[8th/10th] Week ---: Challenge: Miyazaki Hikaru versus Adelaide Pierce

[Dysney]

Adele clenched her hands, anger taking a hold on her. How dare that brat insult her Captain with such an utter lack of respect? As uncharacteristic of her as it was, the nekogami sorely regretted visiting Hikaru in the hospital. Perhaps if Adelaide didn't, she would put him back in the Fourth.

Reacting to her shinigami's ire, Crescendo released herself, the zanpakuto in Adele's lap transforming into a set of twin kodachi. "A tiger's silence is louder," she was hardly aware of what she was doing. The entire force of the Mystic's spiritual pressure slammed down on Hikaru as if crushing a bug.

Realizing her mistake, the nekogami reined in her reiatsu -not without difficulty- and deactivated her shikai, trying to calm her inner tiger. Mentally, she sent an apologetic message to her captain, Sorry for interrupting; the boy's insults irritate me quite a bit and Crescendo-chan didn't like it.

Glaring at Hikaru with ruby red eyes, she silently dared him to insult her captain again.

[166/684]

 

[Mystydjinn]

Hikaru was still struggling with the effects of the pervy captain's shikai, so the sudden weight of reiatsu on him startled him and froze the boy in it's power. "What the hell? This reiatsu Adele-?" She's probably here to support her captain, the spellblade thought, Or to double team me, the lying sneak... The swordmage was more saddened than angry at this; until three more 'ideas' cascaded though his mind again.

Then he noticed a dark shadow fall over him, "what the-" the swordmage looked up, and saw the fluffy doom raining down upon him, "Wow." Hikaru said in awe, still staring at the feathery doom falling towards him, "I did not see that coming at all- Ughn!" Then, about a half ton of pillows cut off the battlemage, and their collective weight forced him to the ground, crushing him. well at least I got my wish. the young mage grumbled, It's what I'm gonna do with it is the problem.

 

[Time Lady Katie]

It’s appreciated, Adele, but I definitely have this handled.

The Taidan flashed and dulled again. She had put a lot of work into today’s routine and didn’t want Adele throwing an unexpected wrench into the plan. Taidan was a wonderful thing, as sure as it let Adelaide tell Adele to relax it also let Mystics coordinate efforts over great distances. It was probably one of the most useful markings in the Gotei.

Texting was for chumps.

She huffed and glanced down at her fingernails, mostly to assert a casual dominance, “One would’ve thought it went without saying, but it looks like lesson three is when you’re fighting someone who is clearly far beyond you in terms of power, it’s probably a bad idea to underestimate them. If anything, overestimate the enemy. Fighting me puts you automatically on the defensive, and you’ve never once acted like it. You’ve acted like you were setting the terms of this fight – like its pace and direction were in your sphere of influence, and because of that you’ve missed useful tactical awareness. You didn’t learn my abilities when I used them, you didn’t measure yourself to keep pace with me. I could easily just wear you down, or fill your lungs with down from the pillows once you were unable to stop me. I have the power, I set the tone, you underestimated me, you misjudged the situation, and were I not here to be exceedingly kind, it would’ve proven fatal, wouldn’t it?” She shook her head. One more lesson. One more thing to teach. Hopefully he’d show a glimmer of development soon. She didn’t have all day, she was busy.

Apphia, the Taidan on the back of her neck lit up again, it looks like it’s time for lesson four.

She felt like burying him under pillows meant that it was pretty much all over but the crying.

304 Words
2847 Total​

 

[Mystydjinn]

Defense huh? Guess I could try that the spellblade thought, the first order of business is getting out from under those pillows, he still didn't expect her to throw them on him, dirt maybe, but not the pillow mound. the mage crawled away from underneath the pillows, and picked up a pillow and held it ready in front of him as he used the pillows for cover.

"Aw, don't give up on me yet captain." he called, "I think I'm getting the hang of it!" The mage picked up another pillow, and for the first time realized how silly he looked, and how he was fighting. I don't like her, but she's right I've got to focus. I've been thinking too much about Adele and my own ego. Hikaru reprimanded himself and frowned at his folly.

"C'mon what's next?" he asked quietly, more to himself than the adept; brains or brawn, I don't have much of the latter so, brains will have to do.

 

[Time Lady Katie]

“There’s only one next, kid. Lesson four was decided the moment you arrived here.” She didn’t really want to get things going until Apphia showed up, so it was stall time. “Come on, you know the pace I’ve set this at, you know the tactics I’m using, you know the whole deal. You have knowledge and knowledge is power. Hell, that could be a lesson all it’s own, but I’ve got a thought or two in mind for what the real lesson here is.” She offered an affirming nod, and released him from the effects of Fallen Allure, which had all but expired anyway.

The Captain waited, her expression flattening from the warm and infectious kindness to a more neutral tone. “Come on, with everything on the table show me one thing, one single action, that’ll show you’ve learned to take advantage of the ample knowledge I’ve given you. My tactics, my pacing, my overall strategy are on the table. You know my strengths, you know what I’m most comfortable with. You got one shot, kid. One. Make it count.”

175 Words
3022 Total​

 

[Mystydjinn]

"Make it count, huh?" the mage thought for a moment before replying, "Okay, I think I can do that."

The sword mage walked around the mound of pillows, and briskly walked forward to her, he held his pillow loose in his left hand, and his right hand was sitting comfortably in his pocket. Eventually he stopped walking and stood in front of the Adept, standing only a foot away from her, looking her square in the eyes and spoke, "How much wood... Could a woodchuck, chuck... If a woodchuck, could chuck wood?" the mage asked. The young man kept a straight face when he said this, and patiently awaited an answer.

Hmm, I wonder does she understand what I am saying? the warrior thought, using immense concentration not to laugh or even snicker at his ridiculous plan.

 

[Time Lady Katie]

She stood there, her mouth agape. “... pardon?” Well, that was lateral thinking, she supposed, but damned if she knew where it was going. If his goal was to confuse her, it certainly worked, and he was going to get pretty good marks for it. She blinked a couple time, trying to figure out what his angle was. Analyzing him, trying to figure out just what his little tongue twister meant.

70 Words
3092 Total​

 

[Evergloam]

Now, life in the Tenth Division was calm. The gardens were peaceful and, as Adele often said, sang a beautiful song. However, despite all the beauty the Mystic division had, one room was rather messy. Well, not messy, just... cluttered. Hundreds of small feline stuffed animals and decorations filled the room of one Ren Tegishahara. And on the bed was the aforementioned kitten obsessed Mystic. With a room full of her little affections, she usually felt happy. It was her sanctuary where she could often relax as herself and not worry about anyone intruding. That wasn't the case today.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The ebony haired woman sat up from her bed, quickly grabbing her mask. The illusion of Koutaizumai formed around her body to the disguise of a male, though her mask didn't change. The mask still had a crack from where Hikaru Miyazaki broke it. That same day, he discovered her secret and threatened to stalk her unless she became his friend. He was honestly repulsive for doing such a thing, the very thought of him causing her fists to clench. She wasn't angry too often, but seeing his face burned into her mind allowed soft huffs of anger to leave her.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Finally, Ren opened the door, her disguise completed to be seen in public. She was greeted by an odd sight, one she didn't expect in the least. Apphia, the secretary of the Mystic division, standing at the door with a soft smile. The woman only handed her a note before turning, disappearing in a flashstep. The Mystic opened the letter, reading it. The letter stated for Ren to meeet Apphia and a small group of other shinigami in the world of the living. Coordinates were written on the bottom for Ren to follow. The female casted a second glance at the letter before stuffing it in a pocket. She walked out of her doorway and hopefully to begin whatever the secretary needed her to do.

---

After a difficult trek from the home she knew as the Tenth and into the world of the living, the female stepped from a senkaimon gate a superior was able to open for the Mystic. She felt odd now in the human world. For the first time in over a hundred years, she felt the living air fill her lungs. Not reiatsu rich oxygen, but honest natural oxygen. She looked around in astonishment. The area she was at was serene, despite the closeby town. She reached into her pocket and grabbed the letter. Midway during her reading, the musician Apphia appeared before her. The sudden intrusion in her 'personal bubble' sent the masked woman stumbling backwards for a brief moment before she regained her footing.

"I'm sorry for keeping you... waiting, Apphia-san." the female apologized, looking at the secretary Mystic before her. The woman only turned her back, calling to Ren as she walked.

"Follow me, Ren-san. There's some people you should meet and somewhere you must go." she pointed towards the town closeby, a smile on her lips. The masked Mystic asked no questions, following the woman into the town. In the distance, a familiar reiatsu hummed for the briefest moments. Was it Adele? It felt like it, but more furious than her peaceful and quiet reiatsu.

When they entered town, the two were greeted by a treesome of shinigami. The secretary seemed to greet them as comrades, though such a notion was true. All shinigami were comrades. But to Ren? She never met the three. She didn't know their names, they didn't look familiar. Who were they? The masked woman stood a distance away from the group, standing closer to Apphia than the others.

"Are you all ready?" Apphia asked, her reiatsu beginning to seep from her body and felt as if it began wrapping around the others. The three shinigami nodded as they suddenly disappeared. It didn't look like a flashstep. Just... gone. Teleported somewhere else. And Ren was next. The masked shinigami disappeared as Apphia followed, utilizing Far Skies to carry the group to an area. The salt water rose to their heels, the town was far in the distance, and the reiatsu of a released zanpakutou seemed to fill the atmosphere around the area. Apphia stood by the three, looking off with a smile at two people. The redheaded Briton captain, Adelaide, with a mountain of pilows closeby, and a familiar other figure. Ren squinted her eyes, staring at the captain's opponent. Mikaru? Hayazaki? Her eyes widened. It was Hikaru! Oh, sweet lord, yes.

She looked around, curious if anyone else was spectating. It was a captain fighting someone, perhaps there were other spectators. And lo and behold, the sweet nekogami of the Tenth was there, watching the fight. Though, even from here, she could tell Adele wasn't happy. Her reiatsu held a venomous bite to it. seemingly directed to Hikaru. The masked shinigami closed her eyes, relaying a quick message via Taidan to her friend.

"Hello, Adele-san." the simple greeting caused her taidan to hum with her reiatsu, the message transmitted to the nekogami's own mind. The masked woman was lightly tapped on her shoulder by Apphia, pointing towards the combatants. Adelaide was actually fighting Hikaru. And apparently winning? It was hard to tell. But what was the deal with the pillows thrown about? No, really, what? Her taidan began glowing once more as she relayed a second telepathic message to her captain. "Adelaide-taichou, did you ask for me? Apphia-san says you wanted me to spectate this fight?" confusion was heavily laced with her message. She wondered why the redheaded captain wanted her to watch the fight. Outside of her own dislike of Hikaru, Ren had no reason to be-

Was Adelaide beating Hikaru to death with pillows for Ren? Aw, that was such a sweet thought.

 

[Mystydjinn]

The mage then spoke quickly, at the sight of the captain's obvious confusion. "Its approximately, 136 cubic centimeters of wood!" Hikaru shouted loudly and unexpectedly, which further confused the poor adept. Then moving too quickly for her to react, the warrior's arms whipped into movement.

The spellblade threw his pillow into the arcane specialist's face, obscuring her vision; then Hikaru struck quickly. The battlemage made a two-handed jab at the woman, and struck her soundly in each of her breasts with his closed fists. Me, If you get us killed, it's all your fault. Hikaru frowned, despite his smile that he portrayed on the outside; the mage was honestly frightened by what he had just done.

I just hit a girl in the boob; and she's captain of the tenth... Oh god, I think I have just pissed off more powerful people in a single moment than Hitler did in his entire life. the spellblade's life flashed briefly past his eyes. Wow, I haven't done much but flirt, get my ass beat, train, and elicit hate from the tenth division... Fighting Adelaide was a very bad idea, pillows or not. Hikaru thought as he quickly stepped back from the captain.

Life... you don't appreaciate it till it's gone.

If you must kill him, do it quickly?

 

[Time Lady Katie]

You wish

I'm going to make this agonizing. Adelaide will explain why after a couple reaction turns from our studio audience. Even if you overcome the bindings, the pressure she's hammering the battlefield with is going to make doing a whole lot hard for you.

She’d actually be amused by his antics if she didn’t hate him already. She coughed, the sudden attack something surprising, and effective since her ability with close-quarters combat was roughly on par with that of an apple. She stumbled a bit but found her footing and, recognizing the familiar voice of Ren in the distance, knew that it was time to proceed.

“I want you to know,” she laughed a little, more than amused by his attack, “I actually am quite impressed. And that lesson four has nothing to do with what you just did at all. See, that’s an important thing to remember, moving forward, about lesson four.”

She cleared her throat and looked up, raising a hand idly, “Hinome.” She was sure to add enough raw magical oomph to make up for the weakness from bypassing the spell, not that it mattered all that much in this fight as the bands of light wrapped around the boy.

“I read reports a lot now, you know. Reports on missions my division undertakes. And I attend these matches for my division, between them I read about the people who couldn’t participate in this tournament. I love them dearly, you see,” she offered a slight nod to Adele, Apphia and Ren. “So lesson four, while it may seem a little silly to a new recruit, is one that my own new soldier Tegishahara knows really well: write good reports.”

While she let that idea sink in, she looked skyward for a moment before turning her glowing blue eyes back down at him. “You know, kiddo, I’m probably one of the most merciful people you’re ever going to meet. Remember that too. Along with three little words I have for you.

“Caries Sanctimonia Lashiel.”

The world grew heavy, and this was the moment the cruelty of Adelaide’s kindness took its most pure form. It was probably hard for Hikaru to breathe, but she made a conscious effort to limit the damage done by her reiatsu alone.

“Bankai.”

The fog burst outward from Adelaide, being driven away by the angelic mystic’s raw spiritual pressure. Great wings of fire erupted from her back as her clothing warped and changed into a long black overcoat on top of a white blouse and black skirt. Her hair fell loose of its ponytail and fell to the darkest black imaginable. The scythe on her back became surrounded with writhing chains, and it was apparent he was lucky she was honor-bound not to remove it from her back.

And she wasn’t even the least bit sorry.

428 Words
3420 Total

Used

Hinome (Sunlight)
Bakudou #38, 500 Kidou
Hinome allows the user to manipulate the heat energy of the sun to form thick strips of their own reiatsu to physically bind an opponent. The strips must be concentrated around a certain area of the body (e.g., the arms, the legs) and once set in place, will cause burns on the area bound. The binding itself is instantaneous.
While the spell can be cast anywhere, if used an area of high sunlight, the burn will double in intensity.
To cast this, the user holds one palm up toward the source of sunlight while aiming the other toward their opponent. The bindings will come forth from the latter.


Eishouhaki [Revocation of the Recited Poem]
Allows the user to bypass of the chanting of a Kidou spell and simply state the name. However, this also results in a drop in the efficacy of the bypassed Kidou. A user can only bypass an incantation if their Kidou stat is at least twice the required cost of a spell, and a bypassed spell will only be half as effective as a properly-incanted one, regardless of prowess.


Jumon Zoukyuu [Spell Augmentation]
Deeper studies into the demon arts have granted insight into the fluctuations of reiatsu and how to adjust them while still achieving a desired result. In this way, the user of Jumon Zoukyuu can increase the effect of a spell by increasing the amount paid in, within the limits of their understanding and the spell itself.
To use Jumon Zoukyuu, the caster spends the total spell cost plus an additional 2% of their kidou stat per tier of kidou.
Ranks 1-30 = Spell Cost + 2% Kidou Stat
Ranks 31-50 = Spell Cost + 4% Kidou Stat
Ranks 51-70 = Spell Cost + 6% Kidou Stat
Ranks 71-90 = Spell Cost + 8% Kidou Stat
Ranks 91+ = Spell Cost + 10% Kidou Stat
This technique uses the natural rank of the spell and is not affected by abilities that lower or increase the effective rank.


Hinome / EH + JZ = 1258

 

[Beaks]

"So this is what passes for teaching in the minds of the Mystics?" The woman scoffed, pressing off from the nearby tree she had been previously contented to lean against in silence.

"You'd fit in just fine under Leon, Lady Adelaide. Though I doubt he'd care much for your mouth." She paid a passing glance to the growing number of spectators, many of whom were probably there to root for their Captain. "Though I'd suspect your skill with that mouth is the only reason you were granted a Haori in the first place." She didn't much care if the woman herself heard the words. Tsubaki had come to witness what the noble had so openly proclaimed superior teaching, only to find it no different from the method passed down the Duelist lines for ages.

Came all this way, it'd be a shame not to be petty.

"Have fun smashing your underlings to a bloody pulp lady. I'd assume you prefer it to a real fight anyway."

With an irate scoff and a half turn the former Templar Queen disappeared back into the forest, disgusted with Maikeru's stand-in on a level she previously did not believe possible.

[196 Final]

 

[Mystydjinn]

Hikaru felt Ren's lilac tinted spiritual energy, and looked up to see the mannish appearance of the masked girl. Then the mage was crushed almost immediately by the overwhelming power of the captain, and only seconds later he felt bands of heat wrapping around him, and a searing white pain, "Argh!" the spellblade cried out under the excruciating pain of the kidou bindings.

Write good reports? Is this a grudge match for breaking Ren's mask? Hikaru wondered, That would explain the 'lessons'... Darn it! Why didn't I concede earlier? The mage writhed in pain wordlessly, since thoughts were all he had as the pain from the bakudou was so great, empowered by her bankai and his tiredness. Next time I'll punch her first, maybe in the jaw. Well, provided there is a next time.

The suddenness of the pain the spellblade felt, had finally left him but the powerful burning sensation, was still very strong in his body. Hikaru raged like an animal to free himself, “So you set all this up..." he panted, "Was this just to get back at me for embarrassing your subordinate?" the warm age asked, looking up at his captor.

"I guess you weren't satisfied by the torture your shikai put me through, huh? You had to embarrass me too?" he growled at the adept, If you wanted an apology you could have asked, or just made a threat! You crazy old lady! Hikaru thought.

 

[Evergloam]

The masked Mystic watched Adelaide carefully, her azure eyes darting back and forth from the Briton to the young battlemage. Why was she here to watch the fight? Adelaide must've known she didn't like the idea of fights too well. She watched beside Apphia until the captain released her Bankai, bringing the full power of her untamed reiatsu down on Hikaru. With the burning binding, the young man was suffering under the intense weight of Caries Sanctimonia Lashiel's unleashed reiatsu. Even the woman herself could feel the weight, though far less. Her hand trembled and her knees buckled, but she remained standing.

So this was a Bankai. This was Adelaide's own raw power. It honestly frightened the azure eyed woman, how the calm and soft spoken woman she met before was able to summon forth this strength at any moment. And there were twelve other captains who could do this, not counting posible others who were able to bring the full release of their zanpakutou out. Suddenly, the thought of fear came to her mind. These people weren't the Rukongai dwellers who beat and raped her. They were eons ahead of them in strength. The strength people like Adelaide had? They could erase Ren from very existence without a single thought.

She trembled thinking about it, stepping back from Apphia and the trio of shinigami, taking off in a mad dash towards Adele. Even though the nekogami could release her zanpakutou and could possibly do a more weaker version of Adelaide's own 'reiatsu crush,' she felt safer around her. She knew Adeaide wouldn't dare hurt her subordinates, her friends and her practical family, but she could. So easily. And that very thought terrified Ren. She sat beside Adele, quickly grabbing at her hand. She held it tight in her own, her body trembling visibly at the power Adelaide was releasing and the pain Hikaru was in. He was crude, disgustingly hormonal and his very presence upset her, but she felt a pity for him. He was being crushed by a captain, all because of her.

 

[Time Lady Katie]

She slowly approached the Spellblade on the ground. She heard Tsubaki and honestly didn’t care. First, because Tsubaki was an irredeemable bitch and Adelaide didn’t value her opinion on anything, and second because the Templar nutter didn’t understand Adelaide’s motivation. Hell, Tsubaki might not have even been capable of love, let alone of seeing loved ones hurt.

“Torture? You actually have learned a few valuable things from me, kid. I called you here to teach you. The lessons you learn will help you in the future. That much I’m sure of. But I do only want to teach you this one, final, parting thought: don’t make powerful enemies.” With a lazy gesture she waved a hand toward Apphia and her small team, “I was sure to bring you some healers, reflecting my aforementioned mercy. So don’t worry. The lesson won’t be painless.”

Silver flecks of light glistened into being, framing the Captain in the most menacing way imaginable. "You challenged pretty much my entire division to a fight. Your flirtations with my Twentieth Seat irritate me, your presumption toward my Fourth Seat annoys me, your assumptions that you can best a goddamn Captain darkly amuses me. But when you violate one of my members and issue her an ultimatum, that... well it upsets me."

Adelaide had promised Ren to provide safety. She had promised that she would be there. She had not lived up to that promise, and even if the masked shinigami was kind enough to feel guilt for what was about to happen, the Captain lacked such notions. People who behaved like Hikaru did toward her Mystics, toward her family, needed to see this example. The Gotei did attract some undesirable personalities, and it was as much for them as it was for the boy that Adelaide stood in such utter judgment and condemnation. "So if you ever think to fuck with my Mystics again, remember lesson five." No one, the redhead decided, should think it safe to visit harm upon a Mystic. Retribution from Kago be damned.

“In case you’re wondering,” the Captain offered with a smile, “’Stalker or new friend’ is when I decided to kick your ass.”

She turned her back and the silver lights flickered and buzzed about, “Hiashi.”

The flames rose from under the Eighth recruit, enough to remind him that he lived because Adelaide determined it ought to be so, before she sealed her zanpakutou and the medics came to tend to him.

410 Words
3830 Total​

Used

EH and JZ again, as well as these

Soulfire
Soulfire is the enhanced form of Hellfire. At the cost of 3% of her reiatsu per turn, Adelaide can augment all her kidou. While using Soulfire, Adelaide cannot use Lashiel's Shadow or Flames of Passion. As Soulfire is active, cosmetic flecks of silver light float around Adelaide and the scythe. Kidou used while Soulfire is active cost twice as much, and become twice as effective in terms of scope and magnitude. Chromatic fire and actual fire-based kidou may instead cost triple the normal and have triple the normal effectiveness.



Hiashi (Spreading Fire)
Hadou #16, 120 Kidou
A luminous spell circle appears on the ground, 2m in diameter. This spell is best used beneath a target's feet. A fiery pillar erupts from the circle up to 5m into the air.

Hiashi / EH + JZ + Soulfire = 684

 

[Dysney]

Adele had been surprised to see Ren at the match, but her surprise was short lived -interrupted by Tsubaki's appearance. The Mystic however, remembered her captain's words and restrained her temper, which was sorely irritated by now. However, the fuming girl's irritation was interrupted by a giant wave or reiatsu that nearly knocked the kitten off her feet with its suddenness.

After that, Adele couldn't hear or see anything. The oppressive, angry spiritual pressure of her captain was a force to behold, one that even from the distance between the two Mystics attempted to force the nekogami to her knees. Only having been emerged in Haresuno's spiritual energy gave her the strength and experience to resist its power, though it made the feel all the more terrifying. The feline shinigami could almost see the Founder Captain's angry face in her mind's eye.

The young Mystic came to one conclusion: Adelaide was much, much scarier than Haresuno could ever hope to be. Fear. A novel experience when associated with the Mystic Captain. Nervousness, affection, adoration even, wonder, safety. All emotions that the redhead had invoked in her before, but never before such fear. Not even being afraid that the woman would hurt her, but the pure and utter knowledge that she could completely and utterly destroy her. Not that she would, that she could. Everyone within a ten mile radius was at Adelaide's mercy.

Adele supposed that her lack of courage in this moment was ridiculous. Should it not, after all, make her feel secure to know that such a powerful person was her captain and had proven the lengths she would go to to protect not only the nekogami, but all the Mystics? Perhaps it was too soon since facing the Fifth's Captain for the nekogami to be exposed to such power.

Numbly, the feline Mystic turned her head at the distant sound of her name. A tight grip on her hand brought her back from where she'd withdrawn into herself. Tightening her hold on her friend's hand, Adele hugged Ren. The masked woman made her feel safer, too. Just after her fears had been assuaged, Adelaide sent fire at Hikaru. Fire. Even if the boy was a rotten, perverse, brash, overconfident jerk, he didn't deserve to be burned again. Not after losing his mother to a fire.

Eyes wide and irises nearly colorless, the nekogami whispered, unable to exert enough force for a shout, "Hikaru!"

[406/1090]

 

[Mystydjinn]

Hmm, so it's happened again... Flames from Hiashi sparkled and twirled around the mage, licking hungrily at his clothes and skin, This is the second time I've been burnt now. I'm gonna end up dead soon if I keep doing this to myself. The mage looked at the flames solemnly and almost didn't even notice the burning pain he was feeling, however his nerves and body were paying their undivided attention to it. For the spellblade's mind was no longer attached to his body, for in a sense he felt as if he was dying; his body was no longer his own he could feel himself writhing at the bakudou still restraining him, and the fire eating at his body.

Yet none of the movements Hikaru made were his own, This must be one of those out of body experiences that people are always talking about... The boy thought, It's so much more peaceful than what they describe; in fact I'd almost enjoy it if I wasn't burning to death. The sword mage’s thoughts turned to his life's story, as the young man felt as if this was the end for him; and he solemnly thought he deserved it as well. He hadn't meant to treat Ren-san that way, and possibly would have apologized if he, No, now is not the time for excuses. I deserve what’s coming to Me. Hikaru thought.

Then slowly the mage faded into an inky blackness of despair, and for what almost felt like years, he didn't think again. Until eventually, he resurfaced in his subconscious, when one clear and almost familiar voice broke through the clouds of self-pity surrounding his mind. So what you give up now? Your parents raised a man, not a boy or maybe that’s just what you are; a child in an adult's world lost and confused. it sneered haughtily.

What the-? Who are you? What are you? Hikaru asked the strange voice.

I am... the voice spoke again, but the mage was unable to understand it; as if it's voice had been sucked away into the black void around him, Humph, guess you're not ready yet, whatever.

What do you mean I can't hear you, what is your name-?

Don't worry about that, you have to get up and make amends for your actions. The mysterious voice commanded, Now rise, before you meet your grave! However, the next time we speak, you had better not be dying. then suddenly the mage was bathed in a bright white light, and he found himself back in the fourth barracks, bandaged and bound, while his blade leaned against the bed.

He picked it up and held it at arm’s length examining the ebony steel, tracing the lines etched into its metal. He looked at the simple hilt, the hand-guard, and the hangover on the blade edges that had always aroused questions from him for so long, seemed much more mysterious somehow. "Who do you think it was friend?" Hikaru asked the cold blade, and wasn't surprised when he received silence in return, "Humph, I didn't really expect an answer yet. I suppose we've got some work ahead of us, huh?" The mage was getting sleepy from the drugs he had unknowingly taken, and began to lie down on the cot he sat in.

"I do owe Ren-san an apology though; it seems she misunderstood my sarcasm. I still don't like that captain though, and Adele needs her catnip..." Hikaru yawned as he drifted off to sleep, "or was it Midnight who wanted the catnip..." and slowly the mage faded back into the comforting arms, of sleep.



[604/ 2910] Final

 

[Evergloam]

The Mystic watched the captain release a fire hadou onto the young boy. Her eyes widened when she watched his entire body disappear in the bath of hellfire, her gloved hand tightening around Adele's own hand. If the woman could truly hear reiatsu, she would've heard a pained sound, a song of guilt and a chorus of fear. She feared for Hikaru and feared her captain. Adelaide managed to bring Hikaru to the brink of death, his life hanging by a thread as the three healers she arrived with began to tend to his wounds.

She didn't hug Adele back, shuddering in utter fear. She played a part in the pain the boy felt, even if she wasn't the total reason for it, she was the final straw. 'Hikaru... Im so.. so sorry.' though she couldn't give him the telepathic mesage her Mystic friends could, she mentally apologized, her eyes watering. She lightened her grip on Adele's hand before standing, walking from the nekogami. She walked towards Apphia, pleading quietly in a deep voice hiding her sorrowful true voice.

"Please take me home..."

 

[Time Lady Katie]

A glance back to the stands saw the effort to bring a swift and absolute sort of justice to the misdeeds of Miyazaki Hikaru end in a way the Mystic had not intended. Let justice be done, though the heavens fall. It was a motto, a creed she had believed in since she uncovered the duplicity of Honoka Mizuki, one that forced her hatred to Mabara Tsubaki, one that laid the groundwork for the web woven to enact judgment here.

“So this is what being Rome means,” she said quietly, watching the people who she was here to defend huddle in fear. In ancient times, a citizen of Rome could wander nearly the entire planet free of risk, free of harm. Everyone knew that so terrible was the wrath of the world’s greatest superpower, and so certain should even one citizen be harmed, that the only shield a Roman needed to carry were the words Civis Romanus: I am a Roman citizen. And the Tenth, its Captain reasoned, ought to inspire the same respect.

Adelaide had defeated a God. So advanced was her study of magic that reality was merely a suggestion, something that existed because a more preferable state was unneeded. Time could be halted, or accelerated. Space could be traversed without concerns like senkaimon. She could leave the universe altogether, or tie it in knots that unraveled only at her will. She had the power to visit such total and complete devastation on the world that it was a damn good thing she was its ally, because there was only one living mage who could fight her on these terms.

There was an illusion that England fell prey to, like Rome before her and Adelaide since, that it was possible to be both loved and feared. She wanted to make it clear how far she was willing to go for her love of the Tenth Division, and in the process made her choice. She wanted Ren to see that Adelaide would not allow her to suffer, but in return had caused more fear than anything else.

And the last thing that made her feel legitimate as a Captain shattered.

The Tenth could never trust her again.

A message, simple and sorrowful, rang out to all Tenth members in the entirety of her sphere of contact. Not just those in the dome, but anywhere she could find them. One thought. One is often guilty by being too just. The thought wasn’t even hers; it was Pierre Corneille who said it. But the eight words summed up her own condemnation. Her own crime.

The funny thing was, she would’ve unquestionably done it all again. Every planned motion. She’d have been a teacher to ease him and then an avenger to tear him down. She would’ve visited upon him the kind of fright she wanted everyone to consider before wronging a member of the Tenth. Rome had to be feared.

But for this sin, Rome could never be loved.

For this sin, Adelaide fully and totally lost the right to be Captain of the Tenth Division.

And for this sin, such a right could not belong to anyone else.

528 - 8 qtd.
520 Words
4350 FINAL​