"You kill me and you prove to Kuruma that you can't be trusted, that's my basic foundation of reasoning." Grim intoned, not breaking his gaze or even belying any fear of reprucussion. Sure, losing this body would be a nuisance, but it would give him an excuse to get his own show on the road. Still, the not-yet-complete plan still had to get some more fermentation time. "Slay me if you want, I stopped fearing death long ago. Although, if my blood does spill due to your hand, over a few off-the-cuff remarks and jokes, I doubt you can ever truly claim that you have your emotions or powers in check. Only one species on this world has access to such reserves of hate and poor judgement, and I assumed you tried to downplay that half of your being."

Grim looked over the welcoming group, smiling inside as the girl retreated. "I will be on my bestest behavior Kuruma, and so will Reaper once he gets done with cookies."

(EDIT: Damn you Scrubs and being on as I post.)

Suzume, for once, decided he would actually go out with the rest of the group. Maybe he would still be quiet so as not to get involved in any of those stupid arguments, but that depended. He may have recovered from earlier, but he probably wouldn't take it as long this time.

When he got outside to see four monks greeting the somewhat-assembled group, Suzume couldn't help but smile. It was kinda quiet. And considering the relaxing feeling of the beach, it was a VERY nice change of pace.

"Now if only it would stay like this..." the hunter said to himself rather pessimistically.

Still, despite his feelings, he thought he should just go for once. He was hitching a ride, after all, so he might as well repay the debt.

Youji, who had just arrived on the deck, calmly walked over to the ship's fore and looked ahead to the temple encased in the multicolor bubble. Crossing his arms, he glanced over to the others. "Well, that's where we're heading. I must say, I'm surprised at how...obvious that place is."

The Adventures of Pyros+Moriko/Rhiya: Mutiny and as it happens, THREE SHIPS!
 

(Rhiya didn't you read in my post about how they deal with Pirates?)

The captain threw a rock at the lookout. "Dammit boy! We're due for as much foul luck as possible, and you're slacking off? You should be even more vigilant, so at least you can know beforehand what's going to send you to to a watery grave!" Suij barked, and the lookout looked apologetic. Suij was a bit highstrung on account of the day's events, and if he could have he would've thrown a bigger rock. But there was always that one thing that made Suij feel much better.

Suij smiled wickedly. "But of course, it's only (some) pirate ship(s)."

Suij leapt from his perch on the back of the ship and towards the helm, where he took the wheel. He gave it a mighty spin, and the ship's rudder turned...

-----------------
Meanwhile on the Pirate Ship(s), Cannon's Fodder, (the Gruntess, and Unnamed ship that's gonna die.)
-----------------

Captain Cannon stood (on THREE ships at the same time) smiling. "Aye! Today lads, we're going to take that beautiful ship, and all the treasure she holds! We've got the element suprise, a fair wind, and Lady Luck herself be on ourside! Oh yes, you may be shakin in your boots, but listen me hearties! It may be the biggest ship, but it'll go down just like any other. That's because you've gotten the meanest and fiercest captain ever in the seven seas, the Great Captain Cannon, who's name will forever be revered in history as the King of the Pirates!"

"Gomu Gomu SHOTGUN!" A long rubber arm reached from nowhere and sent the captain inot the air, where he remained until he landed and hit the water near Finnland.

The crew (of the three ships) looked at each other, and looked for the source of the punch. Not finding it, they were confused. Where did that punch come from? How did it seem to stretch so? And what the heck was that strange wide eyed white man saying, and why did they feel compelled to obey it?

Before any of this could be explained, the ship they had been chasing rammed them hard, crushing their ship(s) and smashing all of their bodies. Except for a guy with a straw hat who held onto some wreckage. (Which could actually be put into a full, working ship if he rallied help from some other pirates, particularly a guy with 3 swords, a smoking cook, a long nosed sniper, and a harem girl named Nami who leaned too close to the edge to get a good view.)

----------------------------
Back on the Lying Quirr
----------------------------

"Bwahahaaha!" All on board laughed (THRICE!), except Pyros.

(OOC:Problem solved, lazyness confirmed, and a nymph/kraken fight saved for tommorow.)

Upon hearing Raikotsu's first words from outside the cave Hinote decided it was time to return. Leaning over to the ground he wiped his hand over the circular sygil he had traced onto the dirt around himself and erased it from existance. Rising he walked back inside the cave and said as he kneeled down next to the newly awaken wind demon. "It is good to see you awake lord Raikotsu, and might I just be the first to say I am sorry for interfering with your duel. I had not realized how much you valued your honorably single combat. I shall try never to let it happen again without you at least knowing exactly what, when, and why I will be doing such. This will be even easier accomplished with something I have already shown and done to Kirie, Koyuki, and myself. It is a telepathic web, or a hive mind if you will."

Looking up from Raikotsu he glanced over at Koyuki and said "Oh yes, lady Koyuki, I must inform you that I have sent for some reinforcements from an old assosiate of mine when I had travelled in Europe. He will not be here for some time, the journey is long, but he shall serve me, and subsequently you well. He ows me a favor, and he is extremely honorable, so we can be rest assured of his loyalty for a good time, and might I add his strength as well." Breathing in deeply after his speach Hinote finally looked over to Anbu and said "At the moment we are on the island which contains one of the pieces of the great lord Talkatz. We are regrouping and recouperating right now, as well fashioning battle plans I should hope. The same offer I have just made to lord Raikotsu goes to you as well lord Anbu."

Sparknotes: Invites Raikotsu to hive mind, tells Koyuki he called for someone from europe, invites Anbu for hive mind and tells of situation.

"Ahh...thank you, Hinote." Raikotsu sat up, supporting himself with his hands, "I spoke too harshly about you earlier. I was in error, forgetting that your kind and mine have different views on honor, as do many in the World Below"*

He coughed once, then popped his own dislocated shoulder back in, his expression remaining stoic, "A hive mind? My mind is for not for anyone else to look at, but I will consider it, provided you supply me with more details. Thank you for the information, Hinote. Considering the information we have, there are two enemies to contend with. Firstly, the monks of the temple. I have already given thought to the situation, and worked out a plan to infiltrate their fortress. Unfortunately, it is risky, there is too much that could go wrong, and we would be better served to let our second group of enemies fetch the piece themselves. Kurama and his followers will be welcomed with open arms, so they will get it for us. This way, we avoid being forced to fight our way through two sets of enemies."


OOC: *the World Below is an Air Demon term Raikotsu occasionally uses to describe the land beneath the skyborne cities of his people.

"Additional reinforcements?" Koyuki queries Hinote, "Very well then."

"Lord Raikotsu, it is good to see you awake once more." Koyuki replies to the demon-prince, "I have an alternate strategy. We know that Kurama and his associates have landed in a skyfaring vessel. Secondly, the fortress is protected by a large barrier of unknown power. Thus, I suggest that we make a manuver to cut off the party's escape route. They may have the legs, but without an escape route, they will not be able to do anything." she suggests.

"And thus, our strategies are similar. We agree it would be foolish to attack both the monks, and Kurama. However, while he and his bodyguards are away, we will be free to attack. Until the opening arises, I suggest you take this time to regain your bearings, Lord Raikotsu."

Kurama walked down through the airship and exited through the now open door. He bowed to the head monk of the small group.

"Hello. My name is Genkai Kurama. I have come here to meet with the Elder Monk and retrieve the Legs of Talkatz."

The monks bowed down as well.

"Welcome to the island. We have been sent to bring you and your friends to the temple. Please follow us."

The monks turned and entered the forest. Kurama and his group followed them somewhat silently.

Since the had managed to land relatively close to the temple, it only took a few minutes to reach the barrier. The monks stopped them before they touched the glowing shield of energy. The monks each pulled out a small talisman.

"Everyone take hold of a monk with an amulet. Otherwise, the barrier will injure you."

Everyone that didn't have an amulet grabbed onto a shoulder or arm of a monk that held an artifact. And with that, they walked through into the sheltered temple.

(OOC: And...I'm off for spring break. I'll be on a trip for a few days, and though I'll be taking my laptop with me, I don't know if I'll have internet access. So....yeah. I'll see ya when I see ya.)

"These things have legs?! These things have fucking legs!"
"Well, of course they do. What do you expect, the ships to stop a distance from the beach and us to swim to shore?"
The four legs that each ship revealed resembled spider legs. Using them, the ships crawled onto the beach and stopped some distance from the ocean, suspended above the sand by the legs. Kirie, Astral, Sanaka, and their forces left the ships. Kiyomi's troops, lead by the Lieutenant from the village, stepped down. "The troops I command will remain here with the ships. Defenses set up, service inspections and maintenance...that kind of thing. We'll leave when you return with orders."
Astral nodded and turned to Kirie. "The monastery isn't far. Try not to get the enemy on your ass. These freaks represent the true power of human dedication."
"Well." Kirie casually unsheathed her katana and swung it over her right shoulder, the katana dramatically growing into an oversized broadsword. "Let's just hope all my training and skill is just enough for me to match whatever they might throw at me."
Kirie turned to Sanaka. "Sanaka. You and the others...try to assist with the ships. This is where Astral and I handle this. Those ships may very well be the only way we're going to get off of this goddamn island."
Sanaka nodded and got things going while Kirie and Astral sped into the forest.

OOC: Just a quick note on the timing of things. The Kimono's ships should have arrived a few hours after the airship. I'm also making the assumption that this post is still in the time prior to the airship's arrival.

Kirakiri had a point of his own to offer, "There is the consideration that Kurama and his allies may leave their vessel relatively undefended. A quick, decisive strike there would rob them of their means of transportation. I'm certain it is well within out abilities to destroy a ship after all." He was hardly surprised that an infiltration plan had been considered and discarded. There were simply too many risks and unknowns to make it worthwhile.

Even so, he was prepared for that, "However, I have taken precautions in the case that it is necessary to enter the barrier." Kirakiri pulled out one of the amulets he had accquired from the dead monks, "It is best to be prepared after all." He handed it to Koyuki.

"Still, if we do make an attack on their airship, we perhaps should also send a group to harass Kurama and his companions if they come out of the temple and attempt to save their vessel they can be engaged earlier. When the first force finishes their task of destruction, they can move to aid the second group."

"A possible flaw is if the airship is landed very close to the barrier. In that case, we should just hit it with everything we have. Those less able to deal significant damage to the airship can simply remain at the outskirts, rendering aid as necessary but holding back for the Kurama."

"The greatest potential I can see if a significant number of the monks accompany Kurama. In such a case we'd be better off retreating if the battle looks unfavourable."

"Still, we may want to decide upon these groups due to the likelihood of this plan being viable. I should be able to easily deal damage to the airship with my talents and so I will go into the anti-airship group."