Yield your flesh to claim her bones!
Yuki's eyes narrow beneath her blindfold. She understands the assignment and agrees; Kyoko is better than her, she knows Yuki is stronger than she looks, but she will not expect her pain tolerance and regenerative powers. She will not expect a trap.
"Come over here," Yuki demands with a sharp motion. "I do not wish to destroy this place."
Kyoko glowers back from where she still stands in front of the main gate. But whatever has her cautious, she ultimately puts it aside and strides forward. Her spear is brandished as she walks, trying and failing to intimidate Yuki.
No words are spoken as both sides tense up. Yuki lowers herself, half crouching with her mallet held ready. Each step and motion Kyoko makes receives her utmost attention, waiting for the moment she attacks.
Halfway between Yuki and the door, Kyoko suddenly dips lower. Yuki's lips quiver upward, knowing that she will leap forward in a moment.
So Yuki pushes off, shattering the worn concrete under her feet. Kyoko's eyes widen as she lashes out in reflex; sparks fly when the weapons meet. Their angle lets Kyoko apply pressure, pushing Yuki off-course. Her mallet rushes by Kyoko's head, taking a single crimson strand with it. Kyoko stumbles back from the force.
Yuki curls up in mid-air and transitions into a roll on the other side, then Kyoko is upon her. Although surprised, the redhead answers with ferocity. Her spear segments, abusing superior reach and its barely predictable nature to the fullest. The display is somehow more impressive by day.
Yuki is pushed back. She has to sidestep, weave, and deflect constantly as each iron ball and chain leads into another coming her way. Kyoko never lets up, chasing her across the grounds as she constantly gives ground. Yet when she is near the edge of the property, Yuki deflects one chain to tangle with another and vaults over Kyoko to open space.
Kyoko's expression since turned into a mask of intense focus. She spares not a moment on banter or commentary, too intent on actually landing a decisive hit. Yuki keeps on the defensive, waiting for opportunities; they both know that nobody fights perfectly. It is just a matter of finding an opening before the enemy.
But Yuki is not simply waiting, no. She gauges the other girl's reach with each exchange, calculates her response time and mood. The longer they dance across the pavement, the more intent and aggressive Kyoko becomes. Her momentum builds and makes her more dangerous by the second.
Halfway to the other side of the property, Yuki finds a moment to plant her foot and raise the other. Kyoko slows to brace immediately when her opponent stomps down. The earth shakes, pavement breaks, but she keeps standing.
In that moment, Yuki pushes her body forward and off the ground with the same foot she used to stomp.
Her sudden offensive does not surprise Kyoko, though; the redhead smirks, having seen the opening for what it is.
"Gotcha!" she crows, reassembling her spear with a flick of the wrist. She gets it aligned just in time to make Yuki skewer herself with her own momentum.
Hot pain explodes across her abdomen as the spearhead buries itself in her flesh. Yuki's vision flashes red, then white, muscles pulling taut on reflex. The cold steel pierces through her soft innards, then against the firmer flesh toward her back. She can feel it scrape against her spine before exiting in a shower of gore.
Kyoko is still smirking when Yuki's foot hits the ground, just a step away from her. She makes to say something, but only a shocked gasp comes out when her enemy's posture registers. Yuki is not slumping, she tenses her muscles to charge right into her guard.
Kyoko makes a single step back, letting go of her useless weapon. A crimson glimmer appears between them, but it is far too late. Yuki's mallet smashes through the forming chain of red steel diamonds, not even slowing.
Then it slams into Kyoko's knee, obliterating the entire limb to the middle of her thigh. A crimson mist sprays behind the redhead, reminiscent of what the City's heroine once left behind.
Kyoko stumbles, but creates a second spear in time to catch her fall. She hops back on her remaining leg, disbelief on her face.
Yuki allows herself a little grin while pushing the rest of the spear through her abdomen. It clatters to the ground behind her, splashing in the puddle of her own blood.
"This is my win," she concludes, her lungs thankfully unaffected. "You can not keep fighting on one leg."
And it is oh so satisfying.
Kyoko is somewhere between dumbfounded and angry. "Are you serious?" she growls. "You took that hit to hit me?"
"I did."
Yuki taps her open belly with a glowing hand. The healing spell completes with the flicker of a viridian hourglass shape, closing up the outer layers. Everything inside is still broken, but she mostly just wants to keep the blood inside. Another quick spell cleans off everything that spilled and stains her suit. The holes in her shirt already mend.
Kyoko stares at what looks like perfect regeneration, then clearly considers her one leg. She can balance fine, but her footwork is basically shot. Yuki having the advantage in more than just raw strength makes the result obvious to both of them.
"Damn it. Fine, you win."
She grumbles something unflattering under her breath right after, but does not seem too upset. Her pain tolerance is quite impressive to Yuki as well; she acts like losing two thirds of her leg was nothing.
The pitter-patter of feet on concrete alerts both of them to a new arrival. A desperate call of "big sis" follows, making Kyoko panic.
"Wait, I told you to stay inside!"
"But you're hurt!" the little girl calls back. She is around ten years old, fairly thin and with disheveled, green hair just a shade lighter than Yuki's. The hem of her deep green dress flutters around her shins as she dashes to Kyoko.
She tries to fuss, but her hands stop halfway, to the bloody stump. The girl's expression warrs between fear and helplessness, mouth moving soundlessly.
Kyoko tries to turn the girl's head away with one hand, but fails. She lets out an agitated noise. "Listen, I'll heal in a few days. It's fine. Yuma, listen to me!"
But Yuma clearly does not listen. She is in a panic, looking back and forth between her own hands and Kyoko's leg. The redhead realises that as well, going by the unhappy look on her face.
"Oi!" she calls out to Yuki. "Little help? I know it's weird to ask, but you know healing magic, right? Can we make a deal or something?"
She is tempted to say no, if just for her own self-gratification. But Yuki is a guardian, her duty is to help others. Now that Kyoko is pacified, she can at least offer an olive branch.
"My healing spells are not potent enough to restore the leg, but I can at least close the wound," she offers, stepping closer. A soft, green glow gathers in her palm.
But while Kyoko seems amenable, Yuma whirls around with a startled "No!" and spreads out her arms protectively. "Leave big sis alone! You're just gonna hurt her more!"
Yuki's head tilts ever so faintly. Kyoko tenses up behind Yuma, something fearful crossing her expression. But she does no more when the other magical girl keeps approaching. They both know a normal, human child can not harm her.
"I am quite truthful when-" she starts, only to cut herself off when Yuma lunges forward.
Instead of attacking her however, of punching or scratching, she grabs the hem of Yuki's pants. And pulls them down to her ankles.
A choked noise escapes Kyoko while Yuma stumbles back with a victorious grin. It fades when Yuki fails to react beyond looking down in confusion. The air feels weird on her lower parts, considering she usually does not strip down outside.
Looking up and meeting the befuddled Yuma's gaze, Yuki can not help but ask: "What was that supposed to achieve?"
"You're supposed to be embarassed!" Yuma whines in response.
That may be a fair assumption normally. Yuki just wordlessly pulls her pants back up, never once stopping to stare at the child. To Yuma's credit, she does not seem intimidated at all; just upset that her secret technique failed.
At that point, Kyoko's hands land on Yuma's shoulders. She turns the younger girl around to look into her eyes, hiding how baffled she still is behind a stern expression.
"I know you want to help, and I appreciate it, but you can't go around pantsing people. Especially when we're pretty much done fighting. I think. Right?"
She glances to Yuki, who nods. Kyoko returns it, then looks back down at Yuma, who does not meet her gaze. "Hey, it's okay. I'm not mad at you. Just promise you won't do that again, yes?"
"Okay, promise," Yuma lies. Then she crosses her arms and pouts up at Kyoko. "But she hurt you!"
The older girl laughs and ruffles her hair. "I've had worse. But," she continues after a look down at her still bleeding leg, "I really wanna get this fixed. Mind doing your thing?"
This time Yuma does not stop her from reaching Kyoko's side, though she is still wary. Her expression quickly morphs into awe when she sees the soft light of Yuki's magic up close, though. It emanates from Yuki's palm in a wave, seeping into Kyoko's torn limb. The ruptured ligaments seal up and blood coagulates in moments, but that is all she can do.
"How come its suddenly so much weaker?" Kyoko asks curiously, motioning for Yuki's abdomen.
Looking up at the redhead, Yuki slowly rubs the spot in question. The constant shine of Kyoko's Soul Gem deepens the shadows in her expression from this close. "I only sealed up the outside to stop the blood flow, much like your leg right now. I am still bleeding on the inside."
The burn of ruptured flesh, the blood pooling in her belly, Yuki tries her best to ignore them. It slowly knits itself back together with every passing moment, the sensations doused by her satisfaction over a quick victory.
Kyoko just looks at her in befuddlement for a time. Then it registers that she has been played for a fool and... she laughs. A single, softly barked "Ha!" escapes her throat, lips quirking up a little. "You got me, I guess. Name's Kyoko Sakura."
While introducing herself, she pulls out a packet of some sort of sweet and offers it to Yuki. "Want one?"
She takes one chocolate tipped stick and nibbles on it. Then she absently sends out another wave of magic to clean Kyoko's blood away. The other magical girl offers an appreciative hum while she sticks candy in her own mouth. Yuma gets one stick, too.
"How's about we go inside?"
And so it is that Kyoko leads her two green-haired companions into the Sakura church. The place is almost as dilapidated on the inside as it is outside; its central room is a large chapel, rows of partly broken benches lining the path to a raised dais, upon which an altar sits.
Kyoko somehow keeps the lead despite hopping along on one leg and supporting herself on her spear. She stops just about as soon as she reaches the sunlight shining in from long broken windows of stained glass behind the altar. She drops down onto one of the intact benches, with Yuma immediately taking her right side. Yuki sits down on the left.
"First of all," Yuki begins, "why did you attack me last week?"
Kyoko shrugs at that, perhaps a bit too nonchalant. She pulls out some wrapped food and starts opening it. "Like I said, it's how things work. Like the food chain, y'know? Witches eat people, and us magical girls then eat the Witches."
Even Yuki can tell that Kyoko hardly believes her own words. She tilts her head in response. "The fact aside I am still not a Witch, that does not explain your sudden change in behaviour when you saw my face."
The other magical girl twitches in response, a fish-shaped waffle stopping just an inch from her mouth. She starts to frown, looking down at the back of the next bench. Yuma looks up at her innocently, then starts to beam when Kyoko hands her half of the waffle.
"That thing says otherwise," she finally tries to change the subject, tapping her Soul Gem.
"You may confer with Kyubey on the subject. I am not a Witch, though Witches seem to be similar existences to mine. Consequently, I do not have a Grief Seed. Now stop dodging the question."
Somehow, Kyoko can feel the weight of Yuki's unimpressed look through the blindfold. She is still tempted to ask about that or for clarification instead, but ultimately heaves a sigh. Her shoulders slump, then she pulls Yuma closer to her side.
"It's... complicated. Sorry 'bout that, I guess. The way you look isn't an illusion, right?"
"No. It is just me."
"Damn it."
Using her one free hand, Kyoko rubs her eyes. Now it is her who can not bear looking at Yuki. "I guess that's what I get for being a dumbass. The night we met, that was just a little while after I met Yuma here. Saved her from a familiar, even. But she's, I... I've told myself that people are just food for Witches so long, I almost left her to die. And after I saved her, I was constantly thinking that something's not right."
Yuma says nothing, but Yuki can hear her nestle tighter against Kyoko's side. Yuki herself withholds judgement for now, but this certainly does not sound good.
"It's how I've lived the last two years," she explains weakly, still frowning. "It's how I survived. But then Yuma stumbles into my life and throws it all out of whack without even trying."
She squeezes the girl tigther, then looks at Yuki with another sigh. "So I went out to clear my head, get back into the mindset. I was just looking for a fight, something to kill. Then I find you and think you're just right. And then, well, then you end up looking so much like her it ain't funny."
"I see," Yuki says. She leans forward to study Yuma, who mirrors her motion with the same curiousity. They do have almost the same colour of hair, if vastly different styles. Yuki's skin is a few shades fairer and she is taller. But on a first glance, there is certainly a lot of similarity.
"So you thought I was trying to play mind games with you."
"Yeah. Again, sorry about that."
"Very well. Then I forgive you."
"Wha-, just like that?"
Yuki nods back. "Of course. Even if I were actually upset, you have been more than punished enough for any transgression."
She taps the redhead's leg stump for emphasis, which draws a twitch from Kyoko. The other magical girl takes a moment to compose herself, then shakes her head with a good-natured huff. She then produces a package of gummies from somewhere.
"Alright then, I'll take it." She throws some gummies in her mouth, then offers them to Yuki and Yuma. Each of them takes a few.
"Another question: are you Christian?"
Now it is for Yuki to be confused. "No. What is that?"
This in turn alienates Kyoko, who points at her necklace. "If you're not, then why're you wearing those?"
Yuki looks down in response. The two crosses sit innocently on her collarbone, just as inert as they were the last two weeks.
"Those are gifts," she explains. "From other Abnormalities, I believe. I can tell that much, but not which ones."
"Huh. So 'Abnormalities' is what you are, too? And they give people stuff?"
"Yes, and occasionally," Yuki answers, absently stroking the fluffy cross again. "Although these gifts usually go to people we like, and never to another Abnormality. Then again, we were never allowed to mingle, so this may just be a new discovery."
She ultimately shrugs off the thought, hands folded in her lap now. Kyoko seems equally distracted, though her musings are an enigma. She never stops cradling Yuma to her side, though.
"Guess I'm taking a break for a few days," Kyoko finally says with a look to her stump. "Will take, let's say a week to fix that up? I'm good on Grief Seeds," she muses, squinting into the distance. "But I can't react if someone tries to muscle in on my turf."
"Does that happen often?"
Yuki's question is answered with a shrug. "Sometimes. But you know how it is, it always happens when you're not in top shape."
She nods her understanding. "Expect the worst, hope for the best."
Kyoko nods back, then makes a bit of a face. "Alright, so... just making sure, you don't eat people or anything, right?"
"No."
"Okay, cool. And you don't hurt people outside of a fight, right?"
"It depends," Yuki says. When Kyoko looks her way sharply, she arches a brow. "I am a guardian by nature. If someone knowingly, willingly, and unrepentantly harms the community or its members, I will remove or excise them. Although I can not currently act in that function because I do not agree with Japanese law in places, cultural and written."
She really has to do something about that. But a country of this size is not changed in a day. And then there is the matter of Oriko's doomsaying to consider. She swears by it and is hardly a liar. So that takes priority.
"That's a lotta words for saying you got nothing to do right now," Kyoko comments drily. She is unbothered by Yuki's unamused look.
The redhead's faint grin smoothes out a moment later. She looks back up at the altar for some reason, then at Yuki. Then her head turns to the other side as if seeking answers from Yuma.
"Ugh, I hate to ask, but I kinda need to clear my head for a bit. Any chance you'd play with Yuma for a few hours?"
"Eh? But I don't wanna play with her!" Yuma protests immediately. "If you need quiet, I can just go play alone!"
"I know you can," Kyoko agrees gently, ruffling the younger girl's hair. "But I'm worried about leaving you alone right now. Lots of stuff could happen, I don't wanna lose you. Besides, it's more fun when two people play, isn't it?"
Yuma does not talk back this time, though Yuki can tell from her minute frown that she is still not on-board with the idea.
Thinking over the request, she sees no reason not to entertain the notion. Kyoko is decent company at this point, and the trading of favours is a good way to establish a proper relationship. But at the same time, accepting to mind Yuma may alienate Yuma.
Children at that age are difficult to dislodge from their opinions. Letting her have her will and staying here while Yuma plays on her own may help make inroads. Though it might alienate Kyoko, it is also an opportunity to talk to her alone after she is done clearing her mind.
[] Stay with Kyoko
weight: x1
[] Mind Yuma
weight: x1
-Unlocked Character Sheets: Kyoko Sakura, Yuma Chitose
