Post by Flame on Jul 12, 2019 12:47:52 GMT -5
Story Name: Rise of the Black Crane - Tengu Unleashed
Character: Ryouto Aosuki
Word Count: 8141
Footsteps rocked the gangplank, the clogs on wood clapping their way down onto the simple pier. A tall figure lanky and thin clambered onto that wooden structure. Looking down its length they followed its path towards the small town that was just beginning to bustle to life. The simple wooden structures belied eyes giving the image of a sleepy village. The backdrop of the forest behind it shading the whole place made it seem so peaceful. The person taking another step forward placed a single hand on their hip.
"This place hasn't changed at all."
It was a murmur mostly to themselves. Walking further down the pier they paused noticing a figure hurrying towards them. Stopping in place they watched as a youthful figure barreled toward them. Closer and closer, looking up barely in time to come skidding in. Giving a soft sigh as the youngster threw his arms forward in an attempt to reach for help, he was simply sidestepped. Passing by their 'target' an arm reached out and grabbed them by the scruff of their collar bringing them to a quick halt and avoiding a quick fall into the sea. "Do be more careful next time." The supposed savior said while yawning.
"Ahh! Thanks! Thanks much ..." The youth stammered out before pausing to take a second look. "You are Mr. Aosuki?" He said as he scrambled to catch his breath. The tall figure nodded carefully. "Lieutenant Commander Aosuki would technically be how you should refer to me ... But I'm quite okay with just being called Ryouto." The marine officer said with a shrug. "Besides its not like we're in the same command structure anymore.".
Pausing he looked about. "Anyways, where is Bismarc? I thought he was supposed to come find me after calling me back here." He asked his eyes looking down on the youngster. The youth stood up, "Officer Bismarc? He sent me to fetch you, he's a bit busy at the moment so he asks your pardon and if you'll come to meet him." Ryouto sighed shaking his head in annoyance placing both his hands on his hips.
"Well then lead on," he said gesturing foreward. His guide turned and began to walk back into town with Ryouto ambling on after him. The backdrop of the town passed by, an unchanging one, he breathed in the woody air. Though his guide was technically leading Ryouto walked with eyes closed. He soon knew where he was heading, the image in his head of his detination as clear as if he was looking at a map.
Walking and walking until finally his eyes opened. Before him a grey stone building, aged by time vines crept up and down its side. Thin slivers of sunlight passed through the leafy canopy leaving it mostly in shadow. A thin outline upon its front gave its true purpose, the cross with circles on the ends was a quiet inscription cut into the stone itself. "It really hasn-" Ryouto's words cut off as he noted something in his peripheral vision.
A falling leg was met by a rising one. At speed Ryouto had turned to meet the attack head on and they clashed with a furious thud. In the shadows his opponent's face was dark, the contours of it barely noticeable. But a ray of light peeking through the forest brought truth to that which he guessed. "Bismarc." Ryouto said with an annoyed smile on his face. His former fellow-trainee smiled at him through the shadows. "Ryouto you've not changed at all." There was a cocky smile on his face. The marine officer could hardly say the same thing about his friend. Time had done wonders for the once lanky Cipher Pol officer. Though perhaps not as overly muscled as some of the upper rank marines were Bismarc had bulked up. Muscle defined itself against his clothes he'd grown taller and a grizzled scar crossed from beside his nose all the way down to his collar. His perfectly maintained brown hair now a mane for himself unruly as ever.
"You've changed a lot." Ryouto responded in time. The Cipher Pol agent grunted once and then laughed. Turning to the youth who'd brought Ryouto here he gave a quick wave of the hand. "You're dismissed"
"Officer!" The youth gave a quick salute before rushing off.
The pair watched the kid leave with quiet eyes. And it was not until he was a ways off before words were spoken again. "So what'd you call me here for anyways. You seemed very hush about it on the den den." His former classmate glanced at him before motioning for Ryouto to follow him. Leading through the door they walked into the building, from within there was heard the din of activity like a low hum. They walked and walked climbing two stairs up into the heart of the building. Ryouto walked paying little attention to the passing rooms. He knew what it'd be like, he'd lived it before, but where they were heading. This was a surprise, he stopped before a familiar door. Without a word Bismarc walked through the door to a place that brought Ryouto pause.
"Come in."
Ryouto entered to see Bismarc lounging behind a large desk a familiar looking one at that. "That's yours?" An idiot's question deserved little more answer than where Bismarc sat. But still his friend nodded in response to Ryouto's almost stupefied question. "What happened to ..." his words trailed off as Bismarc shrugged his shoulders in response. Ahh, he sighed scratching the back of his head. With a shake of it then he came back to his original point. "So what did you call me here for? Can't just be to show off your new position."
His question was met by Bismarc's usual laugh. Coming back up he took his feet off the table and stood up. "There's some stuff I'd like to talk to you about in person." In person? A puzzle for sure what couldn't be said by letter or den den. Perhaps this wasn't info he wanted being heard by other marines. While the two organizations nominally had good relations, there was a bit of tension over jurisdiction, or at least Ryouto had always felt that way. "But first I was thinking you could give the trainees some Rankyaku training. I could think of no one better for such a job." Bismarc added in with a smile.
At this Ryouto raised an eye for a moment and then shrugged. In this there was some truth, of the members of his class he was definitely the best at Rankyaku. Of everything in Rokushiki that had come most naturally to him. "Alright then, I guess I can help as a favor." His friend smiled back at him "Thanks, any help would be appreciated."
"They in the usual place then?" Bismarc nodded. Well then, he decided he should probably just go about and do this now. At least see what he was working with. Turning about he headed for the door giving a quick wave. "Guess we'll talk later." The murmur of yeah from his friend was enough as he left the room was enough. Passing through the building he crossed out into the back. If it could be called that, in fact it was just a large clearing in the woods behind the building.
Surveying the area he noticed that the trainees were scattered about it. While some were sparring against each other, there were more simply lounging about in the area. At once he wondered what had become of this place, his old trainer would have never allowed such laxity among his students. Ryouto sighed as he walked into the center of the clearing. He was barely taken notice of, Ryouto shook his head. What had become of this place, it was a horror to see. Scratching his head he brought his two hands together in a resonant clap. Heads rose and looked over but few moved. His fingers pinched the bridge of his nose. His hands rapped together three more times straining Ryouto's patience. This was supposed to be the Cipher Pol Rokushiki Trainees, maybe Bismarc needed a talking to. Even for who he disliked the training regimen when he'd been here, there were certain expectations he figured that they should meet.
A few still had not moved, but for those who stood before him they were disorderly and misshapen. They didn't wear the usual training attire for one, most of them hardly looked like they were in shape enough for this. Only a select few looked like they were worthy to be here. "I guess we'll start with a demonstration. I don't know at what level most of you are, but my eyes aren't giving me much hope." His authoritorial voice came out, "It takes power and precision to do it well but, it starts with training. And then eventually you can do this. Rankyaku." He jumped into the air twisting in the air his leg whipped down aiming a blade of air at the largest grouping of lazing trainees. It crashed into the middle of a group of them missing hitting any with a direct hit but enough to knock up dust and dirt and send them all scrambling.
He landed to some applause and some grumbling. For himself Ryouto was smiling mostly to himself. "Alright then you all, let's get to work." Fists bumped together for effect as he looked out at this weird hodgepodge of trainees. Right then to get to work, he'd have to get them working on their fundamental strength. Setting them up for success, he paused why exactly had Bismarc called him out to teach though. Surely he knew these people didn't have it in them to learn Rankyaku yet. Ryouto scratched his chin in thought before setting the trainees off to start with a long jog.
...
"It was ... interesting. This facility does not seem to be producing the quality that it once did you know." Ryouto said critically as he sat lazing in the chair. Leaning back he paused and grasped the cup of tea sitting on the table before him. Pulling it to his lip he watched the steaming greenish brown liquid slowly, his image was reflected in the image. "That so? You'd prefer it more like it was when we learned here." Across from him Bismarc was scowling, neither him nor Ryouto had had a very good time here when they'd come to learn. That much was true, he understood the feeling as well, troubled memories bothered him from that time. Their harsh instructor in particular who'd given him no quarter was hardly one of his favorite people in the world.
Ryouto gave a shrug of his shoulders, he couldn't really say. Instead he brought his cup to his mouth slowly reflecting his thoughts in the water. "Well ..." he paused uncertain of what to say next. Across from him his friend shifted forward in his seat. Leaning towards him, he rested his chin on a bridge made by his hands.
"Alright let me ask you this, do you agree with the approach that the Marines and Cipher Pol have taken to this ... and other things?"
Bismarc put the question to him that gave Ryouto pause. "Some of the things I've heard definitely seem a little ..." Ryouto's sense of justice had always fought against his sense of duty. That they had not always matched up was a thing that had bothered him on occasion. "Exactly, its hardly a system that is working properly. That's why it needs change, like we've done here. Perhaps this is not perfect but, we're fostering a better example." Looking up at Bismarc Ryouto watched him carefully.
"Well if that's how you feel." he said. Bismarc had nearly stood up in his energy about this. Looking down at Ryouto he nodded to him. "But still, they ..." he started as he looked out of a nearby window in the direction of the training clearing. "They will hardly be the engine to change the world, they need a hardier training than what you give-" Words stopped as Bismarc's hands crashed onto the table. Blood vessels popped on his skin as his friend reddened with anger. Swiftly turning around he stormed back towards his desk. From his seat Ryouto sat frozen his eyes watching with care the unfolding events.
"And here I thought you'd understand ..." Bismarc's words were a murmur from his desk. His head tilted as Ryouto watched his raging fellow carefully. The man's breathing was heavy. "I was going to ask you to join our cause ..." Bismarc said in a voice rising in power. "Your cause?" Ryouto's words echoed in confusion from his mouth. "I should've known better, your naivety, you'd never have taken the steps necessary to throw him down. To throw them down." The words were forceful and wraught with anger.
"What have you done ..."
"Now you know too much. What has happened here, who we've become can never get back to the World Government. I'm sorry. For true justice to thrive, some things must be broken down."
His last words were quiet, they were filled with anguish. Ryouto stood up he was confused, but Bismarc was his friend, he would- Bismarc turned appearing right before him. As quick as that a fist crashed into Ryouto's stomach blowing him backwards through the wall of the office he was in and crashed into the next one. Wha-what??? But before he could think further Bismarc jumped forward, with a twist of his body, the man's burly leg swung over him aimed to slam down into Ryouto. Instinct took over as Ryouto kicked up with one of his legs to parry the attack. The crash of two human weapons cracked the air as they hit, Ryouto was strong but Bismarc, how he'd grown. His kick was overpowering as the weight of pain smashed Ryouto through the floor and the next one until he slammed into the ground floor of the building 3 stories down. He yowled as pain ran through his leg.
Ryouto's mind was a mess as he tried to assess the situation. "Take him, he'll have useful information for the Army." A few of those standing around him stepped forward pausing as Ryouto grunted and rose to his feet standing unsteadily on one leg. Shit ... what happened here- With a wince of pain he turned slamming his 'unharmed' leg into an incoming opponent, with a single impact he knocked that one away pushed down the corridor. He took a step warning off those around him.
He took a breath, First things first, safety. Eyes whipped around as he evaluated his options for escape. His foot hit the ground and Ryouto raced off, thankfully his memories of this place were hardly forgotten. Soru, he hardly had time to run normally, so he flickered quickly dashing in blips from place to place until an exit stood before him. In a moment he was out the door, "Predictable ..." From above him Bismarc spoke. Ryouto's hands swung down unhitchign two weapons from his side. Swinging them up he caught Bismarc's falling kick on his pair of tonfa. The grips bit into his hands as they strained against the weight of the attack.
Ryouto jumped back creating distance between him and Bismarc. With legs bent he centered himself on the grass facing down his former friend. Would he be able to run from Bismarc? He didn't get a chance to wonder as Bismarc advanced on him. In a flash of movement the two clashed, tonfa hit fist as they turned eyes. Size and strength ran in his opponent's favor here as he felt himself get pushed back with each hit. He'd need a clean attack for this.
This would hurt his leg, but they were always his weapon in the end. It gave him the highest chance of victory or at least escape. With a twist he shot his leg out at Bismarc taking the block in stride he levered himself against the crossed arms of his opponent. Flipping himself he swung down with the strength of his leg. At full force he hit the pair of crossed arms sending Bismarc staggering back for a moment. Right! Now! He lunged forward, the leg dragging behind then suddenly swung forward.
With a swing he unleashed his kick upon his enemy. "Haneke Yaridan!"
"Tekkai Gou!" Leg met chest in a rush of power but Bismarc didn't budge. He blinked as if momentarily fazed by the hit but recovered immediately. "Shall I show you true power?" Pain rang through Ryouto's throbbing leg. Bismarc breathed, "Fly away you fool." His words were a solemn warning. Two fists came forward in a shape he'd only seen before.
"ROKUOUGAN"
Force slammed into Ryouto's chest. Breath blown out of his lungs in a moment as his body screamed in pain. The weight of it lifted him off his feet sending him flying away straight across the clearing. One tree was not enough to slow him as Ryouto's body crashed into one before stopping as he crashed forming a crater against a second thicker tree.
Back where he stood Bismarc paused "Oops, its not really there yet huh ..." He reached down and grabbed a mini den den from his pocket. "Go retrieve our guest, take him to the detention center." Quietly he turned away heading back into the building.
Weakly Ryouto opened his eyes to the form of a few standing over him. He coughed blood rolling from his lips as he grunted. Eyes closed once more, he couldn't let them take him, this was more dangerous than he'd first imagined. Falling to his knees he coughed even more as he tried to gather his strength. He was stronger than this, a pair of kicks slammed into his gut leaving him gasping on the ground. He needed to- needed to- eyes flickered with the grasps of his strength seeing a movement momentarily in the background before they closed falling into darkness.
His eyes blinked open to a soft light. The uncomfortable place he lay pressed like jagged barbs into his back. Trying to move his body protested, soreness rocked it back and forth. "So sleeping beauty awakes. Have you alway been such a fool? So blind?" There was a familiarity to the voice that he couldn't place. Wincing as he shifted his head he tried to pinpoint the source of it. Finally his eyes laid themselves upon a shadow sat upon a chair in the corner of ... wherever he was. Ryouto tried to lean forward, pain stroked his body fighting his every move.
"Where am I ..." His voice weak sprung out as he tried to identify the place. It was wood all over only what looked to be a lamp hanging from the ceiling illuminated anything. "If you're wondering if you're in some dark cell or the like. You aren't, and yet are in a sense. Trapped on this bloody island all the same." Ryouto coughed, a hot liquid sputtered from his mouth. Gingerly he moved an arm up wiping it from his face and taking a glance at the his newly blooded fingers. "If you didn't see through it sooner either you're more of an idiot than I remember, or he's smarter than he used to be. The latter seems less likely." He blinked, than he remembered? It was someone he had met before? Eyes closed and he thought back through his memory.
The man standing in the corner sighed shaking his head before stepping forward. The light fell on his face illuminating it. Like that it came to him, "You!" He exclaimed wincing through the pain it sprung through his body. There was the barest twitch of a smile on the man's scarred face.
"We spent so much time together, I'm surprised it took you so long." Faked hurt dripped through his words as his Rokushiki trainer looked down upon Ryouto. "Based on what Bismarc said I'd thought you were dead and gone or something." Ryouto tried to explain as he finally succeeded in sitting up to get a better look at where he was currently residing.
"Don't bother you won't guess what it is. It's the hollowed inside of one of the largest trees on the island." His trainer said matter-of-factly. He blinked twice, what? Why? So many questions raced through his head but under the hardened gaze of the man opposite him he silenced the questions simply pondering to himself. Ryouto's eyes narrowed in thought, but why was he here.
"But why are you here? From memory you should still be superior to Bismarc."
There was a cackling laugh from the man who stood before him. "Proof ever more that you're as blind as ever. Stop looking closer, widen your view fool." He said stepping forward again. Ryouto blinked twice, his eyes looked over the man still bending toward his ever so memorable face. He stopped, his head reprinted the image of the man in his head. What was he missing what did he not- one arm. The man's arm looked like it had been chopped off slightly above the elbow. The man shrugged his shoulders making even more obvious Ryouto's apparent tunneling. "It's a shame to say he caught me unawares, but its a thing of the past now. Best left forgotten." He said with finality to his words. "I wish it could be another way but, you'll have to be the choice." The man shook his head with a single hand on his hip. Turning around he walked into the darkness of his treehold.
Ryouto sat there taking in everything that'd been said to him. He was the choice? The choice for what? ... Did he need to ask the question he knew, to take back this island. To stop the Army, ... the Revolutionary Army from gathering its own force of Rokushiki users. It was apparent that Bismarc had gone even further than Ryouto in his own training. Rokuougan, the fabled seventh technique he'd only heard of it until he had experienced it a short while ago. He suspected his trainer had likely taught Bismarc, who else on the island might've known the ability. Was he to learn it too? His own ability to use Rokushiki was limited to only three of the styles. But what else could he be taught to close the gap. It seemed an enormous one as he sat there pondering how a fight might go. Even then how long would it take him to learn.
"If you plan to teach me Rokuougan to match him. I hate to inform you that I still only have the three style I was able to pick up while I was last here."
From the back the man laughed terribly hard. He cackled with amusement apparently at that comment. "Please you think he's using Rokuougan, his is learned from mimicry not skill. It's a sham compared to the real thing. And no, I'm not teaching you either." His trainer said with an amused disdain. "Besides without knowledge of the full six styles you'd never even be able to learn it. And I don't have the patience to teach you them. I've tried once and I don't see anything that's changed." He looked at Ryouto with a challenging eye. He really couldn't say anything back to that, honestly he couldn't imagine going through the training again.
"Honestly, if I had a choice, I'd do it myself but I'm no longer capable of it. So like I said you'll have to do." He came back with something sitting in his hand, Ryouto eyed it with curiosity, was it some sort of food. A fruit or- his eyes narrowed.
"Where is seven hells did you manage to come across one of those."
In the light his guess was confirmed as the dark leafy fruit revealed a telling white pattern running swirls about it. A devil fruit, the demon's spawn, they were a rarity so this was his answer, the advantage that could be used to surpass Bismarc. "Matters little, all that matters is I managed to keep it away from them for this long. But sooner or later they'll find me, and this." He said lifting it up a little. "So no matter what the power it contains, it'll be for the better if you take it. Besides, I hear the taste is to die for." There was something of pure sadism in those words.
Ryouto raised an eyebrow, he'd heard something similar. The taste of them was apparently a one-of-a-kind flavor, an absolutely horrid flavor that'd make the strongest stomach want to puke. "Well then, open up." The man said as he walked up with the devil fruit in his free hand. There was a disturbing smile on his face but what choice did he really have. He opened his mouth just a bit, so that he could avoid-the fruit was forced into his mouth.
He bit down but the force the trainer was a bit much and his jaw was forced open as his teeth shredded the edges of it. It touched his tongue just barely, it was revolting to say the least. Perhaps that was to be too nice to it. "MMMMMMMPHHHHH" He struggled against it until he finally managed to bite down hard enough to force the rest of it out of his mouth. What was left was enough to chew for for two seconds until he forced himself to swallow. He wanted to hurl, his body nearly began to convulse in protest to whatever garbage he'd just fed himself.
Ryouto blinked, had something changed? He couldn't tell he felt unchanged. Before him his Rokushiki trainer looked at him as if expecting something. "Well?" He looked at Ryouto with expectation unbound. There was nothing he felt no different, there was no surge of power, no feeling of change. The man's face turned quickly to a frown.
"Unfortunate but, we really don't have time to waste. Hopefully you got something useful Aosuki."
He said walking over to Ryouto, "They say the best way to learn is with the fear." He reached down grabbing Ryouto by the shirt at his chest. Dragging him along he pulled him to the entrance. "I- wha- ... you ..." His eyes looked down and out at the meters fall down to the ground. They weren't just anywhere they were in a huge tree at an entrance near the canopies. "One way or another this has to end." The trainer said with certainty. Then with his one hand he tossed Ryouto out.
Life flashed before his eyes as the ground was thrown out from beneath him instead presenting him with floors of dropping to the forest floor. If screaming wouldn't have been so painful he'd definitely had done so more. Time slowed as he watched the ground rise toward him at speed. He needed to-needed to what? There was no time, no way for him to. Nothing else he closed his eyes, there would be nothing, his death was certain. He breathed in through his nostrils. He, there was a change this time he felt it. A transformation and his body grew.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
He yelled as he felt something sprout from him his back widened and grew, the weight distribution of him changed. There was a crack and his eyes shot open reflexively he looked down at the ground now barely a few meters before him. No! Something on his back beat and he slowed, was he a bird? From his eyes he noticed a black beak at the front. But he felt arms, regular ones-ish. There was another beat, his taloned feet appeared beneath him. He was a strange red color.
"Well I'll be damned. Should of eaten it myself."
His feet hit the ground with a solid thud and he stood up. The ground felt a mile away, he towered above it. Talons at the end of his feet dug into the earth. Turning his hands he looked at his hands, talons sprouted from where he would've normally had nails. His arms were gigantic, where once he had been spindly he was thickly muscled and strangely red. With a beat he looked to the side at two massive black-feather wings spreading on either side of him. "What the **** is this."
There was soft sound of two feet touching ground behind him. He turned to look at the trainer, the man was a miniature, coming barely above his waist now. "Huh you don't recognize it?"
"The Legendary creature, the Tengu."
Ryouto's eyes widened at this, not just any fruit, a mythical zoan fruit. He knew of maybe three known users of this rarest of fruits. It was a surprise to say the least. Moving his arms he breathed for a moment trying to take in the full consequences, the full. Then he remembered, his body bore down in pain and his transformation dispelled as he collapsed to the ground. "Hah as I thought, your wounds don't just go away." There was a laugh as his trainer looked down upon him. His eyes closed once more. "Rest while you can fool, we have little time remaining."
The view from above made this whole place seem smaller. The complex of buildings which made up his old training grounds spanned a very small area as he looked down from a branch in the canopy. He stood carefully perched above, there was a stiffness in it. Beneath the layers of clothes he wore wrappings of bandages holding salves to his body. Eagle-eyed as ever he scanned the area identifying a few sentries standing in carefully chosen positions about. Of course they weren't really hiding from a watcher in the sky.
"Good luck Aosuki."
The voice behind him was hardly startling at this point. He'd had a few days to remind himself of this man's more annoying traits. But now, they needed to deal with the growing problem of this camp. Without any den dens they had no way to contact the World Government to warn. There was only one place they would be then and it was here. "Well, I'm off." He said as he leaned forward letting gravity pull him off the branch.
Sentries first, he breathed. Like a hawk he dove through the air towards the closest one. Sucking in air he twisted, bringing his feet below him and kicking off with a quick Geppou. Correcting his descent he jumped off the air a few more times closing in on his target. With care he did his best to stick out of the lines of sight he imagined crossing the base.
The first sentry was lazing about far too much to notice Ryouto's advance. In bare moments he was atop the man taking him at unawares. Diving into him he kicked the air flipping head over him to slam his heel into the man's head. Like a doll the man collapsed to the ground. Managing to get beneath him Ryouto grabbed the body cradleing it to the ground so it didn't crash and alert others. Pausing he took a second to bind the man's arms and legs with what fabric he could scrounge before moving on.
The second was much the same as the first as he dropped that one as well. But this one came with something a little extra. Snatched off his person Ryouto had obtained a mini den-den mushi which he examined for a moment before sticking quickly into a pocket. Taking a breath he thought back to the look he'd had at the sentry's position when he'd been above. So where would it be? Kneeling there he pinched the bridge of his nose. Where was it, where was-
"Hey I'm here to rel- who the-" A voice propped up beside him brought Ryouto immediately to action. He stepped lunging for the man. He was too slow, in that moment the man pushed back from the ladder he'd been climbing up. Ryouto's fingers swiped forward the tips swiping the edge of the man's shirt but missing.
The new sentry's voice called out. "INTRUDER!!!" And like that the place was ablaze with energy. Ryouto cursed as he stood atop the sentry tower looking down at the man who'd fallen and was at minimum unconscious on the ground far below him. That was commitment, to be honest kind of what he's began to expect of the Revolutionary Army men. He'd seen so much of their fervor. But now was not the time to mull it over he needed to move now. Ryouto kicked the ground, throwing himself airward. No reason to hold his stealth anymore, drop all pretense he needed to head in. He eyed the main building aiming himself towards it with three kicks.
With eyes forward he headed for the nearest window he could see in the grey mastiff. Wait- he turned his head reacting to something in the corner of his eye. He felt two feet crash into his side from the opposite side dropping him out of the sky. Cut out of the sky he tumbled towards the ground barely catching his balance so that he landed with a 'controlled' roll. Grinding to a stop he glanced up to see a trio of hooded figures looking down upon him. Rokushiki users, who else would be able to maneuver into his blind spot midair.
"Of course, it'd be too easy otherwise." He said to himself. Standing up he faced them, "Well lets see what you've learned. Rankyaku." He jumped making three quick kicks to send the bladed air he kicked at the trio. At once all three dodged, Geppou at least then he told himself as he jumped up to meet them. For his part Ryouto shot straight at the one farthest to the right. That man blinked and Ryouto was on him, with Soru at his feet Ryouto was a menace spinning in midair with the aid of Geppou.
His thunderous lag slammed into one of them, it hit a solid surface, much stronger than he'd expect from a human. Tekkai as well huh, but with the hit the revolutionary balked the defense seeming to weaken as Ryouto let the inertia push him through. The man slammed into the ground looking at the very least dazed for the moment. Not that Ryouto had any time to deal with that, he spun blocking a kick to one side before another one caught him in the side sending him crashing into a nearby roof.
Body protesting he jumped back in, at this point he was sort of missing his tonfa. Not knowing where it seemed he'd misplaced them back in his last fight here. But no matter, he had already been a better foot fighter anyways. Jumping up with Soru he headed skyward above the heads of his opponents, "Haneke: Dairin!" He said as he headed back down flipping the way so he could land a heavy kick into the head of one of them. The one blocked with his arms crossed, the heaviness of tekkai Ryouto felt once more hold before him. His kick still however blew his opponent away sending them crashing towards the ground below.
But he didn't have time to watch, two appeared on either side of his periphery. One? Could he block both? Probably not, he couldn't afford to take too much damage he'd still have to fight afterwards. He'd have to do it now. Two feet one on either side headed towards him, "Let's go." In a moment he morphed his arms stretched out, thick muscular arms reaching where his scrawny ones had once been.
Ryouto grew, doubling in height and growing in muscle, with ease he snatched both incoming legs out of the air with taloned hands. "Fools" his voice echoed out of his beak. With a swing of his arms he brought them together smashing body into body with his empowered strength. Then there floating in the air powered by the beat of giant wings sprouting from his back Ryouto threw aside the two bodies one to either side with lazy abandon.
His eyes turned down at the last of the trio who was standing there looking up at Ryouto. In a blink he dove down his massive body a missile headed toward the last one. The man jumped away, his feet carrying him with Soru. That was good he knew taking to the air would be naught before Ryouto and his wings. But what he forgot was the power Zoans gave their users. Swooping down his feet hit the ground and Ryouto kicked off. While before his legs had been strong now they were greater yet. The ground below his foot sounded as if it might crack beneath the force as he kicked off. An arm was held before him to smash into his opponent.
THUD
Ryouto slammed into another, but the man he was aiming for was still getting away. No instead he found himself being blocked by Bismarc. "What's this? A new bag of tricks Ryouto." Though now dwarfed by Ryouto, Bismarc looked at him with hardened confident eyes. He could feel the steel-hard skin of thatm an's tekkai beneath him. Strength welled up within Ryouto's arm and he pushed Bismarc away with his own strength.
Ryouto grimaced at this he was unimpressed by the banter Bismarc had began. He took a breath "Do you really not think what the marines do, their actions are wrong?" Across from him Bismarc's face let go of its almost amused look, his smile turning ito a frown as he looked at Ryouto. Hatred enveloped Bismarc's words as he faced down Ryouto's full tengu form. "I ..." Ryouto paused as he faced Bismarc's question once more. In that moment Bismarc advanced, Soru placed him within a hand's reach of him. The former cipher pol agent aimed a kick straight upwards aimed at Ryouto's chin.
"Rankyaku."
The swipe of the foot missed as Ryouto leaned backwards but the cut of air licked up his chest cutting open his shirt to reveal the bandages beneath. "Hah, thats more what I expected." A frown crossed his face as he bit back the pain of the slash, his outward wounds weren't really visible but the purpling beneath his bandages would be easy enough to notice. Or perhaps not beneath the redness of his body.
Ryouto jumped back, his wings beating in the air as he pushed himself upwards breaking space once again with his opponent. Bismarc followed, Ryouto's talons swiped down scratching away to keep his opponent from getting to close. "No answer Ryouto?" He pressed his attack, with Geppou and Soru the revolutionary jumped below him before speeding upwards. The tengu twisted, his legs turned around, his talons cut at his enemy, but the smaller body slipped away with ease. Maneuvering in the air he swung about him, Ryouto winced as three bullet-like hits bit into his back.
Biting back the pain he spun kicking back at his opponent. Bismarc broke away jumping back from Ryouto. Ryouto snarled, he hit the air charging back towards Bismarc. "Rankyaku Rakurai!" He spun before kicking off a long rankyaku directly at his opponent. Bismarc swung his arms in front of him, "Tekkai: Gou!"
His Rankyaku hit Bismarc directly on the cross of his arms protected by Tekkai. But Bismarc didn't know, a bit of a smile stuck on Ryouto's face the hit broke upon Bismarc splitting on impact into a multitude of smaller ones that exploded outward. They raked like miniature cuts cutting across Bismarc. His enemy yowled in pain. Following up quickly Ryouto kicked the air with force. Appearing directly above the man he spun slamming down his heel upon Bismarc. His opponent's crossed forearms took the brunt of the hit that sent him slamming into the ground.
"Yes there are definitely some who step, or even jump the line." He said firmly his wings beating as he looked down at Bismarc as he extracted himself from the ground. "But-"
"There are no buts!" The man responded as he slammed both of his fists into the ground. Standing up Bismarc looked defiantly up towards Ryouto. Then reaching behind his back he pulled out a pair of familiar looking weapons. The seastone covered tonfa which were Ryouto's. "If I remember correctly you coated these with Seastone. Let's see if it really works." The tonfa began to spin in his hands. Ryouto's eyes narrowed, his wings beat as he moved farther up into the air.
Climbing into the air to meet Ryouto they clashed. The force on the tonfa was unlike any of the other attacks. Bismarc was no specialist in tonfa like Ryouto but he could definitely use them well enough to get the point across. With every strike Ryouto could feel his body protest. He swung his arms together to block the next tonfa strike. The weapon hit his arms rattling against him. Bismarc was perhaps as fast or maybe a little slower than Ryouto in the air, but still Ryouto found it difficult to dodge. So he had to block and therein lay the problem of the fight.
Tasting blood in the air Bismarc pressed on. What had seemed a little tense movements were cleaning up with practice, Ryouto grimaced as he took a heavy hit to the side from the seastone tonfa. Did that break a rib? He couldn't tell but the pain that crashed in his side meant it might have. He needed to dodge these, he- the tonfa broke into his defense smacking him on the chin sending him upwards. "It needs to stop, there can be no more waiting!" Bismarc said with vigor sensing his victory. Ryouto's wounds consumed his senses.
"The change thats necessary won't come from within. The system is too corrupt!" Bismarc appeared above Ryouto slamming into his back twice with both tonfa.
"It's too stiff!" The side.
"Unbending!" The legs.
"Those old farts will never change." Coming from below Ryouto Bismarc landed a solid kick into his chest sending him skyward.
"That's why I'll change it. By force if necessary." Bismarc's word spoke through all his anger at the government. "With this, I turn their weapon against their own."
"ROKUOUGAN"
A wave of pain crashed into Ryouto from above sending him slamming into the earth as Bismarc had done moments ago. His transformation slipped away leaving Ryouto crushed against the ground breathing hoarsely. Both of his hands pressed against the ground as he pushede himself onto his knees. Every part of his body screamed in agony, his brows were knotted in anguish as he held himself together.
"Oh? Still going?" Bismarc said as he landed somewhat comfortably a few steps away from him. "Just give up fool, I've won." Won? Ryouto coughed twice leaving droplets of blood on the ground once again. If by force of will alone Ryouto stood up teetering on his feet as he faced down Bismarc. He was wrong and he didn't see it, that knowledge was enough for Ryouto. He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again.
"Hardly. You-" he breathed as he reached for the power once more. He'd need the tengu-form to win. But it needed to be slimmer, easier to dodge with, the full form though it granted him considerable strength it was not something he was good with. "You hypocrite." He said at last as he morphed, however this time the height gain felt less. His body felt less, bulky. Strength felt as if it returned all the same.
Across from him Bismarc scowled the anger welling up inside of him. "Hypocrite???!" He exclaimed in exasperation. He couldn't see, Ryouto inhaled a moment's of air. His opponent seeing that moved to take advantage, jumping in with Soru Bismarc's finger stabbed forward aiming for Ryouto's chest. Ryouto exhaled, stepping aside with a minimum distance Soru the finger shot past him. With a swift kick he sent Bismarc reeling back.
The former cipher pol agent blinked for a moment as if confused. Then grabbed the tonfa from his side again. He spun them with a smile the confidence seemingly restored. Running in at Ryouto he swiped at him with the tonfa. The first flew straight at his chest, Ryouto taller still bent down barely stable on his leg he swept Bismarc's feet in a quick spin. Turning with it he lashed out kicking out with the heel of his foot. It slammed into Bismarc's side sending him crashing into a nearby building.
Ryouto paused dazed as the edge of the tonfa had slapped him in the head during that. Still for a moment he staggered to the side as the hit's pain was realized. Not far from him Bismarc stumbled out of the hole in the building he'd created looking back at Ryouto with grand annoyance. Without hesitation he charged in again at Ryouto. Still dazed Ryouto brought his arms up if a little slowly. The tonfa struck him on either side. Biting back the screaming anger Ryouto retaliated, his long leg shot upwards, the point of his foot slamming into Bismarc's chin.
The revolutionary was sent skyward. There Ryouto followed, jumping upwards his wings pushed him faster. Arriving near the apex of Bismarc's rise he noticed Bismarc look at him. Weakness and pain flooded the man's vision, the weight of Ryouto's previous attacks were getting to him. Using Geppou Ryouto spun in the air.
"Haneke: Yaridan" Ryouto's foot shot forward, at its end talons pointed themselves at his opponent. Slamming into him he sent Bismarc spiralling towards that main training building. He crashed into it slamming through the wall and skidding into the building. Bouncing on air gingerly Ryouto followed.
Landing in the opened hole in the wall he stepped in. Eyeing away the onlooking revolutionaries Ryouto walked forward. He was nearly limping as he allowed all of his wounds to beat him down. "Perhaps you are right, but ..." Ryouto said looking down at the unconscious Bismarc. "I can't help but believe there should be a better way." He said wincing.
"Still a fool." A familiar voice said from behind him.
"But good job, I'll finish up the work here."
Blinding light woke Ryouto, he awoke turning his eyes towards its source. His eyes turned upon a window beside it someone in a doctor's jacket stood pulling the blinds up. Opening his mouth to make a sound he made a sound more like a murmur. It was enough to grab the attention of whoever was in the jacket as they turned around eyes widening at the view of him. "Oh, you're awake." The man said with a surprised voice. Walking over he reached for something at the foot of Ryouto's bed.
"Wha-what? ... Where am I?" He asked pausing after he said that as his mind starting churning trying to put together situation on his own. The doctor blinked "The infirmatory." He said matter-of-factly confirming the first of Ryouto's assumptions. "A lot has changed, you've been out for a week and a half. Three broken ribs and a ton of internal injuries, honestly I'm surprised you're awake already." Pausing he glanced out the door at the other end of the room.
"I don't know how but it seems you've got a visitor." The doctor said "Are you up to it?" Ryouto tilted his chin down and back up. It would be his trainer, impeccable timing it seemed.
"So you've awoken." The man said with calm eyes standing there in the doorstep. "It's done then?" Ryouto asked looking at him.
"For the most part, I did most of the rounding up in the end. There's a few unaccounted for names I noticed on the record but. Should be able to sweep them up if they're still on the island"
Ryouto's eyes narrowed at that. The trainer paused and glanced behind him. "By the way we've got a friend of yours here." He said looking back at Ryouto with amused eyes. "There'll be more to talk about later I suppose. For now ..." He trailed off stepping away from the doorway where instead another person took his place. Ryouto's eyes widening in disbelief as it was instead a familiar head of feminine hair that greeted him.
"Ensign" he said softly. "What are you doing here?"
She stormed up to him concern obvious upon her face. His eyes closed as she began to talk in a rant towards him. He didn't need to ask, of course she'd come, the ever-loyal ensign of his was probably so annoyyed at him for disappearing as he had. Boy would she be in for a surprise.
The change'll have to come from within ... to do that ... He thought to himself as weariness began to overcome him again. To do that, I'll have to rise ...
