(OOC:Gah! Jenneralisimo, where are you? You and your blasted Cuba Libre!)

At the large bird of prey's attack, Finn dodged out of the way determined to continue his quest for ass. Falcon found her claws imbedded within the woodwork, and struggled to remove them. He dove upon another girl. "Gee, that's a nice set of legs, what time do they open?" She proceeded to show him by quickly running away, leaving him beside another girl.

"Apart from being sexy, what do you do for a living?" She smacked him quite heartily with a pillow and dove for the door. Alas, this door was now blocked. A group of girls has appeared to bring some fresh bedding and companionship to the "world's toughest women", only to be set upon immediately by Finn.

"Hey baby, you're so fine you make me stutter! Wha-Wha-what's your name?"
SMACK!
"I think everyone needs a little Seaman in them."
TOO DIRTY!
"When god formed you, you musta smacked him in the face and told him to do a fine job!"
ATHEISM!
"Be unique and different, just say yes."
CONFORMIST!
"Baicarumba...are those real?"
"Damn Straight!"
"Can I flirt with you?"
NO BAKA!
"Wanna play war? I'll lie down and you'll blow the fuck outta me!"
SINKS HIS BATTLESHIP!
"Do you know karate? Cos damn it honey, your body is really kickin."
"Actually, I do know karate."
"What?"

With a mighty kick Finn was sent flying into the air, where he bounced and skidded to a stop upon the woodwork. as he lay there, sprawled upon the deck, Suij camed running. "Hey! NOO! Don't hit him! He's a lord the sea!"

Finn got up quickly. "You're damn right I am, and if it weren't for the fact this was a ship filled with fine, FIIINNNE women, I'd sink it right here and now. So women, commence with the stripp-"

Finn stopped midsentence as Pyros returned from the bathroom, having to use the hidden undership bathroom for privacy. The captain himself used it to carry around anything truly of value, and so he could take a leak with relative peace and comfort.

Finn was bedazzled by the very sight of the fire angel in drag. "Such...such beauty!" Before a move could be made however, he found Falcon upon him, and there was much cawing and fishblood spillt.

Suij sighed. "Oh dear. If I had known this would be my last voyage, I probably would've left Me Sis back at Treeport."

Raze sat in the midst of the ship, holding his current body. "So....much moving water Surrounded! For miles! Doomed!"

Youji, never one to have enjoyed on relying on other people because of the very nature of his being, was one of the ones who had taken an amulet. Since he didn't have to worry about having to be walked through, he was the last one to stay outside the temple, looking for any signs of the demons they had fought earlier. When everybody else had gone inside and he was sure there wasn't an immediate threat he followed the others in.

"Kirie, heads up."
"Awww, hell."
They had to be the guardians Astral briefed her on. Kirie rose first with the Heavy Claymore clutched in her right hand, not directing it at the two monks but still somewhat aimed at them. "Step away from us and keep it in your pants," Kirie said darkly, not bothering to cover up. Astral was still relaxing in the lake.
The monks didn't respond. Well, not with words, anyways. Kirie turned the sword into a katana. The Heavy Claymore would only get in the way of the battle.
Even hearing what Astral said about their skills, Kirie didn't think the monks would be quite this capable. The monk had an unbreakable offense, leaving Kirie to play the defensive. She didn't even had a moment to spare a glance at Astral, but figured she was equally preoccupied. "I got no chance without some space to function." Kirie said to herself. Thinking quickly, Kirie remorphed the blade into a Heavy Claymore, then leapt back slightly, swinging the claymore into a broad arc at the ground, kicking dust into her opponent's eyes. If the blade weighed as much as it looked, Kirie would've easily dislocated her shoulder. "Dishonorable!" the monk cried, grabbing at his face. "Blow it out your ass, baldy."
Kirie was about to start cutting him to pieces when Astral took her left hand and tugged her away. "Hey, what the hell?!"
"Forget the nameless humans. Genkai is our one and only target."
Astral released Kirie and they continued to run, Kirie lamenting not getting the kill. It never hurt to kill someone every now and again.

A small rowboat with a man standing in it came up ashore. The mna had one of those extremely long sticks that he used to move the boat. The man was also soaked head to toe, showing that the journey here wasn't without trouble.

He stepped off the boat and gazed at the ship. "Shoo I caught ups." Kazunori said to no one as he started to explore the ship.

Kirie and Astral came to a stop in the forest, farther from the barrier than the lake but still pretty close. "We should find a better place to rest for tomorrow." Astral said, then turned to Kirie. "Hey, Kirie?"
"Yes, I'm listening. What? Oh, could you hand me my clothes?"
Astral had good humor, and could see the hilarity of the situation. Still, it wasn't good for the sword-swinging redhead. "What are you talking about?" Astral said, on the verge of cracking a smile. "I don't have your clothes."
"WHAT?!!"
"Hey, keep your voice down. There could be more guardians nearby."
"But you were right fucking near my clothes when you picked up your own! What, was it too difficult to think of grabbing mine?"
Before Astral could speak up, Kirie continued. "Great, now I'm in the middle of the woods and I don't have a shred of cloth covering me."
Astral couldn't help grinning now. "Well, at least you have your sword."
Kirie scowled at Astral. "Yeah, like that really makes me feel better. Goddamn it, the monks will probably steal my clothes and take them inside the monastery and I'll never get them back. Maybe they'll leave my underwear. Shit, they'll definitely take my underwear if anything."
A bare naked Kirie lamented her own misfortune while a fully dressed Astral succumbed to a fit of giggles.

With a sigh and a slightly upset voice Tayuumi said, "Kurama, this seems like a thing you need to do alone. Anyways, I need to get back to the ship. Yuu is still there and I don't want that little girl picking on him anymore. I'll see you when you get back."

Kurama gazed at her for a moment. Before he could recover from this sudden remark, Tayuumi had already asked a monk to let her through the portal and he humbly abliged.

She continued her back tracked steps until she came upon the ship...

While most of the airship's crew went to the monk's temple, Yuu stayed on the airship. He was to busy eating cookies to pay attention to anything about monks and barriers.

He was trying to eat his cookies in peace, but there was constant idiotic yelling from some idiot somewhere on the airship. After something about a man named Rooky, Yuu couldn't take it anymore.

Like all of his problems, Yuu decided to solve this one with his drawings. He took out his paintbrush and scroll, then drew a picture. It was of a large man, with a gigantic mouth. His power was to create extremely loud noises. After Yuu brought him to life, he ducked and covered his ears. The large man took a deep breath, then let out a yell that shook the airship.

"SHUT UP!"

Kirie and Astral turned their heads sharply towards the sudden blast of sound. Then they looked at each other.
"So?"
"Even if those monks took my clothes that way, I'm not going. I can tolerate being naked if I have to."
Apparently, Kirie and Astral had done well enough in the brief fight to force to the monks to rethink their strategies and they withdrawed, but not before stealing all of Kirie's clothing. "I imagine they did it to inconvenience you."
"Oh, I'm definitely inconvenienced, alright. And if I ever encounter those bastards, they'll know my irritation. I'll shove it right down their throats."
"There might be some spare garments for you back at the ships." Astral offered.
"Yeah, but I don't want to lead any enemies to them unless they're able to leave. Better wait until later."
The two girls started walking, looking for a better place to wait around.

The temple inside the barrier was a grand place. It was a giant construction made of stone and glass. There were towers and halls made for nearly any kind of use. And in the front of it, where the group had entered, was a large courtyard. The ground of the courtyard was etched with a giant sigil made of raised brick.

Kurama watched as Tayuumi left. He turned to the rest of his group.

"Youji. Follow Tayuumi to the ship and help look after things. In fact, grab four good monks to help you. They'll be more than happy to oblige. Now, for the rest of you, we need to-"

"KURAAAAAAAMAAAAAAAA!"

Kurama was suddenly tackled by a very fast moving person. He was sprawled on the ground as the figure sat on top of him. He mumbled as his face was pushed into the ground.

"Hello, Sarai."

The figure that had glomped him was Sarai, the only female monk in the temple. The monks of the temple were nearly all male orphans that had been collected from nearby areas. If they had collected females as well, then the monks would be distracted from their training. Sarai, however, was the only child of the Elder Monk, and as such was allowed to stay.

She and Kurama had met several years ago, when Kurama's father was making the rounds of old contacts. He was the first person she had met from outside the temple, and they became fast friends. Kurama visited the temple several more times, and each time he and Sarai would play together. However, this visit was for business.

"Sarai, I need to talk to your father. Is he here?"

"Of course he's here. Where else would he go?"

"True."

Taken stood stone silent and listened to the others for a time as they discussed back and forth where they would go. When it seemed that they had all come to their own conclusions, Taken finally spoke. "I was hired to slay Kurama. I shall go to the barrier, if that is where he will be found," he said simply. His words were spoken with the comfortable confidence one would use to say their name or assert that gravity does, indeed, exist.

Youji nodded at Kurama's command and motioned for four red robed monks to follow him. After passing through the barrier once again, the group began to make their way back to the airship.

However-it appeared that Tayuumi was quicker than they (or at least Youji) had thought though for they could see no trace of her when they left, aside from the tracks she had made walking to and hurrying from the temple. Not one who enjoyed having any member of the team isolated, he quickened his pace to catch up, which the monks behind him easily matched.

A single tear smacked down upon the deck as Sanjuro crushed the final remains of his dear friend into nothingness. His fist shook in anger as he spiraled around to the giant lipped man who stood behind him. "WHO ARE YOU BIG MOUTH MAN?! YOU THINK YOU CAN'T JUST BARGE IN HERE AND TELL ME, THE GREAT SANJURO YAMADA, FIGHTER-FOR-HIRE WHAT TO DO! YOU ARE WRONG BIG MOUTH MAN! TO PROVE HOW WRONG YOU ARE I'M GOING TO... I'm....I'M GOING TO PUNCH YOU RIGHT IN YOUR BIG MOUTH!!!"

Sanjuro hurled his fist towards the giant mans jaw with his eyes clenched so tightly that not even his own tears could pour through them. (He has strong tears.)

While there had been the outlines of plans made, events had stepped up when one of Kirakiri's watchers had reported the airship's arrival. They had landed fairly close to the barrier but it was still more than enough time to proceed with their plan. As Kirakiri had suspected, the majority of Kurama's companions had entered the Temple. They had resolved to attack at dusk.

There were always complications though it seemed. At Taken's comment, Kirakiri turned to him once more, "It is doubtful whether Kurama would accept a challenge from you if you were to go there. If you simply wait until this attack on their flying vessel is made, it is almost certain that Kurama will come right to you."

Kirakiri didn't mention that he believed extensive evidence of a hostile force could ruin this planned attack. He'd deemed simply attacking that patrol to be risk enough. It was at that moment one of his messangers came in, and whispered an urgent message to him. Kirakiri's eyes widened slightly. "They what? No, I shall have to handle it myself."

He announced what this news was, "It seems the Kimonos have landed ships here along with a considerable force. Someone should make contact with them. Unfortunately, there is something I must attend to. I shall return in time for our planned assault." With that, he turned and departed, obviously in a hurry.

"Perhaps, but he is already inside the barrier...and we know he will have to return to his Airship. By being there first, we ensure an encounter with him. An encounter he won't walk away from. I will have my vengeance, but you can keep the corpse, to ensure you get your payment. If that is not enough, my family can provide monetary compensation. In the unlikely event that I die fighting Kurama, feel free to fight him yourself." Raikotsu responded coolly to Taken's words, standing up and beginning to pace as he strategized.

"Hinote, cast your spell now. We will need some time to destroy the Airship, and I do so hate to be interrupted."

Ningyou looked up to see Tayuumi returning from the temple. Deciding to pull Sanjuro's attention away from the conflict, and the continual loss of his at chess she pointed her out. "Hey Mr. Yamada. The lady you were talking about is back!" She said it rather loudly hoping to deter the entire incident. Looking out at the forest around them she suddenly had a feeling through her body. "...Yes master I agree, there are other daemons on this island. But what am I to do about it, I cannot fight your servents....no my lord of course I wouldn't kill those faithful to you. But I beleive this is the best way. But there are those here that could be useful in your army. Yes lord I understand. Of course. As you command." Ningyou mumbled to herself looking out trying to figure out where the daemons were. Figuring they were too spread out she let it go, instead focusing on watching the area around the airship. "Maybe they'll be wild and I can have some fun." She said more audibly.

Reaper sneaked a few cookies in during the entire tirade until a small cough was emitted behind him. "Reaper, I told you to ask for cookies and come back, I left Kuruma behind to get you again. Protect your friend." Automatically Reaper sprung up, inserting himself in the space between the former paint incarnation and Yuu. Grim spoke up, in case Chi's attention-displacement failed. "I believe the matter is settled Mr. Sanjuro, we can all lower our voices again."

Leaving the matter behind, Grim walked over to he overview, seeing the halfling being trailed by the embodied sword and some more monks. "Well," He spoke to no one in particular but made sure that Chi heard, "It seems reinforcements are grouping, not to mention the monks."

From behind Reaper's left leg, Yuu's head popped out. He pulled down the skin under his right eye and stuck his tongue out at Sanjuro. Then, while still doing that and looking at Sanjuro, he turned around and smacking his butt at the big idiot.

"Yes lord Raikotsu" Hinote says with a slight flourish and a bow. Pulling out his wicked knife he once again dribbled a few drops of blood from its tip onto the garments of another, namely Raikotsu in this instance. They blood formed into a symbol of connection and of power, forging a bond between the two.

Yet again, Hinote's side was blank.

Shaking his fist towards Reaper while keeping his eyes focused on the small boy beneath him. "I WILL DESTROY YOU SMACKY-BUTT CHILD, NO ONE SMACKS THEIR..." It was at this very moment that Ningyou's words sunk into the mind of the battle-hardened fighter-for-hire's mind. "KOIBITO!" Sanjuro leapt from the airships deck landing just in front of his fair damsel. The resulting explosion of dirt and sand could be seen for a mile.

As the hail of dirt and sand hailed down to the earth below Sanjuro's hands latched upon hers, "MY DEAR KOIBITO, THE RECENT DEATH OF MY FRIEND HAS SHOWN ME, SANJURO YAMADA, FIGHTER-FOR-HIRE THAT LIFE UPON THIS EARTH IS A FRAGILE AND DELICATE OBJECT WHICH YOU CAN CRUSH BY ACCIDENT. WHICH IS WHY YOU MUST ACCEPT MY PROPOSAL OF LOVE HERE AND NOW!"

(Koibito = sweetheart. Learn one word a day and in a few years you'll know a lot of stuff.)

Her eyes fixed upon Sanjuro for a moment. His heartfelt attempt was almost cute. Almost.

She walked right by him and placed her hand on his shoulder. On her way by she whispered, "No."

"NOOOOO!!!!" Sanjuro clutched at Tayuumi's waist as would a child, he then began to weep and whine like a spoiled brat. "NONONONONONO! TRUE LOVE CAN'T BE STOPPED BY 'NO'! YOU MUST LOVE ME, I'M SANJURO YAMADA!"

(Totally going to be the last time I use a size modifier I swear.)

Tayuumi looked down at the begging man and had sympathy for him. She placed her finger on his lips gently and he ceased his yelling.

"I'm sorry. I have no time for love. I hope you can understand. You're nice, but we are too busy on a mission. Now could you please let go as I need to go check on Yuu."

Sanjuro tearfully released Tayuumi from his grasp, he let out a tiny whimper as he sat into the dirt. His lip quivered gently as he held back the tears which had flowed so much just moments before.

Taken's eyes moved to Raikotsu, looking directly through him, at the wind demon's remark. "Your money means nothing to me. I seek only worthy opponents," the mercenary spoke, his tone still level as ever, "However, with your wounds, I doubt your ability to challenge Kurama, even if he is as weak as other samurai."

With that, his eyes moved back into the void of space, completely unfocused, as though the swordsman was in a dream, "However, I work for Kirakiri, and he has suggested I go to the airship, thus that is where I shall go."

Something tweaked in Garud's head. Wordlessly, he moved over to Kurama, and offered him his hand, gesturing for him to get up.

Have I done this before? It seems like it.

(OOC: Happy now Pyros? I did that whole "this is familiar thing" Now where's that cookie you promised me?)

A while later, Kirie and Astral in their search for a good place to wait, found someone waiting for them. Kirakiri, in the same human form he'd met Taken in, sat on a rock and watched them come closer. Suspicious of lone human samurai in the middle of nowhere, the pair approached cautiously. When within a reasonable speaking range, Kirakiri stood up.

"You are Kirie and Astral, correct? I must speak with you."

OOC: Well, I could have gone on a bit, but I thought it might be more interesting to leave an interlude.

Kazunori now sat down, with a drink in both hands, watching the show that was being preformed at the airship. The only reason he came was because he was curious of the airship, and now he so wanted to stick with them to watch how Sanjuro and Tayuumi would react to each other. Though it looked like it would end here soon, and so Kazu managed to stand and approached, of course swaying on his way there, but that was normal.

Astral glanced at Kirie, who was using her left arm to cover her breasts and the Heavy Claymore in her right hand to hide the naughtiest bits. "Recognize him?" Astral asked, loud enough for Kirakiri to hear.
"I've pretty much forgotten all of the people I saw there. They didn't leave a memorable impression on my mind. Still, I don't think this one was with them."
"Maybe someone dispatched here apart from the main force."
Kirie shrugged, and decided to finally do something about the human they encountered. "We'll hear what you have to say. Go ahead."

Kirakiri seemed to pay no attention to Kirie's lack of attire. He continued mildly, "I aided in the relocation of the other forces that battled near the former landing site of Genkai's airship. Kurama has entered the Temple and we have deemed it unwise to engage in an attack on it at this time. His airship though, is far more vulnerable and we have commited to a dusk assault."

"However, your little fleet lacks subtlety. Thankfully it seems it wasn't spotted but the risk was very high. As for attacking a pair of monks and letting them escape, that is simply foolhardy. Remaining an unknown enemy prevents an effective defense. I was forced to deal with them myself."

Kirakiri was absolutely certain the monks Kirie and Astral had enountered wouldn't be able to report what they'd seen because they were now dead, by his hand.

With one of their patrols having gone missing the previous day, the monks had reacted as Kirakiri had expected them to - sending search parties to scour the section of the island the patrol had been sent to. Due to their limited numbers, they'd broken into smaller groups of two, instructed to retreat if they came across any significant opposition. Half a dozen monks had met some misfortune after all, so a pair could hardly face whatever had disabled them.

This had also been why they had broken off from their battle with Kirie and Astral so quickly. Kirakiri had tracked them down, masqueraded as one of the monks who he'd killed and approached them seeming badly wounded and feverish. He'd slain one of them nigh instantly by catching him off guard as he attempted to help support the shapechanger and the second had succumbed soon afterwards. After that, Kirakiri had been left with the relatively minor task of tracking down the two who had failed to do the job in the first place.

"I can not have rogue elements running around on our own side." Kirakiri finished, carefully taking off his cloak and bundling it in one hand, "Thus, coordination of the two force is necessary." He wordlessly tossed the folded cloak to the grass at Kirie's feet and waited for a reply.

OOC: Hmm, Kirakiri doing the gentlemanly thing. We need a new thread.