[BitP:R] Mortal World

[Moon Wolf]

Beck's eyes widened. She could feel a certain presence outside of the school. A hollow! Now there's one! Oh, crap. She got up and dashed out of the classroom. She followed her senses until at last she could see a gaping black hole torn in the air right across from her, with a hollow coming out of it...trying to swallow Souta's ghost.

[riccaru]

Beck's eyes widened. She could feel a certain presence outside of the school. A hollow! Now there's one! Oh, crap. She got up and dashed out of the classroom. She followed her senses until at last she could see a gaping black hole torn in the sky, with a hollow coming out of it...trying to swallow Souta's ghost.

Yoko looks up from her desk quickly Wonder who that could be...

Go find out, princess. The mortals won't dare stand in our way.

Eh, if you want to. I'm not very worried about it. Someone will take care of it eventually.

[Purple Rose]

[Takara]

Takara sits in her classroom, trying her best to pay attention to the teacher. She isn't sure why she is doing it. Not when she feels like there must be more interesting things going on elsewhere. In fact... She raises her hand.

Sorry Eri. I'm sure you are going to be angry, but...

[Kasanip]

[Erima]

"o-oi, Takara! What are you doing?" Erima asked with a concerned voice. Surely she wasn't going to just leave school now? Not after the catastrophe this morning, and getting her uniform dirty and everything. . .

[Purple Rose]

[Takara]

Takara waves her hand slightly.

"S-sensei... I don't... feel very good.... May I go to the nurse's office?"

She does an excellent job of looking absolutely dreadful. Almost green, really. She could vomit or pass out at any moment by the looks of things.

....

Yeah, she has had plenty of practice.

[Kasanip]

[Erima]
[A certain cute scarf]

" . . .

!!

Y-you planned this! That's why you said I was sick, so you can use such a sickness excuse! And if you're really sick, you better take me off!" Erima cried in silence. Not wanting to be sick, and not wanting to be in danger from Takara, yet helpless as a cute scarf who can only add charm. Such is the fate of a certain tsukumogami.


[Sayaka]

Quite dutifully, Sayaka went down the hallway towards the nurse's office. She had her own thoughts about what was happening. But now it was not a good time. She had a few talismans with her, but to place a seal now would only create a target. The new creatures she could guess what they were, but she couldn't fight them here. Not now.

She turned to look to see if Michiko was following.

[Kuroimaken]

Finishing up his cigarette, with the residue of energy dying down and reverting him back to his aged visage, it dawned on Hasunaga just how harsh he'd been on the poor ghost. He was, after all, one of his oldest acquaintances, and he was probably incredibly disoriented over the whole thing. He felt a little guilty about it, but he had to return to class.

I'll look for him later.

So he moved to get off the roof and return to class 2-3.

[Callos_DeTerran]

[Sayaka]

Quite dutifully, Sayaka went down the hallway towards the nurse's office. She had her own thoughts about what was happening. But now it was not a good time. She had a few talismans with her, but to place a seal now would only create a target. The new creatures she could guess what they were, but she couldn't fight them here. Not now.

She turned to look to see if Michiko was following.

Michiko

And as it turns out, she was. The distraction caused by the janitor and the...shrimp...things had been more then enough to lead the teacher out of the room and distract Beck long enough for Michiko to slip out un-noticed after Sayaka. There was too much going on in there, combined with the realization that Beck and, apparently, her teacher were just like her. What sort of school year was this turning into?

But she follows behind Sayaka silently, out in the open, though she quickens her pace until she's walking beside the shrine girl. Not that she seems especially thrilled to be there, but the delinquent doesn't look like she wants to cause trouble either.

"Are you really sick or am I taking the chance of getting into trouble for escorting you to the nurse's office for nothing?" She says abruptly, giving a long sigh before coughing once. Finally her eyes drift over to Sayaka, remaining fixed on the other girl while she waited for the other to speak up. At least Michiko's explanation made a little sense, she was on student council after all, and that meant trying to look after the other students in her class as well...sometimes anyway.

[Moon Wolf]

Beck planted her feet square on the ground, and she gripped the pentagram tightly. She had to deal with this quickly...and silently. She spoke to Gralster, seething quietly. Who do you think you are, showing up in a schoolyard like this? You have a lot of nerve, hollow.

[KnightDisciple]

Class 1-2

Kaito had watched with silent concern as Valeria ingested her pills, waving things off as just another "episode".

He was about to ask her if she was sure she was alright...

When a splitting headache came out of nowhere. He felt like someone was pounding a hammer on his temples.

He grasped his head with both hands, clenching his eyes shut as tears leaked out.

"Ow. Oh crap. That hurts. Ow."

He leans forward in his desk, still clutching his head.

[riccaru]

Class 1-2

Kaito had watched with silent concern as Valeria ingested her pills, waving things off as just another "episode".

He was about to ask her if she was sure she was alright...

When a splitting headache came out of nowhere. He felt like someone was pounding a hammer on his temples.

He grasped his head with both hands, clenching his eyes shut as tears leaked out.

"Ow. Oh crap. That hurts. Ow."

He leans forward in his desk, still clutching his head.

"It's about time someone noticed." She says, looking at Kaito as he breaks down.

Serves him right... The way he speaks to you. Insolent mortals.

Calm, please. He doesn't know his place... Yet.

We'll make him know, won't we?

In time, dear friend. In time.

Yoko puts her head back down on her desk."You really should take something for that migraine, Katio-san." She has a not so hidden sense of satisfaction.

[Terry576]

[Class 1-2]

Sora sighs at Kaito's breakdown.

He has a faint Hollow-sense in his head, but he's ignoring it, and begins to draw something that strangely seems to look exactly like Gralster.

[Frozen_Feet]

A voice clatters behind Souta.

"It is a tradition long forgotten, by all but close family, and even these, just for a while."

About then, the sixteen shrimp appear again, surrounding Souta, along with two large pincers extruding from a black portal.

"But you need not worry about such things anymore... Mori Souta."

A gaping maw crosses the garganta, Gralster attempting to swallow his soul whole.

Souta freezes. He doesn't dare to turn to look at the voice, coming from the wall. As the shrimps surround him, he tries to make a break for it, but his old feet aren't enough to carry him away. He falters and falls forwards...

By the time Beck gets to the scene, the beloved janitor is nowhere to be seen. Only a lone cigarette lies amidst the twisted shrimp-creatures.

A cold gust blows through the rooms and corridors of the school, rattling windows and slamming doors shut. If tried, many of them turn out to be locked. Lights flicker and die, and an eerie gloom settles in.

An unnerved silence falls over the school grounds.

[Terry576]

[Class 1-2]

The silence, sweeps through Sora's mind, and he freezes, twisting around in his seat.

Nothing's outside. Nothing's near him. He can't feel anything.

Not even the reiatsu he sensed earlier. He shakily raises his hand.

"S-S-sensei? May I be e-e-excused?"

The nervousness in his voice is blatantly obvious, and he seems shaken.

Suddenly being cut off from a sense you've grown used to will do that to you.

[Draken]

Beck arrives also in time to witness Gralster release something in between a belch and a hollow howl, which causes a really, really disgusting substance to spray out from his mouth, likely all over her.

Luckly it is spiritual substance so only the spiritually aware will see it.

"Who do I think I am? I think I am... Sated. So I will leave you now, young medium."

And with that, the large hollow retreats into the garganta, vanishing, along with the shrimp.

Spoiler

Show

Gralster's vomit is Living Blight produced by the Swollen Cyst he keeps in his mouth, a gift from Von Geister.

Think of it as ground meat, or zerg creep. Either way, it will dissolve after a few minutes.

[KnightDisciple]

Class 1-2

"It's about time someone noticed." She says, looking at Kaito as he breaks down.

Serves him right... The way he speaks to you. Insolent mortals.

Calm, please. He doesn't know his place... Yet.

We'll make him know, won't we?

In time, dear friend. In time.

Yoko puts her head back down on her desk."You really should take something for that migraine, Katio-san." She has a not so hidden sense of satisfaction.

Kaito is, somehow, not sobbing with the intense pain. He has some silent tears, and is of course clutching his head in pain. But his ears still work.

"What...did I "notice", Yoko? I just had this freaking headache come over me. So you can take you snappy little advice and shove it."

He speaks through gritted teeth, obviously in a rather foul mood. His hand raises, obviously seeking the teacher's attention.

"Hamaka-sensei. May I...go to the nurse's office?"

[Moon Wolf]

EEEW! Beck yelped, spitting the spray out of her mouth. Wait! Get back here! She raced towards the garganta, but it closed. Great, this is just...great. Maybe...this'll dry with the sun... she waited for a few minutes, wiping the goop out of her hair. Then, it went away. She heaved a sigh of relief and shook out her head. Stupid hollows. Seriously, how cocky can they get?! She walked back inside, and strode into 2-3, and took her seat. I am going to shoot that thing until its friends start feeling the pain....

[riccaru]

Class 1-2

Kaito is, somehow, not sobbing with the intense pain. He has some silent tears, and is of course clutching his head in pain. But his ears still work.

"What...did I "notice", Yoko? I just had this freaking headache come over me. So you can take you snappy little advice and shove it."

He speaks through gritted teeth, obviously in a rather foul mood. His hand raises, obviously seeking the teacher's attention.

"Hamaka-sensei. May I...go to the nurse's office?"

"You noticed that it was time for a headache, of course. What else would it be?" She looks at Kaito and smiles innocently.
I keep forgetting that they aren't like me... Pity, if more people were like me this school would be much better.

[strawberryman]

[Class 2]

Hibiki turns around from his teaching with a frown, but nods. He was a bit distracted by the goings-on himself... he hastily writes a note allowing passage for Kaito. "Very well, Kaito-kun."

Valeria looks to Kaito with concern, fighting off a headache herself... could it be coincidence...? Maybe I should talk to him later...

[KnightDisciple]

Class 1-2

"You noticed that it was time for a headache, of course. What else would it be?" She looks at Kaito and smiles innocently.
I keep forgetting that they aren't like me... Pity, if more people were like me this school would be much better.

Kaito just snarls something incoherent at Yoko.

[Class 2]

Hibiki turns around from his teaching with a frown, but nods. He was a bit distracted by the goings-on himself... he hastily writes a note allowing passage for Kaito. "Very well, Kaito-kun."

Valeria looks to Kaito with concern, fighting off a headache herself... could it be coincidence...? Maybe I should talk to him later...

Kaito slowly stands, wincing the whole time.

"Thank you, sir. I'm sorry for any and all disruptions this caused."

Slowly, carefully, Kaito walked to the front, taking the note from Hibiki. He seemed a bit green around the gills.

He then headed out into the hall, towards the nurse's office. Occasionally leaning against the wall for support.

[Frozen_Feet]

Deep, deep under the ground, in the basement of Phoenix Town school, something twitches. There's an odd clattering sound, as if there's someone stumbling there in the dark. Painstakingly, someone reaches for the light switch - in vain, as the bulb's broken. After few futile clicks, the wandering hand convulses and reaches for the throat of who it belongs to - a violent, hacking cough echoes through the room, accompanied by labored wheezes. Someone's desperately trying to catch some breath, and failing.

For a moment, a patch of darkness becomes lighter than the others - as if something white had just spilled into the room. Then two, yellow sparks light in the room, shining eyes that really couldn't belong to a human.

"Damn kids", an angry voice murmurs in the blackness. "Always breakin' dings. Sumun really ought to teach 'em a lesson. Dose damn teachers ain't worth a ding. It's darn well time Ah took matters to mah own, two hands..."

In the classes, students start to glance around and whisper nervously. Most can't tell why, but they're positive there's something odd behind the sudden death of lighting. Those who are spiritually aware can feel a presence, like heavy weight, pressing on their shoulders.

To those like Beck, it's obvious there's another Hollow within the school. A strong one...

[Moon Wolf]

Oh for the love of fu-now what?!? Beck thought angrily, almost snarling it out loud. Now it's in the freaking school? She didn't even think about excuses, and slipped quickly and quietly out the door, breaking into a run as she headed for the basement. Wait... she paused at the door that led down into the basement. This one feels different. Stronger. She opened the door just a crack, enough to let her eyes adjust to the dark before going down. She opened it wider and silently made her way down the stairs. She stayed on the bottom step, picking the hollow out by its reiatsu. Hey, hollow. There's no use hiding. I can sense you're here.

[Draken]

Beck should feel a shiver, as something of terrible and eldritch power appears to her, from the darkness of the basement.

The Queen of Hollows principal.

"Beck Williams. You know the basements are restricted to students don't you?"

Reene has her arms crossed and does not appear to be pleased to see Beck.

[Moon Wolf]

Wah! Beck yelped and jumped like she'd just recieved an electric shock. Why is Principal Lucaster giving off...never mind. Uh... she turned around slowly, looking terrified. Um...Ms. Lucaster...I..wanted to turn the lights back on? She cringed slightly at her horrible excuse.

[Draken]

Reene is not giving off anything.

"That is a terrible excuse miss Williams. This area of the basements is dangerous, and only school staff is allowed here. No student should ever be here for ANY reason."

Her tone manages to become more and more angry with each word.

"Go back to your classroom right now. I will solve the problem of the lights myself, or send you all back home for the day if I can't."

By now, Reene is staring Beck down, and pointing back upstairs.

"And miss Williams, I expect you in my office tomorrow at the end of classes."

[Moon Wolf]

Beck shrunk down to look almost tiny. Yes m'am! She squeaked, and dashed out of the basement, her face bright red.

(I'm shivering myself....)

[KnightDisciple]

Hallways

Kaito was perhaps two turns away from the nurse's office...but he was frozen in place.

The weight of the Hollow Reiatsu was pressing in, driving his headache to new heights of pain.

Currently, he was kneeling on the ground, clutching his head as streams of tears poured from his eyes. Only iron self-control kept him from being violently ill.

Slowly, something inside of Kaito...changed.

He felt the pressure on his head begin to ease. The pain started to recede; his nausea was quickly merely a memory.

Of course, anyone in the halls nearby might notice how the locker doors, doorknobs, and any and all sundry loose items began to move. Really, it was more that they just rattled around in place, but still. Definitely not something normal.

[Dorizzit]

Wada Nakahiro

Nakahiro leans forward in concern as Kaito begins suffering from his headache, but doesn't say anything. When Yoko taunts Kaito, Nakahiro turns and...looks at her. Nakahiro is rarely, if ever, angry. None of his friends can recall seeing him in such a state; the closest would be mild irritation. The stare he directs at Yoko is a seemingly blank look, communicating no real emotion. The temperature does seem to drop about ten degrees, however.

He remains quiet for the next stretch of time, but when the lights go out he looks around in curiosity...and then his eyes widen in concern. He raises his hand.

"Hamaka-sensei? Can I go after Kaito? In his condition the power loss could be a problem."

[Kuroimaken]

Hasunaga felt his heart skip a beat as he sensed the pulse of this 'new' Hollow.

"...Great. Now what."

He had to think. He couldn't simply go back to his classroom - other students were also in danger. But he couldn't simply send everyone home, either. This whole ordeal had already gone past simple annoyance and potentially grew towards full-fledged mayhem. A Hollow loose in school could mean at the very least the death of a student or two and at worst maybe a hundred if panic spread.

He knew there were already some spiritual entities in the school - no doubt they'd already picked that one up as well. But he couldn't simply stand guard and hope the Hollow would stay where it was. He considered all this as he walked towards his own classroom - and then his left eye caught sight of a fire alarm.

"...Perfect."

Checking side to side to make sure no one could see him, the aged teacher reached for the fire alarm, intent on pressing the button.

[strawberryman]

[Class 2]

Hibiki sighs, eying Nakahiro for a moment. "It's Hamasaki. But, very well." He procures another note for Nakahiro. Then looks to Valeria. "Hrm... Abel. Go with him, find out what's going on with the power."

Valeria blinks. "O-Oh! Hai, sensei." She stands, moving to follow Nakahiro out the door.