((Err, Phoenix...Raikotsu apologized that his duel with Kurama had taken precedence, and offered to find Iori another weapon OR fight him barehanded. Did you read any of my previous posts?))

Something was moving through the air. Raikotsu turned, and seized the wind spirit summoned by Garud. Despite its nature as an ethereal being, and the distance he nonetheless was able to clutch it in a pincer of air, and slowly tear it apart. Though its dying shrieks were silent, the Air Demon could imagine them all too well.

"Be silent, Anbu...I have no problems with a relationship between a human and a demon, though the swordsman and I will settle his breach of honor in the traditional way. You saw him fight before, you will not defeat him. Live, grow stronger, and someday you might have a chance. Insult Koyuki again, and the patch of ground you stand in will be your grave." Raikotsu waved off the fallen prince, looking over Iori's new weapon.

"Swordsman, that is a fine blade...may it serve you well. Shall we fight here, or elsewhere?"

"Koyuki, I told you I did not wish you to fight in my name. You fought for yourself, don't pretend otherwise. My duel with him is not completed, and it will not be until one of us is drowning in a pool of his own blood. You are blind, woman, though he managed to open your eyes for a moment. I have offended you, and so if I survive...well, I will worry about that when the time comes." Raikotsu still would not look at Koyuki. Her rage was like a mask, and he knew the cold, unfeeling look or the hot fury of anger were all that were in her eyes now. The knowledge twisted his stomach like a bite of rotten meat, but still he refused to show anything but calm. He would not show her any weakness, there is no point in demeaning oneself for no reason.

((Yes, I did. You challenged a defeated opponent to another duel right after he had finished one. That's the abomination here. Taking advantage of his fatigue and momentary weakness is a no-no. Besides, it's Koyuki's inner monologue. She didn't say anything.))

Koyuki closed her eyes and nodded her head at the continued insolence that Anbu spouted at her. She felt genuinely sorry for the poor soul, as he had shown absolutely no understanding of the situation. In her eyes, he was no less civilized than a misguided animal, and he would die like one.

"As if Talkatz were any better. Your insolence has provoked my fury, Anbu, and now... You. Will. DIE!"

Koyuki whirled like a tornado spawned from the hurricane of palpable hatred that surrounded the field. A spin and a jump took her into a crescent shaped spiral arc toward Anbu, the blinding-white blade of the Angetsu Shouten held at the edge of the rotation, utilizing the momentum to bring it into a full, deadly swing. Bolts of red lightning continued to crackle across it's surface.

At apogee, the blade let out a piercing howl, audible for several hundred meters in all directions. The blade of the Angetsu Shouten quite literally disappeared, becoming a nearly-invisible phantasmal spectre of the weapon as it phased through the material realm, and into the etheral.

The roiling phantasm of the sunbeam-white weapon bore it's crimson fury toward Anbu's center of mass, his torso, where it would seek to use Koyuki's spirit energy and anger to annihalate Anbu's higher-soul.

((Koyuki gets angry and uses Soul-Shattering Strike on Anbu. We've talked this out in PMs.))

Anbu had a look of shock on his face. She is going to kill me? His mind raced. He didn't know what to do. She should see that she is the one in error... she should- His mind stopped. He, saw for the first time in his life, death coming to greet him. In all of his other adventures, he had had allies to help him. Allies to back him up. Now, he was alone. The attack was coming too fast. He wanted to move, but he was frozen. He just looked in fear into Koyuki's eyes, pleading. Please, don't kill me. I don't want to die. I have to get stronger! I have to become powerful! Powerful enough that Father will respect me!

The attack kept on coming. As a last moment panic, Anbu took out his Spectral Sword. Gleaming a goldish silver, the sword seemed to be from another world. Random crevices, so deep that the blade was cut through in some places, scattered and connected throughout the sword. Some of the shards of the weapon had no support, but had an artificial force holding it to the blade. It was meant to be used when he was concealed in shadow's and was his most effective weapon against the metaphysical.

He placed the sword out in front of him, one hand on the hilt, the other on the tip. Trying to give support to the wall between him and his death.

(Sparknotes: Anbu cowers, and thinks that he has to live to become a better person for his father. He holds out his Spectral Blade as a feeble attempt to block the attack.)

(OOC: This time the monks shall be as difficult as they should be)
Taken wasted no time upon seeing the patrol. If these monks were to be his 'test' then so be it. His katana slid free of its sheathe and he held it down near his side as he walked forward. The monks, for their part, took this as a sign of aggression, as they well should.

There were three 'visitors' and six monks. A bit of quick division told the temple monks that this meant there were two of them to each one of their opponents, and so they split off to reflect this.

A pair of younger looking monks leapt off to attack Kirakiri, as the man seemed the least threatening, by his appearance. An older monk and a monk who seemed to be just at his prime leapt off to attack Sakiko, the demoness woman. However, the monks assumed that Taken, being the first to move forward, was either the leader, or the warrior. In either effect, it meant that he was 'worthy' of the grandest treatment.

A bald man appearing to be in his thirties with a dragon tatoo wrapped around each of his arms, and another man looking to be twenty-five and with a taut martial artist's body leaped bolted toward Taken with speed that seemed almost supernatural. They were almost as quick as the ronin himself, and any normal warrior would not have been able to react.

Taken, however, was not a normal warrior. The two attacked as one, the younger attempting a sweep of Taken's legs, while the older simultaneously struck toward Taken's head with a roundhouse kick. The two attacks at the same time made dodging both difficult, if not entirely impossible. Taken instead, let himself go partially limp as he threw himself sideways.

The kick to his ankles instead caught the heel of his foot and sent him spinning down, just enough to avoid the attack directed to his head.

Taken then caught himself on his free hand and used it to jump away. His eyes focused on the two and a grin appeared on his face as he moved his katana up and took a more proper fighting position after regaining his footing.

The pair of monks who moved as one, however, had no intentions of allowing Taken to revel in his minor victory, but that was fine by the lone wolf. Indeed, their charge only made his smile widen. The younger, this time, leaped into the air, meaning to deliver a flying kick to Taken, while the older hit the ground in a slide, to kick Taken's feet out from under him again.

This time, Taken was ready, however, and drove his katana into the ground, its edge lined up with the leg of the older samurai, while simultaneously bending backward to avoid the kick of the younger.

The manuever worked, and the foot of the younger whistled over Taken's head as the older man was forced to drive his hands into the ground and push back hard, sending him into a backward flip--that would not be possible for a normal man--to avoid having his foot split apart.

The young monk landed behind the ronin, just as Taken pulled his sword back from the ground and spun with almost unnatural speed, meaning to deliver a backhanded slice to the neck of the young warrior.

The blade vibrated the wind, however, and the monk could both feel and hear its passage, though his eyes were directed in the opposite direction, and the man bent down at his waist in a bow, allowing the sword to pass over him, while kicking his left leg back in the hopes of catching Taken in the stomach.

He did not catch, Taken, however, instead, Taken caught the young monk's ankle, and attempted to flip the man upward. The monk would have none of it, and threw his weight back giving him leverage to pull down his foot and force Taken to bend down as well as freeing his leg.

The next think Taken saw was the back of the monk's hand as it smashed into his face and sent him flying backwards. Unfortunately for the ronin, the older monk had now set himself into position to intercept and thrust his hands out. Then, something unexpected happened--flames burst from his palms toward Taken, who was sailing in the air directly toward them.

Taken could feel the heat and new that if he didn't avoid it, he would unlikely survive a direct passage through such intense flame. His katana drove down into the ground, and Taken held tight to the handle, as his body swung around the blade until it the earth released the weapon, sending both Taken and his katana to the side, just barely avoiding the firey blast.

The swordsman stood up and laughed. He couldn't help it. These two monks. These two men who had no weapons and no armor. These men who swore fealty to no lord. They were the strongest warriors he had fought in years. No samurai he had met could match their strength. It was a pity he was going to have to kill them now, he thought, as he finally quieted his laughter.

The monks came again, both of them on the ground, but this time, instead of waiting for their attack, Taken leaped toward them himself, his katana held back by his side as he rocketed through the air in watered down version of Sanjuro's 'special low fast jump'. As he came toward the Monks they both spun meaning to deliver a round house kick, but Taken moved fast, his katana from his side and forward toward the older monk's leg.

The man barely caught the glint of steel and managed to reverse his kick just in time to avoid losing a limb, the younger monk, however, did not see Taken's free hand fly out, catching onto his ankle once more. As strong as the monk was, he was not as strong as Taken, and the kick was not only stopped, but reversed, although this time it was not as a defensive measure.

Taken spun his feet down and hit dug his right heel into the ground while still holding onto the monk. The forces of momentum, did the rest.

The monk's body, being in motion, did not want to stop, and so Taken rotated on that leg, as the monk moved around him one half turn, before he let go. The young monk went flying, although he was easily able to turn himself around in the air and catch himself on the ground.

Taken, however, didn't care about the younger monk, instead using the momentary freedom from double attacks to fly around toward the tatooed man. The monk, however, was expecting it, and Taken turned directly into a gout of flame.

From the monk's perspective it appeared as though he had won, the ronin did not move out of the way, and the flames seemed to be cascading around his body.

Yet, when the flames dispersed, he saw Taken standing, his blade spinning like a modern day fan before him. The monk was shocked. It was only for a second, but it was long enough for Taken to close the remaining distance and strike with an upward swing meant to sever the man at his waist, who barely managed to fall back to avoid it, still receiving a hairline cut up his stomach and to his chin.

Taken raised his sword to finish the monk, but he heard something behind him, the sound of feet directly behind him, and then the whistle of air as if from a sideways strike. The ronin spun quickly and brought his katana to bear on the surprised younger monk's knee. His lower leg fell to the ground only moments before the rest of the man, who was obviously going into shock.

One monk had been defeated, but the other had taken the opportunity to regain himself, lashing his legs out toward Taken's ankles. This time, the ronin did not see the attack coming in time to evade, and he went down on his back even as the monk raised his leg in the air, meaning to deliver a crushing heel drop to Taken's ribcage.

The ronin rolled out of the way quickly before springing back up to his feet, the tattooed monk's attack having left a small crater in the dirt from pure force alone.

The monk too rolled back to his feet and the two stared at each other for a moment. The holy man had a look of stern anger on his face. This man had just severed his friend's leg. The boy would never walk again, even if he was brought back to the monestary in time to heal. He had attacked without reason and turned a capable young monk into a cripple--and worst of all, he was smiling. He was smiling as the two tried to fight them off, and he was smiling now that he had ruined a young man's life. The man was a monster and must be stopped.

Fire burst from the old man's finger tips, threatening to engulf Taken, and the ronin brought up a defense, but the attack was a rouse. The fire only lasted until Taken moved to defend, before the monk dropped the attack and darted in low, through the flames, his fist hurtling out.

Taken, could not bring his blade to bear soon enough to block the attack, nor did he have time to side step, as that by the time the monk was visible through the flames, his fist was already under an inch from Taken's solar plexus. The ronin, did, however, have time to redirect his katana's point down and forward.

The two bodies collided, and they both fell backward onto the ground, Taken wheezing painfully, and the monk with a katana driven through his back.

It took a moment before Taken pushed the old man off his blade, and stood with a smile to look at how the other two were faring. He genuinely hoped that the other monks were still alive to battle as well.

The sound of a reed flute caught Tsubasa. Kirie and Sanaka turned towards the sight. A young black-haired beauty wearing a black kimono. The dual tonfas did away with anymore confusion as to who it was. The three girls headed over to see her.
"So that was Genkai Kurama?" Chizuru said, sounding quite interested.
"Yeah, and I think all the unwanted guests are cronies of his, particularly the ones he's trying to get away with."
"Are you going after him?"
"No. We'd just run into more problems. I think it'd be better to intercept him where the pieces of Talkatz are. Oh, yes. I need to talk to Shizuka about that."
Tsubasa then relates the information Kirie received from Hinote to Chizuru. Chizuru nods. "Do you have an assignment for me?"
"Not right yet, but I'm leaning towards finding this Europe place and getting the torso, and you'll probably be deployed there along with most of the other girls. We're not an official part of Talkatz's forces, so I doubt Shizuka can talk to him about precise coordinates. Thus, we'll want a large scale force to look for this piece if we can't find directions some other way and also to stall Kurama when he comes." Tsubasa then layed her hand on Kirie's shoulder. "Which is where you come in, Kirie. I need someone capable and observant to stay with these guys."
Kirie frowned, obviously not liking the idea. "So I'm stuck with this bunch of weirdos?"
"Afraid so. I need you to get more out of the guy you saved. What's his name?"
"I didn't ask him."
"He seems to be the one with the directions. We know where the monastery he mentioned is. Astral is there now. Now we just need to find out exactly where the torso is." Tsubasa stepped away from the group and turned so all of them were facing her. "Kirie, find out where that torso is. Sanaka, you're with Kirie. You're got the lead. Don't let those forces fight unnecessarily. I think they'll be best used when they get to the monastery which I believe is where they'll go soon. Chizuru, you're with me. We're going back to report to Shizuka and get an army going."
"Do you think we can get the legs?" Kirie said, sheathing her sword.
Tsubasa had a weird and thoughtful expression on her face. "...If it's reasonably possible, go ahead and get it. Otherwise, find something Kurama needs or really cares about. Eventually, I'm sure we'll have to do some negotiating and anything we can get to drive things our way would be helpful. I think that should be everything. Do you all understand?"
Kirie folder her arms. "Stick with the crazies. Got it."
Sanaka bowed sharply. "Follow Kirie with the forces. Keep them out of harm's way. Understood."
Chizuru nodded. "I'm with you going back to Shizuka. I'm ready to go."
Tsubasa nodded. "All right, good. Let's get to it."
Kirie turned to Sanaka and Chizuru lead Tsubasa away. "Form them and get them ready to move."
Sanaka grinned. "Relax. I can command when Tsubasa isn't around."

Summary of Events: Chizuru shows up and the girls discuss stuff. Tsubasa and Chizuru leave. Kirie stays with the group. Sanaka also stays, takes command of what's left of the troops, and is ordered to keep them out of unnecessary combat.

"Koyuki, I've loved you since the day we met...and this human just appears out of nowhere, breaks the ice around your heart, and steals you away. You never looked at me with anything close to affection, but him...what does he have that I don't!?" Raikotsu snarled, his eyes flashing. He finally looked at her, gazing into her eyes despite the soul-searing chill of her expression.

Koyuki's anger-filled eyes locked onto the cowering Anbu an instant before her blade collided with him. She saw his pathetic, helpless form and looked at it with a since of pity. This poor wretch now knew just why he should hold tounge, and not be so self-righteous in his zeal.

However, to kill such a helpless person would go against the lesson Koyuki wished to give Anbu. At this last moment, she simply released her grip on the hilt of her sword. The essence-link between Angetsu Shouten and Koyuki broken, the energy simply dissipated with a loud crack and the visual display of a bright flash. Most of the energy could be recovered, substantially contributing to not draining Koyuki to the point of exhaustion.

The flying blade of the Angetsu Shouten landed tipfirst in the ground before Anbu, the discharged essence that had surrounded it causing the grass where it had fallen to wilt and disentigrate. Smoke rose from the blade and hilt of the weapon, as the remaining essence burned off into the drained peripheral flows of the ether.

Koyuki's right hand too, was visibly burned, and a similar smoke rose from the reddened blisters of flesh where the link had been severed.

She stands, towering over the cowering form of Anbu, and simply spits...

"Useless!"

While batting aside the spectral sword with her burned hand's claws. With this, she turns to watch the duel unfold between Raikotsu and Iori. She stares at the grief-stricken face of Raikotsu, and merely sighs, looking away.

"Raikotsu-kun, do not try to shatter my heart all at once. Stop this foolishness, I beg you! No further blood should be spilt this day."

"No further blood should be spilt this day."

"But there should have been" Hinote said simply as he rose from the ground and the trip that Kurama had delt him. "There should have been the blood of at least one more spilt, and I am talking of the one, and the only Kurama Genkei. But why was it not hmm? I admit I am at some fault, as are all of us, but unlike most, I did not forget our mission at the slightest hint of something else along our paths." Hinote reprimanded and stated.

"I congradulate you Koyuki, if that is the man you want so be it. It is none of my, or our business. He addressed Koyuki from across the field as he walked forward relying on the aid of his staff as a crutch. "Be that as it may, we need to focus here, we lost ourselves in each of our own machinations, plots, and actions. We need to work together, and I have a plan that might help us in that. Though it is entirely up to all of you if you want to try or not. Hinote said addressing the non busy members of this merry little band and as he looked at Raikotsu and his opponent through the corner of his eye.

"Koyuki-chan...all I want is to be with you, to see that same look in your eyes. For that, no price is too great. You inspire me in battle, even your fury is as beautiful as a thunderstorm. I long to test my skill against yours, to tend your wounds, to hold you at night. I love you, you beautiful, murderous woman. This foolishness has gone too far to be stopped, and it is my fault. However, for your sake, I will fight Iori without weapons." He planted the tip of the Hurricane Lance in the ground, and impulsively kissed Koyuki on the cheek...his lips brushing for the briefest of instants over that smooth, warm flesh.

"If I die, kill Kurama for me...bathe the head of my weapon in his blood, and my family's honor will be restored. Consider it a last request. Oh, and beat Hinote within an inch of his life for keeping me from slaughtering that fool Genkai."

Anbu felt searing pain. The attack did not struck him directly, but the force of it still dissipated into the area. He was not outright killed, as what should have happened. Instead he was merely injured. He just laid there. The stinging words of Raikotsu's reprimand and Koyuki calling him "useless" filled him with grief. He wanted to cry. He wished nothing more than the respect of those he looked up to, and they spat in his face. He had disHonored himself. Again. He knew Koyuki was in the wrong about her love to the human. Yet, when it came down to him defending himself before her fury, he just cowered. He felt helpless. He was useless. He couldn't do anything in the face of fear. In the face of death. Next time, I will not cower. I will show those who I admire and respect my power. My bravery, he promised himself.

He lay on the ground, not uttering a single word, and passed out.

(Sparknotes: Anbu grieves over his weakness, and his great disgrace over his cowerdice. He then passes out after promising to do better next time.)