[Action]

[rubyeyes_ryuhou]

[This gray, snowy day finds Ryuhou sitting out on his porch step, a note held in his hands. His eyes scan over the words several times as though he can't believe them.

Finally, he stands, crumpling the paper in his fist, stalking toward the edge of town. He doesn't seem to notice the cold as the wind whips his thin uniform jacket around him.]

I want to... hit something. That's more Kazuma's style, but now I understand why. I'm going to explode if I don't.

Comments

[Action]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Kazuma watches, somewhat stunned, as Ryuhou goes flying into another tree. Oh yeah, something's definitely up...which pisses him off a little because he can't even enjoy kicking the jackass's ass because said jackass isn't fighting up to his usual level. Dammit. He walks over to the now somewhat battered tree Ryuhou's leaning against--or crumpled at the foot of--whichever.]

Oi. You still alive over here?

[He spots the slip of paper, but doesn't pick it up. Yeah, he's curious, but it's none of his business, after all.] I think you dropped something.

[Action]

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Lifting his head blearily, Ryuhou spots the note lying on the ground, and grabs for it with a gasp. He holds it tightly, almost protectively for a moment, his eyes squeezing shut, before realizing Kazuma is still watching. Swallowing, he pushes himself to his feet, sliding the paper back into his pocket]

He wouldn't have wanted you to lose it like this. Pull yourself together.

[Straightening his back, he faces Kazuma again, seeming more calm.] Continue.

Re: [Action]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Raises an eyebrow at the whole thing with the paper; then raises the other at Ryuhou's demand that they continue.]

Uhh... no. Not 'til you get your shit together. If you decide to get serious, I'll be around. [Turns to go.]

[Action]

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Zetsuei appears in front of Kazuma.]

We're not done here.

Re: [Action]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[He gives Ryuhou a Look and is silent for a long moment. Finally, he snorts, shaking his head.] Feh. You done screwing around, then? 'Cause if you don't start fighting me like you know what you're doing, I'm fuckin' outta here. I'm starting to get bored.

[Action]

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[He nods, looking more composed than he has over the last few minutes.] Yes. I'm... all right now.

Focus on the fight, the feel of your Alter, the movements you know. This is familiar, this is right... there's no room for anything else here.

Come on, Kazuma. Let's do this.

[Action]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[He looks skeptical for a moment, but as Ryuhou does seem more composed now, after a moment, he shrugs.] Okay then. Rock 'n roll.

[Alters]

[Action]

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Attacking with Zetsuei, he lashes out with the ribbons first before sending the Alter itself in with a flying kick. The familiar feeling of his power seems to calm him, and his heart appears to be more in the fight this time.]

[Action]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[HOSHIT! He'd almost forgotten just how damn fast Zetsuei could move. Almost. While he manages to dodge the ribbons, the kick connects and sends him flying backwards through the forest...until an obliging tree breaks his trajectory. Owwie. He's definitely gonna feel that in the morning. So's the tree, for that matter.

For now, however, he shakes it off and rolls to his feet. Slamming his armored fist into the ground, he launches himself upward above the treeline. Jacknifing, he fires the first red spine on his back. Leading with his fist, he streaks downward through the air to say howdy to Zetsuei, Lost Ground style.]

[Action]

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Remember those ribbons? They'll be crossed in front of your path now, blocking your death-from-above attack. He knows Kazuma's style, the attacks almost... comforting in their familiarity.]

[Action]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Well hell...this could be a problem. Still, he's already committed to this attack, and if he tried to abort it now, he'd probably break his damn neck--which is something he can't regenerate. So...onward he goes; he's gonna do his damndest to bust through those ribbons and smack into Zetsuei so hard they'll feel it all the way back in the Lost Ground.]

[Action]

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Ryuhou holds the block as long as he can, but unstoppable force meeting immovable object means that something has to give eventually. The ribbons strain, then one shatters, giving Kazuma a way through. Zetsuei is hit, the mask on its face cracking, and Ryuhou staggers back from the force echoing in his own mind.]

Just like our other fights...

[Recovering quickly, he sends Zetsuei's whips spiraling out, attempting to wrap around Kazuma's Altered arm.]

[Action]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[The fight is rather like an old, familiar dance, and Kazuma's feeling a little nostalgic, himself. Especially when Zetsuei's ribbons wrap around his arm. Oh yeah, he knows this step--and if he remembers correctly, it ends with the Alter flinging him head first through the nearest wall. Or tree, in this case.]

Feh. Not this time. Not if I can help it.

[In an effort to do unto Zetsuei before Zetsuei can do unto him, he once more digs his heels in, throwing his weight backward as he attempts to use Zetsuei's ribbons to sling the Alter off into the trees.]

[Action]

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[They stand at a stalemate for a long moment... Ryuhou's familiar with this move too, and he locks Zetsuei into place as best he can, resisting Kazuma's pull.]

What do you say we step this up, Kazuma?

[In a flash, he unwinds the whips, drawing them back to Zetsuei. Pulling his power around himself, he pushes the Alter to his second form, knowing he can't maintain it long, but hopefully long enough.]

[Action]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Oh hell...ever since his arrival in Luceti, his second form has been almost as unstable as it was when he first got it--despite the number of hours he's put in trying to regain control of it. At best, he's got about a 50-50 shot, but hell, he's faced worse odds. And damned it he'll show any weakness in front of Ryuhou of all people, anyway. Shrugging, he clenches his right fist, Alter-glow outlining his body as he struggles to push into his second form.]

Your funeral.

[And what the hell, he somehow manages to do it--although it feels a little as if he's trying to control 500 horses with reins of sewing thread. Still, he's got it for now, and with any luck, that'll be long enough.

With no further discussion, he raises his right arm, firing a shell-bullet at Zetsuei before pushing off the ground. The propeller-thingy on his back spinning in a blur, he jets toward the Alter to follow up.]

[Action]

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[A grim smile forms on Ryuhou's face as the two clash, the familiar feeling of their fight centering him back into reality. Zetsuei takes a hard hit, but he lashes out again, recovering quickly and sending his Alter spiraling back toward Kazuma, fighting as hard as he can before time runs out.

Before too long, though, the power limits of Luceti take hold, and Zetsuei begins to flicker and shatter.]

Not yet, not yet!

[He tries desperately to hold it together, but the Alter dissolves in a shower of sparks. Drained, he staggers to the side, barely keeping from falling as he leans against a lucky tree that wasn't destroyed in their fight.]

[Action]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Truth be told, Kazuma's having a little trouble keeping his Alter together as well; he can feel the familiar power overload building up within him. It's just a matter of time before he blows his ass across the forest.

Fortunately, before that happens, he sees that Ryuhou's lost his Alter, and with a great sense of relief--well masked, of course--he allows his own to dissipate as well.]

Is that it, then?