sun_showers | Appointments

"Because, dearest. I've been a fool and forgotten something. A few nights ago, I was talking with Barnaby and I remembered what time of year it was. This month...is not an auspicious one in Luceti."

She folds her arms and waits patiently, but asks another question, just to get Yuuna's train of thought rolling.

"What holiday is celebrated in the west at the end of the month?"

She's not totally sure what Saori's getting at, but she'll go with it.

"Halloween. You're not going to tell me that zombies actually attack this place every year, are you?"

"No, but last year was bad." Saori's voice catches, and she very visibly shivers. "Dearest. I...don't think you really understand the situation we're in here. And I've been remiss in explaining it to you. Today, we're going to fix that."

She starts eating the food that Saori's laid in front of her, still a little confused but knowing that it'll all be explained soon to her. The shiver isn't missed, and it causes Yuuna to wonder what exactly happened last year. Whatever it was, if it made the goddess shiver like that, meant it wasn't good.

"So we're going to train? Is that what you had planned?"

For once, Saori doesn't offer an apology for being a bit rough, she's too clearly distracted and worried about this. She takes a seat on the bed though, and nods slowly.

"We are. And I'm going to show you some things, in the battle dome. What it's really like here. I'm sorry to say that the shifts since you arrived have been...well...tame. And there hasn't been a draft yet. So please, eat and get ready."

"...Alright." She doesn't like the sound of that, but she obeys and eats and dresses as requested. It isn't long before she's ready to go, and makes her way downstairs now to leave. She's not sure what to expect, what made Saori so serious. Is it really that bad? She doesn't know.

"I'm ready to go now."

Silently, the goddess waits for her partner, still holding the two parcels. When Yuuna's ready, she holds them both up with a pensive smile, though. Gifts, after a fashion.

"I don't want you to think I'm being mean, and these are for you. Please, open them up. I think you'll find them useful today."

The squishier parcel is a pair of tabi, woven with protective padding to protect Yuuna's legs all the way up to her thighs. The wooden box is filled with knives, all worked with a lily pattern, the symbol of Shikoku, their home island. Additionally, it's got a pair of light armguards, clearly of fine quality, and gloves with metal plating over the knuckles for extra protection or punching offense. Not quite full shinobi gear, but definitely more fitting than just a gi.

She opens the packages, and finding the gear- Saori's really serious about this, weapons and protective gear and all. It made her a little worried as to what the plans were for the day. Like she was definitely going to get hurt, fight some demons, or whatever it was that this world could spit at them. she's only tinkered a little at the doe out of pure curiosity and boredom, but never really took the time to do anything with it.

"I'll put them on when we get there," Yuuna says as she looks up, concerned. "You're not outfitting me for any sort of normal sparring session. What on earth do you have planned to do?"

"Darling, I've just been thinking. And I looked at the calender the other day and realized what the date was. It's October. And...when I said Halloween was bad last year, I probably understated it. I know that I'm going to need you. I'm going to need you more than I've ever needed you before, here."

Saori trails off, bending down to kiss Yuuna lightly on the top of her head. There's no way to put a softer point on this, not really.

"I won't be able to protect you here, not like at home. The shifts have been kind to us so far, but I don't think that you've really got a sense of what sort of things can happen. Today, I'm going to show you. Because if you don't really understand, and if you take this lightly, then one or both of us will suffer. I love you, darling Yuuna. With all my heart, and to see you get hurt would break me. I need you to train with me. Seriously train. I need you to be more than just the woman I love. I...I need you to be beside me, helping me fight here."

She sucks in a heavy breath, taking in the scent of Yuuna's shampoo. "We're at war, and someday you will be forced to fight. When that comes, you may have to protect people who don't have half your strength and spirit. When that time comes, I want you to be able to stand strong and win. I have a feeling things are changing. With that bomb, and with the tunnels..."

She trails off, not sure how to phrase it since she hadn't told Yuuna yet, but her voice chokes, and she's got a pained look in her eye. It's humiliating, and she's on the verge of tears, really. That she'd been murdered three times...tortured and experimented on...and she couldn't even remember...

The look on her face pains Yuuna, it was awful. She knows that Saori doesn't want her hurt. And deep down, somewhere, she knew one day she'd have to take control of her destiny and stand up and fight. It was clear, the day she'd drawn blood from so many men who'd attacked them on that fated day. Her sword slicing open the throats of their enemies, and her without a clue as to how she'd become so good with a sword in her hands, dancing death and loudly singing a song of the end to come for all of the cultists who lie murdered at her hands.

It was a time she wishes she could forget, but never will.

She'd be beside her love if it meant doing exactly the one act that she was scared of, anxious and feeling very unprepared for. Sure, she'd taken the lives of demons, but those are demons, not people. Her voice grows soft at the pain in Saori's eyes, standing up and giving her what seemed to be a much needed embrace, tight and full of love to try to soothe her companion.

"I'll do whatever it takes, if it means helping you. I really will. Don't cry, I'm here now and we'll get through this. I'll work hard to try to prepare myself for anything that's thrown our way, I promise."

That one battle wasn't really even a flicker in Saori's eye. Those...cultists weren't people. They ceased being people the moment that they took up arms against the people she cared about. The hug helps wash away some of the pain in her expression, but she has another confession to make yet.

"I know you will, I...I just want you to understand. This is going to be hard. And bad things will happen to you, and you can't rely on me to protect you. I can't even protect myself...not here."

She leans against her love, eyes shut tight to keep back tears. "I didn't tell you...yet. But I've been here before. I-I have no memory of it. But there were records in the tunnels. A...a friend brought them to me, and I destroyed them. But...dearest, they killed me. They killed me three times...for n-no reason whatsoever..." Her voice comes out weak, quiet, and still shocked. She hadn't said it out loud yet, not to anyone.

They what. They killed her...three times? The shock of that floods her, though she may not come to realize the severity of such an action for a long time. But all the while, hearing that alone was enough to make her heart sink. How could they do that? Why? For no reason at all? And the fact that she had died at all, in this place- that's saying a lot. That means they were able to keep her in check to kill her, her Saori, a goddess and one of the most powerful people she knew. And they could still do it? What kind of maddening place was this that could take the most precious thing to her and slaughter her as if she were a helpless babe?

She has to fight back her own tears. That was too much to bear. She hugs her even tighter, head resting now on Saori's shoulder as well, the pain ripping through her heart at the very idea. "I won't let them do that to you, I won't..." she trails off, having to take a heavy breath, "I'll be ready so you don't have to worry about me. I'm sorry Saori, I'm sorry for what they did. I'll make them pay for their crimes, that's unforgivable..."

Shuddering, she just stands there for a long moment. Saying that out loud had hurt far, far worse than she'd thought it would. There was a difference to saying it when she was angry and when she wasn't. Yuuna's reaction, well it's what she expected. Sadness and anger. Shock. Her hands slide down her partner's back ad she pulls out of the embrace, trailing along her arms and lingering on her wrists. "I...have no memory of this," she murmurs, "It happened centuries ago...here."

Twitching her head, she considers what to say next carefully, not sure how to word it.

"That's...this...is why we need to train. We've got to wait, find a way to break this cycle however we can. So that won't happen to either of us again. But...I...it's not the only reason. Halloween, last year. I've set up a scenario in the battle dome. I'll show you, rather than tell you. So please, let's go."

Her tone says that the honeymoon period is over. They've got work to do, and they've got to harden up to do it.

She can't help but look back with sadness filling her eyes, unsure of what to say at first. She'd not let her down, she refused, not when the Malnosso and this Third Party she's heard so much about have done this to her beloved. Nodding, she picks up the gear, and tries her best to start to mentally prepare herself for the trials ahead. It wouldn't be fun, it would take long days of hard work and sweat and tears, but she would have to endure through it, if not for herself then for Saori. It had to be done. It had to.

She'll follow Saori to the Battle Dome, quiet on the way over. She needs a moment to take in everything said. It was a real shock, and by the obvious torture the goddess went through, it wasn't something she wanted to take lightly as she had been since she arrived. She almost doesn't want to believe it, but there was no question that it was a hard reality she'd have to accept.

And what else could she do now but either sit back and watch it fly past her, possibly resulting in a permanent death? Or she could do something about it, and make the ones that hurt them pay dearly. She'd rather choose the side of revenge.

Revenge, unlike what they said in the movies, wasn't a dish best served cold. Nor was it the sort of thing that really required you to dig two graves. That was a lot of moralistic, mortal nonsense in Saori's eyes. She'd taken it as an option repeatedly, and she meant to do so again, against the Malnosso and anyone who'd dare interfere with her and Yuuna's life, comfort, and happiness. The walk is quiet from her end too, no reason to talk when there wasn't anything that needed to be said between them. They were on the same page, she felt.

Once they arrive, she goes right over to the controls and calls up a saved scenario sequence without any difficulty. A year or more of using it had really payed off.

"Alright, darling. Some of this is going to be hard to watch. But it's the best way. Hesitation is just something we can't afford. Not here. We'll have to fight, and possibly kill. We'll start small, and work our way up, alright?"

She glances into the chamber, then looking back at Saori then to the parcels she still carried in her hands. Setting them down, she puts on the gear that had been gifted to her, sliding on the guards and preparing herself for the training they'd go through for the day.

"That's alright." She shifts nervously, not excited about the activity they were about to partake in. "I'm ready when you are."

"Alright."

Saori leads the way into the scenario chamber. Around them is a fairly decent looking projection of an empty, grassy field with four Third Party cultists standing a ways off, waiting. The goddesses posture shifts subtly, and an oversized shuriken appears in her hand, much like Yuffie's weapon of choice. It might look odd, but it's proven reliable enough.

"As I said, this is small. I want you to remember that these are not people. The Third Party are essentially demon-tainted. They're insane, and they cannot be reasoned with. Do you remember when we were at Aokigahara, and there was that insane priest? Remember how we couldn't talk to him, and he just kept trying to kill us? That's the same for these...things. I know you're sensitive about fighting people, but Yuuna...they stopped being people when they joined this cult.

Do you think you can handle them?"

They looked like the ones they'd fought before, the ones that tried to kill them during the mind wipe. she hadn't liked it then either, but it was instinct and an undeniable will to live that helped her fight back and kill all these men who'd tried to claim their lives. Was this really any different? She hadn't known then that they'd lost their minds to whatever force ruled this world, the shifting power that drove these men to insanity, from what she understood. She could fight. She wasn't above revenge. But something rang wrongly within her at the notion of a loss of life at her hands. She wasn't used to it, it wasn't in her nature to commit such an act without good reason.

But she had a good reason now, didn't she? They'd hurt her lover, her champion, the very reason for everything that she did. Those who would dare bring harm to her didn't deserve anything less than complete anguish no matter how it was brought about. And if they could do these awful things to Saori? What was stopping them from doing that to everyone here?

Her sword flashes out of its sheath, giving it a spin as the blade shined against the lighting inside of the chamber, set in a ready position. Her breaths were short, trying to calm her mind for the fight in front of her.

"I think so. I'm nervous, but I think I can." She'd have to get over it. She had to.

She knows what's going on inside her partner, the conflict is quite evident there. Yuuna's always been a bit softer than her when it came to violence. Demons were one thing, but she hated seeing other people get hurt, while Saori had no problems with being the cause of that. Of course, the very nature of this exercise was to drive home just how far gone the enemy really was. They could not be reasoned with, they were insane, savage, and unworthy of continuing to exist. What they'd done needed answering. All of them. Very, very few things could draw out genuine hate from a capricious creature like her but these beasts certainly had.

"You can. I believe in you."

At that the winged warriors surge forward, feet pounding on the grass and spears pointed right for Yuuna's heart!

Nodding, she turns back to the men, now running full force at her. She's got to concentrate, determined not to get hit by these holographic impostors, even though if they were close to killing her, the simulation would end. Sweeping to the side, she parries the first one, knocking his spear up with a loud clang and spinning back into a slash to his midsection.

They're training dummies, she told herself as the blood sprayed out of the cultist's side. She winces at the sight, causing her to lose her focus and leave herself wide open to an attack from one unoccupied opponent, aiming his spear right at her back.

The first one goes down, fading out in a shower of glittering sparks as the blade cuts into him. He doesn't scream, he doesn't make a sound, he just crumples bonelessly to the ground and disappears.

The second's strike is met with a resounding crash as Saori steps into the fray, batting the spear-thrust at Yuuna's back with a sweep of her shuriken. She continues forward, and the four-pointed weapon slams down into his face, transforming it into a ruined mess of blood and bone-shards. With a jerk, she frees her weapon and presses against her partner's back.

"Be more careful. Remember what I said. Focus. Be strong. They're enemies just like any other. They wear human-like masks, but they do that just to get close. They're as evil and dangerous as any oni."

The clang behind her as the shuriken blocks the spear aimed for her back causes her to turn around in fright. Had Saori not been there...

That was frustrating. She'd completely turned into a liability there, unable to take care of herself because she was scared. Because she wasn't fond of fighting, and because the only real combat she'd seen was a few months ago. It wasn't a lot of experience, and it was showing now. She'd try harder. She had to.

Taking a deep breath, she faces one of the two cultists left, not answering her friend because she was trying to do exactly what she was told- focus. They're not real people. They're not real. They might as well be demons.

With that mindset, she'll take on the next man, dodging his attack and slicing the arm clean off, then following up with a slash to his neck effectively decapitating him, until the hologram does exactly what the other two had done- explode into sparks and fall to the ground. She's kept an eye on the last cultist, ready for an attack which comes swiftly, also parried and executed just like the last, leaving no more in the chamber.

She's not too short of breath, but she is shaking. She's not sure what to say. Other than wanted to ask if it's over yet, though knowing that the answer would be no.

Saori watches the fight, prepared to step in if necessary. Each strike, perfectly executed, draws an appreciative hmmm from her and she stands still. The focus displayed, the intensity of the moment and the sheer skill it took was breathtaking in a way. Yuuna was no amateur, as much as she'd like to believe it. And misplaced as it was, her reticence at taking a life was no less admirable.

When the fourth cultist drops, she steps over and reaches out a steadying hand for Yuuna's shoulder. Gently squeezing, she looks deep into her friend's eyes, nodding.

"It's alright. You were wonderful. As skilled as any I've ever seen, an angel. My angel of the blade. Are you ready for the next group?"

Sighing, she tries to relax, but it's a bit hard. She's still shaking a little, even with the reassurance she's getting from the goddess. Either way, she nods.

"Thanks. I...yeah. Go ahead and bring out the next group."

With a nod, Saori lets go and steps back, her weapon resting in front of her. Her fingers snap, and six cultists appear this time. After a moment's pause, they ready their weapons and charge.

But not at Yuuna this time, this time they make for Saori!

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

[Action] October 7th

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Ummm....sorry for the lack of dialogue? She's kinda...yeah

That's fine. Dialogue isn't always necessary with stuff like this.

\:D/ GOOD CUZ I WAS WORRIED.

=D