softly at first, the tenderness slowly melting into an acute hunger that demanded more.

[SANDFLAME]

Kiya eyes Anubis, knowing by his laughter than his next outburst should provide some obnoxious, quality entertainment - and he did not disappoint. "Loyalty is never a given - loyalty most be through trust and unwavering confidence in a mutual goal. It is quite rare as most people can be purchased and will sell out to the highest bidder. I'm not sure you know the difference because you frequently happen to be the highest bidder - but it is very adorable that you believe loyalty floats toward you like an unspoken law of nature, Anubis I'm truly touched - and I hate to reveal this - I just don't want to see you get your sadly little heart broken."
The Yonkou has a way of bringing out the worst in her - the snarky spoiled brat she thought she left behind years ago, though, ironically it was a similar quality in him that infuriated her so much. Though, she did indulge a sporting good time in antagonizing him for her own amusement. It was satisfying to see the self-serving, narcissistic lord of his "eventual" kingdom lose his cool.

"It seems that she doesn't like you very much - I can't imagine why. Perhaps when I die, she will get to see the opportunity she is throwing away right now. Enjoy your sunny blue skies, Yonkou, but keep your sandy paws off of my turf." She never seemed to notice how worked up she got - it was like fighting with a very annoying sibling that she never had ... nor wanted. He wasn't really unpleasant company - at least he offered a rare challenge rather than groveling. A part of her would miss their verbal sparring when they went their separate was but for now she would have her fun with harassing the spoiled little prince who, within bothersome circumstances she was forced to tolerate.

She did feel a bit bad since he seemed unusually upset over something so small ... as if something deeper than an abstraction weighed upon his mind - but something about him simply would not allow her to stop wicked things from spilling out of her mouth to provoke him - he was a magnet to the worst side of her, even when she meant to be helpful, it always came out as ridicule and antagonism. "Accompany you, sweet prince? Are you sure you would not like for us to carry you along on a royal litter? All things become yours, after all. I should warn you not to bother with me unless you fancy sleeping with on eye open."

[[Demonbeast]]

Satoshis agression matched Kianas hunger as he felt her rake into his back again and whisper his name. He didnt know why he was like this suddenly, but at the same time, he didnt regret his current actions, in his heart he knew he loved Kiana, he knew it for a while now, it was something he was struggling everyday to keep in him , and now in this state he finally acted upon his animal nature, he had given into his desire completely.

As Kiana said his name he reached up and kissed her again , with as much hunger and ferocity as before. He had this moment, this wonderful moment, even in this place where he lost his sight. Satoshi kept his intensity, the heat of his body matching against Kianas , his breath raspy and hungry. HIs body was aching and at the same time was filled with intense pleasure. He wasnt letting Kiana rest at all, he wasnt letting up on his viciousness. It was almost unforgiving . Satoshi continued to growl and groan as he grit his teeth.


[[Sandflame]]

Anubis again chuckled as Kiya spoke, as she talked about whether or not to accompany him, he had already made his giant sand blades appear from the side, it resonated with the sand all around as Satoshi lifted his hands up "GRANDE SPADA!!!!!" He fired both huge blades of sand which cut through the forest almost devastatingly, creating a open spot from here to the beach side of the forest, Anubis had destroyed a straight path of trees that stood between them and the shore as Anubis's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Anubis walked foward, he had heard what Kiya saying , but at the same time, right now wasnt the time to banter with her, now was the time to act. Anubis held his arms outwards a veil of sand forming to protect him from any harm as Anubis walked foward through the newly created pathway , he was now looking to end this battle on the beach side where no one could run or hide and where his power was at its highest.

Ariel watched the two of them fight and simply elected to not say anything. She knew her place in this conversation, when dealing with two extremely strong personalities, the best thing is to say nothing and keep out of it. As soon as Anubis cleared part of the forest Ariel had to admit to herself that she was impressed with the yonkous prowess. It was clear to her that he was strong, but it was more than strength, it was more than mere power, it was his cunning and intelligence that set him apart, he was alot like her mistress Kiya, but of course there were differences between them. Ariel followed beside Kiya keeping a look out.

[[WOG]]

As the Wings of glory rested they suddenly heard a startling noise, it was a huge explosion coming from the eastern Beach side. It seems a huge part of the forest was cut down suddenly. Eagle sighed "Looks like the week truce is over..... i suppose the time limit ended just an hour ago... Cassandra senpai?" Hawk steadied the ship , steering it to the Eastern side "Set up the cannons and the men, we are going to focus all our forces onto Anubis and whoever might be with him, Owl, Eagle, both of you on standby. Falcon you will have to scout them and put them down when we signal you understood? For now begin launching suppressing fire onto the beach, it wont stop Anubis, but lets hope he slows down, send the other two ships to starboard, i want them to flank our ships in assault of the beach!! Move now!!" The bounty hunters began moving as Eagle stood up "Now..... lets hope Nightingale can get the job done and we can call it a clean sweep to home...."

[DEMONBEAST]

Kiana was pleasantly surprised by Satoshi's intensity - before she had always been shocked if he ever even touched her on purpose but this was something else - it felt like something that had always been held back being unleashed. His ferocity could not have been more perfect - she craved to experience the wilder side of him -the rest of the world faded and there was nothing left but Satoshi. She returned his aggression, almost like a delicious battle - her trained muscular frame receiving battle wounds of his insistent fingers, sure to leave fingertip-shaped bruises - as her claws shredded at his flesh, and her mouth peppered his shoulders with bites - always growling and antagonizing him more. Her lips nipped softly at his earlobe, warm breath enveloping his neck - her voice was low, dark and challenging, "Do you surrender?"

Ferocity had always been part of her nature and it came easy for her - she fed on his brutality, her hunger only growing more but his unexpected savagery was outmatching her own, much to her delight. She tightened her grip and begged for more each time her back violently slammed into the wall - her blue eyes were glazed with ecstasy. The pleasure that came with his attentions was beyond imagination, negating any pain completely - it was something she would never tire of. He had no idea what he had just unleashed - she would be tempted to attack him if he stopped to soon - or ever. He belonged to her now - in a way that even his highest loyalty could never possess.

Despite her ferocity, the swordsman was unyielding and merciless - she was soon reduced to quivers and sighs, softly crying out for him as her bites turned to kisses and soft fingertips raked through his hair. Her eyes lost their fierce glow and softened to a tranquil blue, though her hands still tugged at him insistently, not wishing for his ruthless enthusiasm to diminish. Her hunger remained but the fight had been drained from her, replaced with the intense adoration she always felt for him. It had always frightened and consumed her, never sure if he would have to leave one day. Now he knew, unmistakably, that she belonged to him. Her affections may have escaped her lips in a soft murmur before the tamed blacksmith kisses him again with a softer intensity than before, tasting the sweet temptation of pure animal rage.

[SANDFLAME]

Kiya narrowed her eyes. Ally than bastard every id was laugh at her as though she were an amusing child. She always took the edge off of the burn by fantasizing about him ... about chaining his wrists to the wall of that cave and slowly carving the mark of her flag on his precious royal flesh and fining with a gash the would sill the contents of his abdomen in a bloody lass at his feet. It was a satisfying thought, although part of her fighting with him a little more than she should.

Her eyes flicked up at the defoliated devastation left in the wake of the yonkou's power. She watched him careful, observing the well-practiced measured control that surged through him when the sand was at his disposal. She still struggled to control her now powers and it would take much practice because it would become an extension of her being as it seemed to be for Anubis. She very much wanted to ask the fellow logia many questions about using his power but her pride prevented it. She didn't need anything for the likes of him. He would enjoy seeing her humbled before him a bit more than she could stand so she elected to figure things out for herself.

Fire gleamed in Kiya's eyes as they observed the new path. She was ready to end this annoyance and go back to her work. Too much time had been lost - and although the reward underground was vast, she hated having loose ends looming in her territory. Those bird bastards had to go. She could since rising aggression in the yonkou - a very distinctive hunger. She wasn't sure what his plan for them was, but she had no use for mercy - she would stain the beaches with their blood and feathers if it were left to her exclusively. It seemed prudent gather his intentions before her blood lust got the better of her. "Yonkou - do you want these bastards alive or shall we dine upon barbecued fowl this evening?" She eyed Ariel, amused that the girl would slaughter anyone as she saw fit - as the yonkou's desires meant nothing to her. Most of what attracted her to the girl was her fiercely defiant nature - it was an odd pair with her extreme loyalty - and above all, Anubis could not have her.

[[Demonbeast]]

Satoshi howled as Kiana whispered into his ear, every time she spoke he felt like going stronger or harder, he could feel her biting and clawing like a wild animal on his back and his neck, the two of them really did seem like monsters the way they were doing it. It was savage and yet so very satisfying between the two of them.

He refused to surrender this stance, he didn't pull back or falter, instead he just kept going, his mind feeling empty , nearly nothing but animalistic pleasure existed his thoughts right now. He grunted and howled , stabbing deep into her each time like a sword thrusting into matter. He kept stabbing away, keeping himself in rhytm against Kianas body, his body weight firmly against her against the wall, her legs firmly around him still , refusing to let go as they engulfed themselves in this fantastical turmoil of each other.

As she softened her fingers through his hair and kissed his neck, he grew even more aggressive taking the full lead, dominating over her, he felt so close to nirvana now it was getting absurd. what could possibly satiate this beast, what could possibly restrain his thirst and hunger for anything and everything it could feel and touch. Its need to smite its enemies and its need to dominate its desires.


[[WOG and Sandflame]]

The assault had began, the cannons fired in groups, the first volley heading straight for Anubis , Kiya and her valet. Anubis immediately created a veil of sand that cut and stopped the cannons in their tracks as Anubis trudged foward. Anubis walked constantly blocking and cutting down cannons or simply dissipating them upon contact. Anubis then turned back to look at Kiya "Well try not to kill them, i would like to have a word with them anyway.... if you cant restrain yourself, feel free to do as you please" Anubis twirled his hand , sending a sand blade straight at the ships to destroy it.

However before he could reach the ship, a huge silver slab formed slowing down and blocking the sand blade. Looking up was a huge bird carrying a woman who was forming the silvery substance from her hands. The woman then dropped off from her silver bird, absorbing the bird back into her hand as she landed before Anubis. "Good day Yonkou Anubis Nefertiti... im here for your head...."

[[Cassandra Cortez "Hawk"]]
[[Top leader of Wings of Glory]]

Cassandra stood up , her clothing was somewhat less regal than Anubis's , she wore a brown looking coat, along with a red bandana. Anubis watched her carefully as she paced "Interesting woman ... you dare to stand to me one on one, that takes courage of some level...." Cassandra formed the silvery substance from her hand "I want to thank you for helping us with our vermin problem, the fool was traitorous shit head, but he was our traitorous shit head and i know you had no obligation to help those who hunt you... so i want to thank you before we begin this...." Anubis grinned "Now now, i was amused by all that, it was a lovely piece of entertainment... besides, now once you fall to me, you will have no complaints about the manner of your defeat, hahaha" CAssandra then lunged a huge harpoon made of the silver looking substance "Your every bit as arrogant as im lead to believe it would seem" Anubis flickered his arm creating a huge blade of sand sending it flying towards the harpoon "Oh.. this is only the beggin..." As the blade and harpoon clashed with each other, the harpoon instantly cleaved its way through the sand blade, whizzing past Anubis and creating a huge crater some distance behind him. Anubis immediately looked up as Cassandra smiled "I am the Hawk... and i will end your reign today!!!"


Meanwhile , as Kiya and Ariel stood watching, a sudden spurt of speed came from the side as the man with the curly hair known as Gold Eagle came flying in to their right, immediately he wasted no time and launched a huge golden fist aimed at smashing Kiya and Ariel to bits. Eagle roared as he lunged his attack. He wanted to give these people as merciful a death as possible after they had helped him. Eagles punch however was met by a stumbling force, it was a net of wiring spreading wide, holding his fist in place just inches away from Kiya and Ariel. Ariel was now on one knee restraining this mans huge golden fist, it was incredibly powerful and she could feel that the man didnt have any malice behind his heavy strike, she held the fist back. "LADY KIYA please let me deal with him!!" Ariel wanted Lady Kiya to be as safe as possible, she didnt want Lady Kiya to be harmed in any way, especially since her power was new to her and these men were clearly very well trained.

[DEMONBEAST]

Kiana's body was pleasantly covered in the bruises of insistent fingertips along her back, thighs, and abdomen - her back arched, pressing her stomach against his, luxuriating in the feel of his skin. Her fingers were covered in the blood from Satoshi's well-clawed back - she nibbled crimson honey away from each fingertip as it tasted of sweat, battles, and desire. Her foot strayed, running slowly up the back of his leg, almost playful before returning to wrap around his hip. Every violent stab was agony and ecstasy and she forever pleaded for more. Her back was sore and bleeding from the friction of the rough wall - it only encouraged her to crave him more, ever antagonizing rougher treatment. Her body was well trained to endure violence and she had hungered for him too long not to be brutally satisfied. Only her swordsman could bring her this much pleasure from battle.

His increased aggression only sparked her enthusiasm and hunger more. Her competitive fury resurfaced and the fire returned to her eyes - it was like a battle between a tiger and a dragon. She clawed him with greater ferocity - she would sincerely enjoy repairing these wounds later. Her warm breath pulsed rhythmically against his neck as she whimpered and growled against his skin -  his name left her lips with greater frequency and urgency.  Her teeth close gently around his lower lip, tugging slightly - antagonizing him further before kissing him with ferocity, peppered with bites - her power slightly slipping beyond her control as her kisses were laced with heat and fire - not enough to severely burn-  yet steam flickered from her skin and enveloped them. Hot fingers traced fiery circles over his chest as she growled at him. As soon as her power was forced away, her fingers became frigid - icy fingertips then trailed down his spine, as cold thumb danced over his lips before a fiery mouth found them again - savage and probing. Their current engagement carried all of the delicious danger of battle with twice the reward.

Somewhere between ecstasy and exhaustion, sleep found them.  No one could say how long the ferocious interlude lasted - it seemed almost like a dream in her half conscious state.  Little slivers of reality tugged at her senses in the morning hours - the smell of sweat and dried blood, the familiar metallic smell of her dojo, the tantalizing, familiar scent of a particular untamed creature ... her eyes fluttered open slightly to discovered the accurate source of every scent.  She gasped, surprised to discovered her head resting against Satoshi's chest, with an arm lazily draped across his abdomen.  Is she need any further affirmation that the previous day had not been a dream, every movement she made was accompanied with a soreness specifying fond memories of prior activities. Even the fingertip-shaped bruises had a story to tell.  Her face reddened when she caught sight of the nearby mass of shredded fabric.  

She watched him briefly, fascinated by how peaceful he looked now.  Now a single shred of the monster he had become was evident on his innocent sleeping face. She brushed a tuft of wild hair away and lightly kissed his forehead. It took a great deal of restrain to not curl up against his chest to sleep again. The previous night had been the most restful sleep she could remember - possibly from exhaustion, or possibly contentment. For now, she examined the damage she had inflicted upon the swordsman's skin - it was extensive and quite savage.  Very slowly and carefully, superheated lips traced along the cuts on his skin, sealing the wounds in puffs of vapor and completed with fire-laden kisses. She tried not to wake him us as she no longer trusted herself around him ... not like this. She would have to take care of the gashes on his back later. Satisfied with her work, she curled up, resting her cheek against his chest - rhythmic heartbeats tempting her back toward sleep, though she reluctantly resisted.

[SANDFLAME]

Kiya narrows her eyes at the Yonkou's comment. Restrain herself indeed.  "Are you implying I have no self control?  If I kill them it is precisely because I meant to! You're even bothersome when we have mutual goals!" She bristled as Cassandra harkened her arrival with a decapitation threat. Her green eyes leveled at the creature, but this battle was not her own.  It was still rather infuriating that this bird dared interrupted her argument with the Yonkou to start a new, more trivial one.  Part of Kiya was consumed with an irrational jealousy as the yonkou was her verbal opponent and she had never really been good at sharing - not even things she despised. She would take great pleasure in seeing a sandy end of that awful bird.

For the moment, her attention shifted.  A large golden object eclipsed the light for a moment.  Kiya watched it carefully as she felt the foreign power stirring in her frame.  Even though she was not adept at using them, the fruit always granted the user an instinctive line of defense. Her senses were heightened and the more seemed to course through her without her bidding.  She worked to calm chaotic stirring as she consolidate, channeled and attempted to tame it.

Wings of flame formed carefully, arcing over her head, more pronounced and better formed than the previous time, she hovered slightly over Ariel and the nest of wires that captured the fist.  Inhaling deeply, flame danced from her lips during her prolonged exhale coating the wires in an exothermic embrace that would heighten their deadly potency be would not harm their maker.  Her wings began to fold into a perfect cylinder, flames slowly rotating skyward and still studded with thousands of tiny red hot barbs. She backed out of the cylinder, unscathed as she traversed the flames, leaving Ariel safely enfolded. Since she exited the back of the cylinder at a much higher altitude, she was perched above Eagle in her decent.  

Flame began to drip downward from her hands like rain and just when it fell low enough, she pulled her power from the cylinder and refocused it in the downward surge of flamed aimed at Eagle. The rain became a sheet of flame descending as she fell, only halting the deluge when she had fallen too far and the flames engulfed her reforming into wings to break her conflict with gravity before the ground did.  She could only begin a new drain on her power but the previous activity had to fuel it and so she was forced to daisy-chain her activities until she figured out how to focus her concentration on two places at once. She wasn't sure if her blasts of flame found their mark before her wings saved her but for now she made her way back to where she'd left Ariel.

[[Demonbeast]]

Satoshi felt Kiana feel such satisfaction, and that only made him more enthralled and more vicious with her. He was determined not to lose or give in as he felt her fingertips on his spine making him shudder as he continued to move with purpose and intensity. Her smell was the one thing driving him absolutely crazy, his bodys lust had completely lost its bearings and he had to have her. Satoshi eventually went over board while harshly thrusting and eventually fell to exhaustion his lips firmly entangled with Kianas.

Satoshi awoke feeling something heavy on his chest, he felt her breathing and realised it was Kiana laying on him, he lay back and took a huge breath of air. What did he do? Did he actually go through with his inner lust? What was he thinking? Surely Kiana would think less of him now that he took advantage of her? But wasnt she into it as well? Satoshis mind was filled with thoughts, but then suddenly a calm grew  within him, none of it really mattered. The truth is, he really did care for Kiana, and he really did want her badly, at least before this fight started he had made his feelings clear for her, his inner viciousness must have surely done things aggressively and Satoshi hoped he had not hurt her. He felt his wounds from yesterday patched up, it must have been Kiana who had done so. As usual she knew how to handle him and his numerous injuries. Satoshi got up slowly placing both his palms behind him. Softly picking up Kiana from the floor. His back was hurting but it wasnt anything too severe, thankfully. He carried and placed Kiana on the bench near the edge of the dojo, stroking her hair as he placed her down, he turned to his clothing to get dressed, starting with his undergarments and his yukata shorts, he tied the band around his waist tightly, his back facing Kiana as he picked up his swords, placing them back within their sheaths once again. Satoshi vision was still not back, and yet that did not matter. He had spent so long training with Kiana and yesterdays sensual experience had only sharpened his senses further.  He was prepared as he got ready to put on the top of his yukata.

[[Sandflame vs WOG]]

Ariel slid across as Lady Kiya had begun her attack firstly protecting her from the golden fists breaking through and then blanketing the enemy with rain of fire. It was almost fitting , the ability of Lady Kiya, her wings majestically fluttering in the sky. It was menacing and yet somewhat graceful as well, her cylinder of fire which was now protecting her was equally impressive, and her control over her power was almost natural for a first time user. Ariel then twisted some wire at her feet, forming something.

Eagle suddenly saw the cylinder of flame and dragged his arm out of the wires , he pulled back as soon as he saw Kiya above him, launching a blanket of fire from the sky. That was not good news at all. It seemed the woman was quite skilled as well. Eagle pressed back, his arm was getting too heavy to lug around it would seem. He crunched his teeth together as he returned to his regular form, he then increased his speed the space behind his feet resonating "GOLD GALLOP!!!" He lunged reaching the exterior of the range of Kiyas attack barely, his clothing nearly engulfed by the flames.Eagle would have to use his power sparingly , it was too heavy to face an enemy like this, if he was going to use his power he would have to go into full mode. Slowly he grew, he grew large and golden, his entire body made of gold as a light shined from his body. He stood before Kiya and Ariels position lifting his arm up and thrusting it foward, the shockwave was immense and was aimed straight for Kiyas position as she tried to go back to Ariel. Eagle wasnt going to let her get away that easy.

[DEAMONBEAST]

Kiana was some what perplexed as she was removed from his frame and deposited elsewhere like a common barnacle, scraped from the underside of a ship. He did handle her gently and pet her like an obediently little kitten - but was it so easy for him to brush her aside without a word? Had he forgotten the monster she truly was? Kiana had given him her trust, her admiration, her adoration - and something she had hidden and protected from all of the world. He had seen a side of her no one in the world knew existed, and she herself, was surprised by. If he discarded her, there would never be another. She had never been the sort of creature to settle for less than she wanted and she certainly wasn't the sort to be discarded. Nobody puts Kiana on a bench in the corner.

Kiana did attempt to dress - but considering the torn and tattered mess Satoshi left her clothing in  - the work of his sword and his hands - there was little point.  The best she could do at the moment was to tie the largest pieces she could find in strategic positions to maintain some level of decency. Her body was covered in cuts a bruises  - more damage from the second battle than the first. She made her way over to the swordsman, her eyes flickering with fresh fire. Her footsteps were silent but purposeful  She saw the shedded mess her eager fingernails left his back in.  Deep, oblique tracks, etched in blood covered his back like a blooding map.

"Did you really think cast me away and leave me on the bench, Mirokou?"

Kiana was facing his back in close proximity, her warm breath danced against his skin before her blazing hot fingers slowly traced along the cuts on hos back she missed while he was sleeping.  The last cut along the side of his neck - the deepest - was completed with fire-laden lips. The scent of his skin was a temptation she restraining herself from with great difficulty. She stepped around him until she stood in front of him.  Reaching around his frame, she pulled the rest of his yukata up from behind, standing on her toes as her cheek lightly brushed against his, while she pulled it over his shoulders. She lightly pressed her lips to his cheek in a fashion much more familiar than previously. Her fingertips wandered down his chest brushed over the blades at his hips - a dangerous gesture indeed.

"I would offer to sharpen these but..."  Her fingertips found the cut that remained at her own throat, dried blood flaking into her hand bringing memories that caused warmth to rise in her cheeks. "... the edge is still most deadly - as are your renewed skills.  You have done well."

[SANDFLAME]

Kiya stopped her trajectory upon turning and nothing that her rain of fire had been less than successful upon her opponent.  She could see that he was measuring her endurance.  She had hoped that it wasn't obvious how new her powers were.  The shock wave was unexpected and first began and impact her wingtips at which point she abandoned them entirely, dropping harshly to the ground, scraping a knee slightly upon impact.

A circular wall of flame formed around her pulsing ever outward driving anything back. She finally began to recognize the fire as an extension of her being.  She could sent the location of the Eagle through the flame.  Carefully she tugged it back like a curtain, allowing it to surround him harmlessly before closing up behind him to include him in her circle of flame.  She approached him determinedly.  Her reformed wings were folded at her back looking something like a cloak.  Her pale green eyes danced with infinite mischief and the arrogance she inherited from her father.  She stopped a breath away from Eagle's face, as a smirk tugged at her lips.  "You know, little birdie, if you didn't want me to leave - you should have said so."  

She could feel the flame rising in the back of her mouth, ready to deliver a devastating dragon's breath.  It seemed when she was least sure of what to do, the fruit always wanted to protect its host by triggering instinct, but she pushed it back, choosing not to let the fire spill from her mouth.   Not only was she enjoying the challenge and the opportunity to practice her knew skill, she was also curious. "So what's this about, anyway?  I am certain we are not acquainted and I'd rather like to know what you are attempting bring about my ... gilded demise."

[[Demonbeast]]

Satoshi slightly gasped as Kiana traced her warm fingertips across his cut laden back. He had wanted those wounds to heal over time, especially since some of them were a result of his and Kianas tussle last night. However he didnt resist Kiana who moved on his back to his neck which had also had a cut on it. He remained steady as Kiana moved to the front and dragged the rest of his yukata over his back and onto his shoulders. Her sensual fingertips moving across his chest as she kissed him on the cheek. He smiled lightly as he then said "I didnt mean to leave you on the bench, but i thought you would benefit from some good sleep there... while i go out to fight..... im sorry if i offended you Kiana... also your right... the swords have been well taken care of in your hands of late. They are in prime condition for what i need to accomplish." Satoshi of course still couldnt see, but he knew Kianas body as he reached down along her hips, leaning over to kiss her before he left, his blades hilts pressing into kianas chest as he tried to kiss her gently. "I.... i wanted to go to the fight without you..... to keep you safe... but i can see that its pointless to try and stop you...... and i suppose that is alright....."


[[Sandflame vs WOG]]

Anubis and Cassandra's battle had reached a different part of the island already, it was large. Each of them throwing attack after attack at each other. Anubis standing in the sky upon his carpet of sand while Cassandra stood upon a giant bird made of hardened mercury. Cassandra dragged her hand forth launching harpoons of mercury at Anubis's sand blades, cutting them down one by one. Anubis glared with annoyance as his attacks were shot down. Cassandra manipulated more silver liquid from her hands. Anubis then spoke "This is pointless, your just throwing attacks to counter mine, i expect more from you than just your powers , show me more of what you can do!!!" Anubis threw his palms foward sending two gusts of compressed wind which he had been building in his hands, creating two tornados of sand sending them flying towards Cassandra. The area was now being covered in sand, with the group on the other end being able to tell the effects from a distance. On the Wings of Glory ship they began to panic "AHHHH DAMN IT HE CAN SUMMON TORNADOES?!!!!" One ship perished because it lingered to close to the sand storm, the ship was sent flying as the tornado encompassed the area near the sea dragging the ship onto the shore and ripping it apart. Cassandra's eyes tightened as she grew angry. She then slammed her palms into the sky towards the oncoming tornado , cracking her fingers "LAUS EXCIDIUM!!!" She began producing abnormal amounts of mercury in liquid form, it began forming into a giant waterfall, coating over Cassandra and her mercury bird, she then slammed her palm foward sending the huge mercury fountain into the oncoming tornado, dousing it before she cracked her fingers again, the mercury turned red as Anubis's eyes widened. Cassandra then crushed her fingers into a fist, causing a huge explosion in which Anubis immediately tried to take cover using a sand wall. The explosion destroyed everything in its path, Anubis was sent flying back as he remained on his sand carpet , his wall however was blown as he immediately used his veil of sand to protect himself. Anubis then stood up again. Cassandra was breathing heavily as she stood up on her mercurial bird, the explosion was devastating, the forest area which they were fighting in was reduced to red ash as Anubis took notice. Anubis then spoke "What...... is this..." Cassandra then looked up, "Red Mercury.... in the end, you will see what happens when you push a hawk too far...."

Meanwhile in the distance away from the huge fight taking place. The relatively unaffected area remained. Eagle had saw the destruction Cassandra had caused, it seemed she had used her red mercury technique. That technique was highly unstable, it also was highly toxic, the vapor that blast produced was poisonous and would engulf the air of that area soon enough. At least Cassandra had her wits about her to keep away from the shore and towards the uninhabited part of the island, still Anubis must have been really tough for her to pull out red mercury. Eagle then realized Kiya was enclosing on her. He remained steady as he felt the heat all around him eminating from his golden body. A gong sounding as he gleamed, the fire dancing in his reflection. Eagle looked at Kiya, it was almost like Buddha was facing a fire demon. "Like i said, i didnt want to fight you or Anubis , however as it stands he is quite a hefty prize that our captain wants, and you have links to another prize that we want to acquire as well... we had heard a rumour that Flame Cloak might be travelling with Anubis for whatever reason...... now it seems you are the link, once i grab you and bring you in, perhaps that will incite a response from Flame Cloak himself..... yet, we didnt expect you to be a logia...... it complicates things and makes this fight alot more unpleasant....." Eagle held his arm up, his huge body ready to strike.

Kiana was fully awake now, her eyes blazing with their characteristic fire. She shivered and leaned into his as his fingertips dance along he skin.  Feeling to cold and pleasant energy of his blade pressing against her chest brought her more comfort than his words. Keep her safe.  Did he know her at all?

"Satoshi -if you asked me to stay out of it, I would because it is your battle not mine - however if your reason it to keep me safe - I must decline."

She eyes began to glow slightly as her frustration rose. More than anything, his words dealt a blow of pain.  Did he think her inadequate and incapable of protecting herself?  She dragged him into danger but he wanted her to hide like a filthy coward when he did the same.  How insulting.

"If I wanted to avoid danger, I would not pursue my life's work of acquiring rare minerals from the most dangerous parts of the world and I CERTAINLY would not keep company with the first division commander of a bloody Yonkou.  I surrendered my life to my ambitions LONG before I met you, Swordsman. I know your skills are more formidable and just because I have more to live for and consider you to be worth dying for does NOT mean I wish to be protected. Fire coursed trough my veins well before that cursed fruit met my lips. You certainly didn't treat me with delicacy last night so don't you dare start now. If you want something to protect, you've got the wrong girl."

Kiana realized her temper had gotten the better of her.  She knew Satoshi meant well and only wanted the best for her.  His nature was so kind, pure, and rare that it was easy for her to interpret his kindness as an insinuation that he regarded her as weak. She had been worried the entire time she trained with him.  She wanted him to be stronger but every day she dreaded this day when he'd cast his life on the line to a power that had already gotten he better of him.  She was confident but it was still difficult to watch him go. Still, she couldn't let him go thinking she was angry with him. She grabbed his hand, tugging him back to her.  

"Forgive me.  I-I've forgotten how painful it is to feel. Why does it hurt so much?"  She kisses him slowly - apologetically, really. If he could see her, for the first time, he would see a vulnerability in her eyes. Now she was calm and tame - his own personal little ball of fire. "Remind him you are the best there has ever been. Come back to me, Satoshi. I'll have something waiting for you.  You'll never see me but I'll be watching over you, Swordsman ... my love."

((Demonbeast))

Satoshi felt bad that he had hurt her pride, he never meant to do it, but he really could not help himself. He loved her too much, if it was ever possible to love someone. He hadnt loved anyone this much, he respected Anubis and even to some extent revered his master, but he had such raw pure desire and care for Kiana to the point it almost blinded him to how she wanted to be treated sometimes. He could feel her temper flaring, her body was almost radiating heat through her frustration. He was about to leave, perhaps it would be better this way, that he left her hating him so she could be safe away from the danger his life has put her through many times during their journey together.

As Kiana then grabbed his hand before he could walk away , Satoshi turned around slowly and felt her opening and cooling down. She was so warm and so inviting. Satoshi turned as she spoke about how she felt. As he heard her words Satoshi felt his own heart feel warmth and love. He leaned into her and kissed her again with passion and every fiber of desire in his body. "I know... i know you will.... ill win... i never wanted to control you or keep you hidden... i just dont know what i would do if i was responsible for you getting hurt... like that time in Valhalla ((Satoshi and Kianas adventure in the underwater city where Kiana was captured by the monarch and Satoshi stormed the castle to try to save her, not realizing she got out already))"

Satoshi just held her for a while, almost too comfortable to try and leave, it was the kind of love and bliss that could keep him glued to that spot forever. But even he knew, there was a debt to be paid to the beast, it was a debt his love to Kiana could not withstand, until he settled it for the beast, for Kiana and for himself, he could not allow himself to feel this warmth. It was time to do battle. Satoshi walked away.

((In the forest, at the temples 30 minutes later))

Satoshi stepped foward, through the trees and through the shrubs and vines. He couldnt see, but he could feel everything around him. His swords attached to his waist as he walked foward. Satoshi silently approached as he felt the ominous presence of a killing presence. Satoshi gritted his teeth together as he stood back. If he could have seen he would have seen a purple cladded swordsman before him, now only wearing a tight singlet top and sweating across his body, his long gleaming blade so curved and so sharp being lifted pointing at Satoshi "You came!!! Im glad, i thought you were not going to come, but as they say, you are not without courage, even blind you still fight, ill welcome that courage!!!" Nightingale dropped , jumping past 5 steps onto the same level as Satoshi.

As soon as he landed however, Satoshi had dissapeared, as quick as lightning , Nightingale couldnt see him, till he noticed Satoshi was below him, his teeth clenched , his eyes unable to see, but his rage in his hands as he thrusted his sword hilt first into Nightingales jaw sending him flying into the ruins, crashing into stone wall , breaking past it causing debree to fly all over the place. Nightingale was in shock as he coughed out blood Satoshi walked straight, drawing his god of lightning blade and his god of cloud blades at once. His demeanour was one of a monstrous beast, untamed and uncontrollable. His rage was so present it was almost frightening. Nightingale then spat in annoyance "What the hell....." Satoshi lifted his blade "Shut your mouth... ill kill you for trying to cause harm to Kiana and i promise by the end of this , you will beg for your life......."

Kiana didn't really remember when he left , she had the vague memory of hearing the familiar sound of rustling steel as he moved - every sword had its own song and the particular sound of his blades had always had a pure and haunting resonance. Their tone assured her they were ready - she could always trust the song of steel; it could not lie. Her lips burned, reminding her of what she had become. The blacksmith wasn't the sort of creature you could kiss goodbye before leaving her in a safe place, sheltered from the world and consequences. She was a veritable arbiter of death with more blood on her soul than she'd dare count. This was all wrong.

Kiana's gaze was affixed upon her feet as hot water ran down her back - her super-heated skin causing some of the water to vaporize while the rest caused the blood of her wounds to pool at her feet before disappearing. Her eyes were pale blue, turbulent, and demonic now that he had gone, ironically possessing the appearance of shards of ice, displaced in the fiery turmoil of everything she had become. Everything had changed, making it that much more difficult to stay away.

Not bothering to dry off, she dressed simply in a black hakama and a short black band-top covering her chest and arms - long sleeves woven in a wrap pattern mimicking the wrap pattern of her katana's emaki wrapping. Her deep onyx hair was up, for once, secured with a steel cuff. Her pair of katana were secured at her hip when she finally emerged to the deck, regarding the nearby forest with freshly stirred ire.

She was angry at no one more than herself. She knew should could not match blades with that birdie bastard - she didn't even know what he had done to Satoshi to rob him of his sight. The last thing she needed to do was show up to give that flamboyant fallacious fiend an opportunity to use her life against Satoshi. She should be stronger than this - not a bloody liability. This was the new world now - go strong or go home.

She didn't remember grabbing them, but now she has a katana in each hands and was hacking away at the training course she had built for Satoshi. Training with him had the convenient side effect of improving her skills but it wasn't enough. She could never be in this awful position again. Her blades halted as something caught her eye ... the blindfold, discarded on the floor near the wall exactly where she had discarded it the day before. It was like the cocoon of a monster cast aside as it completed it's metamorphosis. A wisp of silk could cast her blue eyes into darkness ... she could lose herself training, but now wasn't the time. She needed to be strong today - but for now she needed to be vigilant. Already covered in sweat, she returned to the deck, her mind twisted in though as her eyes traced a particular path though the tragic woods.

[[Temple ruins]]

Nightingale stood up after nearly getting his head decked from his shoulders. He staggered as he noted Satoshis general disposition. It was not ideal. Satoshi stood firm and glared down his enemy.  He was enflammed with anger as he crossed his God of Lightning and God of Cloud blades together. With a flicker he slowly pounced onto Nightingale who had lifted his blade flicking it across to block, Satoshi however had added his full weight behind his strike and sent Nightingale flying back on his feet sliding. Satoshi's yukata was now wrapped on the waist down, his body radiating heat and steam, he had lowered his sword and lifted the other, before darting foward, the blades clashing against Nightingales long blade. Nightingale was gritting his teeth matching each stroke and each blow with speed and dligence as it was coming from multiple angles at him.

Nightingale was simply thinking how amazingly fast Satoshi was, it was impossible to keep him within the frame where he could draw up a strike. Somehow during the last few days Satoshi had trained and honed his skill to the point where he was at his optimum level. Satoshis mind was not filled with any thought at all, simply move, thrust , slice , parry . His mind was focusing on the kill and in fact most of his slices had been kill strikes at his opponent. Nighingale was hanging on, before he drew back panting as Satoshi had paused ready to go back into stance "YES, this was the 'Lightning Beast' i was waiting for, this is the one who had put fear into pirates and swordsmen across the grandline!!! Its no point killing you if you arent at your best" Nightingale flickered his blade, beggining to move in a weird formation, his blade emitting dangerous signals to Satoshi who again smelt something repugnant. It was this mans swords style that was causing him this effect.


Nightingale grinned as Satoshi paused, in a defensive stance " Yes, you get it dont you Satoshi senpai, my sword took your sight, it can affect your senses , make you weak and distracted. Even if you got your vision back, you can never truly see my blade can you, hahaha" Nightingale dashed foward, aiming for a broadstroke to the chest of Satoshi. Satoshi collected his thoughts, he had time to think about this and he had come to the conclusion just now. He lowered his blades and breath before activating Raijin Style ' Breath of Beast'. In a fluid movement he moved to the side  dodging the attack before wrapping his hand across his god of cloud sword flowing to the side and releasing his breath , his swords now slicing as he growled in determination " RAIJIN STYLE FANG VORTEX!!!!" With a flurry of sword moves Satoshi created a wind vaccuum of cuts from the force of his improved blades creating a mini vortex that flung Nightingale into the air and sent him crashing down nearby in a heap. Nightingale was shocked, no one had ever dodged his attack like that before. He staggered upwards "What..... .howww.... this is NOT HOW THINGS SHOULD BE!!!!"

Satoshi exhaled again, his body in finely tuned physical condition. Satoshi walks over to Nightingale who is in disbelief before saying " Your right, i cannot read your style , its effects are accurate and it robs people of their senses.... however, as a swordsman you should know, the "breath of the blade" is something all swords have, and once you have finally attuned yourself and accepted the way of the swordsmen, you will be able to hear the breathe of metal...." Satoshi almost might have smirked, it was something that Kiana had spoken to him off in the past although in a different context. Satoshi stood steady as Nightingale grit his teeth in frustration "NO, this is not how my story will end, i will restore my sword style.... ill kill you and take your head back as a trophy!!!!"

Satoshi drew his blades again as Nightingale took stance, both fighters charging at each other once again, this fight would draw to its conclusion very soon.

The morning had given way to early afternoon and a rain cloud settled over the island, offering a warm shower. Kiana had just finished cleaning her own blades before stepping out onto the deck, her face upturned to greet the rain as the droplets ran down her sweaty frame, rinsing away the sticky residue of her training. The saltiness stung her eyes a bit until it all washed away. She was wearing little more than a black bandage top around her upper rib cage and loose fitting black pants with enough volume to disguise her footwork, an ice blue sash about her waist. Blue sashes of silk wrapped around her arms and dangles slightly, their wispy, luminous quality almost mimicking steel, causing a visual misdirection for her opponents.

She fingers ran through her dripping black hair before twisting it into dragon knot and securing it with the steel awl she used for punching holes in sword belts. The tactile feeling of the rain, the steel, the fabric all seemed surreal and fleeting - Satoshi had left minutes ago or was it hours? She wasn't sure. It didn't matter - no matter what she could never interfere. Part of the burden of a swordsman with notoriety is constantly battling the trophy hunters who want the same, but ever battle must also be fought, in part, against one's self.

She had taken the time to warm up her body and prepare her blades for the day. She had her own battle to address - she felt the anticipation rising in her stomach as the tense vibrations of her thirsty blades called out to her while she affixed them to her hip. It was these moments she cherished most - the calm before the storm - the feeling of excitement and fear - the fear of never being able to complete her life's work, and partially worrying about that damn swordsman - but this was the only thing that made her feel alive and nothing less would do. She was born to live in pure fire.

She slid her scythe into the oblique, custom belt that ran diagonally across her back and she leapt down from the deck. The higher elevation of the ship's mooring allowed a vantage over the ancient remains of the forgotten temple. A flicker of silver caught here eye - followed by a flurry of sparks among raindrops. Deadly, but beautiful - dedication to ones true potential is the highest form of living.

Soft, careful footfalls disturb the grass, attempting to be muffled by the sound of the rain. She breathes deeply, moving her arms up as if to stretch. Deft fingers wrap around the awl securing her hair pulling it free as she turns and releases it in one fluid motion. Metal sings through the air before finding its mark in soft flesh before striking dense wood on the other side, embedding there. Her eyes survey the area as she makes her way to her target. The awl pinned the figure to the tree by the neck, missing his trachea by a fraction of an inch. The dark, masked creature flails in shock for a moment before getting a blunt elbow to the face. Kiana seizes the hilt of the awl, as hands come up to seize her.

"I wouldn't. All I have to do is depress this button to release the spires, which will pierce your trachea, giving you the rare opportunity to drown in your own blood while overlooking the sea. What with this stupid mask?" She pulled a small dagger from her arm wrappings and sliced ear to ear before a perpendicular slice from forehead to chin. Pleased with her uncharacteristically bloodless precision, she peels back the mask to reveal a face she's seen before. "YOU again?!" Annoyed, brings the blade back up, delivering a cruel slash on the cheek. "Oops."


He growls while trying not to move while in the custody of this obvious sociopath - his hand slowly and carefully moves toward the blade at his hip. His eyes widen as she followed the movement of his hand with the dagger she just cut him with, slamming the blade through his palm and into the tree. He roars in agony as the pain finally registers through the panic. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, YOU CRAZY BITCH?!"

Kiana's hand is still on the death switch of the awl pinning his neck. "I DID warn you not to move. Now why the hell are you birdy bastards following us - aside from that shitty trophy hunter down there - I find it difficult to believe he has all of you following him on a quest for his own ego. What do you really want?"

He eyed her with disgust spitting at her, saliva laced with blood that quickly disappeared under the falling rain, unlike the heave streams that ran freely from his neck and hand. "It doesn't concern you - and you won't live long enough when your silver boy down there dies ... soon." His smirk turned into a chuckle tat partially ended with a cough, bringing up more blood.

Kiana elbow came down hard against his face, adding his nose to the steady supply bloodletting wounds. "...Come what may, if I die in battle, so be it - it will be a finer passing than bleeding to death while pinned to a tree. Now if you have no useful information, I've run out of time to play." Her face darkens as her free hand move toward the hilt of one of her katanas.

Satoshi clutches his blades as he twirls his body into a foward strike, masterfully striking from below , his opponent flickering his blade to parry the strike as he moves back. His appearance was ragged and furious while Satoshi took up his blades and returned to his stance. He closed his eyes again and focused on the feeling of the enemies steel, listening to 'breath of the blade' before clashing blades again with his stunned opponent. Nightingale increased the intensity of his slices, his sword cleanly striking at kill spots along the body before being blocked and parried by Satoshis blades. Nightingale was in disbelief "This is impossible, how?!! How did you regain your sight and learn to avoid my blade?!!!!" Satoshi exhaled again before landing another strike from the side cutting into Nightingales shoulder making it bleed as he stepped forward.


[[Last night]]
Satoshi had prepared to move away, as he sat up after the conversation he and Kiana had. Little by little, the colors have been returning, he hadnt fully recovered his sight, but it was slowly all coming back to him. Satoshi had no idea how it was possible, perhaps it came from recovering or rediscovering his swords. He had been blinded by Nightingale not but a few days ago, he was worried that his sight might never return to him, but perhaps his recent training with Kiana over the last few days have not only sharpened his innate senses , but also caused his sight to steadily return. Satoshi however stopped himself and sat down cross legged at the entrance, meditating. He realised that he had been too over reliant on his sight, and that was what gave power to Nightingale in the first place. All his training with Kiana had been in preparation for this moment. He had learnt so much about blades, and about the "breathe of blades", it wasn't an exact science, in fact it was a gamble and not something he would use lightly.


[[Present time Ruins]]
Satoshi dropped sword strike, moving forward his steps making his sword flicker in the lighting of the ruins, he began connecting strikes as the intensity increased. Satoshi dashed foward, his vision focusing as he draws his blades, flickering the blade in a 90 degree ang;e. hitting another cut as
Nightingale sank to his knees, blood spraying from his chest as Satoshi steadied himself.

The rain played against the steel changing the lighting and sounds as it insulated the environment with its density. The ruins were visible from Kiana's vantage but the steam had settled over the lower elevation, clouding the battleground slightly from her vantage. Only the flashes of steel could be seen through the fog, so bright as they reflected off of the tiny air born water crystals of fog, that they made it look like a lightning flashes within storm clouds below.

She could hear the singing of steel clearly - then a familiar, hollow sound. She knew that sound well - it was - the singing steel silenced by an abrupt connection with flash, cutting the note short. The hollowness was usually associated with the chest cavity - a flicker a worry took her by surprised before she remembered where she was - abruptly, painfully - she gasped as her eyes darted downward to see a blade stuck in her side.

Her eyes fall upon her victim who she still has successfully pinned to the tree. He has a slight smirk on his his face, looking not at Kiana, but behind her. She had been so distracted that someone had approached without her noticing. "Let him go. He's mine to kill." The footsteps become more rapid, the voice growing closer.

Without bothering to turn around, she pulls the awl from the side of the mans neck freeing him. She studies his face for a moment before determining he will be less useful than the one who's after him. Just as he starts to speak, she re-positions the awl in her hand and jams it squarely in the center of his throat, turning it a quarter turn to release the prongs. "I'm not feeling charitable today" His eyes widen and blood begins to pour from his through, he coughs helplessly, causing the blood to pour more readily. A voice still growing closer growls "No ... you'll die for this."

She finally turns toward the voice from behind. She pulls a blade from her side as she accesses the approaching figure. The blade embedded in her side is beginning to take it's toll. A slender man pulls a long two handed blade from a back scabbard. It had more range than her kitana - but seemed to be clumsily welded, relying upon its length and weight. A duel wield would deplete her stamina quickly with the wound but she had no choice at the moment.

Wearily she pulled her sythe from her back and she stepped away to to parry the blade coming toward her in a downward slice. Idiot. This person had been trained to let the sword do all of the work after penning his prey. He knew she had little room with the cliff to her back. She pushed back hard, wincing as more blood poured from her wound. She studied his movements as he moved toward her again, tacking a large lunge to the side, baiting his trajectory into a horizontal slash. She dropped her scythe as she rolled off to the side - barely in time evade the blade that had just connected with the side of the tree she had guided him toward. Now she was on her feet again, both hand one her kitana, she closed the distance and in one fluid motion before he could even remove his hands from the hilt of the blade. Her kitana met flesh, singing as it cleared its target.

She gasped again, falling to her knees as her eyes followed the disembodied head unceremoniously rolling off of the cliff in front of her. Her hands went to her side, where she found a throwing axe embedded. Her hands were now slippery with blood as she struggled to remove it... the pain was severe as she pulled it free ... tipping over as the whole world went black.

[[Temple ruins]]

Satoshi had heard the noise from afar as he turned realizing that he had no bearing as to where Kiana was, he had been too busy on his opponent that he wondered what the noise was all about. As he turned from his enemy, Nightingale with a gash of blood across his shoulder grit his teeth and grimaced in sheer anger and frustration. His mind running through the past where he had been training to become this swordsman, working and tiring away to become a weapon. To revive this sword style his family had failed to nurture. How he had to survive on the streets, hungry and in pain clutching to his family sword as he stole and murdered to get to the top. Nightingale grimaced in envy of Satoshi who to him had been the pinnacle of swordsmanship, the very notion of sword mastery. The goal was in front, Nightingale would do anything to attain it, and for that reason as Satoshis back was turned, for a brief second Nightingale took advantage, ignoring the blood spurting out of his shoulder, gripping his sword and striking it straight into Satoshis back, grinning evilly as he believed he had pierced SAtoshis heart. "HAHAHAHAA, I WIN SATOSHI!!! I WIN!!! NOW YOU WILL BE NOTHING IN HISTORY AND I WILL BE A LIVING LEGEND!!!!"

Satoshi coughed out blood not realising he had been pierced by the blade from behind, he stumbled with the sword firmly in his back. Satoshi grunted in pain as his eyes flared, the sword had missed his heart, he gripped the blade edge, his palm bleeding as he gripped the sword, pulling himself off the sword to Nightingales shock and disbelief. Satoshi turned to face Nightingale, with pity in his eyes. Satoshi shook his head " You are talented, a prodigy of this age.... but you simply do not understand the way of the blade and the way of one who wields the blade. You have used your sword purely as a tool of survival and murder..... you have never had a proper master to guide your hand...... for this i have begun to see, perhaps it is you who have been blind this whole time...."

Nightingale swarmed in anger charged at Satoshi with wrath and envy in his heart, the pure malice and hate he had grown up with all those years. His single minded hatred drawing him to try and force a stroke that would kill Satoshi once and for all. "SHUT UP AND DIE SATOSHIIIIIII!!!!!"

Satoshi again closed his eyes, he exhaled as he turned, pivoting as his blade clashed, using his god of cloud blade to block and as he twirled, he combined his god of lighting blade, combining the two , creating burst of speed as the wind turbulently trailed with his almighty sword strikes, sending Nightingale flinging into the air, his body covered in various cuts as Satoshi lands on his feet " Lighting Beast Style: Dancing Hurricane......"

As Nightingale fell to the floor covered in sword strikes across his body , blood spurting out , Satoshi exhaled standing up, clutching his chest. He looked behind at Nightingale who was in pain and profusely bleeding and grunting. Nightingale panted "Why..... why..... i........." Nightingale passed out as Satoshi sheathed both his blades " Maybe once you have learnt the real way of the sword, i shall accept your challenge again......" Satoshi began moving leaving Nightingale at the ruins, he had to find Kiana.