Fuma - Stich in Time, Saves Nine

Fuma was busy with using the tape he had to close up the wounds when he heard Jinbanyan yell about Skaarl coming. He heard footsteps and said to the Jiganshi, "This will hurt for a moment. Don't worry, everything will be fine just stay still and bite on this." Fuma then got up and unsheathed the Hadoken and with a swift strike sliced the bear trap in half, causing a cut in the Jianghsi's foot, but freed her leg. She yelped as Fuma began to quickly apply more tape, once he did he layed her down on the ground. "I'll be but a moment, don't worry." He said running up to his companion with Katana in two hands, he was ready for them. Even though the odds didn't seem to be in their favor, without the Hadoken's full power there was no way he could stand up to such a mighty force. He stayed himself, scarlet hair flowing in the wind as the Djin Armor's face lit up with pure sadistic delight. The brushes in front of the duo shook with tensity as the warrior's eyes squinted, finally the brushes parted and heavy footsteps began to sound through the clearing. However what Fuma saw wasn't Skaarl. Instead making it's way through the bush was something a little bit larger, something from another world.

From the brush emerged a large bull headed creature. As it stepped forward the sound of it dragging something could be heard, when it fully emerged the creature was revealed. Lavender skin, red eyes, a large halberd requiring two hands of its musclebound body. It spiked the weapon into the ground and let out a bellowing roar. Standing about twice Fuma's size was a Minotaur, the Jiangshi hyperventilated as Fuma grasped his sword. It began, the Minotaur quickly swung his halberd down on the ground as the warrior rolled to avoid it. Fuma countered with an acute cut to the Minotaur's chest region and it stumbled backward as Fuma pulled out a small black object from his pauldron. Quickly Fuma threw one shuriken which split into three which the Minotaur spun it's axe around to deflect most of them. It proceeded to jump up and flew downwards with his axe, Fuma quickly raised his sword and focused. The clash of metal and the sound of armor being pierced. The axe had dented Fuma's shoulder a bit, the Djin Armor cackled as Fuma quickly swung his sword above his head and stabbed frontward right into the beast's chest. Quickly the warrior threw another 3 shurikens, each of them stabbing into the back of the Minotaur and making him bleed out. In anger it slammed it's fist backward and Fuma was sent tumbling backward.

Still grasping his sword the warrior swung it around himself and dashed forward he was running with his sword next to him, in his eyes was not bloodlust but instead calculation. The beast roared a guttural roar and swung his axe around him, the huge weapon cut the air as it almost hit the warrior who did the unthinkable and slid on the ground. Quickly Fuma brought his right foot on the ground and with one sideways slash with a kiai appeared on the other side of the Minotaur. "Ī shōbu*." (Good Match*.) Fuma said as for a moment the Minotaur was stunned. The next moment a crimson liquid spurted out of a perfect diagonal line, the sound of parting flesh and the beast's upper torso was split off it's lower body. The Minotaur's legs fell down lifeless and it's axed spiked into the ground, Fuma with eyes open spun the Hadoken around and sheathed it. Quickly he ran back to the Jiangshi who was shocked by the display, he held out his hand and with her eyes beaming got up onto his back.

"Let's get out of here while the going's good Jinbanyan." Fuma said looking at his companion "We need to move, she's still bleeding out and who knows where Kled is?"

CHOMP!

Right onto the yokai's poor little tails did a bear trap snap onto ((Red Spotlight)). Not vicious enough to severely harm or even cut them off, but strong enough to keep a good hold the poor things. It must have been one of his idle traps, until the rope it was attached to shook violently across the ground. Following the rope showed it connected to a thick, rotting log. Leaning against it, unfortunately, was the small warrior once more. The bane of the endless forest, it's owner in fact:

Kled.

"Ahem," The yordle rubbed his fist against his chest-plate as a rather large lizard skipped it's way up to him. It carried scroll in it's jaws, and obediently dropped it into his friend's waiting hand. He rolled it open, ".... your rule has no room in my- Dang nabbit- Skarll! This is the one for the fancy pants! Ah forget it." Kled threw the scroll behind himself. The paper fluttered down the large, steep hill that the log balanced unevenly on. The slope stretched for so long that the bottom was obscured in a shadowy fog. "I'll just improvise, you dumb lizard."

"Cat-thingy ma-bob! Your rule has no room in my land- Wait, no, that's fancy pant's scroll. Alright. You! Skarll's been cravin' somethin' that ain't turtle meat, and you're fittin' the description! There's only so many taco offerin's one can take before they get sick of em'. So, we're tryin' something new! Red Cat Meat Pancake! You see, your rule has no room- GAH! My head's all stuck! No more wastin' time."

With one swift back kick, the log staggered and plummeted down the steep hill. Skarll skipped back at the sudden movement. The rope quickly connecting it with the bear-trap, and Jibanyan, tightened.

Jibanyan could only look at Fuma with a gaze full of reverence and respect after he took down the minotaur, a small part of him embarrassed that he didn’t catch on to its presence before it made its appearance. He knew from the get-go that Fuma would do most of the fighting and seeing him showcase his skills up close was quite exhilarating, barring the predictably gory end of the unlucky minotaur who had to cross his path. He wished he could be as strong, but, for now, the cat Youkai knew it shouldn’t be the focus of his thoughts.

"Roger, nyan!" he replied, but just before he could climb back up onto Fuma’s shoulder, a loud snap and a tightening force on his tails caused the cat to flinch.

Looking down, Jibanyan let a frightening scream as he realized that not only had Kled caught up, he had also caught him as an additional insult to injury. While the white Yordle babbled about his own set of rules, Jibanyan tried to pry his tails off, but to no avail; the bear trap had him dead in its grasp. At least it didn’t actually injure his tails, but that of was little solace for the Youkai, who promptly balked at the idea of going from spirit to food. "Please don't, nyan! I-I don't think I will taste good, nyan!" the cat nervously stammered. After all, he wasn't sure if Skaarl's body was made to digest spirit, but he wasn't going to find out…

… because Kled, after all was said, promptly send a wood tumbling down the slope behind him, a wood that happened to be connected to the bear trap and, consequently, him.

"NYAAAAAAA!" With an undignified scream and eyes wide with shock and fear, Jibanyan found himself being dragged by the tails down the steep slope, the red cat Youkai promptly vanishing into the ever-present fog. Not even the aquamarine ember on the tips of his tails could be seen amidst the grey blanket.



Jinx’s grin grew wider as she watched Sans take a tumble on the ground before picking himself and his poor Blaster, and running as fast as his bony legs could carry him. Now that he was off his faster mode of transportation, she was slowly able to close the gap between them; he’s still too far for her to shoot accurately though and she wasn’t going to risk firing wildly in the forest lest she wanted to let Kled know she’s coming for a visit. "I almost feel guilty about this," she remarked to Shiro.

The white familiar was about to say something in response when she picked up the sound of an angry, green-hatted Italian running after them. Turning around to get a better look, Shiro could tell that Jinx’s latest nickname for Mr. L hadn’t gone unnoticed and he was now out for blood. With a chatter, she alerted Jinx about the incoming moustached man who was clearly ready to brawl; the readhead, after taking a glance behind her free shoulder, mentally debated on whether she could just entertain the man’s tantrum or stay on her objective and go after Sans. A moment of deliberation later, she opted to hold off on teaching the angry Italian that it wasn’t a good idea to give chase to a woman with cosmic guns at her disposal.

"Eh, Signore Moustache can wait," Jinx nonchalantly remarked to Shiro. "I’d say the risk of Sans killing anyone by food poisoning and his little Blasters is much greater than the risk of angry pasta-eater venting his frustration on me by the time he catches up."

With that, Jinx tried to pick up her pace with Kuro on her shoulder. It remained questionable how a young girl like her could run with little trouble while carrying a giant rocket launcher on her shoulder or, alternatively, a sizeable minigun; not even the trio bothered to wonder about that, but Jinx simply chalked it up to practice and habit.

The hefty wilderness reclamation robot was in a state of ponderment as he witnessed three people begin to chase after each other, first it was the Sheriff, then the Otaku and finally the L'ster. What is all this about, I mean the L'ster just went off swearing what could this mean unless... It hit him and suddenly he stumbled over, the sound of a chicken bawking accompanied his fall. On the ground he raised one finger up and a figurative cartoonish light bulb appeared above his head again. Quickly he went over to the librarian Goomba and took out a spare helmet, he placed it upon her head and said solemnly: "Wait here. I have buisness to attend to but rest assured I'll be right back to pick you up." As quickly as he said that Gutsman was hoping back home, new idea in his head. Quickly he ran into the garage on the side of GUTS HOUSE, he began to suit up in the appropriate gear. A pair of aviators given to him by Protoman on top of the toolbox, he put them on and gave himself a thumbs up in the mirror. He grabbed another scarf that Fuma had crotched him and tied it tightly around his neck. He then grabbed possibly the most important item to complete his set up, a liscence plate that he magnetized to his back. It was a metropolis one, and it read "UGOTGUTS". He was ready, ready to show all these other cats how a real hombre raced.

But before that, he had to go eat another bowl of PowerBolts™. He couldn't race on an empty stomach, finally it came time to use it- a creation he had thought up of a week ago but had never actually had plans to use it. But now it was time. He got on the driver's seat, a sleek yellow and blackish husk glimmered in the faint light of the garage. Metool helmet hubcaps, a solitary light, a back seat, all terrain drive and mean V14 powered up engine. Eh, I can always make another one for Chargeman anyhow. He won't need it for now. He put his giant hands up on the handlebars, a grin making it's way across his face as he revved up the engine. The garage opened and the dusk light billowed in to reveal the gleaming light of the triple bulb. He kicked the kickstand upwards as the motor revved again, he then proceeded in the most non-attention drawing way ever to peel out and do a wheelie as the rest of the motorcycle slammed on the ground. Lighting up his face was a gleaming smile as he barreled down the road, kicking up a dustcloud as the garage closed from behind him. As the speedy sumo-heavyweight robot perfectly turned the curb a small version of "El Jarabe Tapatio" (Mexican Hat Dance) played as a horn, suprised onlooker watched as he sped down Home's streets.

As he neared it his original spot he thought, Boy, driving sure is boring without any other noise than the engine... Oooh! I know, how about some tunes? Quickly he turned a small dial in front of him on a square box, the music began: "I AM... I AM ALL OF ME-" No. He turned it: "Get your motor runnin', *Guitar Riff* head out on the highwa-" No. "Cruisn' on the main street-" No! "Got to plan my dispersal... TIME TO LEAVE THEM ALL BE-" Come on I know it's in here somewhere... Finally he found it, trumpets echoing from the radio and a calm and collecting voice saying: "I think it's time we blow this scene... Everybody start together.." There we go. The bike screamed past the main street and with a screech, came to a stop in front of the Goomba. "Alright I told ya I'd be back. Hurry and get on! There's no time to waste!" He quickly grabbed the Goomba and placed her on the backseat, "Alright bookworm hold on to your hat, because we're about to win this race, with Guts and GLORY!" With that the robot revved the motorcycle again and like a bat out of hell, sped down the streets after everyone else. Soon they would all hear the roar of the Gutsycle's engine behind them.

Breathing heavily, Sans was tiring out. He wasn't sure he could flee for much longer; Without either getting lost, or passing out. As the skeleton continued forward, he kept a brave face; His bag over his shoulder, and blastie next to his chest. He wasn't giving up now; Not while he had the will to do the legwork to find the others, and escape Jinx's wrath.

But, suddenly, the skeleton heard a snap.

"What-"

Sans didn't even finish; Eyes catching the log swinging from the trees, he did the only thing he had time to do; Turn and make sure his little companion was safe as he quickly braced himself for impact.

WHAM

The log slammed against Sans' spine, sending him flying through the trees curled up like a ball. While this blasted him ahead of Jinx, it was extremely painful and the landing wasn't going to be pretty. As he descended towards the ground, Sans kept his bag of tacos in front of his little blastie to prevent it from being harmed; The weapon being between the bag and Sans himself. He met the ground head-first, the sound of his skull cracking was loud and ear-piercing as he flipped over, slamming his back onto the ground before rolling a few more feet, finally stopping face-up.

Slowly, his arms fell limp to his sides; Allowing for his little companion to slip out and look at him; Noticing he was out cold. His skull was cracked over his left eye, the wound not looking pretty. But even with that, the blastie found it had bigger problems.

Sans had, somehow, managed to land in front of Kled. It was uncertain if the skeleton was dead, or severely injured, but for the moment, he was no help to anybody. A bag with a few tacos laid on his stomach, and that was it.



Back where Sans had gotten launched, his other Gaster Blaster was freaking out; Spinning in circles, panicking. It wouldn't even notice Jinx as she approached unless she said something. It's frantic movements and worried eyes expressed something had gone terribly wrong.



"Um, okay...?" Goombella replied, unsure of what Gutsman was planning. The goomba simply waited, figuring she'd trust him to come back. But what were they going to do? They weren't joining this chase too, were they? No. That couldn't be it. Gutsman wasn't that crazy; why would he get involved with all of this nonsense, when there was work to be done? And what was with the helmet?

As Goombella heard the revving motorcycle, she came to the realization that this entire town was truly insane.

"Please, no." She begged quietly, turning to notice Gutsman riding a motorcycle. She sighed, unable to even be surprised; Sure, why not? Let's just ride on after them and get into trouble, too! Sounded GREAT.

Being picked up like a stuffed animal in a crane game, Goombella blinked as she was placed on the back of the motorcycle. "Gutsman, I didn't even ask for a ride! And half of them aren't even racing; GUTSMAN!! Whatareyou-" She didn't manage words anymore, instead, she started screaming as they flew down the road. This was a TERRIBLE IDEA, and she would bonk Gutsman right now if he wasn't made of metal, and controlling the vehicle. She closed her eyes tightly.