Where the Loyalties Lie (29.05.2012)

[Hayashi Koudo]

Hayashi was sitting on the white sands of Coral Bay, enjoying the strong sunlight brushing his face with a prickling heat. The waves of the sea were swishing to and fro, occasionally touching his toes since he was sitting so close. He had been thinking over how the residents had treated him since he had joined them. Why do they accept me so easily? I was working with the enemy, I put them in danger, he thought frantically. His thoughts were useless, however, as the only sound to answer them was the crashing of the waves and the calling of gulls.

A rustle in the shrubs behind startled Hayashi and he stood up, almost instinctively, to defend himself. He was right to as well. Koatia emerged from the shrubbery, his one electric-blue eye blazing and his sharp, jagged teeth twisted into a crooked smile. "So this is how you have been enjoying your days without me, Hayashi," Koatia growled. The toothy grin sent shivers up his spine. "And there I was thinking I knew you so much better than that. You used to work so hard for me. It's like you're retired now."

Hayashi glared at him and countered his grin with a snarl instead. "I have given up my ways with you, my loyalties lie with Tialka and its residents."

"You were so promising, Hayashi," Koatia said in a low voice, sarcasm subtle in his tone. "Such a pity. But now I may have the power to use the Kumorishi all to myself. You would have merely been a burden to me. Still, I am so close to obtaining it. You can still return to me, Hayashi. Rejoin me and you can be an insider to the Tialkans. Since you have already gained their trust, it would be foolish to stay on their side when they are already lost to their fore coming doom."

"I know you more than any of the others," Hayashi said through gritted teeth. "With my help, they will destroy you, and so will I."

Koatia's grin widened and he laughed softly that caused his chest to ripple inwards and outwards again. "Not if I destroy you all FIRST!" His front paws slammed to the ground and a bright blue spark sprung out from underneath them, heading towards Hayashi. He hadn't expected the attack and was instantly wrapped in the blue sparks, jolts of pain surging through him.
He screamed in agony; the pain was too much. It was sickeningly strong. The sparks released him and Koatia edged closer, Hayashi too weak to stand up.

"That's right, I've grown stronger since we parted ways," Koatia laughed whilst Hayashi lay on the floor, panting heavily, unable to move quickly.

[Kiryu]

A voice rang out from the distance, followed by a cackle of laughter: "Destroy us all first?" Kiryu stepped out onto the beach of Coral Bay, the intense sunlight bouncing off his silver fur. He strode towards Koatia, leaving paw marks in the beach, his wing cutting into the sand as he went. The crash and ebb of the waves marked his arrival.

"You couldn't kill me, you'd your best shot, I was blinded," he bluffed, in an attempt to shock Koatia. "I'd like to see you try when the skies are clear!" Kiryu indicated to the never-ending blue around them.

He stopped a few metres ahead of Koatia. Kiryu centred his mind, his thoughts on those he would protect, not his own vengeance. He entered a sense of zen, one that had required months of practice and meditation to master, one from his life as a warrior.

[Hayashi Koudo]

Koatia turned to snarl at the familiar face. "Ah, the little runt that attacked me a few months ago. I see your wing is still as pathetic and useless as it was before."

Hayashi trembled as he began to rise from the floor, holding a steady balance if teetering only a little. "D-don't...underestimate him," Hayashi panted, his face clenched in pain that still writhed through his body like an angry snake. "I-I've seen him fight...he has potential...for a newcomer."

"Come now, Hayashi," Koatia laughed, enjoying every moment of his suffering. "You should know how great my powers are by now." He looked over to Kiryu who had entered a state of zen. "They are far greater than that of a silly, little fox with a battered wing."

"Your assumptions will be your downfall, Koatia," Hayashi continued. "You will meet your end when Tialka's residents will come together to bring you down."

Koatia's smile faded and he lowered his shoulders, his rump held high in the air. He pounced on Hayashi, holding a large paw against his throat whilst the other paw held down his chest.

"And what makes you think that any of the residents here will trust you? Hayashi, the traitor. You have been associated with me for more time than you have been with them. Their trust in you is conditional that you can prove you no longer hold allegiances with me, something that is all too easily mistaken."

[Kiryu]

"Not anymore," Kiryu spat, while charging Koatia. He braced his wing, using it as an extension of his own body, driving the tip into Koatia. The wolf flew off Hayashi, cascading down the beach with a thud, sand and dust being kicked into the air. Not bad for a fox with a tattered wing, he thought.

"My word means far more than any of your tricks, Koatia. I stand by Hayashi!" Kiryu spread his wing, blocking the Torakan from view as he stalked towards the wolf. Kiryu had prepared for this day, putting his agility, endurance and techniques to the test. He couldn't count the times he had been killed by lightning strikes, but it would pay off when he defeated Koatia.

"You know, they say in a one-on-one fight ..." he smiled at the wolf, baring his canines, " ... that the right choice of words will sway the battle." He laughed, "I've heard you talk and talk about how great these your powers of yours are. Care to demonstrate?"

Kiryu was baiting Koatia; anger could be tapped into and harnessed. It could be used as a source of great power, but it meant that you overlook things, disrupting your techniques and causing you to make simple mistakes. In a war of attrition, it would give him the edge.

[Hayashi Koudo]

Koatia growled with increased frustration. How dare he, he thought angrily. These newcomers are little more than arrogant idiots!

"Demonstrate? No need, I will show you the least of my powers!" he shouted, howling a long, chilling sound to the sky. No use wasting all my energy on a worthless runt, he thought as he summoned the clouds to swirl darkly above him. But this one is really starting to agitate me...

"Kiryu! Stand back! You can't fight what he is about to summon!" Hayashi shouted. "Run or use any defence that you have for now." Hayashi himself had nothing to reflect what was coming but he was sure that Koatia was preoccupied with Kiryu at the present time.

The clouds grew darker and little sunlight passed through them, casting a darkness over the sands. Thunder grumbled above them and the crackle of lightning followed. Several bright blue veins of lightning hit the ground around them and many were shooting towards Kiryu. They were getting closer to him by the second.

[Kiryu]

That spell took longer to cast last time. Apparently Kiryu had not been the only one training since their last encounter. The fox bounded towards Hayashi, the lightning closing in, scattering the sand behind him. He leapt above Hayashi, enclosing his wing around them, harnessing his zen energy and then pushing it outwards, creating another shield.

It was possible that, with his training, he may have survived the lightning strike, but odds were Hayashi would not. The lightning suddenly impacted his wing, bouncing off the zen bubble, blue streaks of lighting dispersing in every direction. Kiryu felt the lightning hammer at his resolve, small sparks of pain ebbing through him.

The minute this attack ends, I'm rushing in and taking him out. I can beat him in hand-to-hand combat! Kiryu focused his zen, projecting it towards a lightning bolt. He threw the lightning vaguely in Koatia's direction, not a skill he had practiced, thus he doubted its effectiveness.

"Hayashi!" he called out, "The minute this ends, head for cover. I'll rush him, you get out of here." His smile faded as another bolt of lightning hit the bubble, sending another shock through him. Bracing himself, he prepared to throw another bolt at Koatia, using a hole in his wing to keep an eye on the wolf. He can't keep this up forever!

[Hayashi Koudo]

Koatia's attack finally subsided when he realised that his efforts were pointless against Kiryu's shield. With a menacing snarl, Koatia backed off a little, prepared for Kiryu's next move. Hayashi arose, his strength returning gradually but his legs still buckling slightly from the small jolts of electricity still pulsating through him.

"See, Koatia," Hayashi said weakly. "You can be a lot stronger with friends. Killing for power is nothing compared to killing for justice!" In his head, Hayashi knew he was wrong. To kill another was not how he was taught to live but he wasn't going to let his guard down,

[Kiryu]

The lightning faded and Kiryu let down his shield, unwrapping his wing. A little dazed, he quickly refocused himself. No amount of practise could have prepared him for that.

"Hayashi Go! Now!" Kiryu barked before turning his attention to Koatia. "Whats the matter Koko" he mocked, "too weak to kill me with magic, to scared to fight me in hand to hand combat?" This continued baiting was dangerous, the angrier he made Koatia, the more deadly he became. The fact that he wasn't dead yet would have irritated him enough, but Kiryu was fast and he needed that one slip up. The opportunity to put Koatia down for good.

He focused on those he wanted to protect, re-energizing his chi. Extending his black wing, dragging it along the beach. Before lifting the sand into the air and launching it at Koatia, guiding it with his chi energy. He bounded across the beach, leaving heavy paw prints in the sand, ready to engage the wolf.

[Hayashi Koudo]

After Kiryu's command, Hayashi sprinted from the floor and into a safer location, away from the commotion.

Meanwhile, Koatia roared in frustration as the tiny silver fox countered and blocked every attack he threw at him. "You pest!" he growled, most teeth petruding from his large jaw. Kiryu had already advanced towards him however in attempt to fight him. Who knew such a small creature could be so persistant... Koatia thought to himself.

Bracing himself, Koatia leaned in towards the floor and leapt into Kiryu, pinning him down and grabbing him by the scruff of the neck. Hayashi watched in horror as Koatia threw Kiryu from his neck across the sand. Although Kiryu barely looked disorientated by the attack, blood still stained his clear silver fur from the top of his neck. As Koatia aimed for another blow, Hayashi barely needed to think before he had sprinted towards them and took a blow to Koatia's side. The huge wolf rolled over, stunned and snarling. Hayashi turned to Kiryu, making sure he was okay. "We need to work together on this one," he explained and braced himself as the wolf charged back in retaliation.

[Kiryu]

Blood stained his proud silver fur, he felt a little disorientated but had enough adrenaline running through his body to negate its effects. Sand had become matted deep into his fur, focusing himself he leapt back into the battle. Hayashi had landed a powerful hit, throwing the wolf off balance.

"Whatever you say" he called whilst sprinting at the enraged Koatia, who had focused the Torakan. Landing a kick squarely within the wolfs chest, sent Koatia sliding back in the sand as he blocked the kick with his paws. Whilst Koatia was a strong fighter, melee combat was not his forte and they had to capitalize on that.

Kiryu spread his wing, blocking as much of his surroundings as possible. Koatia wouldn't know where Hayashi was coming from, at least that was the plan in theory. He swiftly dodged a punch, by deftly leaping back. Using the brief respite to flap his wing pushing himself towards Koatia, landing a tackle that left the wolf rolling across the sand. Come on Hayashi, you are far stronger than I am. If anyone can put him down, its gonna be you!