Fushigi Touzai: Higuchi

 

Kieran and Dylan fight in Central Park.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Royal Elizabeth-Penthouse 1

 

Mahogany is prevalent, drawing along the dramatic lines of this

rather swanky penthouse. Opening into the outer hallway is a pair of

double doors, raised upon a couple of steps before the sunken front

area. With expansive wood floors and vaulting ceiling, the space

afforded is extraordinarily luxurious.  Even more impressive is the

view granted by the panel windows that look out onto a wide balcony

dressed with topiary and the spread of Manhattan.

Within, there is a grouping of leather couches rather close to a

fireplace and just off to the side of an open bar area. Further

along and closer to the windows is a long dining table rimmed with

high-backed chairs as off to the left leads to the kitchen. On to

the right is a set of stairs that lead up towards a loft that

overlooks the entire area. Over all, there is an almost impersonal

aura to the place, with no personality other than what the interior

decorator left it with.

 

Obvious exits:

Exit   Loft   Bedroom

 

Kieran begins to dial his phone.

Dylan answers his phone.

 

<Phone> Dylan had been in a half sleep, part of his mind kept active

to maintain contact with Toroki. That number, however, is enough to

make him wake up completely.  "Hello?" 

 

<Phone> The voice on the other end is tired or perhaps just

lethargic. It's hard to tell. "She's alright. One of the others of

Nainokami healed her."

 

<Phone> "Give her back, Kyoka." Dylan is going to demand this no

matter how often it takes until Toroki is home.  "You have no reason

to hold onto her, she doesn't belong there."  Now he's wide awake,

no traces of sleep in his voice at all. 

 

<Phone> "I'm so... My goddess wants her, Karasuki. You know I have

little choice in the matter now. If Byakko had made the same request

of you, you would have to obey." Kieran knows this. He already knows

Karasuki does his duty no matter what. "Do you hate me that much?"

 

<Phone> Dylan pauses, sitting up once more.  "Byakko would never ask

such a thing from me. Do I hate you? At this moment, I consider you

a dead man, and I don't make a practice of hating corpses. If you

want to face me, then come face me, but let her go."

 

<Phone> Kieran releases a soft sigh, the telltale sound of someone

smoking on the other end of the phone. "I could come to face you,

but I can't let her go. That's out of my hands at the moment,

Karasuki."

 

<Phone> "You're a puppet, then? Spineless puppet, then come face

me."  Dylan, to put it mildly, is pissed.  "I won't allow you to

keep her, you know this. If you don't give her back, I'm going to

take her from you, and I intend to keep taking things from you until

you beg that worm you serve for death." 

 

<Phone> Kieran is not rising to the bait this time. So very odd

considering the other conversations had before. "Maybe I am. Or

maybe I am a faithful servant the way you always were, Karasuki. How

is my goddess any different from your god, I wonder? If we were the

Yang, then nothing we did would be questioned. But... there is

nothing for you to take from me Karasuki. You already have it all.

What more could you possibly want."

 

<Phone> "Your life, or your death. I'm not a picky man when it comes

to things like this."  Dylan isn't baiting, he's stating simple

facts.  "Faithful servant? More like a lapdog who's gotten too big a

self image."

 

<Phone> "You say that as if you know me, but other than my name, you

have very little idea of the man I am, Karasuki. And that is the

problem," replies Kieran, his voice dropping a notch. "If I am a

lapdog, I was the lapdog of you and Byakko first and foremost. That

is what shaped me. They call as oni, but aren't we all, senshi and

seishi, aren't we all oni? Look at what we're doing to the world."

 

<Phone> Dylan smirks. "No, we're nothing alike. You allowed your

past to shape you, we had nothing to do with that. We did what we

had to do, nothing more. You point out so well what we are doing to

the world, but I haven't seen the Byakko making any huge

contributions to the ruination of this world. No, it's not us that

wants this world destroyed."  Karasuki's god would be a twee bit

ticked at his seishi for doing things like that.  "You want to prove

that we're on the same level, oni? Come face me. I'll show you just

exactly how equal we are." 

 

<Phone> Kieran chuckles darkly, "You didn't allow your past to shape

you? I never knew you for a liar, Karasuki. Why start now? Of course

you let your past shape you. How else would you have accepted

Nainokami's offer eight years ago? No, there was something in side

you that wanted what she had to give. We both know this. Don't be so

quick to judge when you've walked in my shoes and from what I hear,

you were far, far nastier than I could ever hope to be."

 

<Phone> "I didn't say it didn't shape me, I said that it didn't make

me who I am now. Judge you? You flatter yourself, oni. Judging you

would mean that you're worth my thought, and we both know that's not

true. I've told you what I want, oni, I want the girl back. If you

want to face me, face me. If not, this conversation is over." Dylan

pauses, then, waiting for a moment to speak.  "You're afraid? Are

you afraid that I might just end your miserable existence?"

 

<Phone> Kieran takes a breath, exhaling it so very slowly, "No,

Karasuki. I'm afraid not that you'll end my existence, but that I

want you to. Alright. We should meet. It will only be me. I've told

you I cannot bring Toroki back. Not yet."

 

<Phone> Dylan lets a slow smile of the angry variety curve his

lips. "Name the place."  Karasuki's voice loses any pretense of

civility now, becoming a much darker version of his normal

tones.  "I'll be there." 

 

<Phone> Kieran sighs, resigned, "Do you wish a place where you can

fight me without fear of harming others then, Karasuki?"

 

<Phone> "At the moment, I'll take what I can get. I'd rather we not

harm anyone else in the process, yes."  Dylan doesn't want others to

be hurt, but there are times when it can't be avoided. He knows

this. "Where?"

 

<Phone> Kieran considers this a moment, "Central park, at the

Needle. then. I can easily scare off anyone who might interrupt us.

That suitable, Karasuki?"

 

<Phone> Dylan stands, slipping his feet into his shoes. "I'll be

there." 

 

Dylan hangs up his phone.

You hang up your phone.

 

Sebastian emerges from the bedroom area, looking freshly pressed and

back to his old, well-dressed self. He moves down the open stairs

from the loft area, just catching Kieran's voice as he speaks on the

phone. "Karasuki?" he echoes.

 

Kieran ends the call on his cell phone, tossing it aside. He

continues smoking his cigarette as if he's not just agreed to go and

fight a man who wants him quite dead. The sound of Sebastian's voice

startles him it appears, but he doesn't turn around. "Yes," he

answers. Then, "I have to go, Sebastian. I don't know if I'll be

back." Where's that crystal bowl ashtray thingie when you need it?

 

Sebastian nods his head slowly, "I'm not sure I precisely understand

this obsession that you seem to have with the man, but some time you

will have to tell me about it. I don't have you tell you that this

isn't exactly the most intelligent thing for you to do, do I? But

neither will I stop you. I can stand as your second, if you will...

I promise not to get involved, but only clean up after all is over."

 

Kieran turns around to face the other man, after finally putting out

the cigarette in the bowl. "I can't let you do that. It'll be just

he and I. At the Needle. It's your choice to come looking for me

there later, to see if there's anything left of either him or me."

Approaching the other oni, Kier reaches out to touch warm fingers to

his cheek. "I wasn't weak last night, I realized. You may not have

done what I did, but my goddess brought that girl to heal you. So

all is well. Try not to think of me less for what happened or what

will happen. As for Karasuki, he was the only person that Kyoka ever

loved.... I don't expect you to understand. I have to go now. I

can't portal there directly, so I need to catch a stupid cab."

 

Sebastian bows his head to Kieran, grinning wryly. "Then go. I

cannot and will not stop you. Do as you think is best. If you do not

try to contact me, I'll open a portal to the area in an hour or two

to check. I wish you well, Kieran." He leans over to plant a kiss on

the man's cheek before continuing his progress and moving away.

 

Kieran reaches out to clutch his arm as he passes, his voice barely

above a whisper. "Tell Reese I said thank you. Tell her I'm sorry.

Good-bye, Sebastian." The hand falls away and Kieran is moving for

the door.

 

Central Park - Cleopatra's Needle

 

Walking up the gently sloped steps on the west side of the monument,

you step beneath a canopy of enfolding tree branches before emerging

upon the raised platform where Cleopatra's Needle is located. The

needle itself is at least 100 feet tall, inscribed with ancient

hieroglyphic writings that are translated upon bronzed plaques on

all four sides of the obelisk. The actual monument is fenced off, a

simple rail actually, running a square barrier around it.

Some of the plaques with translations are incomplete, where time has

washed away the former symbols that once stood proudly for

centuries. Listings of Pharoahs and their great deeds are incomplete

thanks to the rain and pollution of NYC. Although all had been done

to presevere what is left, the gaps remain a mystery to

archeologists.

 

Karasuki is here.

Obvious exits:

Central Park (SO)

 

Dylan is already there, standing by the railing to the needle and

watching the area about him in what might be a relaxed manner. He's

waiting, yes, and waiting on the oni to appear. He wants to kill

this one painfully.

 

Not having the ability to actually portal directly without causing

himself a lot of trouble, Kieran had to rely on a regular cab to get

to the park. He strolls down the path as if he were going to meet a

friend, a small smile on his lips, betraying nothing of his own

inner turmoil. He catches sight of Dylan and pauses, a breath caught

in his throat as memories of a life past push to the surface. Onward

he then strides, calling out, "I'm here." And yes, there's a

cigarette hanging from his mouth again.

 

Dylan turns a slow glance at Kieran, his gaze becoming more

predatory in nature.  "Yes, you are. Shall we?"  Cool, even tones

issue from the seishi as one hand is held out at his side, the whip

Kyoka would be quite familiar with forming within seconds.  Oddly

enough, he's finally going to fight a person he's met here at the

needle- thank you, irony- and does mean to inflict serious damage

and death.  "You still have time to run." 

 

Kieran pulls the cigarette from his mouth and drops it, still lit,

into his palm. Within seconds a sphere of fire come into instant

life, feed now by the fire of Higuchi's own blood as it shapes

itself into a flaming lash, a match for Dylan's whip. He reaches up

to tug the black choker from his neck, revealing the kanji for fire

upon the right side of his neck, the glow oozing white and black. "I

have no intention of running from you, Karasuki. Shall we embrace at

last?"

 

Dylan was really, really hoping Higuchi would say that, and that

slow grin only indicates this. "I've been waiting for this."  And he

has. He wants this oni to die.  There's a flare from his neck, his

own kanji flashing into life as he goes from dead stop to full

charge at Kieran, the faintest rumblings of a secondary, more

internal attack beginning as he lashes out with the more physical

assault of the whip.  "Let's." 

 

You hear Karasuki in your head saying, 'There is coldness in the

projected thoughts, nearly deadly iciness that courses through the

veins. That bite carries with it an image of stillness within

blinding white with one clear intent. <Die>'

 

Heat courses in waves from Kieran, the lash in his hand going

unmoved as he closes his eyes to the death coming for him inside his

mind. For a moment, his breathing seems to stop. Catching for a

handful of seconds until the black void that is Nainokami's touch

spreads outward from within. "If only it were that easy," he says,

lips tight, eyes opening to reveal fiery red tucked within amber.

The oni holds is arms out to side, as if he were awaiting the

charging man to come and truly hug him. The moment Dylan is within

range, Higuchi himself will burst into flames. Yes, let them embrace.

 

Dylan is more aware in this state than he'd normally be, though that

flame? Yes, ouch.  The water formed into its tight whip lashes out,

attempting to curl about the oni and his fire. Of course, he's close

enough to be reached, but that hasn't occurred to him just yet, his

only intention is to cause the death of this oni, and he's going to

go about that until it's done.  His empty hand reaches out,

attempting to open a close-ended portal, closing it quickly but not

re-absorbing the water. Instead, it's sent toward the flames with

the intent to douse them.  "I don't think so." 

 

You hear Karasuki in your head saying, 'The coldness becomes more

pronounced, ice coursing through the thought patterns like daggers.

<Die> The order is there once more within that blinding whiteness.

Yes, Karasuki is paying for the battle at this point, but his mental

approach becomes more direct, aimed at that spot within the psyche

that controls awareness of the self, attempting to close it off

completely.'

 

Kieran reaches out to grab one of Dylan's arms, aiming for the one

that's holding that water. Fingers, blackening from the touch of

fire, close around the other man's wrist, the heat and the flames

biting into the skin. His clothes are likely to catch on fire at

this point as well. However, the fire oni is not avoiding the water,

but instead concentrating on making the contacting fire grow and

burn, pushing his own heat into the seishi, driving it into his

blood in effort to make it boil and evaporate all that troublesome

water. The voice inside his head drives a howl of pain from him now

as it comes to bear on that part which is Kyoka. The obsession. The

blinding love. The undying hate.

 

Half of the water evaporates away with a hiss, and Dylan's arm is,

indeed, grabbed. There's pain from the heat, both inner and outer,

but that's pushed aside for the moment as he lashes out once more.

The whip is aimed for the neck, though the close proximity might be

a bit of a hindrance.  Karasuki makes no sound at this point, his

entire awareness being focused on killing an enemy prevents this,

but he's going to pay for this later if he lives.  There's a

momentary pause as he attempts another portal, this one opening

below his feet and ending behind the oni in an attempt to get out of

his reach and continue with the attack.  Either he's going to be

burnt to a crisp, or he's going to end up a mummified seishi.

 

You hear Karasuki in your head saying, 'The white becomes less of a

constant, the light flashing as if to confuse and freeze. That spot

within Kieran's psyche is targeted once more with swift daggers of

nearly frozen water, no longer ice. <Stop.> The words reverberate as

if within some empty hall. <STOP!> It's directed at everything

within the oni's mind at once.'

 

Kieran twists his head to the side, letting the whip come around his

neck purposefully, even as it cuts deeply into his skin and cuts off

his air. His other hand grabs for the water weapon, fiery hand

closing around it with a sizzle. He yanks on it, the water solid

enough beneath his hand as he keeps his flames at bay, trying to

bring Dylan into his full embrace, keeping him out of the portal.

The heat within does not abate as it fights through the seishi's chi

to raise internal temperatures high and higher. The mental attack,

however, drives another wretched sound for Higuchi's throat, the

blackness filling his mind completely now. Driving out of it is the

heart of Kyoka's suffering - the beast of malformed longing, desire,

lust. The beast that is lunging for the psychic cords linking mind

to mind. Too bad it's breaking the oni apart to do so.

 

Dylan ends up pulling the water back quickly before he's yanked,

grabbed by the oni before he could break of the mental attack to

stave off the physical one. With the heat Higuchi is using, it's

becoming difficult for this seishi to keep himself out of the fire,

so to speak.  There's only one thing to do at this point, and it's

going to cost Karasuki in droves. His free hand opens, forming yet

another whip to lash out at Kieran, aiming for his midsection

without pause as he redirects to run at the man.  Now, that reaction

to his mental attacks? Yeah, that's gonna hurt. In fact, he's

probably going to have one huge case of mind drain after this is

over, if he's not killed outright. 

 

You hear Karasuki in your head saying, 'The attacks take on a

different note, curling about the center that has been designated as

the core of Higuchi's psyche. <DIEFREEZESTOPDIEDROWN!> It all comes

in a flow of icy water that threatens to blind in its brilliance.

There is nothing but basic intent now, pure cold fury.'

 

Kieran's cry of pain as the mental attack lashes him echoes around

the park, the sound harsh, demonic and bone chilling. He draws in

all the heat around him, bringing back the fire filling Dylan,

sucking at the seish's own body heat as floods himself with it,

burning through his mind in effort to push Karasuki out, to shut

down his psyche before the other can kill him. The fire that was

consuming him is set free as Higuchi's control is no more, exploding

outward from in a blast gone wild, leaping toward the ground, the

grass, the Needle, and to the Byakko standing so close. The water

whip directed towards his stomach is forgotten, ignored, as it

pierces him directly, pushing through his body to come out the other

side, forcing the oni to his knees.

 

A portal has opened to Central Park - Cleopatra's Needle

Ichijin comes out of the portal.

Ichijin has closed the portal.

 

Dylan lets out a yell of his own, though he does manage to pull back

the whip to lash out at the fallen oni once more, though the other

is allowed to dissolve into a fall of water that soaks Karasuki lest

the outer fire match what's going on in his head. Managing a fall

backward that ends in a roll to the side.  "Damn," he mutters, not

looking a bit happy about this turn of events, but he has managed to

wound Higuchi, and the water used to form the second whip can no

longer be drawn back into his body. No risking contamination.  For

the moment, he's left turning to glare at the fire wielder, relying

on mental attack instead of physical, but even those reserves are

beginning to fail. 

 

You hear Karasuki in your head saying, 'The attack recedes

measurably, though it's in a flow of icy water that leaves behind

cold everywhere it touches. The cool anger is still there, hitting

at every spot left bare by former attacks. <DIEDIEDIEDIE> It all

comes in a blast of light that attempts to fight off fire and

darkness. <DIE>'

 

A whirling vortex, contain within itself begins to form. At least

the wind of which it has been created is not fanning the flames,

although as Uruki sets free of it he finds himself in the midst of

chaos. The portal is closed without a thought - practice does make

perfect - as the fear-stricken seishi is searching the battlefield

for Dylan. Found! "Suki!" Setsuna screams and then he's running -

toward the clashing pair.

 

Sebastian waited his hour or so, just as he said he would. But then

he is portaling into the park, seemingly walking out of thin air

with just the slightest of spatial ripples clinging to his form. He

steps lightly onto one of the many walks that lead towards the

needle, hesitating momentarily to take stock of the situation. The

battling oni are eyed with a narrowed glance, but it is the running

Uruki that garners his immediate attention. Blue glow immediately

comes to his hands, and almost negligently the man aims a blast to

furrow the ground before the Genbu. Not aiming to hit, just to

hinder. "Wait until they are finished!" He isn't so sure the other

is going to try to interfere in this fight or not.

 

There is so little left of Higuchi's psyche at the moment except

overwhelming fire and heat  which is fighting to stave off the cold

and ice of Karasuki's mental touches. Blood flows freely from the

wound through his body, seemingly molten lava in appearance until it

hits the ground and sizzles, becoming nothing more than the blood of

any other human. The heat still radiates around him, still

uncontrolled and it continues to push outward, rushing toward the

spot where Dylan stands in a roaring of flames.

 

The glow from Dylan's neck increases, though it's no hardship to

guess that he's using up the last of the reserves he'd had as a

water portal opens in front of him, to be evaporated away under the

force of the heat.  Hearing Uruki call his name causes momentary

distraction as he turns his head to glance at the other

seishi. "'Suna! Stop!" Oh, and there's the chi blast from

Ichijin.  "Harm him and I'll kill you next!" The last is yelled at

Sebastian before the heat hits him, and that's just really going to

smart. Thankfully, he has just enough control to fall back, letting

the flame scorch his skin and clothing but not allowing the killing

force that would have hit him if he'd not interfered. 

 

You hear Karasuki in your head saying, 'There's one last push of

power, bone chilling water filling the force of the thoughts that

push back against the defenses. <DIESTOPFREEZEDROWNDIEDIEDIE!> It's

not enough to kill, but the numbing effect is what he's going for in

this instance. He wants it stopped, even if the other doesn't die.

He wants the fire to go away.'

 

The blast at his feet does get his attention, his gaze shifting

quickly to Sebastian.  He hardly matters to the other seishi as he

watches Dylan get smashed by the fire and heat. Lifting his hands up

into the air, Uruki calls the winds to him, smashing them down

against the flames upon the ground, smothering them to lifelessness.

The winds push outward then, trying to drive Sebastian back from the

fight, building a wall between him and the others. So too does a

wall surround Dylan, solidifying against that unbearable warmth,

pressing down upon Higuchi. So much power, so fast. Not good for

this particular seishi.

 

Sebastian doesn't look all that impressed at Karasuki's words,

responding to the threat with an almost bored glance. He flickers a

glance down at Kieran, lips drawing into a very wry line as he is

more than prepared to simply stand back and wait 'til this is

finished. Alas, Uruki had to go and interfere again, causing the oni

to lift a hand to his face to shield from the winds, drawing back a

few paces at the force that whips about him. "Fine," he seems to

mutter. He braces once more, clapping his hands together only to

peel them apart once more, a tightly wound ball of chi steadily

growing with that eerie black and blue light, feeding it more and

more of his gathering energy. With a grunt, he releases it aiming

once more not at anyone but towards the ground some distance away

from him, burning through the winds. It slams into the earth, the

concussive blast sending sod and soil up in an explosion, trusting

in the tremor and boom of the blast.

 

What fires that weren't crushed by Setsuna's winds are suddenly

extinguished as Kieran himself ceases to glow and burn. His skin is

burnt black by his own fire, although his hair (ha!) is unharmed,

covered in soot and sweat. Blood pours from the wound in his

abdomen, seeping into the ground, quenching its thirst. Falling

forward, a groan is forced from his lungs, the sound drawn out and

harsh - perhaps that of a dying man. The heat is there still, quite

severe in fact, but being kept at bay by Uruki's efforts. Higuchi

will simply give in to oblivion now.

 

 

Dylan felt that blast, but he can't really do much at this point.

The use of all of that internal water along with the fading boost to

his mental attacks has nearly wiped him out for the moment. There's

still enough there, just enough for escape or final attack, but he'd

rather not have to do the latter. Of course, Karasuki being

Karasuki, the humor of this situation has not escaped him.  "The

park service is going to hate you, Ichijin," is cough-chuckled as he

sits back, smirking at Higuchi. "Filth." Dylan looks over at Uruki,

then, shaking his head. "Stop, just stop. It's over."  Unless

Ichijin wants to take his turn, then they're screwed.

 

Great, now the other oni is sending blasts into the ground. Uruki

isn't concerned at the moment. He could drive more wind at the man,

try to carry him away or blast him as well, but what the seishi is

more intent on is getting to Karasuki. Words are heeded a bit and

the wind pushing outward subsides until it is nothing more than a

gentle breeze. Moving through the heat causes Suna to gasp for

breath, his fair skin beginning to turn red until he's within the

safety of the wall and arm going around Dylan's shoulders. "We are

leaving now," he says to the other seish, panting. A hand coming up

to begin the formation of a portal for them both.

 

"It was either that or the Needle," Sebastian mutters, striding

forward. "And they can add that to my transgressions at the museum."

Again, he doesn't look all that concerned. Idiot reincarnated

warriors and their stupid vendettas. Getting rather used to the heat

around Kieran, the man continues over, hardly sparing a glance to

the other seishi. He drops into something of a crouch near to the

fallen oni, frowning at the obvious injuries, but reaching a hand to

touch at the man's skin, burn or no. He drags a finger over the

ground to create a portal right there. A flicker up to the

seishi, "'Til we meet again." 

 

"A pleasure as always, Ichijin," is said with some sarcasm before

Dylan nods to Uruki, managing to move despite his fatigue.  "Leaving

would be good."  Karasuki is not going to argue with that. He needs

to drink a few gallons of water before he's able to do anything like

that again.  "I don't know, I think the needle would have been a

good target. It might be interesting to see it break."  He hates

that thing, too, it would seem. For now, however, he's going to just

let Setsuna give the orders. He's too fatigued for anything else.

 

Uruki has opened a portal to Dakota-Penthouse-Bedroom 1

 

Setsuna is so very pleased not to be argued with as he brings the

vortex into creation, tightening his arm around Dylan before leading

him into the portal. He's working on adrenaline fumes at the moment

as he lets his winds die away completely. Sebastian is given nothing

more than a slight grimace and the beast on the ground? Suna would

spit on him if he had a moment. Too bad he's leaving now and taking

Karasuki with him.

 

Uruki has entered the portal.

Karasuki has entered the portal.

Uruki has closed the portal.

 

Ichijin has opened a portal to Royal Elizabeth-Penthouse 1

 

You step into the portal, sensing an odd disorientation for a moment.

The sense of distortion continues, with a sense that your forward

rush of motion is much greater than your initial step into the

portal...

Royal Elizabeth-Penthouse 1

 

Mahogany is prevalent, drawing along the dramatic lines of this

rather swanky penthouse. Opening into the outer hallway is a pair of

double doors, raised upon a couple of steps before the sunken front

area. With expansive wood floors and vaulting ceiling, the space

afforded is extraordinarily luxurious.  Even more impressive is the

view granted by the panel windows that look out onto a wide balcony

dressed with topiary and the spread of Manhattan.

Within, there is a grouping of leather couches rather close to a

fireplace and just off to the side of an open bar area. Further

along and closer to the windows is a long dining table rimmed with

high-backed chairs as off to the left leads to the kitchen. On to

the right is a set of stairs that lead up towards a loft that

overlooks the entire area. Over all, there is an almost impersonal

aura to the place, with no personality other than what the interior

decorator left it with.

 

Obvious exits:

Exit   Loft   Bedroom

There is an open portal to Central Park - Cleopatra's Needle.

The distortion ceases abruptly as you step out of the portal.

 

Ichijin comes out of the portal.

Ichijin has closed the portal.

 

Sebastian, holding Kieran in his arms as they move through the

portal, is already reaching forward to settle the man onto the

hearth by the fireplace. He has a strong feeling that if the man

starts bleeding on one of the couches, it'll burst into flame.

Briefly, a hand smoothes over Kieran's forehead before he is moving

away and not wasting a moment. Portaling out once more, he returns a

little time later with Toshie in tow, bird sailing in as well. And

Toshie is not looking all the pleased once more, especially

considering the flurry of other-language curses, "Again? Don't you

people ever stay in one piece?" Sebastian directs her towards the

man on the hearth, pointing, He needs your help. Now." At the sight,

the girl cringes, visibly, "How am I supposed to..." But it is

through the bird that once more she is being directed.

 

Kieran had already been healing himself it seems, the burnt skin

flaking away to reveal healthy, pink flesh beneath. The wound in his

midsection is the worst and obviously life-threatening, but even

that has nearly stopped bleeding. What flows from the wound is

mortal blood, although a bit warmer to the touch. His chest rises

and falls in breath, but one would have to stare at him to detect

it. Or hold a mirror under his nose.

 

Guess Toshie is getting another crash course in healing as she

mutters, "This is nothing like last night." In fact, it looks quite

a bit uglier. Sebastian moves over, drawing down onto the hearth as

well, to reach over and lay a hand upon Kieran's head, "Heal him

now." Toshie winces and then drops down, apparently listening to

something else, "Shen needs to use your-" But Sebastian is

interrupting, "Use whatever! Just heal him." Okay, fine. The bird

alights upon the mantle and then seems to stare right at Sebastian,

a glimmer of that white, to which the man responds with a grunt as

whatever leftover chi he had within him is drained out and focused

into the Toshie. Ah, there we go... that'll make the healing so much

easier.

 

Having someone else healing him is quite the treat for Kieran. If

only he were more conscious he would actually be thanking his oni

kindred. His skin begins to lose its darkened appearance, the burns

flowing back into perfectly healthy skin. The wound at his stomach

is deeper than even Sebastian's was, having gone through one end and

out the other. Slowly but surely the healing will close that as

well, knitting back together his ruined body. Higuchi's breathing

grows stronger, the beating of his heart working to pump blood

through him body, warming him.

 

Sebastian will just sit over here getting awfully woozy. That odd

feeling as if your very life's blood is being sucked from you,

draining you to dizziness and weakness. Ohhhhh, he doesn't wanna do

this again any time soon. He plants one hand on the hearth stones,

bracing before the inevitable collapse as the bondbird drains his

chi, but stops before pulling at his permanent life force. Toshie's

eyes are closed, looking as though she is in some sort of meditative

state, which is probably very close to being true. Both hands splay

over Kieran's chest as she works to bring his ravaged body back into

a more physically healthy state, but that is all. Once finished, she

breaks from the state with a gasp, muttering, "Okay, I think I've

had enough now."

 

The state of Kieran's psyche will have to be dealt with later it

seems, as the man does not appear to be gaining full consciousness

quite yet. Slumped as he is against the heart his breathing will

even out into that of a sleeping individual. Sebastian's chi

sacrifice is gone unheeded by the oni, at least at this time. So is

the presence of Toshie - again a pity for the fire oni. Provided he

will be able to do anytime more than babble when he returns to

reality, perhaps they can have a less stressful reunion.

 

Awwww, that's okay, because Toshie is nearly at the point of

babbling herself. They could always commiserate together and more

than likely reach an understanding of each other. It will truly be a

meeting of the minds. The girl is scampering up to her feet, still

on a high from whatever energy that was drained from Sebastian

running through her veins. The door is eyed rather generously...

looks like a much better way to leave then that freakish portal. A

squack by the bird and Toshie smirks, "You /would/ want me to stay."

*pout* Although her gaze does linger on the men, most directly

Kieran with something of a fond interest. "Actually kind of

cute...if you don't mind the burnt around the edges look." Sebastian

manages to roll onto his side, a hand reaching over to try to take

one of Kieran's. He'll just lay here for a bit and try to get some

energy. Yep. For a long while.