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>>40816420
Dealing with the demon-girl Fenghuang was only a minor issue; she was neither bright nor particularly cunning, and you put the entire issue of the Chinese demons squarely back into their own court. Most likely a temporary measure, but it worked. The attempt on your wife was merely misguided, and nothing unexpected, annoying as it was. The centuries practicing your power while trapped in the landlady's realms of chaos paid off: not a single gun is working on the entire beach for either side, and you killed most of the car engines as well. That's nothing compared to your wife helping you give birth to a new generation of mermaids, and then helping you become immortal through eating some of that strange flesh.

Sadly, with a European half-demon fox-child headed directly for your wife and family, you're going to get to test your newfound immortality, the skills you've had to practice for two centuries in hell, and whatever effect having eight hundred and sixty-two cat youkai stuffed in your aura will have on you.

Stupid cat. At least you've got part of your side of the bargain taken care of. Now you just have to find an actual home for them.

Fox-girl is short haired, blond, quite athletic, and fairly strong. She uses that sheathed broadsword like a club, and her shield as another, swatting aside humans and nogitsune-child alike if they get in her way. Her outfit seems to be both dress an armor, like something out of some strange anime. She has a short fox tail the fur almost the same color as her hair, and white tipped; her ears are long and creamy on the inside while a pair of very sharp looking aquamarine horns arc from behind her head to her brow, almost like a halo. The look of fierce joy in her emerald eyes as she swats people out of her way is very telling; despite that she's no slouch in the skills department.

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>>40816439
“What are we going to do, aniki?” whispers Yui-niji-chan, looking concerned. Yuuhi-chan is waiting patiently, her nodachi in hand and ready to be drawn. She's fully awake and alert, no sign of sleepiness or confusion in her whatsoever. The fox-demon-girl is still some distance from your family, but that is diminishing rapidly. Your certain that most of the humans and nogitsune-born are not in the same class as you and your family at all, and aren't going to be more than a momentary issue for her to plow through. Of course, that might not be true of all of them.

[] Have Yui drop you off and regroup with the others.
[] Three is better than one in this case, all go in.
[] Rejoin the family and face the threat as a whole.
[] Ask Yuuhi-chan if she wants first crack, see what they're capable of.
[] Find a potent nogitsune-born and ask for a hand.

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>>40816456
Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/40697216/
Interlude: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/37879167/

Search for Title: Ryukuza on Suptg
Barrier Combat Guide: http://pastebin.com/rZLwzvGx
Twitter: @XsQuestmistress

Hebiki Akari's Tale: http://pastebin.com/3JjNVKbY

Kurao Yui's Tale: http://pastebin.com/qYJa4PwH

Kumatori Kiki's Tale: http://pastebin.com/pdjfAEEU

Akari's Lesson (R-18): http://pastebin.com/bnGavrhP

Kiki's Gift (R-18): http://pastebin.com/sLP3NcbC

Aniki, Senpai, and Me (R-18): http://pastebin.com/U1AxYhxK

Kiku, the shortest, is 5' 1" for ever and ever. Lesbian submissive.
Akari is 5' 3", and has another few inches to grow. Sexuality is weird, switch, cosplayer.
Yui is 5' 4" and will only grow due to circumstances beyond her control (though she will be able to change her size, being Void oni). Dyke, switch.
Kiki is 5' 6", and is at full growth. Bisexual bottom.
Ryukusa is tall at 5' 8", but this becomes 6' in her true form. She is fully grown. Lesbian top.
Er Yin is the tallest at 5' 10" and is fully grown. Lesbian dominant.
Jinyuu is 5' 7" but persistently hovers an extra three inches above the ground or floor because of her nature as a seer. Straight.
Hinata-hakase is 6' 3". Sexuality is terrifying.
Hidesato is 5' 5". Straight.
Kushinada is 5' 8". Straighter.
Taisho Ryoga is 5' 9". Who knows.
Hyun Chisato is 5' 4”, and is fully grown. Lolicon with plausible deniability.
Rie is 8” tall or 5' 5”, and is fully cat. Her sexuality is cat.
Hagyu Genso is 12' 5” standing upright. He is by and large gay.
Mizumi Shoko is 7' 2”, is fully grown. Bisexual top.
Yuuhi is 4'11” and is fully grown. Yuuhi a cute.
Tokei Isusangi, Inau-san is 5' 3” and confused.
Reiha is 5' 5 1/2”, and is milfy.
Peta is 3' 2”. Peta is \>.</ aka Her Most Imperial Highness Patanjali Piri Yokuhime Kuronogitsune Pa
Detective-san is 5'11” and straight.
Kenji Soomi is 5' 4” and gothic lolita.

>>40816456

>[] Rejoin the family and face the threat as a whole.

>>40816456
>[] Rejoin the family and face the threat as a whole.
Bring all our power to bear against this unknown for. Prepare to launch barrier combat if necessary.

>>40816456
>[] Rejoin the family and face the threat as a whole.

Welcome back, XS! I hope you're alright

Margaret seems fun. Let's hope she's more than a petty shithead with too much power.

>>40816456
>[] Rejoin the family and face the threat as a whole.

>>40816456
>[] Have Yui drop you off and regroup with the others.
>[] Rejoin the family and face the threat as a whole.
Intercept Margaret and give the family time to prepare for a big attack.

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...We have 862 Cat Youkai in us and we also happen to taste delicious to Youkai...pic related?

>>40816456
Ryukusa time!
>[] Rejoin the family and face the threat as a whole.
Sounds good to me!

>>40816696
>inside us
Lewd.

>>40816474
>Search for Title: Ryukuza on Suptg
Uhhh how does one manage to read through the archive in order when you don't title your archives with thread numbers...

I can't even find the first one.

>>40816890

The first few ones weren't archived on sup/tg/

>>40816890
The first you find is the third or fourth, you need to follow the links to the previous thread from there one at a time.

>>40816890
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=Ryukuza
The lack of thread number is kinda annoying but I go off the dates of the threads to figure it out.

>>40816890
Lord Licorice changed the way the date system shows up, unfortunately. I do have a full chronological thread listing which I will put in a pastebin and post momentarily.

>>40816927
>you need to follow the links to the previous thread from there one at a time
thats pretty crap

>>40816943
Eh worked for me, and it was only a few threads. Anyways >>40816934 should help better.

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[X] Rejoin the family and face the threat as a whole.
[] Ask Yuuhi-chan if she wants first crack, see what they're capable of.
[] Find a potent nogitsune-born and ask for a hand.

“Take us directly to Kiki-hime. I suspect she's presuming we'll all be separated, so dealing with all of us is going to put her at a severe disadvantage.” You lay your hand on Yui-niji-chan's shoulder as she directs the cloud, and Yuuhi-chan keeps her focus on the enemy. The cloud dips low and moves much more quickly, and you find yourself closing in on your family while the stranger is still a good twenty or thirty yards out.

This far up and out, you can't use Water Eyes effectively on a single target; you'd end up understanding the movements of the mobs of people and the party-goers in a much more general sense. While it is useful for tactical situations, with a single enemy the tactics are already pretty obvious to you. What does worry you is that given she's a foreigner in a beach rapidly turning into a riot zone, she has to have a number of quick-escapes planned or as part of her powers, or she is dangerous enough to take out a good number of your family members on her own.

Your pretty sure Taisho Ryoga wouldn't risk an asset he didn't think couldn't quickly and effectively take out Kiku-chan and yourself at the very least. Fortunately you've grown since he;s last seen you, by leaps and bounds.

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>>40817076
Yuuhi-chan leaps off the cloud and lands running, moving to place herself slightly ahead of the group and on the same side as the enemy. You leap off and take up a similar position behind them. Yui-niji-chan stays close to you, though still riding the cloud; you've referred to her as your rescuer and a mere gesture will send her kidnapping your wife away by cloud.

Currently, with Inau in the lead, while Akari and Kiku flank Kiki-hime, Yui behind, and Yuuhi-chan and yourself as outriders on the side the demon-kitsune-girl is approaching from, you have Kiki-hime well guarded. No one is winded or out of breath, and you have another two hundred or so yards before hitting the real tree-line. There are maybe fifteen humans and eight nogitsune-born nearby or ahead, and of those, only two pair-bonded sets.

A sharp whistle gets Akari's attention and she glances back; you give her the warning, and she relays by voice to the others. No one stops running, though Inau-kun and Kiki-hime hesitate slightly, unsure of what they should do next. Which is probably an excellent question. You have maybe thirty seconds before the fox-demon gets here, and that may be forever or an instant.

[] Put up a Barrier, excluding anyone not of your family and continue towards the trees.
[] Have Akari-niji-chan and Yui-niji-chan put up Barriers, then throw up a third, buy time.
[] Intercept her yourself.
[] You, Akari and Kiku take her on, as Taisho Ryoga would have assumed.
[] You, Yuuhi, and Inau take her out by surprise.

>>40817089
>[] You, Yuuhi, and Inau take her out by surprise.
Alpha Strike.

>>40817089
>[] Put up a Barrier, excluding anyone not of your family and continue towards the trees.

>>40817089
>[] Put up a Barrier, excluding anyone not of your family and continue towards the trees.
Play it defensively maybe.

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http://pastebin.com/Z53TyK0N

Threads in Chronological order, the character list, and some terminology reminders for myself you may peruse for your amusement.

>>40817089
>[] Put up a Barrier, excluding anyone not of your family and continue towards the trees.

>>40817236
Much appreciated

>>40817089
>[X] Put up a Barrier, excluding anyone not of your family and continue towards the trees.

>>40817089
>[] Have Akari-niji-chan and Yui-niji-chan put up Barriers, then throw up a third, buy time.

>>40817089
> [x] Put up a Barrier, excluding anyone not of your family and continue towards the trees.

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[X] Put up a Barrier, excluding anyone not of your family and continue towards the trees.

It's a simple play for time, admittedly, but it is an effective one: you call upon the kami Matagama-no-Shitoki and hurl up a Barrier even larger than the one you put over the diocese in Tokyo. It extends almost a half-mile in every direction, and you purposefully exclude every non-member of your family that is a spirit-child or spirit that you can. You make something of a show of it to, throwing up your hands with a shout, more for the benefit of your family than to show off. It keeps them from assuming the worst.

“Keep going; we might be able to make the trees before sh-” You are cut off by a thunderous crack as the Barrier is assaulted. “Yui, Kiku, Inau, stay with Hime-chan. Kiku is in charge, listen to her. Yuuhi-chan, to me.” You can feel where she attacked the barrier, and you gesture for Akari to pull back some – but you all continue to run. With no one in the way it makes the going much easier despite the sand.

It doesn't take but a few sentences to bring Akari-niji-chan up to speed; you don't know all that much yourself, except that Yuuhi-chan identified it as a demon-child and a fox-child, and she smacks of Toshio's experimentation to you. Akari frowns, keeping the pace easily. “So we don't know if she's actually a kitsune born or a fox spirit from Europe?”

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>>40817637
That idea brings ~you~ up short; the idea she might be a Japanese demon and a European fox-spirit hadn't occurred to you. It makes her capabilities even less predictable than they were before. Another sharp crack of thunderous noise as she assaults the barrier again resounds throughout the colorless beach and motionless waves. The attacks might be instants apart, but here they're about thirty seconds apart. Two, maybe three more hits and she'll be through; you'll just be reaching the trees at that time.

[] Find her entry point and wait for her, let the others get safe.
[] Have the other group stay here, a good distance away, and you three go back and meet her.
[] Have them all go on, and you fly up and wait for her to show up.
[] All of you wait here together. Safety in numbers.
[] See if Kiku-chan has any charms or talismans you can try.

>>40817655
[x] Have the other group stay here, a good distance away, and you three go back and meet her.

>>40817655
>[] Find her entry point and wait for her, let the others get safe.
>[] See if Kiku-chan has any charms or talismans you can try.

>>40817655
>[] Find her entry point and wait for her, let the others get safe.
>[] Have the other group stay here, a good distance away, and you three go back and meet her.
Ambush her?

>>40817655
>[x] All of you wait here together. Safety in numbers.
Smells like trickery

>>40817711
>It's an open beach, and ambushing from the treeline is asking to have the treeline burned down on her approach, in Ryukusa's experience.

>>40817655
>[] Have the other group stay here, a good distance away, and you three go back and meet her.

>>40817655
>[X] Have the other group stay here, a good distance away, and you three go back and meet her.

>>40817810
I meant the instant she breaks/enters the barrier. Hit her before she has time to assess the situation.

>>40817887
>Just clarifying Ryukusa's position on any other types of ambushes anon might come up with.

>>40817981
Always good to know. Thank you for taking time out of your writing to clarify.

I cannot believe I just spent 15 minutes looking for that one scene where we nearly got Kiku to set a chair on fire

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>>40818047
I can.

>>40818147
There are so many Kiku teasing scenes! I nearly lost that one my favorite among the rest.

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[X] Find her entry point and wait for her, let the others get safe.
[X] Have the other group stay here, a good distance away, and you three go back and meet her.

Realizing that just reaching the tree-line makes it difficult for her but not impossible to track you, you decide a change of plans is in order. “Hold up,” you call out and push off with one foot and glide quickly to the front of the group. “Change of plans. She feels like she'll break through before we all reach the trees, so you four, stay here, and observe. If you can get away while she's distracted, that would be better. We'll go distract her.”

“Be careful, Ryu-chan,” Kiki-hime breathlessly calls out, her eyes bright and shining in the dull light of the Barrier.

You nod seriously and flick your tail, darting back to Akari and Yuuhi. “We can't get far enough away to hide effectively, not without a distraction. I can feel her-” ~BOOM~ “-breaking through. I'l going to take you to where she's going to appear, and we'll see what she has to say for herself.”

“What if she says a bad word, aniki?” Yuuhi inquires with, as near as you can tell, absolute earnestness.

“Then we'll wash her mouth out with soap.” Yuuhi-chan nods seriously. You'd like to think she was trying to be funny. You really would.

“Grasp tightly.” You offer each of your warriors a hand, and they take your hand in both of theirs, gripping your wrists tightly. Even transformed, you're arms aren't much bigger, but you do tone down the glowing power. Interestingly, the loss of your pearl has produced no change in your form – like Er Yin warned you, you are Horobi in all but power here.

>>40817655
>[] All of you wait here together. Safety in numbers.

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>>40818521
It takes a few seconds to move across the beach, carrying them as Er Yin carried you and Akari once, so many cent- uh, days ago, and you end up a few hundred yards away from the rest of your family. A glance back shows Kiku-chan doing something dangerous and powerful, golden light circling and streaming around her. You turn your attention to the space before you. “Right there,” you warn, and that is followed by another thunderous boom, originating right in front of you and echoing hollowly through the barrier.

Akari nods, and slides into the sand as though it were water, a last swipe of her tail leaving no trace she was ever there. Yuuhi-chan steps up close to you, but stands slightly behind you, holding her nodachi in a draw-ready position. For your part....

[] Draw Ame-no-Omukade-no-Musume, and let her see you mean business.
[] Pull out Ame-no-Omukade-no-Musume, but leave her sheathed.
[] Take out Wakaba's gift to you, but leave it sheathed.
[] You don't need to have weapons ready; let her underestimate you.
[] ....you know, you have a nodachi and a wakizashi; samurai it up.

>>40818547
[x] Pull out Ame-no-Omukade-no-Musume, but leave her sheathed.

>>40818547
>[] ....you know, you have a nodachi and a wakizashi; samurai it up.
Just tempt me with the big red button, why don't you?

>>40818547
>[X] ....you know, you have a nodachi and a wakizashi; samurai it up.

The ultimate matchup, knight vs. samurai.

>>40818547
>[] ....you know, you have a nodachi and a wakizashi; samurai it up.

>>40818547
>[x] ....you know, you have a nodachi and a wakizashi; samurai it up.

Sucks but time for me to go to work. You guys had better not fuck up while I'm gone.

>>40818547
>[] You don't need to have weapons ready; let her underestimate you.

She's going to get a serious ammount of Savate in her face.

>>40818547
>[] ....you know, you have a nodachi and a wakizashi; samurai it up.

Is dual wielding even effective vs sword and board?

>>40818990
Shield can't cover everywhere.

>>40818990
>Depends on what you are weilding RL and often the answer is 'no', but in Ryukusa's case, yes it is. On the other hand, it's not how you usually use wakizashi or nodachi; Ryukusa bypasses that style in favor of "It's a weapon in my hands meaning I can kill you with it."

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[X] ....you know, you have a nodachi and a wakizashi; samurai it up.

You pull a length of black silk embroidered with shimmering blue grasses and dragonflies – a thin obi, really – from ~Nowhere~ and shrug into a short robe of black satin with silver peonies. Lashing the belt about your waist, you pull Ame-no-Omukade-no-Musume and Wakaba's nodachi from ~Nowhere~ and slide them into the belt as well. You feel the surge of warm blood lust from Omukade, and a patient, slow awareness of impending battle from the other weapon....

Ah crap. It was two hundred years for them too. You need to name Wakaba's blade, because it could easily become a kami. Omukade is very much aware and fully alert, a true kami, equal to your precious necklace. You should also probably get a second sword for Yuuhi-chan if she insists on being your samurai, now that you think about it, at least for tradition's sake.

You take a deep breath and calm yourself, focusing on the battle ahead. Even if there is no fight, there will be a battle. Words, threats, coercion, teasing, warfare, go, shogi....it's all the same to your mind.

Yuuhi-chan steps a little further away from you, giving you plenty of room. You nod, letting her know. It is time. The last strike shatters a small portion of the Barrier, and you can hear the whistle and scream of fireworks, the shouts and cry of battle, and the screams and crying of the injured and wounded. Not the first time you've heard such things, not after your sojourn in a hell, but the first time you've indirectly been the cause of such a situation.

One day you will be the direct cause of worse.

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>>40819305
The pretty - well, if you are honest, very beautiful – fox-demon-girl steps through the shattered opening, which slowly seals itself behind her. She is brought up short by your appearance, though you suspect less because you are here than because you look like nothing she's ever been told to look out for. You open your Water eyes and she recoils, her green eyes narrowing suspiciously. The suspicion is quite real, and she is clearly aware of your Water eyes on her; her mind is as quick and clever as yours is, though she lacks your innate knowledge of environment and spatial awareness.

Her original plan, to intercept Kiki-hime away from you and Kiku is clearly a failure, and now she is quickly reassessing her situation. She believes she can talk her way out of you killing her outright, and perhaps can wrangle a little more than that from you, but she is clearly regretting the lack of backup. “If you are Ryuu Ryukusa,” she says in flawless and prettily accented Japanese, “then clearly our intelligence is far off the mark where you are concerned!”

And here is where you run into problems. Her voice is ~BEAUTIFUL~. Just hearing it makes you weak in the knees and you would sacrifice your position in the Clan to hear more of that voice. Which is even more disturbing because you don't have a position in the clan to give up, and haven't in a significantly long time. Despite that, you don't feel any particular attraction to her personally or find her any more than just beautiful in a general way, but that voice is worse than hypnotic. Sirens probably sing with that voice.

Yuuhi-chan's tail has summarily exploded, and her ears are laid flat along her head; she is half-crouched, and her eyes are fixed on a point past the strange demon-fox, smoldering embers intent on ignoring everything but the killing strike. Whatever power her voice may have apparently doesn't work on Yuuhi-chan at all.

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>>40819325
A fingertip traces kanji along the sole of your geta: Akari from under the sand, checking to make sure you are all right. A slight movement of your toes to set the geta more firmly tells her you are, but to be very careful. You can't be any more clear than that, sadly.

“And you are?” You don't verify her supposition yet; if she's unsure, so much the better.

“Lieutenant Margaret Steinhausen of the 4th Division of Panzenjaeger Squad,” she raps smartly, saluting you. It can't hurt, in her mind, to show due diligence and perhaps make you underestimate her as they have obviously underestimated you. “I was here to capture Kumatori Kiki, but I see that may be more difficult than the colonel was lead to believe!” She smiles, sliding her arm free of the straps that hold the shield to her arm and resting the tip down in the sand. She keeps the sword in her right hand, still sheathed. You can see she hasn't needed to unsheathe it in a normal manner in the past. There is a faint golden cloud surrounding the tip of her shield – she could try and blind you, obviously.

Interestingly, there is no golden mist with her voice; apparently it even bypasses the power of your danger-seeing right eye.

[] Go ahead and introduce yourself.
[] So, you'll be leaving now, right?
[] Well, in that case, why don't you make a day of it, and report back what you can.
[] ….pretty voice....pretty pretty voice....so nice....oops, sorry, my sword slipped.
[] Unfortunately, you've stepped into a very bad situation....I can't let you leave.

>>40819345
>[X] Unfortunately, you've stepped into a very bad situation....I can't let you leave.

Foxy woman she may be, but letting her get away with information is out of the question. We need our enemies to keep underestimating us.

>>40819345
>[] Go ahead and introduce yourself.
>[] Unfortunately, you've stepped into a very bad situation....I can't let you leave.
I want to keep her.

>>40819345
>[] Go ahead and introduce yourself.
>[] Unfortunately, you've stepped into a very bad situation....I can't let you leave.

>>40819345
>[x] Go ahead and introduce yourself.
>[x] Unfortunately, you've stepped into a very bad situation....I can't let you leave.

>>40819345
[x] Go ahead and introduce yourself

>>40819345
>>40819412
Yah supporting this approach

>[] Go ahead and introduce yourself.

>[] Unfortunately, you've stepped into a very bad situation....I can't let you leave.

>Fire Eyes

>"Your voice is amazing. That reminds me to ask: what does the fox says?"

>>40819345
>Steinhausen of the 4th Division of Panzenjaeger Squad
Quick, bring up dragonnette censorship. The krauts can't handle censorship.

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[X] Go ahead and introduce yourself.
[X] Unfortunately, you've stepped into a very bad situation....I can't let you leave.
[+] Fire eyes. And Ryukusa knows what foxes say.

Well, there isn't any reason not to continue with the system that has served you well so far.

“Well, you have the right person – I am Ryuu Ryukusa, head of the Ryuu Clan.” Her eyes widen just a little – she knows you didn't mean Ryo Clan. “Unfortunately, there's a very good reason for the lack of intelligence you've been receiving.”

“Oh, yes?” She sounds genuinely interested. “Please tell me!” You can feel the urge to acquiesce, just so she'll ask you more questions, but you have a handle on the urge for now. You might be in some serious shit if she starts working that aspect of her power – if she can.

You smile with equal sweetness. “Anyone who has seen me like this is either dead or unable to speak of it to anyone....ever.” Yuuhi-chan, wicked warrior that she is, emphasizes this with the soft 'click' of her thumb pushing her nodachi free of the sheath. You blink, and close your Water eyes in the hopes that you can call on fire Eyes instead. And it does work, after a fashion; what you see is blackness overlaid over everything, except Yuuhi-chan and Margaret-san.

Yuuhi-chan is a virulent mass of flaming destructive potential, tempered by a childlike love of the world and of life; she walks between Yomi and Life like a lost soul, yet is left unsullied by either. But that fire is Ghost Flame, and when Yuuhi is unleashed she WILL destroy or kill her target.

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>>40820080
>>40820080
Margaret-san is a poisonous, filthy thing, rotten to the core and oozing with deceit, lust, abandon, and carelessness....yet despite that there is a primal cunning, a potent swirl of raw, unadulterated luck that seems to keep her from suffering the consequences of her evil. You can't call it karma, or power, it's neither of those things. You've heard it called 'joss' by your sister: luck that bends to the will of its possessor, as though feng shui could be turned to ones will instead of the natural order.

Margaret doesn't even pretend to be crestfallen. She's very well aware you'll see right through it. “Well, I am afraid that I will have to disappoint you, Miss Ryukusa. The colonel will be expecting me back, with or without miss Kumatori, and I really can't afford to disappoint the colonel, he's a very important man.” She casually pulls her shield up and slides her arm into the strap, her eyes fixed upon yours. You allow her the handicap; there isn't anything unusual about the shield at all to your eyes, and while your blades might not penetrate it, one set of claws will. That doesn't make her presume you don't know any better though; she's positive that you're allowing her the shield not out of arrogance, but due to some plan on your part.

“How funny that he should be working for the underling of a Japanese criminal organization then,” you comment mildly as Yuuhi slowly moves off to the side a few more steps. The blonde doesn't let anything slip other than her awareness that the politics are deep and murky at that level. It could easily cost her her precious life should she inquire too deeply. “They do like keeping you in the dark, don't they?” You slowly begin to circle the opposite direction from Yuuhi-chan. “This time it is going to cost you dearly.”

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>>40820137
The pretty creature steps back from you both, lifting the shield to guard her chest. “Surely there is some way we can avoid all this unpleasantness,” she suggests softly, sweetly, her voice digging into your heart and pulling at several strings there. “I haven't hurt your family, and I will make sure that I don't get in your way again....” she suggests. The first part is an actual attempt to weave that joss into her voice, and it works well, even through your Water Clever mind; the second, while true, is irrelevant, only a way to get you to agree. The third part is pure lie, but her voice coats it, the joss making it seem true even to your unusual mind. Yuuhi's ears twitch and she relaxes just a little, the golden glow of her self contained deadliness dimming slightly.

“Your voice is absolutely beautiful, even though foxes have no such voice at all....is it your other heritage that gives you that quality?” Fire Eyes won't let you even begin to believe the lies for a second. Unfortunately, while using them, you are blind to everything else....including physical bodies. You immediately drop them, counting on your knowledge to protect you from further influence. Because you aren't Er Yin – blind fighting sucks and even though you're capable of it, against Margaret you can't risk it with her power over luck.

Despite the jab, she smiles shyly, looking at you with guileless green eyes, her sword held at her side harmlessly.

Yeah, right.

[] Unfortunately, I can't trust you even under oaths – you're no spirit-child from Japan, despite your looks.
[] Well....she is offering a peaceable resolution. It won't be long before the truth is revealed anyways.
[] Sorry, I'm no more prone to your mind games than you would be to mine, if I played them.
[] Very clever, very clever....but that just sealed your doom.
[] Barrier Combat.

>>40820154
>[] Barrier Combat.
Better to eliminate her now than wait for her to return with greater forces.

>>40820154
>[] Unfortunately, I can't trust you even under oaths – you're no spirit-child from Japan, despite your looks.
>[] Very clever, very clever....but that just sealed your doom.

>>40820154
>[X] Very clever, very clever....but that just sealed your doom.
>[X] Barrier Combat.

>>40820154
>[] Very clever, very clever....but that just sealed your doom.
>[] Barrier Combat.

>>40820154
>>40820234
Supporting.
Don't see anything in her nature or job that would support letting her go.

>>40820154
>[] Unfortunately, I can't trust you even under oaths – you're no spirit-child from Japan, despite your looks.
>[] Very clever, very clever....but that just sealed your doom.
>[] Barrier Combat.

>>40820154
[] Very clever, very clever....but that just sealed your doom.
[] Barrier Combat.

>>40820154
>[] Very clever, very clever....but that just sealed your doom.
>[] Barrier Combat.

>>40820154

>You know, I'm sure someone like you would work well within my clan. Even if you lose against me. Think about it.

Let her know that even defeated, she'll have an open door. You don't corner a fox, you don't trap a demon, and you don't force a cunning person to do something desperate because they have no option left. On the other hand, if there is a possibility, she'll probably prevent herself from closing it, out of instinct of preservation.

>>40820312
>Noted.

>>40820154
>[] Unfortunately, I can't trust you even under oaths – you're no spirit-child from Japan, despite your looks.
>[] Very clever, very clever....but that just sealed your doom.
>[] Barrier Combat.

>>40820312
I don't see anything worth redeeming here. The only value she has alive is study into this cross power mess she's a part of.

>>40820391
We don't need to redeem her, we just need give her natural cunning a thought to cling to to keep her from feeling cornered, and you know what they say about a cornered animal.

>>40820391

Redeeming is not about the worth people have.

>>40820435

I wrote this as Ryukusa being sincere, but specificaly mentioning it instead of just doing what she usually do, to achieve what you said.

I mean, Ryukusa gives a chance to everyone.

>>40820154
>>40820312
This +
>[] Barrier Combat.

>>40820154
>[] Unfortunately, I can't trust you even under oaths – you're no spirit-child from Japan, despite your looks.
>[] Very clever, very clever....but that just sealed your doom.

>>40820610
I meant in terms of what there is to redeem, fire eyes was very revealing.

>>40820154
>Kill Her

>>40820435
This, this fight won't be about righteousness vs. wickedness. Deprive her of her story, and her Joss will crumble.

>>40820711
It's like in-setting metagaming, I love it.

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[X] Barrier Combat.
[X] Holy shit, you're not even sure where to start with this bitch – Hidesato had nothing on her!

Margaret Steinhausen is probably the single most dangerous enemy you've ever faced.

Not because she's physically powerful, or supremely skilled, though her magical talent probably is part of it. She's dangerous because whether it's her powers or her nature, she's just so believable. Her voice, combined with her beauty, has probably caused dozens, maybe hundreds of people to slip down the slope that leads to that voracious, needy maw of her true self. It would be an easy step forward into the slide towards oblivion; not even the power of your Water Eyes and Clever Mind can quite cope with it unprepared.

Fortunately, you're very well prepared.

“You know, if you'd actually meant what you just said, which was very cleverly put I might add, we could have had a reasonable discussion about it.” Her smile becomes sad, and her eyes misty, almost tearing up. Which you can tell is entirely artificial on her part – that power she can't fool at all. “I am a generally merciful person – but with you, can I ever really afford to be?”

The question isn't just rhetorical; it's to keep an open line of communication. That doesn't stop you from stepping back and drawing the power you were born with to its full potential. Not the power of Horobi....but the power of a Demigod in Barrier Combat.

Of course, she's got other things on her mind at the moment, namely the deadly five foot long blade of Yuuhi-chan's nodachi, currently turned to the side as it's blocked by the shield so as not to damage the fine edge. Then she looks down, surprised as a delicate pair of hands gabs both her ankles, your step backwards having prompted Akari-niji-chan to attack.

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>>40820769
And when Akari attacks, it's a sight to see. Her head and eyes slide up out of the ground just until her nose is visible as she looks up at her target, her unbreakable grip on the fox-demon girl's ankles enough to grind bones together in an agonizing way. But it's when her ~feet~ slide out of the ground between her face and the girl's legs that incredulity spreads over both Yuuhi and Margaret's expressions. Then the feet are followed by her legs, hips and body as she launches a double kick parallel to Marget's body and slams the fox-demon girl's head back almost hard enough to snap her neck. Blood explodes from her nose and mouth as Akari tucks midair and lands in front of the staggering spirit-child.

“BITCH!” Her voice is a screech of agonizing glass shards in your ears, and Yuuhi-chan's as well. Akari only stands up slowly, taking a simple stance. Margaret draws her blade back and the sheath seems to unfold from the blade, sliding into the sword, exposing almost three feet of white hot steel. “No one lays a hand on me!”

[] Razor Wit and Cold Heart
[] Scales and Claws
[] Storm and Wind
[] Style and Sword
[] The Deadliest Smile

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Razor Wit and Cold Heart
>Physical attacks are nothing compared to the malicious words and cruel thought. Pain and suffering are meaningless when you have no heart.

Scales and Claws
>You are a dragon; your claws can slice through steel and your scales are impenetrable. The air and the water are your battlefields.

Storm and Wind.
>The purest form of your elemental self - the power of wind and water to utterly destroy all before you.

Style and Sword
>You are swift and your panache unmatchable. Your weapons are invincible and you can bring down the stoutest of foes with grace.

The Deadliest Smile
>????

>>40820808
>[] Scales and Claws
Flesh of the immortal

>>40820824
XS, please, you know the power the mystery box has over us.

>>40820808
> [] The Deadliest Smile
Shiny button!

No clue what to choose to be honest.

>>40820808
[] The Deadliest Smile

>>40820808
[x] The Deadliest Smile
Reeeally hope this isn't a terrible idea.

>>40820808
>[] The Deadliest Smile

>>40820824
>Pain and suffering are meaningless when you have no heart.
Does that count both ways? It's clear that she has shown nothing close to sincerity at all, and it wouldn't be a lie to call her heartless.

>>40820808
>Storm and Wind
I wouldn't be surprised if our stronger connection to Horobi gave this branch a buff

>>40820808
>[X] Scales and Claws

Nothing involving emotions will work on this seductress. Break her weapons.

>>40820808
>[X] The Deadliest Smile

>>40820902

For me, it was either this or Razor Wit.

>>40820808
>[] Scales and Claws

>>40820824
Oh god mystery button!

The Deadliest Smile
>????

>>40820876
Claws would be the claws of the Dragon, as well as summoning aspects of dragons. Sword and style would be our twin swords. We ARE by the ocean, so our elemental abilities well be strong.

Not sure how we could crush her mind, but it probably has a weakness.

Finally, the mystery box. We don't know, but does she? She knows what we are to a degree. Throwing caution to the wind could undo her.

>>40820824
>The Deadliest Smile

I think scales would be very reasonable and probably my default pick if it wasn't for mystery box. I trust XS not to fuck us over on that though so while possibly a bit harder I'm sure we can at least win with Smile.

>>40820911
We could show her what she'll never have, no matter how much she hungers for it.

>>40820865
>>40820933
DId Ryukuza develop ningyo teeth?

>>40820911

It would probably involve forcing her to acknowledge the aspects of her nature she loathes. Which, for a being that's a mismatch of several tricksters created to serve creatures inferior to her in most ways, would be pretty devastating.

>>40820865
Well, bear in mind Ryukusa hasn't any more of a clue than you do - but it MUST be related to her Demigod nature....

>>40820937
>Finally, the mystery box. We don't know, but does she?
With a name like "Deadliest Smile", I get the feeling it's something Margaret has herself. This is not the situation to try it out.

Ryukusa has taken in both cat and mermaid recently huh, wonder if Ryukusa smells like delicious fish to cats now.

>>40821032
Seems like most people want to go for it anyway.

We'll see what happens. Given our connection to Horobi, at least we can be sure Deadly means Really Fucking Deadly.

>>40821043

Ryukusa: mother of thousands and crazy cat lady

>>40821100
Eventually thousands, we chose not to kill her.

>>40820808
>Scales and claws
Little late and probably pointless, but I dont feel like testing the mystery button just yet. I'd rather we had time to at least figure out what it's supposed to do.

>>40821137

Well I mean we still have to work hard for it, but I'm sure Kiku will manage

>>40820808
>[] Style and Sword

>>40820808
>[] The Deadliest Smile

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[X] The Deadliest Smile

You close your eyes, trusting, for a few precious seconds, that your samurai and your harbinger can cope with the angry fox-demon girl for that long. You've had plenty of time to perfect many techniques of Barrier Combat in your journey through someone else's hell, but you've never felt this aspect of it before. Many other spirit-children share similar abilities in Barrier Combat -in fact, with only a few minor variations, you've never seen one that wasn't similar enough to one of the four that it would make a difference.

But Inau-kun mentioned that there was one aspect of Barrier Combat that was ~different~ for Demigods, a more personal, closer connection to themselves and their nature than others had. And yours....is this.

You feel your body changing, the scar fading from your chest, your talons changing to soft, delicate human hands. The nails are simple, pale human nails. Yes this makes them even MORE potent, somehow, more....devastating. Your horns slide into your head, and your eyes stop glowing, just simple dark eyes with those draconian slit pupils. The midnight blue of your hair is restored, it falling simply down your back, as limp as if you were in the real world. Your tail slips away into ~Elsewhere~, hidden as it usually was when you were growing up. You look utterly human.

But that isn't what you are.

Not even slightly.

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>>40821390
You are a Dragon. A Demigod. You are Heir to a Mikoto of Ancient Power. You are Ryuu Ryukusa, compassionate and deadly, loved and loving, and ruthless as life and death.

You open your eyes to find all three of them staring at you. Yuuhi-chan steps back, her tail tucked between her legs. Akari is ~trembling~ and so terrified she could accidentally kill someone who surprised her at this moment.

And Marget is staring at you, her emerald eyes ablaze with lust and hate, her need to possess you, to make you hers overwhelming all good sense and judgment.

“Margaret-san, it shouldn't have to be this way. You have talents and skills my small Clan desperately needs. We would welcome you, for who and what you are, rather than the tool you are being used as, the experiment you were created to be, or the soldier you were forced to become.” You're not even using any power....just stating the truth. But you are pretty certain she is the kind of person who could never accept what you offer.

She steps forward, gently touching the back of her gloved hand to her bloodied lips and chin. Surprisingly her voice is clear, even though you are certain her nose is broken. “Miss Ryuu, I don't think you have any choice in the matter but to allow me to go. Your friends, dedicated and strong as they are, aren't a match for me. And I don't want to hurt you either, so....please, just let me go, and we'll forget all about this.”

You sigh, and take a step towards her. Both Yuuhi and Akari fall back – not a step, but several of them, cowering before you.

[] With a Touch, What is Within is Revealed.
[] The Benevolence of the Great is Merciless.
[] A Single Kiss Reveals Everything.
[] The Gentle Person is the Most Powerful.
[] The Crushing Grasp of Wood is Inescapable.

>>40821420
>[] The Gentle Person is the Most Powerful.
Oh my~

>>40821420
>[] The Gentle Person is the Most Powerful.

>>40821420
[] The Gentle Person is the Most Powerful.
This is an interesting turn

>>40821420
>The Gentle Person is the Most Powerful.
Show her we aren't the one who will be hurt the most.

>>40821420
[] The Gentle Person is the Most Powerful.

>>40821420
>[] The Gentle Person is the Most Powerful.

>>40821420
>[x] With a Touch, What is Within is Revealed
These all have so much potential!

>>40821455
>>40821469
>>40821482
>>40821483
>>40821489

Daaaaamn, that hivemind

>>40821420
>[] With a Touch, What is Within is Revealed.

>>40821501
I know, right? Does revealing what is within refer to Horobi's nature? Is the Kiss essentially a Razor Wit attack that would press on her the hopelessness of her situation?

I went with the Gentle Person, but damn.

>>40821420
>[X] With a Touch, What is Within is Revealed.

>>40821420
>[X] With a Touch, What is Within is Revealed.

>>40821507
It was a hard decision, but I felt this fit the most with what we were wanting to do. Plus I like the imagery it brings to mind.

>>40821420

>[] The Benevolence of the Great is Merciless.

>>40821549

So many options, lost like bright fire in the wind

>>40821507
They're all good. Gentle seems right, though.

Poor Akari.

We'll have to be very doting with her to make up for it.

>>40821646
>>40821686

Totally agree. Honestly, Margaret is one of the first characters I've had no interest in helping or 'revealing' her hidden stuff in any way, but she still needs to be dealt with and the best way to do that is still the best way we know how, with a gentle hand a caring smile.

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Margaret tightens her grip on her sword and you can see that she takes on the mantle of her own Barrier Combat – a variant of Style and Sword and Razor Wit and Cold heart, something similar to Pride and Puissance, you imagine. She lashes out at you and you sidestep, her follow up slicing past you as you lean back, her riposte slipping away past you as you dodge it as well, ending no more than a foot from her. It isn't effortless, it isn't easy, no, but it FEELS easy, it LOOKS effortless, and her shocked expression shows that she is clearly surprised that you coped with her Trifecta Blade with such apparent ease.

You smile at her, a soft, gentle smile, like those reserved for your loved ones. “I never want to end these fights,” you say, as you lay you hand on her chest with no more force than you would use on your wife. “But that isn't my choice to make.”

The soldier-girl starts to move forward but you leap back, landing lightly on the sand some six feet distant as her sword passes within inches of your breasts. She starts to move forward and then gasps, her face going white as her heart seizes in her chest. You watch impassively, as she gasps desperately for a breath she can't take, her heart clutched in agonizing pain. She closes her eyes and concentrates, and forces her lungs to take a breath. With that, the power is broken and she gasps loudly, her heart working again.

You stand there, allowing her to catch her breath while your subordinates watch in terrified awe. Margaret draws her sword back, the heat coming off of it in waves as she prepares to unleash a devastating assault on your mind and body.

[] What is Within Them Surfaces.
[] Behold the Generous Soul.
[] The Pain that is Hidden Becomes True.
[] The Terrifying Speed of Flames is Sure.

>>40821956
>[] The Terrifying Speed of Flames is Sure.
Fearmongering is the right domain for Ryu

>>40821956
>[X] What is Within Them Surfaces.

>>40821956
>[] The Pain that is Hidden Becomes True.

>>40821956

>[X] What is Within Them Surfaces.

Isn't she currently sitting on a metric shitton of horrible bad luck?

Would be a shame if that finally came back to bite her.

>>40821956
>[] Behold the Generous Soul.

Well, here we go.

>>40821956

[] Behold the Generous Soul.

>>40821956
>[] The Terrifying Speed of Flames is Sure.

>>40821956
>[] Behold the Generous Soul.

>>40821956
>[] What is Within Them Surfaces.

>>40821956
>[] What is Within Them Surfaces.

>>40821956
>[] The Pain that is Hidden Becomes True.
I dunno what's going on beyond general demigod shenanigans but sure.

>>40821956
>[] What is Within Them Surfaces.

>>40821956
[] The Pain that is Hidden Becomes True.

>>40821956
Remind Margaret at the end of our exchange that the penalty for losing becomes greater as this continues. The highest level sealing must be terrifying to comprehend.

>>40821956
>[] What is Within Them Surfaces.

>>40822067
Well if think about everything Ryukusa has done so far.
>protected her family
>made her family grow
>healed her family
>helped them through their issues
>dealt fairly when she was dealt with fairly
>destroyed anyone who tried to stop her from any of the above
>suffered for her family
>risked everything for them
>been through hell for them

All she's doing is forcing Margie to experience what she does with her life in the most gentle way possible even if it ends up killing her.

>>40821956
>[] What is Within Them Surfaces.

>>40821956

>[] What is Within Them Surfaces.

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[X] What is Within Them Surfaces.

You watch as she gathers her power into the blade, her overwhelming force of will, her desire to achieve her ends, her very single minded need to succeed at all costs and no matter what price could be paid. She swings the blade up and over, pointing it at you, her voice a thunderous rumble through the entire Barrier.

“YOU WILL SUBMIT TO ME, RYUU RYUKUSA, AND PAY HOMAGE TO YOUR BETTERS!”

The force of the surge of power washes over you like a tidal wave, your bones cracking and your skin burning under the assault; tears burn in your eyes as the forces she unleashes tear the world around you to shreds. Wen it passes, you sway in place, your breaths shallow, agonizing, every bone in your body feeling like it has been broken and put back together. You wipe a bloody tear from your eyes, and then look at her.

Margaret snarls, and steps towards you. You murmur, almost inaudibly, yet knowign everyone watching can hear your gentle, warm voice perfectly....

“....if your impurity were made flesh, what would the cost be?”

She pauses, looking at you like you are mad....and then staggers back, her hand going to her mouth. It wasn't the impurity of her demon nature, nor her fox spirit. No, it is simply the impurity of her actions and what she has done, her simple human desires she fulfilled and indulged in and never made amends for or paid a penance for....revealed in her flesh and blood.

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>>40822601
She vomits blood, not a little, but huge crimson gouts of it, collapsing to her knees and supporting herself on her shield. The poor young woman drops her sword to try and cover her mouth, but the next gout of blood is thick with gobbets of raw flesh, her stomach heaving as your power forced her sins to become manifest. You look at her sadly as another explosive gout of blood and flesh tears itself from inside her.

“This is not the end of it, Margaret. You can survive this, you are strong enough.” She is already struggling to hold her impurity, her lust and greed and devouring nature, her self-indulgence inside her body. Margaret coughs up another thick streamer of nearly black blood, and grasps her sword, staggering to her feet. “But are you sure you want to? You could be with friends....with people who care about you. They exist, even for you. I could lead you to people who would accept you as one of their own, if you wanted. It would be worth it.”

The demon-fox girl spits off to the side, her horns gleaming, her ears flattened back, her tail tucked involuntarily. “I am going to kill you for this,” she whispers, her soft, beautiful voice no less so for the horror you inflicted on her.

“No. You won't.”

[] The Truth all People Face.
[] The Most Merciful Act.
[] The Implacable Depth of Earth.

>>40822601
Sounds like an all around bad time for her.

>>40822636
[x] The Truth all People Face.
Close between this and merciful act.

>>40822636
>[] The Truth all People Face.

>>40822636
>[] The Truth all People Face.

>>40822636
>[] The Truth all People Face.

>>40822636

[] The Truth all People Face.

>>40822636
>[] The Most Merciful Act.

I really hope we can get her on our side.

Of course, it's probably a foolish hope. But I think I'll be a fool today.

>>40822636
[] The Truth all People Face.

>>40822703
>>40822700
>>40822688
>>40822676
>>40822668

I have a bad feeling about this.

>>40822636
>[] The Most Merciful Act.

>>40822636
>[X] The Truth all People Face.

I'd say being merciful is more Ryukusa's character

>>40822730
What's the worst that could happen?

>>40822636
>[] The Most Merciful Act.

>>40822636
>[] The Truth all People Face.

>>40822710
This is what she uses to destroy others. If there's one thing she wants, it's to finally stop hungering. To die.
>>40822636
[] The Truth all People Face.

>>40822636
>[] The Implacable Depth of Earth.
The Most Merciful Act would kill her, as that ends the constant piling up of her sins.

>>40822803

One can be hungry from eating the wrong food

>>40822855
By puking it up right?

>>40822636
>[] The Implacable Depth of Earth.

>>40822636
>[] The Most Merciful Act.

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[X] The Truth all People Face.

She doesn't even get her sword lifted before you take the next movement. You simply lift your hand, raising it up as though you were trying to block out the sun and look into the distance. Her eyes involuntarily follow your hand. Like a benediction, you lower your hand, extending your fingers, and her eyes and eyelids follow the slow, simple movement.

Then she falls forward, her sword's glow dying out and the soft rattle of one last exhalation slipping from between her bloodied lips.

You stand and watch over her dead body patiently, calm, contained. Akari-niji-chan has fallen back, her wide eyes showing more white than dark pupil, her breaths quick, desperate draws of air that doesn't seem to stay long enough to keep her from exhausting herself. Yuuhi-chan in on her hands and knees, murmuring prayers as quickly as her breathless voice can carry them, her tail still curled under her, terror making her ears lie flat still.

Four minutes later – not one second more or less – Margaret draws a deep, desperate breath, and sits up, her eyes wider than even Akari's, and her hair changing from soft golden curls to shock white. When she begins screaming, you smile faintly and shake your head. She won't ever stop screaming. It was, as you suspected, too much for her, that little bit of knowledge. That simple experience of what awaits her after she dies, despite her hungers being sated, her lucky breaks, her desperate need to appease her superiors.

Four minutes in Yomi is forever. You would know very well about that sort of thing.

[] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).
[] Return to the Void Whence All Came. (Place within a Barrier.)

>>40823166
>[x] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).

>>40823166
>[] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).

>>40823166
>[] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).

>>40823166
>[] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).
Go resurrect somewhere else

>>40823166
>[] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).

>>40823166
>[] Return to the Void Whence All Came. (Place within a Barrier.)

>>40823166

>Hug her (in a manner that prevents her from harming us) and sooth her


If not possible: can we do what we did with Yui and not really kill her?

>>40823166
>[] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).
It isn't our usual thing to kill, but it's probably the kindest thing we can do.

That's what being Horobi is all about, right? Staying kind and gentle as the literal god of destruction.

>>40823166
>[] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).
Let's end this unfortunate duel

>>40823166
>[X] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).

She's broken, there's not point in sealing her.

>>40823260
>but it's probably the kindest thing we can do.
Killing her will result in sending her to Yomi and making her face the absolute hell she saw for four minutes, instead of giving her a chance to do something, anything, to lessen her punishment in the afterlife.
So killing her now is probably the cruelest thing we could do.

>>40823260

Yes and no. Horobi is all about "proper" destruction. Gentleness and kindness are some of the ways to do it. But remember what happened to the Anonimous.

Personaly, if we kill her, I'd want to bring her back like we did for Yui.

>>40823307
>So killing her now is probably the cruelest thing we could do.

The cruelest thing we could do without deliberatly make her suffer more that what she owns, that is.

>>40823166
>[x] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).

>>40823166
>[] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).
Geez. That was quite brutal.

>>40823166
>[] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).

>>40823259

*soothe

>>40823342
>>40823307

That's why I voted >>4082325.

Remember: we can do more than choose the next move, in a Barrier combat.

>>40823322
So basically put her in a Barrier, the one with the abyssal depths?

>>40823392

*That's why I voted >40823259

>>40823166
>Final move.
Judging by the
>Never stop screaming
line, there really isn't a way to save her this time. It stinks, but not even Ryukusa can save everyone.

>>40823409

That's not what we did to Yui.

What we did was basicaly offer her a second chance, after killing her.

>>40823417

Never lose hope, anon!

I say we try. We always try.

>>40823466
In fox-girl's next life.

>>40823322
She isn't Yui, anon. Yui had a part of her that wanted a different life. Margaret decided to embrace whatever 'life' she had.

>>40823483

That we could give her right now.

Remember what Er Yin told us?

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[X] The Kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).
[] Return to the Void Whence All Came. (Place within a Barrier.)

You walk slowly over to the screaming girl, her eyes no seeing anything , her ears hearing nothing. She claws at you, her nails tearing the soft silk of your robe, digging deep furrows into your soft human skin. You hold her close, as she struggles against you, tries to escape from the horror that would be her afterlife, a simple, grey world with no relief for someone as desperately needy, as hate filled, as gluttonous and lustful and wrathful as herself. A place of peace and silence and unending, inescapable boredom for the likes of her.

Holding her close, her screams become a tireless, desperate wail of agonized horror, and you kiss her forehead. Then you blow, gently, across her face....and snuff out not only her life, but her soul as well, granting her the peace in death that she could not have anywhere else. It is almost sad how her mikoto doesn't resist the banking of her soul's fire; but that mikoto, her individuality, her true nature, is now returned to Fuchi Kamuy's hearth to wait for its own rebirth sans the broken, tormented soul that it was forced to endure. Destroying her life and soul so her mikoto could know peace.

You rise, looking at your best friend, and the terrified samurai warrior, about to try and reassure them when realization hits.

They're not looking at you. They're looking BEHIND you.

You turn, and for a few brief seconds you're not sure if you're going to scream or just drop dead yourself. Because in that instant, you behold the merest shadow of your mikoto. The shadow of Ame-no-Horobi-no-Mikado. The eight miles of pure, unadulterated, implacable ~DESTRUCTION~.

Your own shadow.

>To Be Continued....

>>40823507

Yui wanted a suicide by dragongirl

>>40823466
My only problem with trying is the very real possibility thst she'll just suffer more before dying.

>>40823517
Well, we killed her but good, pity. Also I think we might have done something bad.

I feel empty.

Thanks for the thread, XS! It was amazing!

>>40823517
So, honestly, would putting Margaret in a Barrier have opened up the path of rehabilitation?

Thanks for running XS.
Horobi must be quite the sight indeed.

>>40823580

Maybe the Stone vote wouldn't have damaged her so badly.

>>40823517
And we haven't even claimed his power yet. Shit, man. Horobi is serious business.

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Thank you all for reading and playing.

To answer the most obvious question: The Deadliest Smile is Ryukusa's personal nature used as a weapon: her compassion and love for others, and how that love will unhesitatingly kill anything that tries to end it.

Margaret had the misfortune of being someone who would turn love and twist it into a weapon against the people it was meant for and against eh one who loved. She really was a Japanese demon-child, after all, and Renard was never a kind and generous sort of fox.

>>40823612

Hope we didn't harm our cuties or put the other members of our family at risk with this stunt.

>>40823580
Not very likely - if anything, she would have chafed at the enforcement of yet another person's will upon her.

>>40823604
Well, it would have been less horrifying for her, but getting hit by Ryukusa using Akari's strength would still hurt.

>>40823612
All the Dragon Kami are srs bsns.

>>40823622
>Renard was never a kind and generous sort of fox.

Now that's an understatement.

So, her nature was linked to THE Trickster?

>>40823632
Surprisingly, no. Scared the hell out of them, certainly.

Not that it didn't scare the hell out of Ryukusa either - remember, >>40823517
is the head of an eight mile long dragon that was sitting not 20' from Ryukusa's back the entire time. Margaret's ignorance was her best defense.

>>40823675
Well, European fox spirits, at least. Probably not THE trickster, but the type of fox spirits that were descended from him, similar to how nogitsune children take on their parental semi-madness and murderous habits.

Thanks for running, I do hope showing them that our shadow also contains cats will calm them down.

>>40823711
I'm now imagining Ryukusa's 8 mile long dragon shadow has tiny almost imperceptible cats lounging on it.

Great thread, thanks for running XS!

>>40823794
Hey, that's 100 cats per mile, with plenty left over for the head.

>>40823844
Thanks for running!
Sad it turned out like that, but not even we can save those who don't want to be saved.

>>40823166


>[x] The kindness of a Stranger is Infinite. (Final Move).
as in kill her

Aww I missed the thr---

*reads update*

Holy shit anons what did you do!

>>40823517

There's something horrifying about that image, yo...

>>40824293

Like it's staring through your soul

>>40824353

....Yup.

Some how it feels like everything that has occurred has gone according to XS plan....

>>40824496
She knows us, Anon. We love the Box.

>>40823844
XS, how does Good Stuff work? With items I'm guessing it's a flat gain till you use it, right? You said there was an exchange of Good Stuff for that government agent, but it would go up again. For allies, is it based on how much you ask for their help? Does that mean that Rie is kinda a flat thing for Good Stuff, because she causes problems for us to a degree in relation to how much she causes to our enemies (and I'm guessing it's far worse for them)?

>>40823528
She'll have to wait until after we make her pregnant, then.

>>40824689
Ryukusa can't impregnate oni.
Yui can get her pregnant now, though.

>>40824939
Yet

>>40824584
Stuff is essentially a measure of your - the players' - luck and how Ryukusa perceives the world. Bad Stuff=bad luck and a darker, less happy world view (this excludes her family, who she will see always just as they are), and a higher volume of trouble and danger that seeks her out (suffering injuries, meeting Kiki's father and Toshio, Kushinada, discovering Jinyuu's secretary's clever power). Zero stuff is a neutral world view, with no good or bad luck, and things that happen being less of a problem or a benefit, and just pieces of the world around you being seen and experienced (less debilitating injuries, the party, swimming in the ocean, plain but pleasant meals, etc). Good stuff is not just good luck, but a happier, more up-beat world around you, and encounters with less troublesome or even outright friendly people who can be reasoned with or made friends with (hardly noticable injuries, Dinner on the rooftop, play and training time in the forest, Shoko & her dad, Inau-kun, Kiku-chan).

When the players decide or suggest a desired need, course of action, or method of coping (magic weapons, gathering yakuza groups and youkai as allies, desiring to grow the family and lovers, gaining special abilities, expanding on your repetoire of powers) you literally spend good stuff to do so, reducing your world view and causing Ryukusa trouble and incidents (trading good stuff for allies in the form of Detective-san and gaining immortality=trouble at the party and sufferign an attack by the enemy in the form of Margaret). As she weathers the new sets of incidents and troubles, her bad stuff is slowly reduced to zero stuff. If she REALLY suffers, it is replaced by Good stuf. You CAN spend stuff even when in zero stuff or bad stuff, but your troubles and bad luck increase proportionally.

Rie is a purchase made in the form of allies, during a neutral stuff time (you give me things, I give you things, you do me favors, I do you favors).

>>40828916
Thank you for answering my extremely late questions, XS. Really digging the idea of good stuff as basically experience, except awesomer. May I ask how the other forms of Barrier combat may have fared against Margaret?

Also, how did eating the mermaid's flesh effect our good stuff (I'm guessing it was a neutral exchange due to what we did for her)?

>>40829999
Eating mermaid flesh was an expenditure of Good Stuff, not an exchange. You spend Good Stuff, you receive immortality. The price, of course, was a deep dip into bad stuff.

You can ask, but I'll only answer with Ryukusa's guesswork on the situation post combat.in other words, she didn't know enough about Margaret's style beforehand to guess at the best technique; remember, Ryukusa will note any bad or good techniques before they are chosen if she has a clue about them. Style and Sword, or Scales and Claws would have been hard fights; Margaret was no slouch and the style she used was vicious in physical attacks and mental force alike. Razor Wit and Cold heart would have been painful for Ryukuza, but Fire Eyes gave her more than enough ammunition to hold her own and kick Margaret's feet out from under her. Storm and Wind would have been a hard fight to win, but the least painful to suffer through for Ryukuza. Deadliest Smile was ideal of course, but Ryukusa had no way of knowing that beforehand.

Ryukusa's physical injuries will heal quickly. Her emotional turmoil, not so quickly. Margaret was definitely bad news though; a three way fight without /barrier Combat could have taken her, but there would have been blood and pain on all sides.

>>40830297
Thank you for answering towards our best IC knowledge.

>>40830297
Oh, and do you know if you'll be running tomorrow, or taking a break in prep for next week.

>>40830423
Planning on tomorrow, but reality is what it is.

>>40830469
Have an excellent night, XS, no matter what happens.