Starring:
Date: April 15, 2013
Summary:
A tournament in the land of rice paddies hosts an unique encounter
Poster's notes: the public deathmatches depicted in this scene are not in line with the theme of the MUSH. Such things might happen in criminal circles in an underground setting, but would not be displayed openly, and would certainly not involve a daimyou. Foul language filtered in obvious places.
"A drop of human, between a river of blood"
Land of rice paddies
One day during your earlier time as a Genin you got tagged along with a squad not your own. "Come along Hiei! It'll be fun… It's a tournament where people spar and all. It's a big thing in the land of rice paddies!" One of the girls from Kumo tells Hiei, urging him to come along her squad. Which consists out of a Jounin: Horo, a girl named Samiko and another boy named Hito. "Remember kids, we're just there to watch. If they ask you to join the tournament you respectfully decline." The friendly jounin says with a smile. "Though… if you find a suiting sparring partner… I won't be the one stopping you. I'll leave that to your own judgement. Just… DON'T join the tournament." He explains, while the border to the land of rice paddies is crossed.
It's still 11AM and the sun just came up. It's a really nice day and the roads are crowded. People from far and wide come to see the famed (and bloody) tournament. During the official tournament, most fights are to the death. Unless the crowd opposes it.
Once the group arrived at the main platform a battle is raging on. A man clad in total black, carrying a purple skull emblem on his arm is holding his scythe. He got cocky, and challenged ten people at the same time. The lord who oversees this tournament agreed… And there he is. The scythe carrying man seems completely relaxed, glancing at the ten armed men facing him. One of them throws his kunai, which gets caught met flight by Masanori, who begins dancing his scythe around his body. You can't even see the blade! It would truely look beautifull, if the result wasn't so particularly deadly. Limbs flying around all over the place as he literaily sheers through the group of assailants. All with a sadistic calm about him.
It doesn't take long for the lord to stand up and disqualify him. The round was over in less than three minutes, and none of his opponents were left alive. It was a bloodbath. Masanori seemed to have no quarrel over it. And Hiei could spot him headed across the arena to the sparring grounds. Big fields used for training. Following him with your eyes would give away that he went ahead and layed down in a tree, arms crossed. The rest of your group has already taken a seat, looking at the slaughter being cleaned up and the next fight being prepared.
Hiei arrives at the tournament and watched the one in black, Masanori, pretty much dismember every opponent put in front of him. Hiei watches all of this with a detached calm. Though from the young Genin's stance, it's obvious from the way his arms are crossed over his chest, he doesn't approve of the actions of this one. Blue eyes narrow slightly as he continues watching when the man left the area and went to lay down in a tree. Glancing over to his own group for a moment, he decides to leave and begins walking in the direction that Masanori went.
Once arriving, he looks up at the man for a long moment. He notices small things..for one he didn't look completely human, but that's not what bothers Hiei. After several long minutes, he finally speaks. "Why?"
Masanori gazes down from the tree, a droplet of tar falling off his shoulder. "Why what?" He asks, his scythe still dripping fresh blood. He sighs while he turns towards Hiei… "I did them a favor, the embrace of death is not one shared with all. Would you rather have me leave them on the brink of death? Handicapped for the years to come? I showed mercy and respect by doing what we came there to do."
He closes his eyes, rubbing his temples. The true reason … well reasons are these. His migrains, which are the result of a lack of water that reaches his brain, since his KG converts too much into tar, which is unusable by the brain. In conjunction with trauma's from his youth, a detachment from death… and his scythe. Chi-o-nomu, who demands a constant stream of blood…
Untill recently Masanori was just a killer machine. He would have slaughtered everyone. Audiance, lord… contenders. Ninja… However, recent developments, and his adoption into Kirigakure has allowed him to focus his spells of bloodlust. Moments like these are used to get rid of the built up stress, which allows him to somewhat function without a soceity. "What is your name, boy?" He asks, while his blue glowing eyes stare at Hiei through his mask.
Hiei continues staring at the man. "That's droplet. You could have defeated them all without killing them. Yet, you held nothing back. True strength is knowing when you use that strength and when to not use it." He frowns slightly, but then his expression goes back to being passive. "I am Yotsuki Hiei." He continues. "You could have disabled them without killing. Is life so meaningless to you?"
"Yes.." He says while sliding off the tree, standing in front of Hiei. Slowly squatting down to match his height. "I was holding back…boy" He explains while sighing and standing back up. "Come.." He says, the eyes on the skull of his scythe glowing purple for a moment as some of the blood that drips down from it instead gets sucked into the metal. Masanori leaves little droplets of tar wherever he walks. "True strength…" He explains, while running his fingers over his scythe.
"True strength is showing the respect people deserve by concluding the battle properly." He sighs while waiting for Hiei to face him. "For example, if you challenge me now to a battle to the death. I would disrespect you by not killing you." He smiles behind his mask… he truely believes in this philosophy.
"However… since you have the guts to speak to me after seeing what I did.." He chuckles and pauses. "I'll teach you a new trick." He explains. While seeming completely relaxed. "I will not kill you… Now, show me what you got boy." He says, being cocky about it, not even getting into a battle stance. Instead slowly getting his chakra boiling. Keeping his deadly gaze focussed on Hiei.
RP: Hiei joins the roleplay.
COMBAT: It is now Hiei's turn.
RP: Masanori joins the roleplay.
Hiei frowns. "I am aware of what you're capable of. But I was taught that if I am going to fight, then I am to fight to test my skill against those that are better than me. Killing is a last resort." He shifts his feet slightly, placing himself into a fighting stance. "Your challenge excites me, scythe warrior." For a moment, he doesn't move, then suddenly, he attacks. He aims a punch and a kick towards Masanori, to test his defenses.
COMBAT: Hiei attacks Masanori with PHYSICAL…14
COMBAT: Hiei attacks Masanori with PHYSICAL…16
COMBAT: Hiei finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Masanori's turn.
COMBAT: Hiei attacks you with PHYSICAL and rolls a 14. Action?
COMBAT: Masanori defends against PHYSICAL(14) attack from Hiei with a BLOCK…28
COMBAT: Masanori wins the roll.
COMBAT: Hiei attacks you with PHYSICAL and rolls a 16. Action?
COMBAT: Masanori defends against PHYSICAL(16) attack from Hiei with a DODGE…33
COMBAT: Masanori wins the roll.
COMBAT: There are no more attacks for you to defend against.
Masanori chuckles, while his opponent comes at him. "Good." He says like a proper sensei, casually lifting his right hand and catching Hiei's hand. Blocking him with ease, and leaving a tar stain. When Hiei instead then aims a kick at him he turns Hiei's wrist, grabbing his shoulder with his free hand and sommersaulting over him, and without counter attack, standing still right behind him. "Never let your opponent get behind you." He says, while taking a small step backwards. He focusses and holds back significantly, coming in with a simple legsweep, if he succeeds grabbing Hiei suprisingly quickly in mid air before hurling him across the field. If it does not he follows up with a simple punch to the gut.
RP: Masanori transforms into SPAR-II.
COMBAT: Masanori attacks Hiei with PHYSICAL…15
COMBAT: Masanori attacks Hiei with PHYSICAL…23
COMBAT: Masanori finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Hiei's turn.
COMBAT: Hiei defends against PHYSICAL(15) attack from Masanori with a DODGE…22
COMBAT: Hiei wins the roll.
COMBAT: Hiei defends against PHYSICAL(23) attack from Masanori with a BLOCK…19
COMBAT: Hiei loses the roll and sustains 187 damage.
Hiei looks slightly surprised when his punch is caught in the hand of Masanori, and perhaps a little weirded out when what looks like tar covers his fist. When the bigger man flips behind him, he leaps into the air, twisting his body to face him and dodging his attack at the same time. Unfortunately, he isn't fast enough to block the attack that sends him sliding along the ground. Coming to a stop, he pushes himself back up to his knees while pressing his hand against the affected area. "I've heard that before. Never let your opponent behind you. Seems to be a golden rule or something." He takes on a look of concentration for a moment before going through a series of hand seals. Slamming his palms together he calls out. "Ninja Art: Lightning Needles!"
Small bolts of lightning appear around his body. They swirl and crackle with energy before flying out towards Masanori.
COMBAT: Hiei attacks Masanori with LIGHTNING-NEEDLES…14
COMBAT: Hiei finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Masanori's turn.
COMBAT: Hiei attacks you with LIGHTNING-NEEDLES and rolls a 14. Action?
COMBAT: Masanori defends against LIGHTNING-NEEDLES(14) attack from Hiei with a DODGE…17
COMBAT: Masanori wins the roll.
COMBAT: There are no more attacks for you to defend against.
When Masanori notices the thick cloud of lightning needles he gazes into the sky for a moment. The needles fly at him and seem to have hit, only to collapse into a puddle of tar, with Masanori flying above you. Seems he dodged up at suprising speed. "Good try kid… now… my turn." He makes a set of seals… though… nothing happends. When he lands he rushes up to Hiei, ending up right in front of his nose before slowing himself down intentionally, matching Hiei's blocking speed. Though instead of two hands it quickly turns to four, a Siamese clone of Masanori is portruding from his waist, another upper body and two arms, throwing small punches at Hiei untill one hits and sends him sliding, before the tar collapses into a small pool.
COMBAT: Masanori attacks Hiei with PHYSICAL…13
COMBAT: Masanori attacks Hiei with TAR-CLONE-STRIKE…7
COMBAT: Masanori finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Hiei's turn.
COMBAT: Hiei defends against PHYSICAL(13) attack from Masanori with a CLONE-TECHNIQUE…15
COMBAT: Hiei wins the roll.
COMBAT: Hiei defends against TAR-CLONE-STRIKE(7) attack from Masanori with a DODGE…13
COMBAT: Hiei wins the roll.
Hiei knew that when his needles didn't find their mark, he might be in trouble. When Masanori rushes him, all of his strikes hit Hiei's body, and then Hiei simply dissapears in cloud of smoke. The clone, having done it's job, allows Hiei to attack from another angle. Appearing off to Masanori's side, the real Hiei aims a kick towards the back of his legs and then a palm strike towards his torso. "Can't believe everything you see, right?" He comments a little arrogantly.
COMBAT: Hiei attacks Masanori with PHYSICAL…12
COMBAT: Hiei attacks Masanori with BASIC-SOULSTRIKE…13
COMBAT: Hiei finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Masanori's turn.
COMBAT: Hiei attacks you with PHYSICAL and rolls a 12. Action?
COMBAT: Masanori counters against a PHYSICAL(12) attack from Hiei with a PHYSICAL…22
COMBAT: Masanori has successfully countered the attack.
COMBAT: Hiei attacks you with BASIC-SOULSTRIKE and rolls a 13. Action?
COMBAT: Masanori defends against BASIC-SOULSTRIKE(13) attack from Hiei with a DODGE…26
COMBAT: Masanori wins the roll.
COMBAT: There are no more attacks for you to defend against.
Masanori chuckles in turn. Masanori waits for the kick to move, before he suddenly lifts his leg and uses it to kick Hiei down to the ground by his stomach. Again, holding back significantly, simply stepping back to avoid the next strike. "Ever used any weapons kid?" He asks, while reaching into his belt, sliding out a set of balls. Gazing at Hiei while waiting for him to stand back up.
COMBAT: Masanori finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Hiei's turn.
COMBAT: Hiei defends against PHYSICAL(22) attack from Masanori with a DODGE…18
COMBAT: Hiei loses the roll and sustains 207 damage.
As Hiei finds himself slammed to the ground, a faint 'oof' sound comes from him as his breath is driven out of his body. Rolling away from Masanori, he rises back up to his feet while breathing a little heavily, trying to get his breath back. He nods. "I've trained with a sword. My father insisted upon it since it's tradition in our family." He carries one, but so far he hasn't bothered to draw it yet. Perhaps he wasn't as confident in his swordsmanship as he was in his taijutsu. However, he has yet to land a blow on this man. The young Genin narrows his gaze slightly. "Decided to use the scythe, I take it?"
COMBAT: Hiei finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Masanori's turn.
"I wish to teach you how to not be decapitated or dismembered against an experienced scythe fighter…" He says while pressing two of the balls he took from his belt. Blades sliding out. "Grab a kunai." He says, before throwing the shuriken at his opponent, hoping for his own good that he'll block them.
RPCOMBAT: Masanori attacks with SHARP…23
COMBAT: Masanori finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Hiei's turn.
RPCOMBAT: Hiei defends against with a WEAPON-BLOCK…16
Hiei grabs a kunai knife from his belt and lifts it, attempting to block the incoming shruiken from Masanori. However, he's a little slow and the blade nicks him along the forearm. Hiei grunts from the pain, but hops a little ways away to get some distance between himself and the scythe user. "I appreciate the lesson. But you still haven't told me your name. Or do you not respect me enough for at least that common courtesy?" Taking the kunai blade in his hand, he hurls it towards his opponent and then draws the sword at the small of his back. It's a straight bladed katana. He spins it around his body for a moment, before taking on a different fighting stance with the blade held in a reverse grip.
COMBAT: Hiei attacks Masanori with SHARP…22
COMBAT: Hiei finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Masanori's turn.
COMBAT: Hiei attacks you with SHARP and rolls a 22. Action?
COMBAT: Masanori defends against SHARP(22) attack from Hiei with a TRICKY-WEAPON-BLOCK…14
COMBAT: Masanori loses the roll and sustains 151 damage.
COMBAT: There are no more attacks for you to defend against.
Masanori lifts up a second shuriken to try and be cool, though that didn't work. The kunai flying past his arm, cutting open his skin and letting some tar fly. "Not bad.." He comments, while throwing the shuriken to the ground, sliding out his scythe. "Now… pay attention… listen closely." He slowly begins dancing the scythe around. "I have no name." He states, while rolling the weapon over his limbs in the dance Hiei saw previously. "But those who see me and live, call me Shinigami." He smiles behind his mask, while then moving foreward. "Scythe are long range melee weapons, usually getting them at short range will beat inexperienced scythe fighters." He rolls the weapon around again.
"Though, if you face someone like me, close range won't be safe either." He explains, while holding the weapon against his waist, twirling three times himself, the weapon drawing three full moons around Masanori. "Blood." Is something whispered in his brains, though he supresses it. "The trick is to watch the end of the scythe, not the blade." He explains. "The blade is hard to follow, the end if often not. And when you know how tall a scythe is, its blade will be in the mirrored position of the end.." He smiles, while reaching for Hiei, giving him some slower practice attacks, which would stop before they hit him, even if he fails a block.
RPCOMBAT: Masanori attacks with SHARP…17
RPCOMBAT: Masanori attacks with SHARP…14
RPCOMBAT: Masanori attacks with SHARP…17
COMBAT: Masanori finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Hiei's turn.
RPCOMBAT: Hiei defends against with a DODGE…24
RPCOMBAT: Hiei defends against with a WEAPON-BLOCK…17
RPCOMBAT: Hiei defends against with a DODGE…13
Hiei listens to Shinigami as he speaks, he watches the scythe move, taking note of the end of it and not the blade itself. When the attacks come, he shifts his weight to dodge the first one, then lifts his own weapon, metal sounding off against metal as he manages to block it. However, he misjudges the third strike, but luckily for him the blade was halted just before striking him in the center of the forehead. The wind from the strength of the attack itself blows his hair back as the boy's eyes widen slightly. He is painfully aware of the fact that he could have died just then. He takes a few steps back, twirling his sword and putting it back up in a defensive manuver. "I understand. Because you move it so fast, I can't see the blade, but the end moves a little slower." He smirks faintly. "I would expect a larger weapon like that to be slower, though."
COMBAT: Hiei finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Masanori's turn.
"By that logic, you would be faster than me." He says, while appearing behind Hiei just like that… as if he teleported. "Appearances deceive, and so do weapons. Speed is born from practice. Practice enough with any weapon, and speed will be at your side eventually." Hiei feels a hand tap his shoulder, before another flow of wind, when he turns around Shinigami is gone, though he did leave a nice tar stain on Hiei's shoulder in the shape of his hand.
COMBAT: It is now Hiei's turn.
Hiei blinks and then turns when he feels the tap on his shoulder. And then he turns around in a circle, looking to see if the tar man was still in the area. After waiting for several moments with his guard up, he finally feels that Masanori was completely gone. Sliding the sword back into the sheath at his back, he looks up into the sky for a moment and then nods faintly. "Thank you for the lesson, Shinigami-san." He then turns to head back to his group at the tournament, he'd have to clean off the tar later. What a story this would make to his friends later. They'd never believe him.
