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>>1988677
Gendai-no-Muteki-no-Buki, currently unsheathed and being held in the most threatening manner possible to protect one of Natto-san's men and Yamada-sama while Natto-san tries to protect their escape, is thrilled with all of it. Nue are apparently hard to kill; as you watch the slashes and cut you've inflicted on Hiei slowly bloom black smoke and seal themselves closed, you now have evidence that indicates this is a fact. Unfortunately, you also suspect that Wood dragonette blood is part of what makes this combination even possible, exacerbating the issue. And of course, berserk wani are notoriously destructive and deadly, as evidenced by how gingerly Akari's clan treats their people and how possessive they are of them.

If there is a specific weight of not-happiness that creates a singularity of not-happy, then you are riding pretty damn close to the Schwarzschild radius of not-happiness.

[] Demand a full explanation right now.
[] Tell him to get his people out, and you will deal with him later.
[] Say nothing more, and just kill the fuck out of Hiei-san.
[] Have Matagama-no-Shitoki place a Barrier on the inside of this room and try and exclude everyone that isn't you, Natto-san, and Hiei.
[] You need room to fight; make a larger Barrier, and have every spirit child in it evacuate whom and what they can, kami-be-damned.
>Brief reminder, writ-ins are accepted, encouraged, and given first priority.

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Twitter: @XsQuestmistress

Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1935907/

Interlude: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/37879167/

Kissing! http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/574453/

Threads in Chronological Order, including writeups by XS : http://pastebin.com/Z53TyK0N
or search for tag: Ryukuza on Suptg

Megaupload of the RTF document of Ryukusa Quest (links to archive included): https://mega.nz/#!Biwj0bIb!r0TxRfhDf6PeTXNE9N1EQFF6mmGzFho3u_IcQvC7Ga8

Barrier Combat Guide: http://pastebin.com/rZLwzvGx

>Ryukusa's Treasures

Her name: Ryuu Yorihokura

Rie, the God's Eye Nekomata that protects your Family.

Matagama-no-Shitoki, a necklace kami in its own right that protects Ryukusa from inimical magic.

Ame-no-Omukade-no-Musume – Ryukusa's mukade possessed wakizashi; a kami. “Daughter of my Centipede of Rain.”

Gendai-no-Muteki-no-Buki - Invincible Weapon of the Present Age, a secret kami-blade given to Ryukusa by Wakaba that appears to be made of some alloy of titanium.

Seido-no-Shinpi-Tekina-Ken – a mysterious bronze sword given to Ryukusa by the mermaids of Japan; actually found to be the legendary blade Ame-no-Ohabari.

Go-Yurei-no-Rensa, the Five-Ghost-Chain, used to summon or send messages to your (actual) older sister Ryuu Nabiki.

Her Penthouse in the Secret Apartments of Tsathoggua in Shikoku prefecture, Tokyo.

Shikoku Naya, her fashion teacher and seamstress.

Hisaka Subaru, her weaver and dressmaking teacher.

Ryukusa's Family.

>Talismans:
Akari – Black Jade Centipede (Mukade)
Er Yin – Black Jade Scorpion (Sasori)
Kiki – Black Jade Toad (Hikigaeru)
Kiku – Black Jade Lizard (Tokage)
Yui – Black Jade Snake (Hebi)
Inau – Black Coral Ear Cuff (Amatsukami)

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Ryuu Ryukusa is tall at 5' 8"; 6' in her true form. She is fully grown. Lesbian top.
Matagama Kiku is 4' 1” for ever and ever. Lesbian submissive.
Ryuu Akari is 5' 3" and has another few inches to grow. Sexuality is weird, switch, cosplayer.
Ryuu Yui is 6' 3” and will only grow due to circumstances beyond her control. Dyke, switch.
Ryuu Kiki is 5' 6" and is at full growth. Bisexual bottom.
Er Yin Long is the tall at 5' 10" and is fully grown. Lesbian dominant.
Ryuu Jinyuu is 5' 7" but persistently hovers an extra three inches. 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, just 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-kun is 5' 3” and is much less 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 aka Mugon Chujo is fully grown at 5'11” and straight.
Kenji Soomi is 5' 4” and gothic lolita.
Musumi Kanako is 5' 6.5” and is pretty straight.
Hebiki Naoto is 5' 9” and belligerently omnivorous, sexually. You hope only sexually.
Kodachi Umetsume is 5' 4” and fully grown. Practicing asexual.
Melinda Blitzenberg is scattered to the winds and blessed in death.
Toshida Ginka is 5” 3” and fully grown. Turtles have a reputation.
Ryuu Wakaba is a head shorter and also deceased.
Margaret Steinhausen is gratefully dead.
Ryuu Sakumo is dead and spread far and wide.
Ryuu Nabiki is 5' 3” and fully transformed. Embarrassingly straight.
Ryuu Shinju is 4' 11” and fully grown. She is coy, maybe a dodomeki-child.
Ryuu Himeyuri is 5' 5” and is supposedly straight.
Ryuu Fuuta is 5' 6” and slightly less soft.
Kaga Kei is 5' 4” and fully grown. Might be experimental.
Kyubi-san is 6' 3” and fully grown. Hard to say.
Hisaka Subaru is 5' tall and 9' tall, and peculiar as all get out.
Shikoku Naya is 5' 4" (not including heels) and is fully grown. Entirely flexible.
Shinkai Yamada is 5' 7” and is straight.
Shinkai Mikurabe is 5' 2” (without heels) and is probably less straight than you thought.
"Shinkai" Hiei is 6' 10" and is a KAMIDAMNED MONSTER!
"Shinkai" Serious Onii-san is 5' 6" and is asexual.
"Shinkai" Yoshihano is 6' 1" and may be a little gay.
Tachibana is 5” 7” and mostly asexual.
Natto is 7' tall fully grown, and is a monster to end all monsters.

>>1988688
That's a lot of not happy!
>[x] Have Matagama-no-Shitoki place a Barrier on the inside of this room and try and exclude everyone that isn't you, Natto-san, and Hiei.
>[x] Say nothing more, and just kill the fuck out of Hiei-san.
Answers are always available afterwards.

>>1988688
>[] Say nothing more, and just kill the fuck out of Hiei-san.
>[] Have Matagama-no-Shitoki place a Barrier on the inside of this room and try and exclude everyone that isn't you, Natto-san, and Hiei.

>>1988688
>[] Tell him to get his people out, and you will deal with him later.
>[] You need room to fight; make a larger Barrier, and have every spirit child in it evacuate whom and what they can, kami-be-damned.
Time for a beatdown

>>1988677
Hope you won't burn out on writing with all these sessions this month! Certainly is fun though.

>>1988688
>[x] Have Matagama-no-Shitoki place a Barrier on the inside of this room and try and exclude everyone that isn't you, Natto-san, and Hiei.
>[x] Say nothing more, and just kill the fuck out of Hiei-san.

>>1988688
>[] Say nothing more, and just kill the fuck out of Hiei-san.
>[] Have Matagama-no-Shitoki place a Barrier on the inside of this room and try and exclude everyone that isn't you, Natto-san, and Hiei.

Hi XS!

I hope you're feeling better.

>>1988688

>[] Tell him to get his people out, and you will deal with him later.

>Make a purification prayer to all the Kami involved in the Noh play. It IS a semi-sacred event, and you're about to kill an Abomination there. Not to mention the Abomination's presence is desecrating enough by itself.

Err, QM, didn't you say that a Barrier might not work on the Abomination?

>>1988869
Good point about the prayer. As for whether it works or not, I figure it's gotta be worth the attempt either way at least.

>>1988869
wait a minute. Isnt Susano'o in the general area? Hiei might be a monster, but he simply cannot be stupid enough to try this in such close proximity

though on reflection he is likely unaware

Does anyone remember in which thread we met with the Tengu?

Because I'm fairly sure the crow-spirits warned us about this situation.

I can't find where they showed up, but if it's what they told us about we might not want a Barrier.

>>1988873

I would also vote to prepare our sister-summoning chain, but I'm not sure it would do much good.

>>1988900

All the Kami are in the general area, technically speaking.

IMO I think we should not do a Barrier.

He still counts as human, no matter how much of an abomination he is.

>>1988900
Probably unaware, yes. To be honest Hiei doesn't seem like the smartest or most informed guy around, gives me more of an ignorant pawn vibe so far.

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[X] Have Matagama-no-Shitoki place a Barrier on the inside of this room and try and exclude everyone that isn't you, Natto-san, and Hiei.
[XX] Say nothing more, and just kill the fuck out of Hiei-san.

You visualize what you desire from Shitoki-sama and whip up the strongest, most exclusive barrier you possibly can. You exclude the walls, ceiling and floor, but only just. It is much harder to exclude Natto's companion in the Sharp Suit and Nice Tie, and to your surprise and dismay, Yamada. He has apparently been around his Kaga sorceress wife and dealing with too much kami-shit to be easily excluded.

Honestly, you're not sure you could exclude Natto-san if you had wanted to. He has too much spiritual weight to be ignored by the kami and their Barriers.

It hurts, both you and Shitoki-sama, but you manage it. Just. You've trapped yourself and Natto-san in a Barrier with Hiei, though Shitoki-sama is going to need tender loving care after this.

The towering figure of deadly murder that is Hiei looms at you at Natto-san, almost seven feet of twisted flesh, glowing red eyes, and exhaling plumes of black smoke from a fanged maw that would put most wani to shame. His eyes rove over your body, deciding what portions look the most delicious and edible, an it occurs to you that this is one of those rare and weird situations where immortality might not be any kind of blessing at all. There is only enough humanity left in him to define hate, glee, and eagerness to kill, slaughter and maim. That son of a demon Taisho Ryoga has truly outdone himself this time, and you are going to make him pay for his success in blood and tears.

You move, using all your strength and speed to every advantage you can, dropping every pretense (never mind that it isn't a pretense) gentle, kind, and fair. Right now you are a killing machine, the instrument of Amaterasu-Omikami's will, the reincarnation of the god of Destruction. Every instinct you have is let loose and you utterly destroy everything in the room that isn't alive in your efforts to kill Shinkai Hiei.

Except pure skill and innate talent isn't cutting it.

You're no slouch, and while he's not nearly as fast as Kiku-chan, he's damn close. He can read you like a Water dragonette, and he is as nimble. However, even though you can't land a blow – and you are fully aware that before the Barrier you were not having this problem – you have him on the defensive; he gets exactly zero opportunities to attack you. You just can't hit him!

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Natto-san is very carefully staying the hell out of your way, keeping beyond you and to either flank so that you can maintain an awareness of him. The most worrying thing is the amount of concern he is showing; for someone who was sure he could take you, he is having doubts about taking Hiei. Which is really worrying. Nevertheless you concentrate on trying to kill Hiei, and by the time you're done, you've cornered the hellish creature opposite you and Natto-san. You're not winded, and you have a full compliment of Shen, but you're getting nowhere.

“Natto-san, I hope you have a very good reason for all this, because I am very, very upset.” You don't sound it of course, but he knows you're understating the matter.

“I don't think that's terribly important at the moment,” he murmurs, as you and he square off against the creature that was Shinkai Hiei. When it attacks, you are hard pressed to defend yourself. It takes ever maneuver you can manage, every ounce of concentration, every scrap of training to avoid those talons and that hungry maw. Buki-chan proves she is indestructible multiple times, and you manage to cut his lips open when he, giving him a slight Glasgow smile, but you manage almost nothing else as far as injuries, and now you really are a touch winded.

As black smoke pours from the sides of his mouth, healing the tiny wounds almost immediately, you back up, leaving Natto-san plenty of room. “Care to tell me why you're not helping me here, Natto?” you ask mildly, your breathing just a touch labored.

“Don't try any technique which forces you to exchange blows. If you do, he'll hurt you much worse than you can hurt him.” You recall that while Natto may recognize you as a demigod, he doesn't know you regenerate. “Your elemental techniques are going to be slow; your best techniques will involve either your draconic nature or your kami nature.” He moves slightly to one side, but Hiei doesn't track him at all. He's only interested in you.

….

That's not good. That's not good at all.

[] Initiate Barrier Combat.
[] Demand answers from Natto-san; this “not-involved” bullshit has got to stop.
[] ….right, explain exactly how this will go down if Natto doesn't stop fucking around, in gory, glorious detail.
[] Pull Musume-sama as well, go full Musashi Miyamoto on Hiei's fucked up ass.
[] The tengu offered their help against demons. Well, Hiei sure as fuck qualifies in your book now!

>Buki-chan proves she is indestructible multiple times, and you manage to cut his lips open when he tries to bite your throat out, giving him a slight Glasgow smile, but you manage almost nothing else as far as injuries, and now you really are a touch winded.

>>1988960
>[x] Initiate Barrier Combat.
Welp. Not sure what a second weapon will do on its own, I'm sure Buki-pyon just as capable as centipede-kid. Talking at Natto is tempting but I kinda doubt we'll convince him of anything if this whole situation hasn't already.

You know, we never figured out what this shark-youkai blood we got back at the beach did.

On other news, I honestly thing you guys jumped the gun when you voted to set up this barrier. He could have been more vulnerable in the mortal world.

>>1988986

Our centipede-MILF is incredibly poisonous, and obviously a second blade would give us that much chances to attack him or counter his attacks.

>>1988996
True enough, but if we're to believe Natto we should be utilizing kami powers to fight here and yet despite being a Buki being a kami-blade it's not doing much even when scoring a hit. Which makes me think either he's lying, or we're gonna want something with a bit more kami firepower than strikes with a weapon.

>>1988960
>[] Demand answers from Natto-san; this “not-involved” bullshit has got to stop.
>[] Pull Musume-sama as well, go full Musashi Miyamoto on Hiei's fucked up ass.

>>1989006

Musume is ALSO a kami-blade, and he's telling us to use Barrier Combat, which is at least one order of magnitude bigger than using regular kami-weapon.

We could also use Seido-no-Shinpi-Tekina-Ken , who is not only a kami-blade, but apparently was once used to cut the Kami of Fire into pieces.

Or we could just work more on immobilizing the fucker rather than destroying him yet.

QM, would it be possible to use Tekina-Ken with Buki or Musume?

Or even use the three together, given we have our remarkably agile tail?

>>1988960
>[] ….right, explain exactly how this will go down if Natto doesn't stop fucking around, in gory, glorious detail.
>[] Pull Musume-sama as well, go full Musashi Miyamoto on Hiei's fucked up ass.
What a tough cookie

>>1989039
>triple-wielding
Blender mode?

>>1988960
>[] The tengu offered their help against demons. Well, Hiei sure as fuck qualifies in your book now!

>>1989039
Using your tail to wield a blade is insulting to the blade, and while a normal blade won't care, a kami blade will. Tekina-ken explained she was a tool for creation, but she was still used to slay a Kami, putting her even higher on the 'weapons of the kami' scale than even the Grass Cutting Blade. She would also be easier to use paired with Musume-sama than Buki-sama is, but if you use Buk-sama in your left hand and Musume in right right there would be no issues. Using Buki and Tekina together is entirely possible though.

>>1988989
No, you didn't. It's youkai blood though, and that makes it incredibly potent, regardless of what you do with it. It's most likely poison....but such things react to faith as well. f you decide it's useful now, it may become useful now. In fact, this could be the entire reason you have it. Or it could be just something you happen to have picked up, and it might do nothing.
Kami-stuff doesn't make much sense.

Yeah, that Barrier was really not a productive idea.

Obviously we're missing something. This is NOT a standard fight, and thinking like our typical fight will get us seriously hurt.

>>1989064
Better not wield anything with our tail then. Even if it's a mighty fine tail.

I would bet that Natto or his spirit-parent was the one used to provide the Nue component of Hei.

Sorry if there is no real leading vote right now, XS, I think we're all in the "what the fuck" department right now.

>>1989064

Thanks

>>1989105
Not a bad theory. He doesn't exactly seem on board with it though.

>>1989112

Might be the reason why he's not helping, though.


XS, I'm sorry to ask you a question again, but I really need to know before voting:

Can we use Go-Yurei-no-Rensa as a weapon, or is it purely a ceremonial tool?

If not, do we dispose of another strong chain? We gave one to Chisato, but I'm not sure if we have anything that could restrain a spirit child otherwise.

Something to consider is that Musume is NOT indestructible, strictly speaking.

>>1989160
That's actually a good point. Buki's been doing a lot of work mainly based on that specific property so far. If we mess up and block with the wrong weapon things could get bad.

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[X] Help!

Water Eyes won't work well against hiei – all he is, is a murder machine. But while Natto is on his guard against Hiei, he isn't on guard against you....

The loneliness of existence as a create of parts is unimaginable. Part real, part illusion, half monster, half spirit, mart of the world but utterly alien to it; nue are a circle of contradictions bound in a knot of conflicting natures. How much worse then, for the child of a nue? Every conflict in the nue, magnified by the dichotomy of human and youkai living in a world filled with both, and still belonging to neither? It is an unbearable torment.

And then you discover that like the nue, you too are unable to have ordinary children.

Natto is unique, as far as he knows, born of human who was cursed by a nue, rather than by any sexual congress. Unable to have children, existing in the interminable loneliness of being unique and ageless. And then along comes a peculiar half-demon....

It was unthinkable, to abuse the nature of spiritual existence in this manner. To abuse the gifts of the kami in such heinous ways. And yet....to have a son to carry on your name, to prove you existed, in some way, if you were to die. Was it such a terribly thing?

Now, faced with the horror your complicity has brought into the world, you discover the true horror of what Taisho Ryoga plans to do. And yet you are faced with the ultimate taboo – to kill your own son is one of the very few unforgivable sins. Not even Izanagi came away from that unscathed, and he was far greater a kami than Natto is a youkai. You will pay the price for what you have done, but all you can do is guide this half-mad dragonette and hope that she is what she is said to be.

Hiei is on you in a flash, and you haven't had time to pull another weapon. At least, one that isn't attached. Using Buki-sama one handed is difficult, even for a dragonette of your strength and skill, but her light construction and your Dangerous Nature make it possible. Your other weapon is just as indestructible, and the battle goes much better – your left arm is as unnatural and strange a thing as Hiei itself is, and he comes away from that exchange with a half dozen slashes, both from Buki-sama and your claws.

“Better,” claims Natto, and it's all you can do to keep from exploding at him.

[] Initiate Barrier Combat.
[] ….right, explain exactly how this will go down if Natto doesn't stop fucking around, in gory, glorious detail.
[] Pull Musume-sama as well, go full Musashi Miyamoto on Hiei's fucked up ass.
[] The tengu offered their help against demons. Well, Hiei sure as fuck qualifies in your book now!

>>1989151
>Can we use Go-Yurei-no-Rensa as a weapon, or is it purely a ceremonial tool?

Purely ceremonial. Ryukusa doesn't own another oni-steel chain (though she has a knife and a staff of the stuff), but she can pull one out of Nowhere - if she can find any time to do so. Obviously even attempting it is incredibly dangerous alone.

>>1989170
Hmmmm...
>[x] The tengu offered their help against demons. Well, Hiei sure as fuck qualifies in your book now!
I guess we can see what help they might provide here.

>>1989170
>[] The tengu offered their help against demons. Well, Hiei sure as fuck qualifies in your book now!

>>1989170
>[] The tengu offered their help against demons. Well, Hiei sure as fuck qualifies in your book now!

>>1989170
>[] The tengu offered their help against demons. Well, Hiei sure as fuck qualifies in your book now!
Who am I to break the unanimity

>>1989170

Eh, what do you know, I guessed right.

>"Natto-san, stop being a fucking dumbass. You don't have to kill your son. Slow him down, restrain him, confuse him, or distract him, like a Nue-child can. *I* am the one who will end this Abomination's life, as it is the duty given to me by the Kami."


We're the one who kill condemned people. here.


>>1989187
>>1989220

Guys, please reconsider. I doubt the Tengu are going to help us many times, and while you can fault Ryoga with A LOT of thing, he's not dumb enough to limit himself to one success. We're probably going to have more of those fucked up Abominations on our way to dealing with him, and when that time come we will need to save our strength for the big boss.

>>1989170
>>1989249 sounds like a good idea, I'll support it.

>>1989170
>>1989187
>>1989249
Ehh, sure, I can swap to that. I can't imagine it'd count as much more sinful than helping us with tips and hints. I already swapped from barrier combat anyway.

>>1989227
>>1989234
>>1989241

Seriously, guys, don't call for the Tengu's help now.


This situaition is basically Natto's "sin", so to speak.

The solution is not to bring other actors into it, it's to have Natto help by negating the only real advantage Hei has over us: his speed (as he's only matching us in term of agility, combat reading, and regeneration).

Right now Natto is just taking up space, but if we make him realise *we* are the one who will kill his son, he will have enough room to help.

>>1989170
Ok I'll switch to talk as well then,break the tie

Hope I haven't been thrown to a new ID as usual

That Hei is really something out of a Japanese horror story.

Well, thankfully he encountered Ruykusa now rather than the horror story continuing.

>>1989317

I mean

>Man cannot have children
>Turn to a corporate executive involved in questionable experiment for help
>Ends up with a ...thing

>>1989357
Clearly he should visit a kami of fertility or children or something next time instead of a shady demon.

All right.

Rewriting.

>>1989395
The life of a quest-runner is troublesome.

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[-] The tengu offered their help against demons. Well, Hiei sure as fuck qualifies in your book now!
[+] Natto-san, get your head out of your....clouds!

When other people look daggers at someone it's a euphemism. When you look daggers at someone, they can get cut. “Natto! Don't just stand there looking stupid, help me, so I can do my duty! You don't have to kill him, that's my duty!” Hiei leaps for you as you speak, and you hold him off by main force and the virtue of indestructible weapons. Black smoke pours from the wounds you inflicted, and it takes only a little power to make sure you don't inhale any of the fumes. The wounds you inflicted with your claws heal more slowly than those inflicted by Buki-sama, but she's just as indestructible apparently.

Natto looks at you and his 'son', if you could call him that, and his jaw becomes set. He moves like lightning, a side kick meant to batter Hiei away from you, but Hiei is gone before he finishes the kick, leaping away from you and pulling you into his place.

No slouch at personal combat you twist around Natto's kick, air and ground meaning nothing to you, and you swirl up and at Hiei taking the fight to him once again. Like before he is greased lightning and nearly Fire dragonette quick, but with Natto keeping him at least slightly distracted with half-hearted attacks and movements, you're making a little more headway.

It's obvious that to Natto, holding his 'child' in place for you to kill it is still as much him killing the creature as outright killing it would be, you're quickly becoming desperate. Typical Japanese man, leaving a woman to do the hard part.

[] Initiate Barrier Combat Style and Sword, or Scales and Claws are the best forms according to Natto, while Deadliest Smile is your demigod nature and thus likely to be powerful but risks the exchange of blows he mentions would be dangerous, while Storm and Wind is going to be slow to work but eventually effective.
[] Tell him the truth: this thing is no more his son than you are.
[] Call on your sister's help using the Five-Ghost-Chain.
[] Ask for the tengu's assistance, since Natto clearly isn't any.
[] Disregard Natto as anything but an object; if he won't help, he can cease to be a hindrance.

>>1989457
>[] Tell him the truth: this thing is no more his son than you are.
>[] Initiate Barrier Combat
Scales and Claws

>>1989457
>[] Disregard Natto as anything but an object; if he won't help, he can cease to be a hindrance.
>[] Initiate Barrier Combat: Scales and Claws

>>1989457
>[X] Initiate Barrier Combat: Scales and Claws

I doubt anything else will help. We're being forced into a duel.

>>1989457
>[x] Initiate Barrier Combat Style and Sword, or Scales and Claws
>[x] Tell him the truth: this thing is no more his son than you are.
Either combat is fine with me; definitely no Smile. I don't feel like calling on any help at the moment.

>>1989457
>[] Initiate Barrier Scales and Claws
>[] Tell him the truth: this thing is no more his son than you are.

>>1989457
>[] Initiate Barrier Combat Style and Sword

I do hope this guy isn't even stronger in Barrier Combat. He's quite annoying!

>>1989457
>[] Tell him the truth: this thing is no more his son than you are.

>[] Initiate Barrier Combat Style and Sword

>>1989476
>>1989491
>>1989510
>>1989533

Eh, I think we should do Style and Sword.

Buki-sama is hardly ever allowed to go full power.

Also, we can't really compete with that abomination as far as natural weapons go.

Plus Buki-sama would appreciate more deeds on her rapsheet.

Telling the truth to the Nue-child is going to piss him off something mighty, but eh, you can't go in a Barrier with Ryukusa and not expect a few illusions to break.

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[X] Tell him the truth: this thing is no more his son than you are.
[XX] Initiate Barrier Combat: Style and Sword,

You back the snarling, hateful thing into the corner once again, and catch your breath as Natto at least keeps it from trying to go around you. “You're a fool and a coward, Natto – this abomination is no more your son than I am, and it will be the death of you, just as Toshio Ryoga planned from the start!”

Natto grits his teeth. “Silence woman! You will never understand!” Oh yeah, he's old school all right. Wonderful. Why are old Japanese bachelors such assholes?

You thank Buki-sama for her truly wondrous and grand service, and she preens for you, satisfied that she has done her fair share and drawn monstrous blood aplenty, even if it is smoke. Pulling back you take a deep breath, the lightning filling you and the flames and abyssal cold about your hands intensifying. You gaze upon the destructive force that emanates from Hiei as you claws elongate, your skin hardens to a porcelain sheen, and your hair burns white. Your massive tail slides easily through the air, and you grin, baring a mouthful of sharp teeth.

Unlike Yuuhi's and Hagyu Genso's supremely internalized destructive potential, so focused it permeates their entire form, Hiei is something else. His destructive potential is very ephemeral, thin, but it oozes from him like a cloud, a sort of mist that emanates from him and coalesces as he approaches his target to become something truly dangerous at the very last second of impact, claw or bite. It flows and shifts through the room, like a cloud of destructive potential, some he can ride to wherever he decides to be and inflict harm.

Natto backs away a few more feet, giving Hiei that much more room to work himself into; you lash your tail closing off some of it. Like a game of Shogi or Go, whoever controls the board will win this fight. It has to be you.

[] One-Hundred-Thousand Pieces of Ruby and Sapphire!
[] Chase the Cat's Tail and Suffer Her Wrath!
[] Pounce Upon and Tear Your Prey!
[] Scales of Iron to Crush the Foe's Body!
[] The Prey Finds Nothing but Empty Air, Claws, and Fangs!

>>1989665
We did more damage with our claws than we did with Buki. Drawing fully on our draconic nature will do better than going half-and-half.

>>1989688
>[] Scales of Iron to Crush the Foe's Body!

>>1989688
>[X] One-Hundred-Thousand Pieces of Ruby and Sapphire!

>>1989688
>[] One-Hundred-Thousand Pieces of Ruby and Sapphire!

>>1989688
>[x] One-Hundred-Thousand Pieces of Ruby and Sapphire!

>>1989688
>[] One-Hundred-Thousand Pieces of Ruby and Sapphire!

>>1989688
>[x] The Prey Finds Nothing but Empty Air, Claws, and Fangs!
Control the battle, got it. Well, we don't know exactly what this thing is capable of so it's easier said than done, but still.

>>1989688
>>[x] The Prey Finds Nothing but Empty Air, Claws, and Fangs!

>>1989700
>>1989707
>>1989716
>>1989723

Sorry if I'm annoying, but does this sounds like one of those "let yourself be hurt to hurt the enemy" technique to anyone else?

>>1989688
>[x] The Prey Finds Nothing but Empty Air, Claws, and Fangs!

>>1989761
I picked it because it sounds like an all-out offensive, which will keep him on the back foot. And "The Prey Finds Nothing but Empty Air, Claws, and Fangs!" sounds like it's letting him come to you before attacking.
>Like a game of Shogi or Go, whoever controls the board will win this fight. It has to be you.

>>1989761
I have similar thoughts to >>1989805
It sounds proactive to me and I liked the sound of it more then Pounce or Scales to Crush.

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[X] One-Hundred-Thousand Pieces of Ruby and Sapphire!

This time you bring the fight to him, but unlike the previous times, you are no longer concerned with defending yourself. Your scales with do that for you. With six inch long talons of sapphire and ruby you twist and slide through the air at him, coming at him where he is strong and maneuvering to keep his strongest presence in front of you.

Time seems to slow for you and him, and it is much easier to see his attacks, and almost as easy to inflict deeper, deadlier wounds. He lands a few vicious blows, his own talons skittering against your smooth scales before catching and biting, but when you pull away, it is he who bears the most wounds, deep wounds which jet smoke like an overfull teapot vents steam. Hiei hisses and rumbles, confused by your new demeanor and nature.

Natto bristles at your abuse of his 'son' and then notices that like Hiei, your wounds heal, slowly but surely. But not all of the wounds you inflict heal – the deepest, the ones that struck most true remain, smoke seeping from the cuts. Hiei crouches, making himself smaller, diffusing his dangerous nature even further throughout the room.

Natto flexes, his muscles thickening, tightening, and his skin becomes tiger-striped, but in reverse: yellow stripes upon black. He lashes a suddenly grown tail, and his head grows as his body does, a demonic mask of rage and anger, but as alive as the rest of him. His teeth are jutting tusks and fangs, and a third eye open upon his brow as he shakes a mane of black gold. Long, curved claws jut from his powerful hands and he roars a challenge.

The problem is, he's focused on you instead of Hiei!

[] Oh, you have got to be kidding, you stupid, hateful youkai-blooded bastard.
[] Yeah, one of them you could handle, but this is too much – time to call on reinforcements Chose one: Kiku and Er Yin, Hebiki Rishi and Kaga Kei, Inau-kun, Ryuu Nabiki using the Five-Ghosts-Chain, or The Five Brothers Tengu.
[] You will just have to step up your Barrier Combat to match!
[] Tell him what will happen if you are forced to invoke your true power....
[] Nope right the fuck out of there.

>>1989852
Incidentally, the colors are just to differentiate the potential help.

>>1989852
>[X] Oh, you have got to be kidding, you stupid, hateful youkai-blooded bastard.
>[X] Tell him what will happen if you are forced to invoke your true power....
Stay back or get the heaven out of here. Hiei brought this on himself.

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>>1989852
>[X] Oh, you have got to be kidding, you stupid, hateful youkai-blooded bastard.
>[X] Yeah, one of them you could handle, but this is too much – time to call on reinforcements: Inau-kun
>[X] Tell him what will happen if you are forced to invoke your true power....

>>1989852
>[] Oh, you have got to be kidding, you stupid, hateful youkai-blooded bastard.
>[] Yeah, one of them you could handle, but this is too much – time to call on reinforcements: Kiku and Er Yin

>>1989852
p l s
l
s
>[x] Tell him what will happen if you are forced to invoke your true power....

>>1989852
>[] Oh, you have got to be kidding, you stupid, hateful youkai-blooded bastard.
[] Tell him what will happen if you are forced to invoke your true power....

If he does intervene call Inau-kun

>>1989852
>[] Oh, you have got to be kidding, you stupid, hateful youkai-blooded bastard.
>[] Yeah, one of them you could handle, but this is too much – time to call on reinforcements Chose one: Inau-kun
>[] Tell him what will happen if you are forced to invoke your true power....

>>1989852


>[] Oh, you have got to be kidding, you stupid, hateful youkai-blooded bastard.

>"Stop this madness. You can still redeem the wrongs you've done. Didn't you want to do right your wrongs? Don't waste your chance at life. There are other ways to have children."

>[] Yeah, one of them you could handle, but this is too much – time to call on reinforcements: Kiku and Er Yin,


>>1989879
>>1989917
>>1989952

Dudes.

Inau-kun is great, but her sword was destroyed and her bow hasn't been replaced her.

Calling her when she doesn't have her hunting weapons is a bad idea.

>>1990180

*been replaced yet.

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[XXX] Oh, you have got to be kidding, you stupid, hateful youkai-blooded bastard.
[XX] Tell him what will happen if you are forced to invoke your true power....
[X] Yeah, one of them you could handle, but this is too much – time to call on reinforcements: Inau-kun.

You look towards the monstrous being that was once Natto, and he moves towards you as Hiei cowers. The cowering is meaningless – that destructive nature of his still permeates the place and he' just waiting for the opportune moment. His 'father' doesn't realize that, of course, and you doubt you'd be able to convince him of that.

“You are really going to pull this crap now, of all times Natto? Not even going to excuse yourself, just fight on the side of abominations and demons?” You swoop under his arm, his claws passing mere hair-breadths away from your face and throat. Darting to the far side of the room, you flex your talons. “I give my enemies their due chances, but you've had yours now. My final warning.”

He growls, his voice utterly inhuman, and more in your head than across your ears, his mouth unmoving. “Leave now and I will take my son from this place and raise him away from mankind and spirit-children alike. You will live, and so will we!”

“Your son is an abomination, a creature that goes against all that the kami stand for! A demon made him, using the blood of innocents, your magic, and the most foul technologies possible....and he is nothing more than a prototype for a soldier! He's a thing, and you are condemning him to eternal slavery, and humans to a war they cannot win!”

The massive beast-man crouches, and his eyes glitter with malevolence, and a lot less sanity than you may have given him credit for. He doesn't feel how the destructive force of his child's attention starts to focus along his back, slight but present nonetheless. “I owe humans nothing, I owe the kami less! Begone or I will destroy you!”

Pulling upon the power of the Void, the lightning within your chest flashes and sparks, your voice thunderous and flickering energies surging in your mouth. “You area fool! If you try and slay me, I will call upon my birthright, and lay waste to you, your son, this theater, Tokyo, and all the islands of Japan!” You lift your hands and the glowing nimbus of power that erupts around them intensifies, the rubies and sapphires of your claws lambent things of vitreous fire. The kanji of Her words upon your cheeks ignite in silver fire.

>>1990180
Fuck, I forgot about that.

Amending >>1989879 to Kiku and Er Yin

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>>1990195
”I am the daughter of Ryujin-Owatatsumi, Heir to the Mikoto of Ame-no-Horobi-no-Mikado, God of Destruction, tasked by Amaterasu-Omikami herself! You will not stand in my way – you will be destroyed!”

Rising up he roars, black smoke erupting around him, the barrier becoming dark and threatening, his power filling it. Hiei rises, his fangs shimmering, slaver dripping from his lips as he fixes glowing eyes on you. ”Never!” cries the nue-born, as his body ripples with power and his claws and fangs shimmer with the power of hiss destructive nature.

Inau-kun! HELP!

He roars and leaps at you as you slide through the air to engage him. His body shifts and shimmers, illusion obscuring his true location. You draw your talons back and bare your teeth, ready to draw on all the power you can....

….and a slender white and red shaft flies through the barrier, lodging in his heart as it pierces his chest diagonally, broad, flower decorated arrowhead dripping red blood.

You catch him as he collapses, Hiei shrieking in thwarted rage, soft, breathless gasps of the massive beast as black smoke pours from his wounds and mouth alike.

”....remember me....to my father....” he whispers with his dying breath, his hatred and loathing unrelenting even now. Natto, whose real name you never learned, crumbles in your arms, black smoke streaming from his flesh and his body dissolving, leaving only Inau-kun's arrow and a few droplets of crimson in memoriam.

Hiei screams and you round on him, your eyes flashing as you prepare the next movement in your deadly dance....

>To Be Continued....

Thank you for reading and playing.

Archers are strong agaisnt Nue - it's how both instances of nue were killed in the myths.

The tengu are not traditional allies - they are spirits, actual kami, and have no physical presence in the world, even in Barrier. Their help cannot come in the form of physical allies....

>>1990214
Thanks for running XS

Shame it had to come to this. And I had no idea calling on Inau would be this effective.

>>1990214
Thanks for writing!
Glad Inau was a useful vote after all, got me spooked a little there.

>>1990264
Ryukusa asked Kiki-hime if she could replace Inau-kuns bow some time ago.

Apparently, she has.

Well, that was awesome.

Inau went all "ryū ga waga teki o kurau!"

Thanks for running!

I suppose handling the yakuza will be easier without Natto

Thanks for the session

Even if Natto being so stubbornly blind was a pity

Now that we've confirmed that Yamada-san can be present in a barrier, I vote we drag him in after we finish this fight to impress on him just what forces he's been fucking with.

>>1990335
Hiei is clearly indiscriminate about who or what he kills. That would probably be a very bad idea.

Then again, Ryukusa has had worse. Eating mermaid flesh, drinking with oni, being a demigod...

>>1990358
I did say AFTER we finish this fight. Although I guess now that I think about it all that supernatural smoke he bleeds sounds like an inhalation hazard.

>>1990335

Nah, we can't destroy his mind like that.

He should piss his pants enough when he sees that, from his perspective, we destroyed Natto and Hei in a few instants.

>>1990358

We should buy a gift for Mermaid Princess. Also hug her and our mermaid kids.

They're Ryukusa's family too, after all. Though I'm not sure Mermaid Princess has a conception of being one of Ryukusa's wives.

Ah whoops, I was too spent from the Incidents quest that I slept through this one.

Eh, things went... okay? I guess, and your stamina continues to impress XS.

The rain cleared out the smoke, and I'm starting to feel better.

>>1992516
That's good, XS, I hope it continues.