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.