[BitP:R] Mortal World 2

[Kasanip]

Sayaka
[Houheiden]

Sayaka's neutral expression stays as she looks at Henry, and then to Ayase again. She looks at her broom, and then at Ken. She looks to see the talisman still on Ayase's forehead. Then she looks at Henry again.

"...No, I am not busy at the moment. It should be quite safe. May I help you?"

[nothingclever]

She looks at Ken with an almost accusatory look.

"...Is this a friend of yours?"

Ken

"No, but by the look of things she sure could be," said Ken smoothly. It was up to Ayase to determine if his remark was made in jest or a compliment. In truth it was both.

[Artemis Dreamer]

Spoiler

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Shou felt the Hollow drawing closer and tensed, ready to fight if need be. Oddly, the girl he watched also grew agitated and moved to a more advantageous position... apparently she could sense it too. Shou cocked his head, intrigued, even as he drew Gensoutenmaru and prepared to fight. Moments later a spiderlike Hollow burst into the alley, making a beeline past the girl, straight for him.

And then the strange girl dove onto the Hollow, spectacularly failing to wound it with her nodachi.

Think we should help?

Of course. Shou leapt to the alley floor, preparing to Shunpo around the Hollow's flailing legs, when the girl rolled under it and slew it, much to his surprise.

I didn't see that coming.

The girl shakily stood, bleeding from several gashes, and looked out into the street. Shou resheathed Gensoutenmaru and approached her from behind. This was worth a try, at least.

"That was impressive. Do you require bandages?"

Mila whirled to face Shou, spurred into a momentary panic by the sound of what seemed to be a human voice.

"S***!" The exclamation tore from her lips before she could even think to stop herself. She instinctively moved the hand which held the bloody sword behind her back, so that it would not be visible.

"Um... no, and, uh... thank you? I, er... I have my own bandages. It's nothing. I-I'm fine. Really... I..."

She spoke haltingly, stammering and pausing, then trailed off as she finally focused on the individual who had adressed her for long enough to note his unusual appearance and dark robes.

He saw the hollow... Those robes, that sword... And wait a second... he's the other source! She suddenly realized that it was from him that the powerful spiritual pressure that she had sensed while tracking the Hollow was emanating. Her mind instantly drew the conclusion that she had been dreading.

"Shinigami!" she exclaimed, then clapped her free hand over her mouth, not meaning to have voiced this aloud.

Oh crap, oh s***, goddammit to hell... Her mind whirled again, as another wave of panic overtook her. She wan't supposed to be hunting Hollows, she wasn't supposed to let anyone know that she could see spirits, and she certainly was not supposed to reveal either to a Shinigami, of all people. Wait, is he even human anyway? Looks more like some sort of anthro dog... Why do I even care about this now? He's still Shinigami, and I'm still f***ed.

"Um... Look," she stammered, "I-It was nothing. I wasn't doing anything. I didn't mean to... and, um, I've got to go, um... like right now?"

Even as she said this, she knew that she couldn't move. Her fear and sick fascination with what was about to happen had rooted her to the spot. Would he erase her memories, the way that other Shinigami had tried years ago, or would he just think it was easier to -dispose- of her?

She swallowed hard, and shifted her gaze down to the filthy water of the puddle in which she stood, not daring to meet her eye. All the showy bravado that she so often exibited at school was beyond her, laying bare her fearful personality, and it was all she could do not to burst into tears.

[Steilos]

Sayaka
[Houheiden]

Sayaka's neutral expression stays as she looks at Henry, and then to Ayase again. She looks at her broom, and then at Ken. She looks to see the talisman still on Ayase's forehead. Then she looks at Henry again.

"...No, I am not busy at the moment. It should be quite safe. May I help you?"

"I have some questions. Actually, I have quite a lot of questions. Nothing to be worried about, though."

The detective turns to look at the others, then back at Sayaka.

"But first, what were you three talking about just now? And you can drop the cosplaying act, miss." he adds to Ayase.

[Wahrheit]

Spoiler

Show

Mila whirled to face Shou, spurred into a momentary panic by the sound of what seemed to be a human voice.

"S***!" The exclamation tore from her lips before she could even think to stop herself. She instinctively moved the hand which held the bloody sword behind her back, so that it would not be visible.

"Um... no, and, uh... thank you? I, er... I have my own bandages. It's nothing. I-I'm fine. Really... I..."

She spoke haltingly, stammering and pausing, then trailed off as she finally focused on the individual who had adressed her for long enough to note his unusual appearance and dark robes.

He saw the hollow... Those robes, that sword... And wait a second... he's the other source! She suddenly realized that it was from him that the powerful spiritual pressure that she had sensed while tracking the Hollow was emanating. Her mind instantly drew the conclusion that she had been dreading.

"Shinigami!" she exclaimed, then clapped her free hand over her mouth, not meaning to have voiced this aloud.

Oh crap, oh s***, goddammit to hell... Her mind whirled again, as another wave of panic overtook her. She wan't supposed to be hunting Hollows, she wasn't supposed to let anyone know that she could see spirits, and she certainly was not supposed to reveal either to a Shinigami, of all people. Wait, is he even human anyway? Looks more like some sort of anthro dog... Why do I even care about this now? He's still Shinigami, and I'm still f***ed.

"Um... Look," she stammered, "I-It was nothing. I wasn't doing anything. I didn't mean to... and, um, I've got to go, um... like right now?"

Even as she said this, she knew that she couldn't move. Her fear and sick fascination with what was about to happen had rooted her to the spot. Would he erase her memories, the way that other Shinigami had tried years ago, or would he just think it was easier to -dispose- of her?

She swallowed hard, and shifted her gaze down to the filthy water of the puddle in which she stood, not daring to meet her eye. All the showy bravado that she so often exibited at school was beyond her, laying bare her fearful personality, and it was all she could do not to burst into tears.

Shou cocked his head, tail swishing lazily. He could smell the panic roiling from the girl as she fought back tears. Sure, the rules said he should erase her memory, but she was just so absolutely pitiful that he couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor girl, even as much as she intrigued him for taking down a Hollow with such little reiatsu to call her own.

"Calm down, girl... I'm not going to hurt you. I'm kind of impressed, really. I thought I was going to have to save you from that Hollow. How'd you learn to fight them?"

By all rights, Shou should have been intimidating, with his dark robes, his black cloak, the sword hilt over his shoulder, and, you know, being a coyote-man... but at the same time, he was just so fuzzy that he couldn't help but be cute in an odd sort of way.

[KnightDisciple]

Houheiden Shrine

Kaito waited for a couple of minutes, and didn't see anyone around.

"Let's just go in. This place is pretty open anyways, and I'm sure we'll find Sayaka, or someone, soon enough."

With that, he started walking into the Shrine, heading up the steps. Coincidentally, this took him directly on a path for where Sayaka, Ayase, Ken, and Henry were standing and talking.

[Terry576]

Shou cocked his head, tail swishing lazily. He could smell the panic roiling from the girl as she fought back tears. Sure, the rules said he should erase her memory, but she was just so absolutely pitiful that he couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor girl, even as much as she intrigued him for taking down a Hollow with such little reiatsu to call her own.

"Calm down, girl... I'm not going to hurt you. I'm kind of impressed, really. I thought I was going to have to save you from that Hollow. How'd you learn to fight them?"

By all rights, Shou should have been intimidating, with his dark robes, his black cloak, the sword hilt over his shoulder, and, you know, being a coyote-man... but at the same time, he was just so fuzzy that he couldn't help but be cute in an odd sort of way.

Sora, (Ninety Meters To Their Right) sat back in his cemetery. He talked to a few ghosts, asked them 'yo, sup?'

Then he sensed a Shinigami.

And... something else.

He reassured himself.

"It's okay... Right? The other thing will be fine."

He was not reassured, and muttered darkly as he stalked over to where Mila and Shou were, and hid himself ten meters away.

He forgot about his reiatsu though.

[Frozen_Feet]

Houheiden

A small, white bird flies around the edge of the shrine grounds, landing on a tree branch.

Having finished work in a timely fashion, Õta Yui had decided to take a walk around the city in spirit of sight seeing. She's wearing a suit again, and again holding a town map in her hands (upside down, as usual). Esteemed Houheiden Shrine had seemed like a good place to start - she could pay her respects while at it.

Such a beautiful place. I can't wait to meet the sort of people who keep this place up these days, she thinks as she reaches the foot of the long walk of white stairs leading to the Shrine gate... and stops.

Yui blinks. She tries to step forward, but finds she can't. She turns, walks away for a distance, makes a short circle, and tries to walk back, only to be stopped at the Shrine stairs again. A puzzled frown spreads on her face and she crosses her arms on her chest.

Me. Prevented from entering a shrine. I don't know if I should cry or laugh. As she taps the ground with her foot impatiently, her gaze wanders, untill it settles on a small tree in the distance. There's a curious white bird crouching on its branches.

Narrowing her eyes, Yui walks closer to see it better. "Hello there, little thing. What has brought you here?", she asks, and holds her left hand towards the birds. She fully expects it to flee, but you never know...

[Draken]

Outside Houheiden.

The bird stares down at Yui. Before taking wing and vanishing amid the branches.

[Frozen_Feet]

[Outside Houheiden Shrine]

Yui furrows her brow, then glances at the ground and kneels to pick up a sizable rock. Weighing it in her hands, she starts circling around the tree, hoping to get the bird back in her sight.

[Draken]

Outside the Shrine

The foliage of this particular tree is quite thick.

Suddenly, a pointy branch flies from amid the leaves, aimed at Yui's face. It has been pecked into a crude dart.

[Artemis Dreamer]

Shou cocked his head, tail swishing lazily. He could smell the panic roiling from the girl as she fought back tears. Sure, the rules said he should erase her memory, but she was just so absolutely pitiful that he couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor girl, even as much as she intrigued him for taking down a Hollow with such little reiatsu to call her own.

"Calm down, girl... I'm not going to hurt you. I'm kind of impressed, really. I thought I was going to have to save you from that Hollow. How'd you learn to fight them?"

By all rights, Shou should have been intimidating, with his dark robes, his black cloak, the sword hilt over his shoulder, and, you know, being a coyote-man... but at the same time, he was just so fuzzy that he couldn't help but be cute in an odd sort of way.

"Kendo class..." Mila replied, but her voice came out as little more than a choked whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again.

"I took a kendo class... That's where I learned to fight."

She raised her eyes from the pavement to meet Shou's gaze, determined not to appear completely intimidated - She was, but that was besides the point. Everything in her world hinged on impressions, even her relations with canine(?) Shinigami, and so far, she hadn't exactly gotten off to a remarkable start in terms of asserting herself.

After a moment of silence, she caught herself starting at his tail, and rapidly averted her eyes.

No sense in ticking him off even more by gawking...

"So..." she began awkwardly, her inherent shyness giving way to morbid curiosity. "You're a Shinigami, hmm?"

The question was awkwardly phrased, but she hoped that he would get the hint. She wanted to know more about the strange and amicable death god who had complimented - Yes, complimented - her mediocre combat skills.

[Kasanip]

Sayaka
[Houheiden]

Sayaka's eyebrow moves slightly at Ken's statement.

She turned to Henry and bowed politely, now more formal and proper.

"I am afraid that question is too difficult to explain. Since you can also apparently see spiritual creatures, I assume you are here to ask questions of this sort of thing?"

She asks him.

"Oh my, is it the inspector? Here to consult the shrine?" A familiar voice of Haruaki comes from the doorway. Today however, he is dressed in his priest robes.

But now also it seemed Kaito's group also arrived, so Sayaka could not appear so annoyed.

What an unfortunate time, to have a monster cat to deal with, Ken's unbalancing comments, this suspicious old man, her father, and other students.

[Steilos]

Sayaka
[Houheiden]

Sayaka's eyebrow moves slightly at Ken's statement.

She turned to Henry and bowed politely, now more formal and proper.

"I am afraid that question is too difficult to explain. Since you can also apparently see spiritual creatures, I assume you are here to ask questions of this sort of thing?"

She asks him.

"Oh my, is it the inspector? Here to consult the shrine?" A familiar voice of Haruaki comes from the doorway. Today however, he is dressed in his priest robes.

But now also it seemed Kaito's group also arrived, so Sayaka could not appear so annoyed.

What an unfortunate time, to have a monster cat to deal with, Ken's unbalancing comments, this suspicious old man, her father, and other students.

"Why yes, I am here to talk about that sort of thing - it's in relation to some odd goings-on around this town-"

Then her father comes in.

"Ah, you must be Mr. Kondo? I am Henry Coleby, and as I'm here off duty you can dispense with "Officer." Just call me Henry, please."

Then all the other students come in.

"...Are you absolutely sure you're not busy?"

[Frozen_Feet]

Outside the Shrine

The foliage of this particular tree is quite thick.

Suddenly, a pointy branch flies from amid the leaves, aimed at Yui's face. It has been pecked into a crude dart.

Startled, Yui's eyes widen and she throws her hand before her face, swiping the small projectile away. Then she pouts and glares deep into the foliage. "Hey!" She flings the stone in her hand amidst the branches with full force, hoping to hit the insufferable avian.

[Wahrheit]

"Kendo class..." Mila replied, but her voice came out as little more than a choked whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again.

"I took a kendo class... That's where I learned to fight."

She raised her eyes from the pavement to meet Shou's gaze, determined not to appear completely intimidated - She was, but that was besides the point. Everything in her world hinged on impressions, even her relations with canine(?) Shinigami, and so far, she hadn't exactly gotten off to a remarkable start in terms of asserting herself.

After a moment of silence, she caught herself starting at his tail, and rapidly averted her eyes.

No sense in ticking him off even more by gawking...

"So..." she began awkwardly, her inherent shyness giving way to morbid curiosity. "You're a Shinigami, hmm?"

The question was awkwardly phrased, but she hoped that he would get the hint. She wanted to know more about the strange and amicable death god who had complimented - Yes, complimented - her mediocre combat skills.

"Hmm. I can see how applying kendo could do the trick. Not many mortals could adapt it to fight something that inhuman in form, though. You should be more careful... there have been stronger Hollows around, and a haphazard plan against those would only lead to a lot of pain." Shou chuckled. "Yes, I'm a Shinigami, have been for a little over a century." His ears flicked curiously. "Do I make you nervous? I don't bite. Well, not unless the person deserves it."

[KerfuffleMach2]

[Cemetery]

The red-haired woman let out a sigh as she sat at the base of a small tree. She decided to stop by here before going back to her small apartment. She found this place a little relaxing. When it wasn't full of spirits, that is.

...we hunting tonight?

Silva leaned her head back against the tree and closed her eyes. Yeah...gotta keep at it. It's what we do. She lets out another sigh and sits there for a while, her thoughts wandering to the Arrancar named Elder, and how it waved goodbye to her.

[Terry576]

[Cemetery]

Sora grows bored of watching the two talk, and begins to walk away, not really paying attention.

He's probably going to run into Silva.

[KerfuffleMach2]

[Cemetery]

Silva, currently with her head leaned back and her eyes closed, won't see Sora at all. Unless her gets her attention.

((I forget, is he part Hollow? Or, Hollow-like?))

[Draken]

Startled, Yui's eyes widen and she throws her hand before her face, swiping the small projectile away. Then she pouts and glares deep into the foliage. "Hey!" She flings the stone in her hand amidst the branches with full force, hoping to hit the insufferable avian.

A few moments after the rock ruffles the leaves of the tree, the bird flies off into another nearby tree.

But not without first flying above and dropping a bomb on Yui.And with bomb, I mean poop.

[Terry576]

[Cemetery]

Silva, currently with her head leaned back and her eyes closed, won't see Sora at all. Unless her gets her attention.

((I forget, is he part Hollow? Or, Hollow-like?))

((Part Hollow. He be an Arranamacar.))

[Kasanip]

"Why yes, I am here to talk about that sort of thing - it's in relation to some odd goings-on around this town-"

Then her father comes in.

"Ah, you must be Mr. Kondo? I am Henry Coleby, and as I'm here off duty you can dispense with "Officer." Just call me Henry, please."

Then all the other students come in.

"...Are you absolutely sure you're not busy?"

Sayaka

"Well, it seems it may become busy suddenly." Sayaka said. Haruaki laughed.

"Yes it will be a grand party this afternoon for-"

"It's not a party. It's a meeting."

"But there will be food and karaoke later."

"... I don't think so."

Somehow Sayaka was not sounding angry. But her gaze staring at the monster cat Ayase were with no mercy. Haruaki seemed to be ambivalent.

"Ah, a monster cat! And my daughter subdued it so professionally! I'm so happy!"

"H-hey, don't change the subject so lightly!"

Haruaki tried to pet Ayase's ears with his carefree nature.

"So inspector, if you are here to interview my daughter, I'll entertain her friends until you are finished~"

Sayaka started to shake, her face red now.

"Excuse me. I'm going over there. Far away." She said to Henry, Ken, and the 'Monster Cat' and ran towards Kaito and the others.

"She's such a good host." Haruaki observed.

[KerfuffleMach2]

((Part Hollow. He be an Arranamacar.))

In that case, she'll sense him when he gets near. Her eyes snap open and she looks around, her right hand moving to where her dagger rests at her belt.

[Prime32]

Haruaki tried to pet Ayase's ears with his carefree nature.

Ah, that feels good. :3 Ayase starts to purr.

...wait, what am I doing?

She pulls back in embarassment, the talisman falling from her head.
Awww...

[Steilos]

Sayaka

[color="#008899"]"So inspector, if you are here to interview my daughter, I'll entertain her friends until you are finished~"

Sayaka started to shake, her face red now.

"Excuse me. I'm going over there. Far away." She said to Henry, Ken, and the 'Monster Cat' and ran towards Kaito and the others.

"She's such a good host." Haruaki observed.

Henry watches Sayaka go, and turns back to Haruaki.

"Actually, it's not really an interview. I just need some information about... Well, I don't actually know what you call them."

The mob continues to pour in.

"And I bet most of these people are here for the same reason I am. But I wouldn't mind getting inside first, though."

[nothingclever]

Ken observed Haruaki's artful approach towards Ayase's ears and then focused his attention squarely on her. "Aw, now I want to pet them too," said Ken with a false pout. "You wouldn't mind, would you?" He looked at her pleadingly with hope in his eyes.

[Kuroimaken]

Ken observed Haruaki's artful approach towards Ayase's ears and then focused his attention squarely on her. "Aw, now I want to pet them too," said Ken with a false pout. "You wouldn't mind, would you?" He looked at her pleadingly with hope in his eyes.

Yes I would! ...a little.

[Frozen_Feet]

A few moments after the rock ruffles the leaves of the tree, the bird flies off into another nearby tree.

But not without first flying above and dropping a bomb on Yui.And with bomb, I mean poop.

Yui narrowly sidesteps the worst, so the guano only hits her left shoe. She gives the stain a disdainful look, the shoots a murderous glare at the bird. "Hmmph. I'll get you. Just you wait", she mutters from between her teeth as she wipes her shoe at a nearby patch of grass, before turning around and walking away. She unfurls her map, making sure this time it's right side up.

Hmmm. Where should I go next?, she muses as she leaves Houheiden Shrine behind. Park I've already been to... maybe take a stroll through the cemetery, then go that cafeteria that was closed...

[Prime32]

Ken observed Haruaki's artful approach towards Ayase's ears and then focused his attention squarely on her. "Aw, now I want to pet them too," said Ken with a false pout. "You wouldn't mind, would you?" He looked at her pleadingly with hope in his eyes.

"O... kay..."

Spoiler

Show

This would never happen with Ayase's civilian form. Fusion gives her a -4 penalty on Sense Motive checks.

[nothingclever]

Ken slowly moved over to the "monster" cat and dexterously stroked its ears and the top of its head with one hand. To Ayase it would be clear that Ken knew his way around felines assuming she was as sensitive as the average one in this regard. "They're so soft." He probably enjoyed the act nearly as much as she did.