Night 57: The Coliseum

[el_aguila]

Touching the sandy grounds of the coliseum was a catalyst, and the progression of day did not mean the end of the process. By fortune or otherwise, this group's efforts were not allowed to halt simply due to the rising sun. Therefore, when nighttime was pronounced, those who had undergone the beginnings of an incomplete trial were pulled from their

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[blood_and_pocky]

Because it was so unexpected, the sudden jump between his cell and the Coliseum sent Aidou's mind flailing, searching for an iota of sense to hold on to. It was a level of disorientation he hadn't felt since his first night in the Institute, when he hadn't yet learned how often blackouts happened. His stomach turned over unhappily. Hands on his knees, Aidou breathed through gritted teeth. What is going on!? One minute he'd been here, the next in M52 during dinner, and now he was back again. He was being tossed to and fro like a ragdoll, and he didn't like it

[see_my_back]

Sakura was already in no mood to be toyed with. But being thrown into a new place faster than she could blink was enough to set her off further. It wouldn't be the first time she'd used chakra to jump from one point to another, but usually that came with careful planning or a well-timed escape. This was... nothing like that. Adding to it, the man had just called them late. Haruno Sakura, model student, proud kunoichi, and brilliant pupil of the great Hokage did was not lateAdding insult to it all, the voice was easily recognized as one she'd heard over the intercom. Not the doctor, but whoever it was that'd replaced him. She fixed the man with a flat look, glaring across the stands as she committed that appearance to memory. People had survived meeting Landel, there was no reason to think they wouldn't survive this encounter. Though... judging by the setup, something big was about to go down. The stadium reminded her of the chuunin exams and the final tournament. Once again, she was stuck watching while her friends were out on the

[promisedawhale]

Michelangelo had been taken!

That had been the only thing on his mind while Brook had awaited the opening of the doors. He knew what could be done when people were taken from their rooms - getting brainwashed enough to attack your friends, or worse still, tortured - Brook did not want either one for his friend. So he'd gotten ready, leaving his dinner alone to take up his shikomizue and set a note on the bedside table. He had just heard the start of the nighttime announcement when things suddenly went black and he was thrust yet again to the strange room that was the Coliseum.

"Wait, no...!" Brook shot to his feet and looked around just as he had the night before. Of all the days for him to be teleported when his roommate was in some kind of danger! Why must this have happened tonight?! "I have to go back!" he said before thinking, then remembered what had started last evening and looked down to the floor. It was the same, with Sai and Sasuke still in the ring's center with Sakura and... it was Aidou, wasn't it?... seated along

[el_aguila]

Youth made for terrible temper, it seemed. The General could only hmph in disdain, his expression laced in disappointment. They failed to realize the reason for their presence in this godforsaken place was of their own making, instead appearing quite satisfied to lay the blame on the overseer. How would they feel, then, to know that when the curtains closed and red stained the sandy arena, they would have no one but themselves?

Ah, though, perhaps that was for the best. Rage was an excellent catalyst for accomplishment, and at least the children were not stupid and did not stare at him dumbfounded and dumbstruck. The man detached his arms from each other long enough to offer a dismissive wave. "The audience could stand to be less impertinent," he remarked almost casually, before fixing his dark eyes on the younger of the competitors. "But to address your query, Uchiha Sasuke, you and your companion are here to fulfill a requirement. I'm certain I don't have to divulge the details of your task, but let's keep it clear for everyone

[blood_and_pocky]

Was he supposed to be the impertinent one? The vampire glared back with an equal amount of icy disgust before he once again moved to the edge of the seats. Had it already been a night ago that he'd been in this very same spot, with these very same people, and Sasuke and Sai standing opposite each other on the ground? Held out his hand and felt the very same barrier, too. The harder he pressed, the more it hurt.

So what, were they continuing where they had left off? Why?

Aguilar certainly hadn't been in the coliseum last time, not that Aidou had sensed, and his presence now made Aidou believe this was part of an ongoing event. Landel had appeared during such things, hadn't he? Another pointless test for the prisoners. Aguilar's next words as much confirmed it.

Aidou gaze flickered between the two figures in the arena and the one in the stands. Requirement? What did that... The ridiculousness of the premise took a second to sink in. Death? The so-called requirement was death? Was he joking, threatening the deaths of others if there

[see_my_back]

Sakura's jaw tightened as the man spoke; there wasn't going to be some monster or creature from the depths of the institution for them to fight. They had to fight each other. And someone had to dieBefore she had more than a moment to consider an alternative, Sai was already on the attack. Not enough to stop Sasuke maybe, but enough to provoke this into more than just a friendly scuffle. If they weren't stopped, someone really was going to be killed

[promisedawhale]

A requirement? Brook knew very little when it came to this place and what was supposed to be happening, but that there was any kind of condition made him wary even before Aguilar announced exactly what they were supposed to be doing. Talks of a sacrifice only worried him more and with the furthered mention of death... even Brook's concern over his roommate had to be put aside. Whether he liked it or not he was stuck in this arena the same as the rest, and he had to focus on what was facing them all

[el_aguila]

Such resolve on friendship and optimism. As another, the Eagle might have found a kind of admiration in the view. As himself, however, he looked on with apathy. Only one held enough sense to see the matter for what it was: a dead end. Two men tangled in a match to the death, lacking any "satisfactory" avenue or escape. It was simple. It was obvious.

If these children wished to test their luck, let them. Aguilar need only play his part as the overseer. "Time is of the essence, gentlemen," he stated, far too uncaring for being a target of such rage. "I suggest you come to a decision before something unintended occurs."

[blood_and_pocky]

It was crazy, this entire situation. It was crazy because he was trapped like a rat in an invisible cage with two people he didn't even know, and the other two... the other two were playing out some archaic blood match in an arena. And for what purpose? None

[see_my_back]

"I'm fine. It's not serious," she told Brook, already glancing over his injuries. It didn't look like any vitals places had been hit, though the head wound was bleeding quite a bit

[promisedawhale]

Seeing that Sakura was bleeding more than him, that made it serious enough for Brook not to listen when she said that she was fine. "That does not look fine!" he shrieked, trying to think of a way to help. His concerns only worsened when Aidou's words brought his attention up at the boy. He did not look to be injured as they were, but that did not mean anything. Aidou could have been better at withstanding pain if he was being harmed in any way.

What to do...? Brook looked between the two, then down at where Sasuke and Sai had progressed into a more heated battle. There was no time to think about the mechanics of the battle. Friends were fighting and bleeding! He had to do something

[el_aguila]

They were wasting their breath. Floundering for the "best" outcome, drawing out what was ultimately inevitable and by their own choice--such actions made Aguilar wonder on the lessons this group had acquired during their stay. The thought was enough to turn the situation into something all the more deplorable, or it would have, if the General was a sympathetic man. Instead, he could only scoff as the female a fist into the ground and the tall, wiry male attempted to attack the barrier.

Pathetic, honestly. At least one of the fighters was showing a bit more sense in the matter. Perhaps they'd succeed. He would be utterly put off if they failed in what was inherently simple.

[Feel free to skip Aguilar from now on since he's just watching. I'll jump in whenever someone directs a question at him.]

[blood_and_pocky]

The vampire might as well have been deaf to his two companions' plight, though the truth he was all too hyper aware of them. Without looking, he knew their wounds were getting worse. According to Aguilar's rules, the sole way to alleviate them was to... encourage Sasuke and Sai to inflict the same wounds on one another?

Was that really all the mercy this system allowed? And to be trapped, watching!

His breathing had deepened; objectively, he knew it wasn't just because of his anger but the presence of so much fresh blood around him. But blood... blood was the last thing he wanted to pay attention to, unless it was Aguilar's. That bastard simply poised in his seat, observing, too! One day you're all going to pay for this. All of it!

He could only hold his tongue, stone-faced, as Sakura tried to use her own abnormal abilities to break herself out. She was powerful, but... it was a waste, as was her belief that a solution without sacrifice was going to be found. Of course, even as he stood there he was scrutinizing their invisible

[see_my_back]

She was starting to get dizzy. Not a good sign, the logical part of her brain told her. It meant she'd lost too much blood and used too much of her chakra all at once and if she kept it up and went untreated, she could guess at the inevitable result. Still, she pushed it aside, staying shakily on her feet

[promisedawhale]

Any other time, the shot to his pride would have hurt more than the fall from having his best attack so easily repelled, and he may have even cracked a joke at such a thing. Unfortunately he was left with only a moan from the floor as he rolled over as quickly as possible, coughed again and shakily pushed himself to his knees. He glanced his blade over, finding the cracked tip enough of a warning that a second attempt to escape would leave him short one sword and out of options.

As he tried to think over Aidou's continued shouts, Brook's vision blurred and he had to shake his head out before lifting it again.

That's right, this is some kind of test... he remembered, trying to see down into the arena floor

[el_aguila]

It was akin to a feather hitting a brick wall, the Chidori moving not a millimeter beyond the barrier. A lesser man would have smirked at the attempt; the Eagle simply scoffed, dark eyes closing to the young man before him. "You're wasting your breath, boy," he stated, tone blander than one might have expected, "and you're already close to losing." To emphasize, he opened his eyes, their gaze settling on the three forms in the stands.

Two of whom seemed eager to ask equally useless questions. Aguilar shook his head, a sort of pity written in the gesture. He might as well let them think up their own logic if they were going to inquire about such things; he was not letting anything slip so easily.

"It is as I said," replied Aguilar. One might have almost expected him to shrug casually with that remark. "The rest is your responsibility."