>>38038820
>Counter-attack
>WITH YOUR FISTS
WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE?

>>38038877
Changing my vote to this

>>38038820
>>38038877
Maybe sparring like usual will help calm her down and remind her we are kind of friends.

>>38038877
Dubs confirms.

>>38038820
Voting over, writing!

>>38038820
fucking yes, here I am...in time for this course of action.

Okay. S'alright.

We got this, it'll be a spectral rope a dope

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There needs to be more fisticuffs in Bleach.

>>38038877
Late as hell and pleasantly surprised.

Thanks for being awesome Anon.

>>38039515
There needs to be more of Rukia in that dress.

Dayum.

>>38039571
She kind of lacks a figure. Not much to Dayum about.

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>>38039579
I do believe that Rukia has it going on with some variety when it comes to her figures.

>>38039579
Part of that is that hakama in particular are designed to disguise movement of the legs, meaning her lower figure is fairly lacking by design. A qipao has a tendency to emphasize even a modest figure just due to how it's cut.

>>38038877
You need to give Naoko a good wake up call, and you have an idea of how to do it. Your right hand lets go of the sword, and you cock that arm back in the wake of the approaching Naoko. Your eyes lock with hers, and you thrust your clutched fist forward, aiming right for her face.

However, you don't even get to finish the punch. When it's only halfway through in its swing, Naoko's fist plants itself right into the center of your chest. The ridiculous attack blows you away, sending you flying backwards through the air.

If you were in your body of flesh, your chest would have caved in under the impact. If you still had a beating heart, it would have been crushed by your own collapsing ribcage. Her punch stopped just short of going straight through you; a tiny bit stronger, and you would get a hole mimicking the ones possessed by Hollows.

But as a Shinigami, you can survive blows that would kill humans. You interrupt your flight with a spin, planting your feet back into the ground. You raise your sword without thinking, your posture wavering and quivering as if you are dizzy. You can feel the wound bleeding, your robes getting stuck because of the moisture around the injured area.

The pain is awful. As a spirit, you don't think you have bones to speak of, but it still feels like they are broken. You're not actually having trouble breathing or moving, but because you're a human at heart, you keep thinking that you should. It's a dull, unrelenting agony, as if pressure is still being applied to your chest.

Naoko didn't move since the strike, simply observing the consequences of her attack with an inquisitive glare. She probably doesn't know what to expect, much like you.

Naoko is a human, and yet she's apparently at least as fast and strong as you. If this is the reason she held back during spars, then, well, you're grateful to her for not punching through your skull.

(1/2)

>>38040123
But what if she really is just a human, and the source of her power is contained in those white gloves and shoes? They must certainly be the reason why she can hurt you with mere punches, without even the need for those spiritual blasts. Can she even hurt you with any other body part? You'll have to see for yourself, and act accordingly depending on the obtained information.

Though, short of cutting off her limbs, you don't know how you're supposed to get those things off of her.

Naoko moves again. Her feet don't take off the ground - it's like she's sliding along the surface on her white footwear as if she were on ice, reaching superhuman speeds on a whim. You can't even blink - she'll reach you before you'd finish doing that.

>Continue fighting unarmed.
>Fight using your sword.
>Yell for Kimiko's support.

>>38040153
>Continue fighting unarmed.

>>38040153
>Continue fighting unarmed.
Hoping she will come to her senses before she killed us. Using the sword would just escalate things.

>>38040153
>Continue fighting unarmed.

>>38040153
>Continue fighting unarmed.
Can't raise a sword to a friend.

>>38040177
Didn't we get her to promise to not hold back a bit ago? If we do get knocked the fuck out we can say thanks for not holding back.

>>38040200
I almost typed the exact same thing but stopped myself... I

>>38040153
>>Continue fighting unarmed.

>>38040214
Maybe it's a double post?

>>38040153
>Continue fighting unarmed.
Feint?
Sweep?
Cross-counter?

We need flash-step.

>>38040153
Voting over, writing!

>>38040426
Shit, I keep arriving in these threads 1 minute too late to vote.

>>38040463
What would you have voted for?

>>38040513
I dunno but it definitely would have swayed the vote, I think.

>>38040848
WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!

>>38040426
Hoping we actually say "I won't raise my sword against a friend," coughing and bloody.

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What is casual violence between friends.

And or family?

We are the MC, there is a chance that this Quincy is our cousin?

>>38041084
Why would we be related?

>>38041133
Because KUBO.
Hopefully there's no Kubo here.

>>38041144
But Anon, You were Kubo all along. It was you who wasn't here.

>>38041165
What? That doesn't even make sense.

>>38041144
Let's change that.
I pick: "Date a Kubo" mode.

>>38041182
You'd say that Kubo, but I, Kubo, can see through your bluff!

>>38041208
Okay. Sure fuck it. It all makes sense.

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>>38039515
That moon on Ichigo....

>>38041144
Going Kubo can be fun sometimes.

Wish I had the most recent version of this. There's one for Hitsugaya and one for Mayuri.

Edit: Fucking hell, 4chan is not letting me post this.
https://dailyanimeart.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/bleach-final-arc-funny-summary.jpg

>>38040176
>>38040177
You wish you could sheathe your sword, but the damn thing doesn't fit in its broken state. You point the blade aside, raising your free arm. Naoko's fist flies right towards your head, colliding with the raised limb. The blow is still staggering, and the block accomplishes almost nothing.

Naoko continued moving, performing a graceful, fluent spin towards your flank, lifting up a leg. The motion of the kick is accompanied by a terrifying sound akin to the crack of a whip. The strength behind the strike is absurd. If your body was still that of flesh, your head would have burst like a crushed melon.

You are sent tumbling away, miraculously holding on to your consciousness. You are forced to drop your sword; the bent weapon lies where you used to stand. You end up on your back, your head pointing towards Naoko.

As you try to stand back up, your body rejects your commands. Throughout your brief career as a Shinigami, you've never felt this weak before. With great suffering, you manage to roll over to your side, planting a quivering palm into the dirt. Your arm doesn't have enough strength in it to extend and push you up. From the back of your head, blood is dripping onto the dusty field.

You look at Naoko, your vision refusing to focus. Her gaze is not directed at you. Her eyes are looking skywards, towards the school roof.

The glove on her right hand begins to dissolve into blue light, its glow increasing in brightness with each passing moment. Its vague, wavy outline is gradually given a more solid form. This must be the very same projectile she launched at you back in the city.

Realizing what Naoko is about to do, you somehow muster the strength to crawl back up to your two feet. You clumsily but swiftly limp towards her, trying to interrupt her, but she discards you with another kick, tossing you aside. She doesn't stop; after performing the attack, she continues charging up the blast.

(1/2)

>>38041759
But you have to do something. You are not content with just laying around. You're still conscious, and that means you can stop Naoko from hurting her. It must mean that.

"If you don't sit still, I'll have to aim this at you. Rest, Clarissa." You hear Naoko mutter, more pleading than threatening. The blue shine emits a sound like the crackle of flames. She's about to fire. You need to stop Naoko without hurting her. With that in mind, you obviously can't stop her using your sword. Your hand to hand is pathetic when compared to hers, so that won't work. It was a hopeless endeavor in the first place, but that approach seems to have at least calmed her down.

Unfortunately, that calculating cool has reminded her of her true goal. Her target isn't you; it's your Shinigami partner.

But... maybe there is still a way to prevent this. You've stopped those blasts without dying before, so perhaps you can do it again. Your sword is lying a few meters away, and your body refuses to abide your commands.

But it's fine, isn't it? If you really want to, maybe you can make it work? You just need to push yourself harder and it will all work out, isn't that it? And even in the case that you don't manage it, even if you end up having to block Naoko's attack with your own body, does it really mean anything in comparison to Aiko's safety?

...It does. You don't want to die. Your life, as messed up as it may be, still means something to you. Maybe there is a safer solution?

>Scream at Kimiko; warn her.
>Try to grab your sword and block the blast.

>>38041789
>Scream at Kimiko; warn her.
>Try to grab your sword and block the blast.

I'd say something like grab/hug her force her to not take the shot but not sure that'd work..

>>38041789
Fall to our knees repeatedly saying "Please she can't die again."

>>38041789
>Try to grab your sword and block the blast.

Or alternatively, kick her legs from under her while she's focusing. Get her off balance and miss.

>>38041789
>Try to grab your sword and block the blast.

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>>38041789
>Try to grab your sword and block the blast.
I'm fine with blocking it with our body.ARE YOU WITH ME ANONS!?

>>38041789
>Scream at Kimiko; warn her.
I don't wanna die anons!

>>38041988
Coward.

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Man, Naoko isn't messing around.

AND she's already skilled enough to use Hirenkyaku. At least her firing speed is still slow as shit.

She probably isn't running on BLUT, which is why we are still alive. However, I am curious about how this can go down.

The only way to be Naoko is emotionally. We need her to see how emotional we've become.

This needs to stop, and if we fail to save Kimiko, it'll be like watching Aiko die again.

Look back over in the end of the last update. We're so punch drunk we thought of her as Aiko. Clarissa's Aiko.

Feels are imminent.

Feels will hurt.

Its only the rain.

>>38041789
Voting over, writing!

>>38042059
It's a bit jarring, since Quincies aren't usually good at hand-to-hand and CQC, especially if they're not pure blooded. Shinigamies have a better chance in that department.

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>>38042059
Pic related....One way or another......

>>38042169
Well, from the way she was talking, she probably wasn't raised very much on quincy philosophy...but she has devoted herself to martial arts to maintain her composure.

Girl is probably traumatized and has tons of issues. This is all going to come to a head soon.

could we get the arrow to bend the sword so that it's strait.

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>>38041133
Why friend, I am very happy you asked that question.

I theorize why we have such a high quality Zanpakuto even though we have shit for personal spirit energy (even if its more than a baseline human) is because I believe either our parents or someone in our blood line is a Quincy. The baseline nature of Quincy Power is spiritual control. That can be represented by us having that fucking high quality zanpakuto instead of the Canon MC's oversized chopper. Shit is going down. Its going so far down. Stuff is going to happen. Just watch.

Though now I'm curious...what was the prestigious company our twin brother interned with? My shadowruns are building.

>>38042296
That sounds crazy enough to work, and would probably shock her enough to give us a free shot.
Let's do it next vote.

And sing Number One so QM doesn't screw us over just because.

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>>38041165
When were you under the impression that you we both weren't Kubo?

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>>38042354
>>38042354
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9j6b-VmIjs

>>38042311
Okay. Welp interesting if it pans out. Either way. Feels now shadow runs later

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>>38042950
Well, There is one clue that can immediately confirm or deny for the reader, but that is dependent on us accomplishing something we clearly suck at.

Closing in on the hour mark after he said he was writing. This means Mushrooms are 'bout to drop

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....Why do i get the feeling this is going to end with us looking like pic related?

>>38043263
Jesus I hope not

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>>38043263
Its amazing, the kinda shit you can live through

>>38043390
Merely a flesh wound. Who needs a spine to stay upright anyhow?
In fact, holes through the chest can be a surprisingly reliable method of obtaining a powerup.

>>38042880
lets get this train started
" If ya wanna see some action"

>>38043553
"Gotta be the center of attraction"

>>38043574
"Make sure that they got their eyes on you, like the face that you see on every magazine."

>>38043627
"Be the focus of attention
Be the name that everyone must mention"

>>38043574
"make sure that they got their eyes on you like the face that you see on living magazines"

We blew it

>>38043687
nono If I can find out how to delete my poast were good

>>38043641
"Come out from the shadows, it's your time, cos tonight is the night for everyone to see."

>>38043752
"It's naaatural"

>>38043835
"You know that this is where you gotta be, it must be your destiny."

Hour and a half. Hope it's a big post

>>38043850
"sensaaaational"

>>38044084
"And you believe that, this is what you've waited for and it's you that they all adore, so baby."

>>38044299
"Now you feel like number one,
Shining bright for everyone."

>>38041882
>>38041883
You want to prevent them both from getting hurt, but the world is just never a perfect place when you need it to be, is it? If you were just a bit stronger, you could have probably done it. But you're not. By Shinigami standards, you must be a weakling. But if you have to serve as a meatshield, and if that means that you'll be the only one harmed, then...

Then you will do it, and you will be the only one enduring pain.

You reach out for your sword. Your arm will never reach that far, and your body feels too heavy to move. The only way to reach a happy end in this situation is to wield your sword. It's to put the weapon between them, it's to force Naoko to stop, even if it means keeping at it until she's exhausted into unconsciousness.

But the sword is too far away. In your state, you doubt that you can even stand. Even without the weapon, you would never make it to Naoko in time.

You can feel the heat of the arrow. There is simply no time left.

In desperation, you clench your hand, as if trying to grasp its hilt.

(1/3)

>>38044420
And you do.

You take your sword.

A surge of golden light converts your naive wish into power. For just a moment, for just the briefest, most fleeting instance of time, you feel almighty. Your body moves almost of its own accord to carry out your almost childish desire. You jump, placing yourself directly in the path of Naoko's blast. Her eyes widen, but it's too late - she is already thrusting her arm forwards, firing off the bolt with a punch.

You swing the blade. It truly is your sword, even if it is not the same weapon you wielded before. This one is as light as the air, as swift as the wind. It is easy to recognize, as it is the sword that claimed your life for the very first time. It is somewhat ironic that you have to wield this very same weapon to save her life as well.

With a roar, you push the blade further into the blue light. It cuts through.

The brief collision erupts into an explosion. You stop the bolt at the climax of its power. A cloud of black smoke engulfs your vision, but you can hear a sharp whistle pass your ear. Your sword feels even lighter; it must have split from the impact, and its separated half very nearly lodged itself into your head.

You manage to faint as you fly through the air, only returning to consciousness once you hit the ground. The remains of the weapon in your hand have only a few inches of steel remaining above the hilt.

Blood isn't pouring out of your wounds anymore. You feel healthy enough to struggle up to your feet, though you can barely stand. The smoke has dissipated.

Naoko is standing on the other side of the dissolved cloud, her left arm grasping her right shoulder - the arm with which she fired the blast. It must have taken the brunt of the explosion. The sleeve around it is torn and burnt, and the flesh underneath is burned and bleeding.

But she's quite stable on her feet, unlike you. You're fairly certain that she can still fight.

(2/3)

>>38044459
And yet, the girl doesn't move. She looks at you beratingly, like the bearer of some sort of childish grudge.

"Why did you do that? If you had died, what would I do? Just step away, Clarissa. Please, just let me do this. I'm doing the right thing, aren't I? If I get rid of the Shinigami, I'll prevent another massacre from ever happening. I'll save people, just like I've been saving them from the monsters. It's the right thing to do, isn't it? Isn't it, Clarissa? Tell me that it is! Tell me that I was right! Please, Clarissa!"

You can't answer her cries. She can't meet your gaze anymore.

"...Were you telling the truth?" She mutters after a pause. Her voice is weak; she's barely speaking. You had to read the question off her trembling lips. "Was there really a better way?"

...How do you answer such a question?

How do you tell someone that they killed for the wrong reasons?

How do you tell someone that they didn't have to murder in the first place?

How many innocent people did Naoko have to look in the eye as she killed them, believing that it was the right thing, the only thing she could have done?

Are you supposed to call her a hero? Are you supposed to call her a villain?

Do you call her a murderer, just like yourself?

No. You can't bring her down to your level. You killed because you were weak. If anything, you are the very opposite of Naoko.

Really, it makes you a little jealous. You almost wish your reason for killing was half as good as hers.

...

You walk towards her. Naoko's body twitches in violent, silent sobs. Tears are streaming down her face. She must have taken your silence as confirmation.

>Hug her. You know that you probably can't make her feel better about it, but... you can at least try.
>Don't do anything. Let her cry it out. Pity might make her feel worse.
>Other (Write-in).

>>38044585
>>Hug her. You know that you probably can't make her feel better about it, but... you can at least try.

>>38044585
>hug her

>>38044585
>Hug her. You know that you probably can't make her feel better about it, but... you can at least try.

>>38044585
>Hug her. You know that you probably can't make her feel better about it, but... you can at least try.
Eh, feels right to me.

>>38044585
>>>Hug her. You know that you probably can't make her feel better about it, but... you can at least try.

>>38044585
>Hug her.
>Other (Write-in).
"I'm sorry. I barely know what's going on anymore, and I don't know how we set things right from here. But we'll find a way."

>>38044585
>>38044692
Sure, but...let's wait until we're sure she accepts a hug before starting the speeches and shit.

We should probably have her and Kimiko talk things out afterwards.

>>38044585
Voting over, writing!

Damn.

>>38044914
We should keep them separated until Naoko can get herself together and has had some time to calm down, first. After that I'm split. On one hand, she might be more open than she'll ever be to Shinigami explanations of what's going on, and she could find some hope or comfort in said info. On the other she might take her presence badly still, need some time to think things over before accepting Shinigami.

>>38044585
>You almost wish your reason for killing was half as good as hers
And it continues to frustrate me.

>>38045233
We'll get it eventually. Maybe?

>>38045233
It can't be good. Lead pipe isn't like assisted suicide or anything.

>>38045442
There has to be SOME circumstance there. The MC clearly feels guilty about it, and it doesn't really sound like a crime of passion. It's just that having no idea what actually happened when it's apparently so key to what's going on is frustrating, especially given that the MC hasn't forgotten it or anything: we're just not allowed to know yet.

>>38045694
Yeah it is kind of frustrating and i honestly don't get why he is keeping it a secret

Maybe she talked us into it, she knew we could see ghosts maybe and knew her parents would never approve, so she could be by our side forever.

>>38045800
It's a device used in other forms of storytelling, but not when we're supposed to be inside Clarissa's head. Keeping something that important secret makes it impossible for me to understand the her motivations and thoughts, which in turn makes it impossible for me to play as her.

>>38045912
You would not like Lessons in Knighthood by damp then. Great quest. MC is hiding her true purpose and racial/monster/whatever from everyone. Including the players..

>>38044585
>>Hug her. You know that you probably can't make her feel better about it, but... you can at least try.
It's going to be okay. You didn't know. You didn't know. I'm here. It's going to be okay.

You're a better person than me.

Did we ever get clarification? Was the ghost we saw get eaten Aiko?

>>38046322
>clarification?
Nope, it's just been brought up a couple more times.

>>38044615
>>38044627
You let the hilt slide out of your hand. It falls on the ground, and you leave it behind.

You wrap your arms around Naoko's shoulders.

"Stop that..." She protests and tries to push you away. You don't relent; her shoves are weak, anyway.

"Cut it out. I'm... leaning on you for support." You tell her, and she stops struggling. What, did that convince her? She doesn't return the hug, preferring to limply stand, wrapped in your arms. Her body convulses with the occasional sob.

"Feels pretty annoying when you just want to be sad and someone's trying to cheer you up, don't it?" You smile, realizing quite well how hypocritical it sounds. Well, that just adds to the humor... probably. "Like getting tickled at a funeral, or... something like that."

You can hear her suddenly exhale some air; you think you managed to force a chuckle out of her. Or maybe it's just another sob.

"I... I don't know what to do." Naoko says, her speech mangled by weeping. "I... I-I can't give myself up to the authorities. I... I can't do anything."

"I wish I knew what to do, Naoko. But I'm sure we'll figure something out. Everything will be fine." You tell her. It's not a very inspirational thing to say, but, well, you're trying.

"...I'm sorry." She meekly apologizes.

"I know."

You spend a few minutes in silence. Naoko gently pushes you away after a while. It seems that she's stopped crying. She avoids making eye-contact, making the previously comforting silence gradually turn into an awkward one.

...

>" Let's go talk this out with Kimiko right now. You two probably have a lot to discuss."
>"Naoko, let's rest and figure things out tomorrow. Are you going to be alright? Want me to walk you home, or something?"
>"We should all go home. We went through... a lot. I don't really want to leave you alone, Naoko, so, uh... a sleepover?.."
>Other (Write-in).

>>38046527
>"We should all go home. We went through... a lot. I don't really want to leave you alone, Naoko, so, uh... a sleepover?.."
Justify keeping an eye on her, because her entire worldview probably just got shaken to pieces.

>>38046527
>"We should all go home. We went through... a lot. I don't really want to leave you alone, Naoko, so, uh... a sleepover?.."

On the one hand her and a shinigami in the same room is a bad idea. On the other hand she seems like the type to think seppuku has some merit.

>>38046527
>>"We should all go home. We went through... a lot. I don't really want to leave you alone, Naoko, so, uh... a sleepover?.."
Or we go to her place I don't think we should be around Kimiko...

>>38046527
>sleepover option

>>38046649
Second

Tonight, we hive mind

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>>38046527
Voting over, and ending thread for tonight, it's getting really late! Next thread will proceed with the most voted option.

Next thread will be announced on twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami

If you have any questions or feedback, shoot them my way!

Thanks for reading!

>>38046921
Good thread. Thanks for running.

>>38046921
Thanks for running dude.

>>38046921
Thanks for the thread!

>>38046921
When are we gonna finally get some info on the circumstances of our murder?

>>38047031
Maybe in a heart to heart about awful things with our resident quincy?

>>38047031
Very soon, I promise!

>>38047066

So, will we get a girl Chad? Or is that sleepy girl?

Also, Man-Orihime?

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>>38047066

Thanks for running