Soldiers of Light - Chapter 2: "You Belong To The City"

[Astral Harmony]

"If I may use the tiresome cliche, 'desperate times call for desperate measures'." Shizuka shrugged. "Unfortunately for him, Kurama knows all too well that he is the only one who might slay Lord Talkatz, and only with the Raigaki. That affords him no luxury to be the typical hero to take detours and make sure there are no cats stuck up in trees. Uhh...no offense, Masumi-sama."

"There you are, Mizuno-sama!"

It was Chizuru, sprinting through the streets. "Kagi-san is attacking some kind of seaworthy vessel and I think he's all by himself out there!"

Shizuka swore and glanced around quickly. "A moment, please." Then she grabbed her broken tanto and used what little steel remained to scratch something into the side of a nearby building. Some kind of a map?

"Take this money and go to that building. The humans there have my sword and clothes. Retrieve them for me, quickly."

With a quick nod and just enough time to retrieve Shizuka's money, Chizuru was gone in a flash while Shizuka returned to the others. "I had thought that we had found a lull in the combat and I thought I might disguise myself in order to entreat upon the Air Kami with no further harassment. Unfortunately, Kurama's got this young male nekomata with him. Really good at tracking and he wouldn't leave me alone. Unfortunately, without my equipment, he was defeating me until Yuurei arrived. Together we drove him away with the help of Zelenha-ojousama's fire magic. I swear on my life that I will consume that boy the moment I can get my mandibles on him."

Chizuru returned quickly, and Shizuka didn't bother with finding an appropriate changing area before she stripped down and rearmed herself. Chizuru even managed to somehow collect a few apples.
"Anyways, that's the highlight of my evening, Zelenha-ojousama. Shall we go assist Kagi-san? Or should I focus on negotiating with the Air Kami for our own means of transportation?"

Shizuka's Current Apples: 3

[Steel Shadow]

Zel considered the situation as everyone rushed about, changing clothes or talking with hushed voices. It seemed that despite the setbacks, everyone was in good shape and ready for more.

Except Kagi. Chizuru's news on the missing demon was welcome, if unfortunate. Another battle. Well, Zel decided, they could hardly leave one of their own to fight alone, even if he had insisted on running off to do so.

She looked to Yuurei. "Are you still in contact with him? What's his status? Who is he fighting?"

Originally Posted by Astral Harmony

"Anyways, that's the highlight of my evening, Zelenha-ojousama. Shall we go assist Kagi-san? Or should I focus on negotiating with the Air Kami for our own means of transportation?"

"Both," Zel answered, looking around at her gathered team. They had only just reunited, but already it was time to split them up again. "Shizuka-hime, your entreaty to the Kami is our highest priority - if we cannot travel quickly out foes will surely beat us to our goals. I will support you in your efforts, and make sure that any further ambushes fail." The Nekomata may yet still be in the area, after all.

She turned to the next face. "Masumi, you believe you can turn the town? Then impress me. I look forward to seeing the result of your skills."

And finally, the specter. "Yuurei, I trust Kagi's fate to you. Take Vis, and if Shizuka-hime will permit it, Chizuru, and help him. Support him to victory if possible, secure his escape if not. I leave the details to you."

The Shadow Fairy looked displeased to be separating from her master, but made no vocal complaints. Instead she just flittered over to hover near the specter, her arms folded across her chest.

"Our time is limited, and the race is on. Return here when you're done, or to the fall-back location if you're unable. If you've any questions or suggestions, make them quick, else let's be off." She waved a hand, dismissing the meeting. It was time to act!

[Astral Harmony]

Synosis: Shizuka successfully negotiates with the Air Kami.

Shizuka nodded quickly, then turned to her subordinate.

"Chizuru, go and help Yuurei," Shizuka instructed her. "Remember that your skills work best when you're in a one-on-one battle and try not to take on more than you can handle."

Chizuru nodded and sided with Yuurei. Shizuka took a deep breath and with her courage built up, entered the Air Kami's temple.

"WHAT WORSHIP BRINGS YOU TO MY TABLE, OR WHAT SHIP HAVE YOU LOST AND BLAME UPON ME?"

Then the Air Kami took a better look at Shizuka. "Oh, one of the comedy duo from before. Have you settled your noisy little discussion? Well, make it quick. I'm sure all that fighting outside will be lumped upon me for some reason or another. Humans are fickle."

Shizuka thought about it, then decided to put the Kusabi sword and her apples aside. Best to handle this negotiation unarmed if she was going to offer the Air Kami any good faith. Then she stepped forward and sat down, seiza style, and kneeled forward as though in worship.

"Great and honorable Air Kami-sama, my name is Mizuno Shizuka of the-"
"You apparently did not hear me the first time."
Shizuka slowly sat back up. "My lord Kami-sama?"
"'Make it quick.' That is what I said, was it not? So, please do so. I may be eternal but I do not possess an eternity for these silly formalities."
Shizuka quickly kneeled back into groveling mode again. "Yes, honorable Kami-sama!"

Shizuka wondered if all extremely powerful, ageless beings like Lord Talkatz and the Air Kami would be so awkward to speak with.

"I would like to request a possible method of transportation over great distances for me and-"

Shizuka mentally counted the names of all her comrades in arms, then gave that number to the Air Kami. The Air Kami stroked his beard, causing gusts of wind to blow through the large room. "I see. And this is all that you request?"
"Yes, my lord Kami-sama."
"Very well, then. As it turns out, I do have a number of devices that would actually suit your purposes nicely, and I also have enough of these devices for all the people you described for me."

Shizuka sat up with a bright smile on her face, only to discover that the Air Kami was holding up one hand. "And normally I would see no point in denying to provide you with something for which I no longer have use for or require, but you have disturbed my peace and quiet and were party to the battle that raged in this city."
"So it's...no good?" Shizuka's heart sank.
"Now, now, now, your face is not nearly as beautiful when contorted in despair," the Air Kami said. "If you were willing to do something for me as a manner of apology, I could see fit to provide you with which you seek."

Shizuka grit her teeth. She would gladly brave any challenge or torture for the sake of receiving the Kami's favor...

----------------------------------------------------------------------

...But she wasn't quite sure this was really worth it.

"Remember, you need to smile and pose. Do it."
Shizuka did her best, but she was so confused. "Does it make sense for me to wear a bunny girl outfit, though? I'm a spider demon."
"You are thinking too hard. Now, try on this one. And remember to smile."

...

Now Shizuka was all dolled up in another bizarre fetish. "A Catholic nun? I don't even think catholicism has been introduced to Japan yet."
"You are forgetting to smile. Are you quite certain you want my assistance?"
Shizuka perked up immediately. "Absolutely, my lord Kami-sama!"

...

Shizuka did her best to rock this new outfit, but she was so very confused. "You called this a 'plugsuit', Kami-sama? Is this some kind of special armor of the gods?"
"Sure, something like that," the Air Kami said dismissively.
"It's certainly form-fitting," Shizuka said, looking herself over. The way it hugged her body, it didn't leave much to the imagination. "I guess the gods have no need for armor plating or helmets."

...

"Now say the phrase and do the poses exactly as I have instructed you."
Shizuka nodded and went through a series of overdramatic and ridiculous poses. "With the passion of everlasting love burning within my breast, I, Mahou Shoujo Shizuka, will punish you in the name of justice!"
The Air Kami carefully scrutinized Shizuka for a moment. "Try to do the poses a little more slowly. I could not see very well."
Shizuka sighed. This was somehow more exhausting than fighting Leer.

...

"Master, is this to your liking, nya?"
The Kami looked closely at Shizuka. "Try to make fists with your hands and curl your wrists downward, like you are pretending to be a cat."
"I have a comrade who is a real nekomata and I don't think she does that, nya."
"Please send her to me so I may instruct her on how to be cute, nya."
"I believe she'll undertake your tutelage on being cute around when the Makai Realm freezes over...wait, why're you talking like that, nya?"

...

This continued on for the better part of an hour. The Air Kami had Shizuka try out a multitude of costumes, from a nurse with a super-short miniskirt to a kitsune shrine maiden to a school swimsuit that somehow had Shizuka's name on it. But in the end, the Air Kami decided to be good to his word.

"I call them skyboards," the Air Kami explained as Shizuka, now clothed normally, examined one. "Just wish them to carry you to the skies, and they will obey. You will be able to cross great distances with no exhaustive effort."
Shizuka set the board aside and seated herself before the Kami. "I thank you very much, my lord Kami-sama, are you sure we can really have these?"
"The flows of destiny have already decided the conclusion of all of your battles long before you were ever able to pick up a blade," the Air Kami explained as thought it was simple matter of fact. "Any assistance provided by myself, or any number of Kami, will not matter."

Shizuka bowed deeply to the Kami, and then gathered up all the skyboards and hurried out. She had been away from the fight for so long. Chizuru had to have been already deep in the action.

[lazy man]

Yuurei made a motion of acceptance at Zel's order and disappeared without a word, knowing its companions would be able to keep up. Going through buildings was out of the question if staying together was needed, so it opted to move from roof to roof. Even if easily seen, Yuurei was only focused on getting Kagi out of his current jam now that his other companions had decided to focus on escaping.

It didn't take too long before the source of the explosions was visible to the three, but the problem of Kagi's location may have been an issue to the fairy and kunoichi. In the bottom of the boat, prepared to stare down the Raigaki itself with next to no preparation, time was once again of the essence. Plus the boat itself was out on the water, which would mean entry would be difficult for almost anyone due to its apparent defenses.

"It would be best to make sure our exit is not delayed by any of Genkai's companions returning to him, please make sure to delay them if they approach," Yuurei asked of Chizuru and Vis. Before they could maybe ask to help, the phantom was already speeding off toward the boat, disappearing under the water and intending to get to Kagi as directly as possible. And if Kagi was already fighting, the answer would simply be to delay Kurama for as long as possible while the metal demon got away.

Phasing through the hull of the ship, the specter prepared itself to interfere in whatever way possible.

[Astral Harmony]

Chizuru hurried up to the edge of the river, stopping short of the water and facing away from the ship to locate anyone who would be planning on assisting Kurama. Because there was about to be a lot of action on the boat right behind her, Chizuru was having trouble concentrating, which meant that she wasn't going to be able to fight at her best.

Hopefully, what little time she could buy for Yuurei would be enough for him to extract Kagi from the boat. She readied her twin tonfas and maintained a protective posture alongside the boat's position. Her eyes searched the area for Kurama's allies. "I can buy Yuurei-san all the time he needs," Chizuru ensured herself. "I won't be able to take down any of Kurama's allies, but I think I can keep Yuurei-san from dealing with reinforcements."