Fall to Madness [Closed to those responding to SOS]

[willing_sheath]

Characters: Himura Tomoe, Himura Kenshin, Kamiya Kaoru, potentially other people???

Location: Northeast edge of the city on the outskirts of the park

Rating: PG-13

Time: Dec 21st, early evening

Description: Tomoe encounters a section of the city where the madness wavelength has filtered in, as well as a kishin egg. After making an SOS post, Kenshin

Comments

I'm assuming Kaoru will follow him?

[maashiro]

Being on alert for S.O.S. calls was a standard requirement of an off-patrol Watch member-or for a rurouni who'd made it his life goal to protect people wherever he could. Many calls over the network were mistakes (like his own had been) or bumps and stumbles; however, the recent situation with Gamzee had put him on edge, and Kenshin was quick to take up his device the moment it received the alert.

...And then he was quick to throw it away from him, snatch up his sakabatou from the floor next to him, and rush for the door.

His face was white, he probably wasn't breathing, and his heart was hammering against his ribcage. Perhaps he'd been horrible in his dealings with Tomoe since she'd arrived with as lost as he'd felt; Sano and Kaoru had helped in their own ways, but he still had things with which he needed to come to terms. That he knew. But those problems didn't matter when he could see her in danger and had promised to protect her and this time keep that promise. She in that moment was the most important as he slammed his door

Yes ma'am!

[givingsword]

And stumbling out into the hallway not soon after was a shihandai with a paling face, her hands holding a shinai. Her wide blue eyes searched the hall before focusing on Kenshin, and without preamble, she proceeded to walk towards him, her face set in a determined stare. "I'm coming with you. " Her tone brooked no argument.

Kenshin's wife was in danger. It didn't matter about waiting or standing by, now was the time to lend her support. They didn't know what they were up against, but she couldn't just let him face it alone!

[maashiro]

Kenshin whirled at the sound of her voice, giving her a fleeting look that said Don't do this. He was already worried about letting anything happen to Tomoe; he didn't want to have Kaoru's safety on his mind, either. But time was ticking where they stood, and Tomoe was on the edge of the city, so he had no time to try to convince Kaoru to stay. He only had time for the look.

So instead Kenshin turned away and continued running. He could try to outrun and lose her, like he'd attempted once with Misao, but even if the city hadn't taken away his godspeed and ability to jump as high as he usually could Tomoe had still given away her location. Kaoru would only arrive later. She was stubborn. Having her insist on joining him gave Kenshin a feeling similar to the one he'd felt when he'd seen her in Kyoto: one of simultaneous relief and anger.

But it didn't matter. Kaoru was coming, he knew she was coming. And Tomoe was in trouble, afraid, and letting herself show it. Whatever was happening, Kenshin would stop it.

[givingsword]

Kaoru's steady blue eyes were on his, her mouth pressed into a firm line, as she wordlessly shook her head. No. She'd be there. Who knew where Sanosuke was, and at this rate, she'd be stupid to let even Kenshin fight something like that. He wasn't a god, no matter how skilled he was. He needed someone to back him up. Was she a shihandai or not?

As she followed behind quietly, thoughts raced in her mind. What was that thing? How badly was Tomoe hurt? What was Kenshin feeling? If only her legs could move faster..

...is it okay to start a seperate thread? Or would you rather just handwave?

[nailbitinghabit]

Kujaku spent much of his time similarly bored. Talking to people on the network could only occupy so much of his time, and he felt he needed something to do besides that and training. So he walked. He explored the city. He read the books and found himself surprised because the letters didn't look familiar, but he could read them anyway-

Today, he didn't get past the park. There was a lingering feeling in the air he knew startlingly well. A whisper in the back of his head, too quiet to make out the words, but too loud to be effectively ignored.

The streets were empty. Otherwise he would've never heard the scraping of oversized, clawed paws on the pavement. Kujaku moved towards the disturbance, cursing the fact that he didn't have a weapon, living or otherwise.

Here I am!

[pishirogane]

She hadn't exactly reached Tomoe's location, but there was a reason for the hold up. Those claws against the pavement that Kujaku heard were the Kishin Egg's as it found a new target. The young detective was unable to fight without the aid of another Weapon or Meister; all she could do right now was dodge and counter with kicks to drive the Coyote Kishin back before it could bite her.

The next lunge, Naoto hissed, feeling the claws just scrape her side. She scowled and turned, her attempted kick falling short as it leap backwards. What... Maybe she should've called Minato. Still, had no one else come at the SOS?

\o\

[nailbitinghabit]

Kujaku was none too happy to find his student targeted by this huge doglike creature.

"Some mess you're in," he declared when he rounded a corner behind her at a run. Naturally, he had the Kishin Egg's attention as quickly as he had hers. The good news were that he was not technically weaponless anymore, but on the other hand, he was not sure if weilding her would be easy. ...or possible.

[pishirogane]

"Ah! Kujaku-sensei...!"

Well, she didn't expect him to come here, but at least it was someone. They had a chance, but could he wield her? Perhaps as a sword instead of a gun... though, could they even form a resonance. There weren't left with too many options with the Kishin Egg advancing on them both.