Attacker and Protector Collide! One Goal in Common!

[Bobbie]

If there was one thing on Shinsei's mind which remained unchanged even after his transformation, it was money. It wasn’t that he was greedy, but he simply always struggled to get enough of it and keep up with expenses. Prior to his change, it was all the expenses brought on from the family life, his young son’s needs and his wife’s, groceries, and family outings. Now, it was his own needs that drove him to earn whatever he could, his bad habits, and having no property to his name meant he would often have to pay a hefty bill for accommodation, when seeking refuge in abandoned warehouses didn't work out.

This mission was no different from any other, and he had his eye on the prize. Thousands that would make their way into his wallet and ensure a more comfortable lifestyle to keep him afloat, at least until he’d find the next job.

It was quite simple: protect the V.I.P.. Sounded easy enough, he could be something of a brick wall if he needed to be in order to keep attackers at bay. If it all ends horribly? There were worse ways to go.

The V.I.P. was an arrogant, averagely-built middle-aged man named Sven Raikii, and the reason he needed protecting was because he was pushing for a campaign that might not sit very well with others. Making frequent appearances at large gatherings, Mr Raikii made open promises to clean the air of this island and rid it of this horrendous smog that permeates the air that its inhabitants breathe in. 

He seemed to have a worthy cause, although his promises were a little bit shady to the more sceptical. The man, worthy to be labelled a politician, was proficient in swaying crowds with his language, and proposed rather futuristic steel contraptions that would supposedly clean the air. He urged the citizens of Dauntaun to fight for a better future for themselves, and to take a step, however little, to escape such horrible conditions forced upon them by industry. The orator’s speeches raised a lot of controversy as while many people were won over by his charm and silver-tongued rhetoric, eager to pitch in and offer the funds to back this campaign, others were entirely against it and questioned where this money would really go after collection. Questions like ‘where will you get these devices from?’ and ‘why have they not been introduced to us before?’ were often asked, but Mr Raikii cunningly weaselled his way out of answering.

Shinsei was given very little information – he didn’t know the answer to those questions either, but the job description made it very clear that he was not entitled to. What he was entitled to were the thousands of Beri that he would be paid if he can get his employer through his next public speech safely.

The event was scheduled for tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, Shinsei had been invited to Mr Raikii’s rather large residence to keep close to the man he needs to protect. It was a warehouse that had been privately converted into a bungalow, which must have cost a fortune. It was ironic that this man who appeared to fight for the underdogs couldn’t be further away from them in society, seeming to be wealthy enough to house the dozens of homeless that roamed the streets. Before tomorrow's big event, the man needed a good night's sleep, but he repeatedly refused to oblige Shinsei's many requests until he was absolutely and positively sure that everything was safe.

As he returned from walking around the entire perimeter, the red-haired bodyguard met Mr Raikii, who had been pacing in the foyer. “It’s clear. Will you go to bed now?” he asked, out of breath from the brisk walk around the area, he took out a cigarette to light up.

“If you smoke less of those, I’m sure you wouldn’t be struggling so much to walk around my little house.” The rich man had the audacity to say.

LITTLE!? What world is this guy really living in?

Frustrated, Shinsei glared at him as he clicked his lighter, then blew smoke away from the insolent man. “Thanks for the tip. Clean the air up first, then I’ll give a toss about what goes into my lungs. Go to sleep.” He repeated, genuinely believing there was no threat and he could shut up and go to sleep. “Sir.” He added, with contempt.

“No… make another round, I’m not convinced it’s safe. My big speech is tomorrow, do you not understand what is at stake? If somebody comes for me now or steals what I have prepared for tomorrow…” his paranoia was disconcerting, and elicited a deep frown from Shinsei. Before he could argue, however, Mr Raikii spoke again, insisting, as he had had enough and decided to take a more authoritative stance, “You are being paid handsomely, I expect you to do the job that I ask without protest!” he snatched the cigarette from Shinsei's mouth, a cruel reminder of who was in charge. “And do not bring this rubbish under my roof!”

With a twitch of an eye, Shinsei silently nodded with a tight jaw and clenched teeth, daring not utter a word, as anything he said at that point would not be kind or polite. Turning on his heel, he left the building to scour the perimeter once more.

It wasn’t until he was out the front door which was securely closed and locked behind him that he released the tension in his jaw to speak. “Infuriating, rich piece of garbage…” he muttered, lighting up again as he walked around the bungalow, keeping his eyes peeled for any imaginary threat that the paranoid sleazebag insisted was out there looming over them. If that were true, it was unlikely they would be getting inside past the many locks screwed into the doors and windows of this safehouse.

"Scraped off the bottom of a trash can with a fancy pocket full of cash." he grumbled under his breath.

---

Sven Raikii: #89e3e6
Shinsei: #ba0303

[mildofthewild]

"Another round, it seems like." 

The warehouse sat nearly like a beacon in the midst of darkness. Not by its sight, of course not; if anyone were to find some solace in the location of such a safe bunker, it was the mere fact that the dull metal almost blended in perfectly with the swaddling darkness that blanketed over the structure. No, sight alone couldn't pick out such a hideout; but the faint sound of wind rolling around the harsh corners and whistling between the faint cracks between each metal plating? The acrid stench wafting from a lit cigarette as it whittles down to its filter? The taste of aftershave wafting off of the clothes of the "bodyguard" that had interacted with his target? All of these were clearly perceptible to one with the senses to look for them...one such as Zyro Zanados. 

Darkness meant nothing for one that has lived in such shade for as long as he can remember, the comfort of sight having long abandoned him for the sweet, eternal void he'd be faced with...but enough poetics. There was a job to do. 

"I suppose it makes sense; our target seems to trust their instincts, even if they aren't aware of what they're afraid of. Troublesome, but it makes the job much more enjoyable, doesn't it, Toto?" While Zyro was dressed for the occasion of subterfuge and assassination, his pale skin and blonde hair always made for quite a contrast against his usual backdrops. While his golden locks cascade down his shoulders and sway brilliantly along his back, his effervescent glow was shielded from view by a wall of midnight ooze. Its body flows silently, a hushed waterfall that veiled Zyro from the careful eyes of the bodyguard (or perhaps not so careful; he had been monitoring him for awhile, it seemed like the bodyguard was almost willing to welcome an intruder judging from his gait: it betrayed his sense of annoyance and boredom. Zyro could relate.) At the behest of its master, a pair of swirling red eyes manifest, along with a lolling tongue that peeks from between the subtle curve of a fanged mouth and upturned snout, both facing Zyro so as not to draw any unneeded attention. The night would do well to hide the exact shape of the creature, something the assassin could always count on for such occasions. 

"I know, a party would make for a change of scenery, but there's no use in getting sloppy now. It's much more efficient to strike now...though, it does seem to be a lot more complicated. As far as I can tell from our reconnaissance earlier today, the only way in is through that front door...and I doubt the muscle will be too happy to let us in...or maybe he will? Mr. Raikii seems to be the kind of employer to drive his employees to chronic headaches. What do you think, Toto?" 

The creature merely responds with a hushed squeak, its tongue rolling out to lick across Zyro's face, much to its master's subtle amusement. "You're right; a job's a job. We know that especially. Which is why we should opt for the classic bait and switch." The plan elicits an annoyed huff from the creature, its cheeks seeming to swell as it turns away, as if finding something more interesting in the dead plains rather than its partner. "Ahhhh, relax; it'll only be for a few minutes. It's not like he can hurt you; well, not immediately anyway. But you're not worried about yourself, are you? What can one portly little aristocrat do? We've handled much tougher jobs...for much smaller pay! I'm tired of eating rice and bread, Toto. And if we do this job, think of all the steakums we could get." 

The mere sound of its favorite food captures Toto's expression, crimson eyes sparkling in ecstatic fantasy as it imagines a slab of meat as big as a table, slathered in the most heavy and rich of gravies...

It nods its head fervently, awaiting orders from its master, who smirks knowingly while nodding his head back to the bunker. Toto wasn't a hard nut to crack; the right nudge and incentive was all it needed. "Just routine, nothing special, nothing fancy. Just try to put some curiosity in his step, and keep his attention. If you have to play bogeyman, then go for it..."

---

The coiling smoke from Shinsei's cigarette brought with it a wafting cloud, hanging low and painting the area around him in a dense veil of grey, all while bringing along its own swirls and shapes to distract from the blank canvas of shadow that edged out in front of him. There had been many jobs he's taken, surely...but how many could be as boring as this? Probably a lot, but who's counting? As long as the pay is well, who can argue with a little dull time; it might almost be welco-

SNAP

The crack of a branch sounds off from deep within the dark past the bitter smelling fog, the light from the embers of his cigarette floating away and dotting the scenery with sporadic orange...or at least they should. Embers don't usually float, after all...so why were there two in the distance? And why did they give the impression that they were trained solely on Shinsei... 

[Bobbie]

As Shinsei calmed his itching nerves, his blood boiling at the man’s condescending and annoyingly persistent attitude, he took his time to walk around the perimeter. His last round had him short of breath, and, in reality, whether he appreciated the comment or not, Mr Raikii was right to say that his nasty habit didn’t exactly help with that… but what did he know? Shinsei’s body didn’t function like any other human’s, so the consequence of inhaling it was easily outweighed by the repercussions of staying without his fuel. He didn’t care enough to explain this.

Nonetheless, he did the work that he was being paid for – he was an honest worker before, and he insisted on remaining one in the memory of his son. It was the little gestures that could be done in the honour of a young boy that somehow brought him peace in his heart. That didn’t mean he had to like it, however, and he was not above expressing that.

A heavy sigh followed his most recent grumble about getting this job over and done with, and the man obliged his need for another puff, the taste of smoke that may very well have been cleaner than the toxic fumes that polluted the air on the island – an exaggeration, surely, but one that amused Shinsei. The thought brought a soft hummed chuckle to escape through his closed lips, clasped around the cigarette filter. His smile vanished when he heard the crackling of a thin branch, clearly distinct from the crackling embers at the end of his cigarette. Turning to face the direction of the sound, he stopped walking and his gaze scanned the area, but it was really quite difficult to make anything out in the darkness that surrounded him. Either way, it could have been anything – a wild animal, as harmless as a little fluff-ball of a rabbit. There was no way any intruder was watching him or his target. It was clear … just as he said. He was sure.

That was when he saw it. Caught mid-inhalation, he paused and stared at the two floating orbs. He blinked a few times, then squinted; nope, nothing wrong with his eyesight. Next he removed the cigarette to bring the burning embers out of his field of vision and eliminate them from the scene, yet the two glowing specs remained fixed at a distance.

“This has got to be joke.” He mumbled, already feeling uneasy, but even he had to see the humour in this situation. “Don’t tell me that skittish little weasel was right…” he scoffed at the prospect of that man actually being rewarded for being such a pain. He took his eyes away from the gleaming beads for just a moment to glance toward the front door of the bunker; there was some distance, but it was still within his vision as he had only made it along the East-facing wall of the establishment. His options were fairly simple: he could approach the two glowing auras and investigate, but leave the front door unguarded; or he could ignore them, and secretly hope they would actually end the intolerable politician’s life, but that would mean he didn’t get paid; or, lastly, he could take a more defensive stance at front of the door like proper security, but that would mean leaving the rest of the hideout unguarded before he even finished patrolling the entire perimeter.

All three of those options sounded good.

Taking another puff to fuel his body with as much nicotine that he could in one single breath, he discarded his almost burnt out cigarette and began to make his way to the door, his attention once again returning to whatever was lurking in the darkness as he walked. He decided the third option would be for the best … even if there actually was anything out there, and it somehow made its way through all the locks that the paranoid little rich man had installed, surely Shinsei would hear a scuffle going on inside, right? Mr Raikii was probably not very far from the door right now, anyway, pacing in the foyer like a scared mouse.

Whatever it was out there, it certainly had a looming presence that could easily get under his skin. Was that thing still watching him?

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[mildofthewild]

The cool of night lights on Shinsei's metallic bones, just as the chilling gaze of those red eyes train exclusively on his every move. The bodyguard's careful plan didn't go unnoticed, as evidenced by the beady eyes in the darkness seeming to widen in absolute pleasure, joined by the growing slit of a maw that widens into a toothy grin. That...was not an ordinary creature.

"CLICK CLICK CLICK SKREEEOK,"

Almost as if to beckon him, a couple of high pitched clicks echo from the dark, the creature's glowing face getting bigger, as Shinsei can only assume it's approaching. There were no footsteps...or pawsteps, not even the sound of breathing as whatever this was came closer. It almost seemed to be gliding...

'Well, looks like he's smarter than I thought. That's good, just means this will be all the more interesting. In that case, let's show him a good time, Toto.'

A sharp whistle from behind Shinsei perks up the creature's face, a tongue lolling out as it picks up the pace and charges forward. The glow of the outside lights illuminates some of its form, at least enough for him to tell that something was swinging forward at him. A claw, a tooth, it was hard to say, but obviously who would want to get snagged by that...

[Bobbie]

On his way to the door, eyes fixed on the creature, Shinsei noticed the glowing eyes seemed to be getting wider. He couldn’t make out any details, but something below them had certainly opened up to reveal what looked like deadly teeth, dimly shimmering in the poorly lit area. He walked faster.

A shiver crawled down his spine as he heard the terrifying, otherworldly sounds that screeched from the beast that lurked in the shadows. His frown deepened as he was filled with dread at the notion of finding himself face to face with a monster that sounded like the stuff of nightmares; yet, another part of him was thrilled. Finally, something exciting was going to happen. Sure, this might be end quite badly, but at least it wouldn’t be at the hands – or words – of the infuriating Mr Raikii, who was cowering within his safehouse.

As Shinsei reached the door, he slammed a closed fist on the metal door, twice. “Keep the door locked.” He shouted through the iron sheets that were fastened together by some mechanism to create some sort of lock. It wasn’t the code for danger, but he couldn’t quite remember the number of knocks and pauses, and this was much clearer and more straightforward anyway.

The whistle came next, causing Shinsei’s head to whip around in its direction, picking up on the sound coming from the direction he’d just come from – two of them... in front of me and behind? He thought to himself, that now meaning from his left and his right, his back securely to building’s only entrance to deny anyone or anything from getting through from there.

Swiftly turning back toward the first attacker that had got his attention, he stared in almost disbelief as whatever it was seemed to be charging right at him with some sharp and very unwelcoming tool. Whether that was a body part or a bladed weapon was quite difficult to discern, but either way.

“What the hell..?” Shinsei was nothing if not confused – was this the kind of threat Mr Raikii was worried about? If so, what on earth was this? Why wasn’t he warned to expect an aggressor of this … very odd nature?

The bodyguard braced himself for the attack. There was no chance of leaving the door to approach either of the two targets, one of which he hadn’t even caught a glimpse of but only heard. Digging his heels into the ground, he stood steady, and prepared himself to take a pretty nasty hit if dodging was not possible. The black rings on his fingers gave off a subtle red glow as they heated up tremendously to scalding temperatures, a subtle spark briefly igniting the nicotine the ran through their centres.

The toughest challenge was not to get distracted – the closer the fiend got, the uglier it was, and the tongue that could now be identified as it hung out of the creature’s mouth may have actually been the most disgusting thing Shinsei had ever seen.

The red-suited man kept his mind focused – if this creature was dumb enough to charge at him, having it ram into the steel plating with a simple sidestep to dodge its charge would be enough to knock it right out, though he doubted it would put such a little thought into this attack. The duo seemed to be a clever pair, splitting up the way they did and choosing opposite sides. His other option would be to use the solid material behind him as support to push back, which was exactly what he was hoping to do. His fists open, one arm slightly in front of his body, he waited for the right moment when it was close enough for him to push off from the door and lunge forward just enough to grab at the creature and redirect its momentum.

His greatest concern at that point was grabbing the right spot at the right time, which was quite difficult with a target as ambiguous as this one. Suppressing a shudder, he exhaled steadily.

“Please, please don’t let it be the tongue…”

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[mildofthewild]

'Ho? Not a bad idea. Well, this did get more complicated...I could probably pick the lock, but it would take some time. Toto is no slouch, but it doesn't know much about fighting...that's what it needs me for! If I give it any orders though, this muscle head will know exactly where I am and will seize the opportunity to attack. Likewise, we can also use that to our advantage likely...keep him dancing between Toto and I...hmmm, a lot of time has passed while I've been thinking, I should probably give Toto some direction...'

"Toto, revert." 

Shinsei's plan enacted itself, his fingers mere moments from gripping the creature as he managed to dodge over its swipe. Getting it into close range would be the perfect opportunity to take it out, as from what he could see, this really was a simple-minded creature, who couldn't possibly anticipate being punished for whiffing-

The grim smile begins malforming itself, smearing across a rapidly dwindling body as Shinsei finds himself leaping through thin air, the creature having disappeared in the night. Shinsei falls on his stomach, the harsh ground greeting him, along with a wet surface that slides him across the open field, his burgeoning form spinning comically. At least, it seemed comical to his opponent, as a light giggle accompanies his floundering. 

"That doesn't get old. Toto, reform." 

The smear across Shinsei's face and torso pulls away, as slowly the two red eyes blink back into existence, along with a goofy, widespread, toothy grin. This "Toto" was NOT normal...

"I need you to keep him busy while I work on the door. I'd rather we not kill him, the client may not want much collateral damage. Toto, Leap." 

Now with the light of the warehouse draped against the back of the creature, Shinsei finally gets a much clearer picture of just what he was facing; some sort of...bat? At least what a child might think a bat looks like, as a lot of the creature was somewhat drawn out and deformed, rising from the ground like a swamp monster. A pair of floppy wings flap at its sides before the creature leaps into the air, almost floating above Shinsei before dropping down, it's wings folded back into its body while its mouth opens wide to sink its teeth into the bodyguard. Of course, he also caught a second glimpse: the blonde haired cohort slowly working a knife into the lock on the warehouse door...

[Bobbie]

For a moment, Shinsei was sure that he succeeded in his counter to the creature’s attack, his hand having lined up perfectly to avoid taking a swipe and grab it in response. However, as the shadowy figure seemed to dematerialise right before his very eyes, his hand shot through it and his own weight carried him forward with a staggering force. A brief stumble later, Shinsei was fumbling to the ground and drifting across the open field.

As he spun around at the mercy of the dampness of the ground, he groaned in frustration. While it was terribly unpleasant, his clothing now horribly stained with mud, the lack of friction did make the experience a lot easier on his body. Hearing the giggling that came from whatever monster he was up against was what drove him to slam his hands into the ground. The slipping and sliding action that was going on came to an abrupt end as his rings sparked against the ground and left a trail of nicotine that briefly ignited, his hands burrowed into the earth to stop himself.

“Thanks for the ride, you little imp!” he snapped as he rose to his feet and the fire snuffed out, speaking before he caught a true glimpse of the creature. As he did, his eyes widened and he was frozen – what… is this another one?

This Toto-thing had the potential to be a truly terrifying figure, had it not let out such a silly giggle and spread such a goofy smile across its ‘face’. The man blinked away his memories of what he believed to be his time spent in actual hell, filled with monstrous beasts and horrifying shadows that loomed and leaned in all sorts of twisted ways.

Did I bring this here? The thought that he had brought back monsters and demons with him when he was supposedly pulled out of hell was one that persistently haunted him, but before he could think about it any further, the bat-like figure was above him and not too far away was a blonde chap, his back to the redhead as he focused on the lock. Then he knew – this was certainly no doing of his own. This was a distraction.

The next challenge was stopping the lad fiddling with the lock while his shadow-ninja of a friend up above was busy trying to get a good chomp out of him.

“Hey, blondie!” he shouted to Zyro from across the field, before bending down to scoop up a chunk of soil and gravel that had been unsettled during his previous adventure along the ground. “Come pick up your ugly little pet, before I have him put down!” Rather than try to dodge the creature’s assault, Shinsei raised his arm with his free hand to brace for the bite, positioning the handful of dirt in his other hand just below where its teeth would sink into his limb. “Come on, come get a good taste…” he muttered beneath his breath, his attention shifting between Zyro and Toto, hoping the thing would move faster.

He knew this was going to hurt, but pain was not an issue, in fact quite the contrary. As an added bonus, Shinsei was quite eager to see its reaction to the taste of nicotine.

The second his arm was torn open by the razor sharp teeth that filled the fiend’s widely opened mouth, the brown liquid did indeed pour out of his wound onto its tongue and down toward the ground, dripping liberally onto the clump of dirt that was held below it, which quickly soaked up the flammable fluid. A mere second later, it became a fireball in the man’s hand, which was then hurled full force toward Zyro.

Once the flaming projectile had been tossed, Shinsei’s focus was redirected to the excruciating pain in his arm as he shook it violently in an attempt to get it free of his attacker's clutches. “Get off, you grubby shadow-limpet!”

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[mildofthewild]

The fireball hurls through the air, flickering and lighting up the night air in a brilliant orange glow. Flames lick lightly against the grass of the earth, singing and burning the blades that it flies over in a path of combustion that leads right to Zyro's turned back. Toto's lifeless gaze into Shinsei's annoyed (maybe annoyed isn't the right word. More like FURIOUS) glower breaks as it sees the streak of flame rushing for its master, its grip on his arm releasing as it chirps and clicks frantically. 

"CLICK CLICK GRRRRRRR SCROWR!"

"That's sweet, Toto, but you should know I can hear fire just fine," Zyro responds, cooly, his posture becoming nearly as fluid as the creature as he slinks away from the door, letting the fireball smash against the metal. The door bubbles as the fire spreads against the cool exterior, the door bending inward as its exterior succumbs to the heat, but not quite enough to break through. One good hit ought to do it. 

Shinsei might notice the bandage around blondie's eyes, his hair draped across the knowing smirk as the "assassin" points towards him casually, like a friend might do to someone they've known for some time. "Quite the arm you have, though you might lose it if you keep smoking like that." With how much nicotine was in the air, there was no way this was all being consumed into the man's lungs. While he was no stranger to crazy feats, part of Zyro had to wonder just how exactly he was able to produce such flame. It seems he wasn't able to pick up on Shinsei's more mechanical nature...

"Why not try throwing another one. You might be able to hit me some time this year." Rubbing salt in the wound, Zyro himself stands in front of the door once more, bowing his head and giving Shinsei the warmest smile he could muster...which assuredly was hiding a shit-eating grin behind the facade. "Toto, Slash Low."

Chittering happily at its master's performance, Toto turns its eyes back on Shinsei, the creature shrinking low to the ground and swiping both of its wings for Shinsei's legs, both like scythes aiming to slice through the bodyguard. For someone who wanted to avoid collateral damager, they sure were going for maiming him!

[Bobbie]

Shinsei watched as the creature's attention shifted entirely onto his attack toward what could presumably be understood as its master – it clearly relied on the blonde boy for commands and cared for his well-being. Then he heard the loud bang as the clump of wet soil, set alight by the flammable fluids within it smashed into the metal door in a spectacular explosion of bits of dirt that scatted and dispersed before it all rained down to the ground.

He stared, holding his breath for a moment – how is that door not more stable than that!? I've been tasked to protect a greedy idiot! His inner thoughts hissed in his own head, shocked that the door was so easily warped with his relatively weak attack, as well as frustrated by any moron who could call this a safe-house.

Then came Zyro’s first comment directed toward him, a comment about his smoking… Making no effort to contain himself, he burst out laughing. “Maybe, who knows? I’m in too deep to quit now.” He joked in return, his eyes fixed on his human opponent, only occasionally darting them  toward the shadow figure, and then back to the man in a blindfold. Sight was clearly not a sense that he relied on, so he must have some very good hearing and probably sense of smell as well, considering he could pick up on the scent of nicotine that easily. On top of that, he was certainly not an enemy to be underestimated – he had the wits to taunt Shinsei into a second attack and use that to his advantage. The gap in the door that had been dented inward let out a bit of light that glistened brightly in the night air, but luckily the chain that held the door securely in its place was still holding on, for now.

Inside the bunker, anyone close enough to the door as Zyro was would be able to hear Mr Raikii whimpering. "Oh no... no, please, God... don't let this happen to me, don't let them take me! I've done nothing wrong, please leave!" The man sounded hysterical, frantically pleading with a more powerful being to get him out of this mess, presumably as he heard the chaos ensue outside and witnessed the door being bashed inward, almost off its hinges.

Toto’s movement caught Shinsei’s attention again as he tilted his head downward to look at the shadowy runt. Getting up close seemed to be what would work against it, so dodging would not be the most effective form of a counter attack…

The pain-junky’s mouth widened into an eager grimace as he stood his ground, but shifted at a slight angle to protect his Achilles tendon; he’d prefer to take a painful blow to the shin than be incapacitated. Aware that there was no way its wings could cleanly go right through his legs, the hope was that they’d get lodged in the thick muscle. All his weight on one leg, he raised his other to have his foot in the air just above Toto as the creature would make its swipe, and once the scythe-like tool struck him in the leg, Shinsei brought his raised foot down on Toto with all his might, a strained groan escaping his throat as the sharp edges of its wings tore into his flesh.

The red-suited masochist didn’t wait too long before he roughly pulled away with a vocal exhale as his leg throbbed like his arm previously did. Stepping backward away from Toto, he flexed his ankle to acclimatise his leg to the new pain that was now surging through it, pulsating and filling his body with adrenaline. Following the exhalation of breath, came another laugh.

Each attack got him more fired up – but Zyro seemed quite insistent on keeping his distance.

“Already had my turn, and now so has your little mutt! I’m all about equality, so why don’t you give it your best shot instead? I promise I won’t bite.” He shouted from across the field with a little growl, his entire body itching for a real fight and his resolve burning for the excitement of it.

What’s more, he needed to get the attacker away from that door.

Reversing his previous direction, Shinsei now approached Zyro, letting his wound leak onto the grass and leave a trail in his steps behind him.

---

Mr Raikii: #89e3e6
Shinsei: #ba0303

[mildofthewild]

"GRRRRACK-CHIRRRRRRR!" 

Toto's wing slices into Shinsei's leg, a spurt of blood splattering and even floating aimlessly in Toto's semi-permeable state, the creature even giggling to itself wildly at scoring a direct hit. Normally things like this went on for so much longer, but this idiot proudly let it slash into its own body! This had to be the dumbest human Toto had ever met, why wou-

The sound of squelching, like a boot getting sucked into mud, floods into Toto's own ears as the slam of Shinsei's foot crashes into the creature's face, its form shaking and de-materializing as the blow was enough to daze it. Its body retreats into the puddle of goop surrounding the bodyguard, blood mixing and swirling about it from the open leg wound that had coiling steam pouring from it in the density of the night air. 

Zyro cringed slightly at the sound of the impact, no doubt Toto had gotten a little too close. That was always the danger; Toto was resourceful, but also fairly easy to take out if the opponent didn't mind getting their hands dirty. They had tried working on potential means of combatting this, but no matter what, Toto was always a sitting duck. If he wasn't giving it orders to dematerialize or move, it couldn't help but go in for the kill...

His ears perk up slightly at the sound of his quarry, their voice muffled from the inside of the safehouse, but the reverberations of the metal were perfectly telling of where exactly they were hiding...in fact, it was like handing the assassin a full 3D model of the safehouse itself. Not that it would help much right now; the bodyguard in question was requesting his undivided attention. And they did not seem amused. 

"I understand tensions are high," Zyro says, gently while pushing his hair behind his shoulders, his soft smile still gracing his lips while both hands gesture for Shinsei to approach and make the first move. From his pouch, Zyro produces an assortment of knives, fanning each out in the palm of his hand while smirking at his opponent...before throwing two in the space between them. "But there's no need to insult Toto; he's my partner above all else."

Taking a deep whiff through his nose, the metallic scent and taste of salt lights on Zyro's tongue, giving him a general direction of his opponent. The soft crunch of grass would be lost in the middle of an all out assault, but if he was reading this guy correctly, he was probably a bit of a hot head. And hot heads so love to make noise...

"Fine, I'll show you what I have. After all, how else am I supposed to distract you while Toto gets back up?" Zyro dashes forward, his bodysuit almost leaving him imperceptible in the darkness surrounding them, were it not for the golden, straw-like hair flowing beautifully behind him. It almost gave a dancer like quality to his movements as he tossed two more knives his way. Coiling like a snake, Zyro bunches his muscles before rolling forward, bracing his arms and using the momentum as a springboard to shoot forward with a powerful kick, as if he were throwing himself along with the blades. 

[Bobbie]

After chuckling at the sight of Toto, squished into a puddle of mush, Shinsei’s attention was turned entirely to Zyro as he approached him.

He watched his opponent intently – the blindfold, the sniffs of the air that he seemed to take. This man clearly relied on senses other than his sight, which meant any of those could be a weakness for either himself or their user. Sound could easily be created to disorient, but the way the man seemed to latch onto any scent that lingered in the air put Shinsei at a disadvantage due to the nature of his life-fluid. The smell was strong and quickly leaking out of the wound in his leg.

As a knife whizzed by, he swiftly moved to the side to dodge the first one, but the second one was close behind and unexpected. Shinsei winced as it cut through his cheek, adding another wound to strengthen the smell of nicotine that would quickly permeate the air between them.

“Your partner’s a mongrel!” He replied as he reached up to press his knuckles against the fresh cut and gauge how deep it was – not too deep, but just deep enough for his mechanised body to drip of its flammable juices. However, that wasn’t all bad news for him either… it would offer an excellent light source and a weapon if he could get enough of it on the ground to ignite, and if that were successful, what could a blind man do against the ravaging force of nature’s wild fires?

His thoughts were promptly interrupted as Zyro dashed forward. He’s fast! The bodyguard froze as he struggled to keep his eye on the assassin, the blond blending in quite well in the darkness, but it was just that which revealed him, as his hair left a silky trail of golden wisps. Two more knives came at him, and again, Shinsei successfully dodged one, but the second got the cyborg in his shoulder.

Then Zyro was gone again. Where did he go? Not to the left, nor the right… not above either, so that leaves below…

Before he could finish his calculations, Zyro had launched himself at Shinsei from below with a powerful kick. He wasn’t ready for it, but that hardly mattered. The closer Zyro got, the more effectively the situation could tip in Shinsei’s favour.

Zyro’s boot rammed into Shinsei’s chest with a painful force, but he could push through the pain of it. Grabbing the blind man’s ankle to keep the two fighters connected, as the quick movement of his hand caused enough friction for his ring to ignite and sear through the man’s clothing on his leg. Shinsei’s body staggered backward, his heels digging into the ground with each step, before he lost his balance and toppled over with his grip firmly on Zyro’s ankle and so pulling him down with him.

Once the two were on the ground, the red-head’s unrelenting, red hot grip yanked the assassin by the ankle as he promptly rose to his feet and dragged his attacked along the damp ground to be closer to him. Next, a familiar attack came from Shinsei as the entirety of his weight was shifted onto one leg and the other was bent to bring a foot up off the ground.

Just like he had done to Toto, he aimed to stomp the man into the ground, aiming for his windpipe.  It was at this point that he realised... he didn't actually know why this guy was here...

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[mildofthewild]

There are only a select few thoughts that an assassin can afford to think when on the prowl, hunt, attack...well, whatever word best fits. It's common knowledge among those that steep themselves in the rather unseemly business that one has to enter a form of auto pilot. Complicated thought patterns consume too much brain power, and end up allowing an assassin to lower their defenses as they run through a million simulated experiences. This usually doesn't bode well, as this usually culminates in a knife in the ribs or a shot in the gut. Which might lead to shorter jobs, go figure. 

The only things Zyro could think in this state were quick solutions, reactions to keep him alive and to buy time for Toto to reawaken and provide backup. New sensations enter the back of his mind as he deals with the rugged, blinding burn of Shinsei's grip on his ankle, eating through his jumpsuit and singing the flesh underneath. The smell of his own skin cooking alive curls his nose, a slight grimace being the only indication that Zyro was experiencing the pain. Which usually meant it was quite painful indeed. 

That's intriguing...how is he doing that? Some form of igniting gauntlets? Zyro thinks to himself, pulling another knife from his satchel to fling at Shinsei before landing roughly on his back, his lower body being lifted and leaving him quite open for...hm...weight was shifting...body twisting...

Oh, I see. I'm about to die.

Zyro flings the knife where he assumes Shinsei's neck to be, aiming to at least scare his opponent enough to prolong his demise as he slowly snakes his way up, flexing his abdominal muscles gripping the leg that this brute held a tight grip on, still dealing with the searing heat that was slowly, but surely, melting away the skin around his ankle. There would be only a knob of bone if he didn't act fast. "Did you call Toto a mongrel, by the way? I'd like to ask you to recant that statement," he says, calmly, as if his very life wasn't being held in a tight grip. 

[Bobbie]

To say Shinsei was confused by his opponent’s nonchalant behaviour would be an understatement. This confusion was enough for Shinsei to hesitate and miss the opportunity that he had to stomp on the blind man’s throat, assuming that would be enough of a finishing blow to get rid of this pest.

Having missed his opening, the knife that Zyro flung his way was close to hitting his mark and it would have very well done so had Shinsei not released the man’s ankle and moved away in an attempt to dodge it. Yet again, as it seems evading attacks was not necessarily Shinsei’s greatest strength, his movement was not quite swift enough. While he escaped a deadly strike to his neck, the final knife instead rammed into the blade that was previously thrown and lodged into his shoulder, causing a loud clanking sound as the metals clashed, and a very painful jab as the first knife was plunged deeper into Shinsei’s shoulder.

The reverberating steel hurt a lot more than he thought it would as he could feel the vibrations in his bones and mechanical organs create a very unsettling and nauseating feeling. He cursed under his breath as he grabbed the knife and pulled it out of his body with a heavy grunt, a shiver running down his entire body. Still a little disorientated, his attention shifted back onto Zyro and his words.

That reminded him – where was that nasty little critter now?

He glanced in the direction Toto previously lay in a puddle of ooze, but it was far too dark for Shinsei’s eyes to detect whether the creature was actually there or not. Either way, he had wasted enough time.

“I did call him that, and I will not recant that statement. Keep that filthy animal on a leash.” He replied in a playful tone as he approached his enemy once more.

“You don’t have to do this, please… I’m bringing good to this community, a real chance for the people to get a new beginning.” Mr Raikii seemed to be speaking to somebody inside as his ramblings would soon become clear that they were not to himself but to another person who found their way inside the bunker.

Shinsei could vaguely hear something going on inside the bunker, but he couldn’t make out what it was – only one thing was clear: he needed to end this very soon and get back to his employer. Kneeling down, he pressed his knee onto the chest of the man who seemed to have little regard for his own life.

“That is an outrageous accusation and you have no proof! How dare you call my business a sham, I am restoring hope to a hopeless society! You will pay for this, my bodyguard and lawyer will have something to say about this!” business inside the bunker went on, unbeknownst to the bodyguard who was busy fighting off his assailant outside.

“Why are you even here targeting this man? Are you alone?” It came as an epiphany to Shinsei that maybe he should ask a few questions…

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

Mr Raikii: #89e3e6

[mildofthewild]

"What kind of question is that?" Zyro asks, relatively confused and not at all acting like a man on his back with a knee shoved into his chest, though the attempt to move it made the situation much more clear. Whether he liked it or not, Zyro was trapped...

"An assassin doesn't reveal his employer; that'd be bad for business, and would ruin any chances of scoring decent meals. Have you ever lived on water and rice? It gets very old, I can assure you. Of course, rather than waste time on this, I can at least make sure the job gets done. Toto, go."

While the breath was leaking from Zyro's compressing lungs, the order was said with enough force to be heard by a certain...monster, there really was nothing else to call the creature. It rises from its pool, having before feigned being unconscious before cackling wildly and rushing to the safehouse, aiming to claw at the door and squeeze inside to finish the job...

"This is why you shouldn't call Toto a mongrel; he's not some pet, he only gets to eat when we get the job done, too. We're partners, after all," Zyro says, his breath getting shallower as he puts on a brave face for Toto, hoping the creature wouldn't relent on seeing him in pain. "I'm afraid you don't have very many options; you're fighting two beings." 

---

The door caves in, Toto oozing itself between the cracks as it tries to use its body to place pressure on the hinges, blowing the door off and allowing the creature to enter the safehouse. Quaint, in a claustrophobic way...not that Toto knows what that means. Their eyes were on the prize, slowly creeping along the high contrast shadows, blending in as best as it could while it slinks closer and closer to its target...

“That is an outrageous accusation and you have no proof! How dare you call my business a sham, I am restoring hope to a hopeless society! You will pay for this, my bodyguard and lawyer will have something to say about this!”

"Skrrrr?"

Toto clicks back at the wafting conversation, almost smelling the desperation and fear coming off of the voice; it couldn't quite exactly tell what was happening, but the scent of someone besides their target hinted that something had to be done, and quickly...

Slinking along the ground, the creature edges its way into the main compartment of the safehouse, spying their target, the rather rotund man being cornered and pushed back by someone menacing...someone that was preventing them from cashing in and eating their steak! 

"Krrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeaooook!" Toto flies forward, claws extended as it slashes at the figure, aiming to get between them and their target and save their precious food fund, clicking and gesturing for Zyro outside (and unknowingly, Shinsei). 

[Bobbie]

Shinsei stared at Zyro in disbelief – this man really did have no regard for his own life, and to consider such sworn secrecy a necessity for business at a time when he was about to be dismissed from business was ironic.

As the cyborg knelt there, his kneecap pressing against the blind man’s ribcage, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy for him. Living on water and rice was not something unbeknownst to him and he was very well aware of the struggles to just get by in this world. It was the very reason he was even here to begin with, taking orders from a simpleton who seemed to have some very shady ideals for this town. Getting the job done was all that mattered, because that was what paid to have a roof over his head, food to sustain his body, and the dreaded fuel to keep him functioning.

All of that seemed to wash away in the blink of an eye as the assassin gave the command for Toto to strike. His eyes wide, Shinsei promptly turned his head, increasing the pressure on Zyro’s chest as his weight shifted with his body. “No!” he cussed beneath his breath and almost got up and chase after the demonic shadow beast, but was well aware of the other assailant that was pinned to the floor, and luckily managed to stop himself before he released the man – if he chased after Toto, this man would be free and he would lose all of his leverage.

He turned his focus back onto his opponent that was trapped under his knee with a frown and listened to what the blond had to say. Each word seemed to make him weaker and with each exhale, Shinsei’s knee could sink deeper, preventing Zyro’s lungs from filling up with the same amount of oxygen that was squeezed out. Each breath was forced to be shallower than the last with the added pressure.

“Partners… let’s just see how loyal that dog of a partner really is.” He hissed through his teeth and pushed against Zyro’s chest, mercilessly, forcing the man’s ribcage to almost reach its breaking point and snuffing out any last traces of air in his lungs with the full intention of suffocating him unconscious.

---

Inside, Mr Raikii, of a short and rounded figure that was certainly nothing above average, was cornered by his attacker who seemed to be here on command of a separate entity to Zyro and Toto. “Let go of me, you have no grounds to do this!” he pleaded rather pathetically as his voice went up a pitch in his panic. Luckily for the politician, Toto was right on cue as it lunged at its target and hit its mark.

The armed figure recoiled at the attack, letting go of Mr Raikii and staggering back in a floundering motion, his arms flailing at what could only be perceived as a monstrously sized bat, cloaked in shadow. Perhaps not expecting this man to have any form of protection, the unknown invader was one with logic and a good sense of battle awareness – they were in the dark and this could easily escalate against their favour. If the man had such a beast hired as protection, then there was no telling what else could be hidden behind closed doors or just waiting on the outside of this bunker. A tactical retreat seemed to be in order, as the invader was already backing away from Toto, apprehensive of another assault.

Mr Raikii’s pitiful screaming went on as he had run behind a couch in the living room and crouched down, whimpering and crying. “Where is my bodyguard?! SHINSEI! WHAT AM I PAYING YOU FOR, YOU DIRTY COIN-SNATCHER!?” he yelled out in a rather stupid manner, instantly making any hiding spot, no matter how well-concealed, entirely useless.

---

“Toto, stop!” Shinsei shouted from outside, mirroring Zyro’s form of command from earlier and hoping that this would work. He brought a hand up to his lips and used his thumb and index finger to make a loud whistling sound to get the creature’s attention, just in case his words weren’t caught. “I’ve got your beloved partner right here!” grabbing one of Zyro’s own knives, he nicked the man’s cheek to draw a few drops of blood, “Smell that? Come on out, you ugly rat, or the next thing that I cut open will be his throat!” 

Looking toward the bunker, Shinsei held his breath as he waited, hoping the creature would take the bait and spare Mr Raikii.

---

Mr. Raikii: #89e3e6

Shinsei: #ba0303