Help? But it was definitely looking like the rest of the group had things settled down now. Hiraku almost felt a little sorry for the giant angry teddy bear, who had more or less been unable to do anything. Ensnared, set ablaze, punched, and then cut? The real monsters were truly the members of the Miura Youth Organization, and all things considered, the blue-haired youth already felt like he had done a good job. After all, he had alerted everyone to evacuate from the area that the teddy bear came from, talked all about what to do and what not to do (even though that was ignored), and TECHNICALLY kept Aoi from doing anything too reckless.

God knows what sort of hijinks she’d be trying to involve herself in if he wasn-

His yellow eyes blinked. What. She wanted to get somewhere high?

“Uh…………”

Hiraku knelt down on one knee, before patting his shoulders, motioning for her to sit on them.

“….okay?”

Well, there was no sense stopping now just because his target had changed from a giant teddy-bear to some sort of centipede-looking corruption-thing, at least not in Tenchi's mind. He just leaped way up towards the emerging centipede monster and started winding his fist up in a windmilling motion as he soared through the air. If it was just some sort of monster physically controlling this giant stuffed bear- could it have been some sort of festival grand prize?- then giving it a good, solid punch should help stop it.

On the other hand, if it was actually a manifestation of spiritual corruption...well honestly, with the particular nature of his arm and its' ability to interact with magic, Tenchi should still be able to solve the problem by punching it! As he came within impact range though, Tenchi realized he'd forgotten something of vital importance! He had to call out his attack before he used it, or at least that's what his dad had always told him! Tenchi wasn't really a big fan of his father, but if there was one thing he had to admit the man knew, it was monster hunting. But...Tenchi's attacks were usually just punches, this one didn't have a name. He had to think of something, anything to shout out while he punched it.

"Um, take this you oversized bug! My...um...Takoyaki Bomber!"

As she played her purifying spell on Heaven's Note, a strange boy ran up to her babbling about something relating to her exorcism powers. Hotaru was confused, making her song slower and weaker for a moment as she tried to understand.

Then, just like that he ran off, shouting to stop him if 'something went wrong.' Hotaru hadn't a clue what he meant, but figured it must not be something she had to worry about too much.

Her eyes shot up to the bear as a stuffed limb was sliced off, falling to the ground with a soft thud. From the open hole where the appendage once was stitched, a bug like shadow crawled out, swaying in the wind.

There!

Heaven's Note was put sloppily back in her belt as she pulled another ofuda out. Hotaru had used so much energy already, an exorcism might... well, she couldn't worry about that now. She had to put every last drop of spiritual strength she had left into this talisman!

The priestess held it between her palms, whispering a prayer to the paper slip. A golden light emanated from her palm into the ofuda, the talisman itself beginning to glow bright like a ray of sunlight. She put the piece between her index and middle finger, the paper seeming to be made out of the heavenly light as her brown eyes focused on the creature. Hotaru waited patiently, so she would be able to accurately hit it.

"Evil spirit, I banish you back to the realm from which you came. Leave and do not return!"

Hotaru threw the talisman, it looking more like a glowing orb as it shot directly towards the shadowy bug, as if magnetized to the evil it harnessed. As soon as it touched the spirit, it would shine even brighter, almost blindingly as it attempted to banish the spirit.

@vitavitaar@dblade26

Shiki gritted his teeth, still chanting the exorcism spell, as the beast finally revealed itself as what it really was. The moment was ripe for a finisher move, but the young summoner knew that if his concentration faltered for the briefest moment, the Kegare would lash out at the others, so he steeled himself and gritted his teeth, and kept chanting the exorcism, his eyes peering into the scene.

He pulled more Ofudas, his concentration almost achieving his maximum. They really needed to finish the exorcism. Just a little more... Out of the corner of the eye he noticed the other exorcist. She really was doing her best, wasn't she? So he tossed an Ofuda at her.

"Transfer" He muttered inbetween the chant, as he gritted his teeth and redoubled his effort, now split between finishing the exorcism and sustaining his comrade's strength.

By the time he neared the giant teddy bear he was as large as a small car and moving nearly as fast as one. With a growl that echoed through the district he tackled it with his shoulder and latched on with his teeth, tearing away at it's opposite shoulder.

Aoi stared at Hiraku for a few moments, before she put the obvious together and realized that he was motioning for her to come up on her shoulders. Swiftly, she shook her head, her ears bobbing as she waved her hands to make it as clear as possible that wasn't what she meant.

"No, no! I mean..." Aoi trailed off for a moment, looking around. She had to get somewhere higher up...! "I need to get up somewhere, because I think I can feel where the bad things that are inside that teddy bear are coming from!"

It was a bit of an inelegant description, but that's how it felt to the Satori. It wasn't anything particularly that could be called specific, but instead felt like some sort of all-encompassing spiritual corruption, some sort of malignance that did not actually have any will of its own. It was just... there. But it was... it was thoughts and feelings, in a way. And she felt like it was coming from somewhere! If she could get up high, quickly enough, then she might just be able to pinpoint where it was...!

@ERode

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Makiko placed her hand on her sword once more, as the centipede of darkness writhed. As it thrashed and began to turn towards her, it was suddenly hit with a heavy blow from the front. The teddy bear reeled from the blow, finally falling onto its back, the centipede viciously thrashing. Where its writhing limbs struck, darkness spiderwebbed out through the concrete. Even though it was slowly losing form as the exorcisms took effect, something was keeping it from being vanquished as quickly as one would expect. It was even starting to pull its way free from the teddy bear...!

Taking initiative, Makiko sprinted forward, raising her katana as the red aura trailed after her hand. The the blink of an eye, she thrust it downwards and through the centipede, striking the concrete and pinning it in place!

"Get it out of here as fast as you can!" she called to the exorcists.

@Dblade26@Cherrywitch@AtomicNut@TheFake

"Yes! Direct hit!"
A sudden jolt of joy struck in the priestess' heart as she watched the exorcism ofuda work and begin to disintegrate the black centipede. Hotaru was feeling a little dizzy after expelling so much energy, and was about to collapse on the floor to relax when something caught her eye. Ofuda, but not of her own.

The miko tensed, afraid she was unable to react quickly enough with such depleted spiritual energy. Instead of an attack as she had expected, however, Hotaru was greeted with a friendly transfer spell that leaked warm energy back into her tired muscles. The brunette paused, her chocolate eyes floating gently to the person who sent her the strength, offering a gentle and thankful— albeit shy— smile to the other exorcist. It was at least enough to keep her going, but the battle was over now...

Or, so she thought. When refocusing on the dark spirit, Hotaru's eyes widened. It... it should have been banished after such an exorcism! How is it still here?! Her shock made her frozen, mouth parted in confusion.

By then, Inugami and Nure had returned to her, both transforming back into their human appearances.
"My lady... the spirit is still alive, even if just barely."
"How come? Did your ofuda not work? That thing should be long dead by now after one of your exorcisms!"

Hotaru stopped, holding a pale slender hand to her throbbing forehead and squeezing her eyes shut to think. "I-I don't know... It should have been banished, unless..." The soft eyes snapped open in realization. "Unless its being manipulated by another force! That's it! We have to find who is controlling this spirit, I may be able to track it. Nure, you stay here and keep the spirit contained while Inugami brings me to the higher spirit." As she spoke, Inugami returned to his huge wolf form and allowed Hotaru to sit sideways in a lady like fashion upon his back by bowing low for her.

"Man, why do I have to stay behind?! Ugh, fine, since you asked me, Princess~" The blonde took her hand with a wink and was about to kiss it before the wolfhound spirit threateningly went to snap at the watersnake spirit, making Nure shoot him an annoyed look.

Hotaru wrapped her arms around the scruff of Inugami's neck, holding on tight so as not to fall off. With a quick huff in her direction to make sure she was secure, the wolf-dog bounded off at quick speeds, doing his best not to jostle the priestess as they headed towards the source of the wicked magic.

@VitaVitaAR@AtomicNut