[IC] Chasers: Boundary of the Crimson Sky

[Kindos]

Ketsui's attention immediately snapped to the knife sticking out of door by his head after he hear the thud sound in his left ear. His eyes shifted to focus on the woman who had thrown the knife. Her aura is dangerous, and its that of a Youkai. Yet not one hostile enough to be marked as a target. He continued to focus on her, slowly pushing a blade like bone from his left forearm concealing it in his hand. He masked his face with a kind smile while looking to the woman, closing his eyes slightly with the smile. "Oh come on now, there's no need for such actions, its not polite to throw knives at people you don't know." He would say to her in a joke like manner.

Soon after a man stood up to confront Ketsui as well. He looked at the man in surprise at first, but the look of surprise soon turn into a smile again when he noticed the hamsters lined up on his arm. Well aren't those the cutest little things." wiggling the index finger of his right hand, before adding. "Surely there wont be need for any kind of fight. Although, you... just like the lady over there, have terrible manners as well." Ketsui moved his right hand to the back of his neck, seeming to grip on it. He was actually grabbing down on his spinal cord, waiting to pull it out to use as a bone whip.

Finally a second woman had come up to him, only this time it was in a much different manner. Ketsui looked to her, but couldn't believe what he was feeling. Her aura it was devastating with a lot of strength, so much so it caused him to drop his kind act for a more serious tone. "I swear to god! none of you have any kind of manners towards people... is this really how you great everybody? why the hell would anyone want to come here!" He say in an irritated manner, pulling his spine from his back to have hang beside him in his right hand, pushing the blade more from his skin of his left forearm. That stupid damn sound, I followed it here for this? Really?!"

"My name is Ketsui, why would it to any of you though?" He said as he glared at each of the three who had acted hostile towards him in any kind of way.

(Had to edit it because I accidental hit post when it wasn't done being written.)

[XLegs]

Yuuma gave Shiina a slightly sheepish smile as he accepted the cup of tea from her. It always made him feel a little strange when she referred to him as 'Master,' but he knew it was just a role she was playing. She seemed to enjoy it, so he never complained -- and it's not really like he disliked it. "'Evening, Shiina. And thank you," he replied simply, his voice a touch softer than usual.

Eos came up to him, asking if he needed to be served. He smiled easily and held up his cup. "Thank you, Eos-chan, but I'm taken care of."

He took a sip as he listened to Kazuo, giving him a cheeky grin in response to his words. "Haven't opened a textbook at home in a week." He paused for a moment, deciding to continue before his friend could tell him off. "I'll get to it next chance I have, though. Promise." He glanced over at Shiina, who had just clinked a cup to gather the groups attention. He looked back over at Kazuo out of the corner of his eyes, eyebrows raised and a small smile on his face. "But who knows when that'll be?"

With that, he turned his attention back to Shiina as she began to speak, then to the two strangers -- and finally, to the unfamiliar man who had just walked in, one of Shiina's knives embedded in the door frame next to his head. Yuuma continued sipping his drink, eyeing the newcomer, completely unworried -- anyone who came here meaning harm would face a swift death, so he had no fear.

As he looked on, he noticed that the man's mannerisms were a little strange. Which was normal, Yuuma supposed -- the guy was getting threatened and had just nearly had his forehead impaled.

His insult, delivered in a painfully forced, cheery manner, irked Yuuma. Yamato may have been a little ill-mannered, what with his 'evil overlord' act, but the guy was genuinely a good person. And of course, any insult directed towards Shiina probably pissed Yuuma off more than it did her. And then the guy showed some hostility, finally prompting Yuuma to act.

Downing the remaining half of his tea, he placed the cup down and took a few sure steps forward. "Those two 'terribly mannered' people have good reason for their actions, Ketsui-san," he said steadily, meeting the man's gaze with his easy smile. "So put your, uh... spine away. Like you said yourself, there's no need to fight. And any fight that does break out will end poorly for no one else but you." The robed young man didn't say that as a threat, rather he said it as a fact, in warning.

Just as Yuuma was about to formally introduce himself, he stopped, brow furrowing as he looked past Ketsui, out through the front windows. Something was wrong. He stepped around Ketsui, interest in the spine-wielding man completely gone.

Yuuma could feel it -- Youkai invading the world close by, which likely meant someone was in danger. He used his mana to strengthen his legs and feet in anticipation. His face showing his intense focus, he took a step towards the door and heard the scream. Reacting instantly, he crouched and blasted himself forward, knocking over a chair and table that had been near him. He blew by Kelin and through the cafe's open door, skidding across the pavement on his feet and slowing down as he lost momentum. As he slid, he turned himself towards the sound, once again strengthening his legs and expelling the built up mana violently out of his feet, sending himself flying down the street.

[KoL]

"I see, I'm sorry, then..." Eos answered as Yuuma refused her, and just a few moments later run out of the Café like hurricane. The electric princess was starting to feel disheartened after not being able to perform her job properly even once tonight. With so many people around, why was it so difficult for her to find a single guest? She thought while still largely ignoring the commotion at the storefront.

It was then that Eos saw a couple about to get come into the store and, gripping her notepad tightly, went to meet with them before any of the other girls could do it. On a second glance they were quite a strange couple, relatively tall wearing stylish clothes and his hair in dreadlocks tied into a ponytail, along with girl dressed in a bloodstained, blue coat.

"Irasshaimase! Let me help you to a table, Goshujin-sama." Eos said as she guided the couple to at a privileged spot near the small stage where she gave her performances. Her precious guitar was lying on a stand along a few other instruments that other girls played in their indie band, the Dangeki Electric Girls.

Before they sat at the table, however, Eos said, "Are you hurt, miss? Here, let me take your coat, please" After the girl's answer, Eos then addressed them both again, [color=0aeeff]"Would you like to see our couple's menu? Our recommendation is the passion fruit crepes, they are absolutely a must have for a couple as charming as you."

After that Eos stood on guard with her notepad in hand, this time for sure she would score some guests, while the other ones were still involved with the strange boy holding his spine at the door.

---

@Spriggs27@CannedBread

[Pudding]

Meanwhile... In the storage closet...
"*Snore* Zzz.. Fishies everywhere... Such a big yaaarn ball, nya...*Snore*Zzzz.."
Tico had decided to sneak away from the cafe for a few moments, she had been running around on all fours today to keep up with the pace of customers coming in. Working was a pretty foreign concept for this cat, who's ever heard of an otherworldly cat becoming a maid? She only got to sleep for a few moments, curled up on top of a wooden crate, until a unusual noise woke her up. By unusual, it referred to how it was not intended for normal people to hear. Both being an alarm clock and a sign that she would begin her 'second job' soon. Stretching before leaving the storage closet, she got on all fours and leaped off the crate.

Opening the door from the inside, she entered the main cafe area to be greeted with a plentiful amount of seemingly friendly characters. She knew that most of them were her comrades and fellow cosplay cafe employees' but she couldn't really remember all if their names. Because of this, she quickly scattered over to her good friend... Well, she couldn't really decide, so she made a rather loud statement.

After seeing a strange feller run out the front door, her ears twitched and tail moved, she walked up to the strange pair who had apparently been fighting.
"Playing with internyal body bones is against cafe policy, nya! It's like, something a dog would do! Please put it away, you'll frighten away our customers"

[Stormlight3]

Kelin watched the strangest procession of people move about the Cafe as he ate his Chipotle while standing outside. First, a man with dreadlocks and a blood-soaked woman appeared almost as if out of thin air. But surely, it was just a trick of the light. Next, a young child pressed his face to the glass of the cafe as if peering inside then darted away quickly. The man standing in the doorway appeared to have pulled his spine out of his back. Kelin shook his head from awe and more than a little bemusement. Chasers were a weird bunch. But, so too am I

Kelin finished his meal and was throwing the foil into a nearby garbage can when he heard the blood-curdling scream of a young child echo in the alleys of the town. A blur of a man raced out of the Cafe and ran down a side street. Kelin barely had time to recognize him as Yuuma, a fellow chaser, before instincts took over and he followed the man. Kelin quickly fell behind as Yuuma seemed to run far faster than any average man should be able to. Cursing softly, Kelin started turning his skin to Iron and felt the accompanying rush of strength and speed. It felt good, oh so very good, to use his powers.

Kelin started to catch up to the man in front of him, intent on following the source of the screams. He could see a convenience store ahead, it sounded as if they should be getting closer to the source but still Kelin could see no one who appeared to be in any danger. But then Kelin heard a sound, interwoven with the child's noises, a ghastly howling. A familiar howling. Cursing with recognition, the man yelled up to Yuuma in front of him "It's coming from the Crimson!"

Kelin racked his mind for places nearby from where one could enter the Crimson World but he wasn't familiar with this area and knew of no-Everything turned red. He had stumbled upon an entryway. There, just ahead lay a child with what looked like a pack of Youkai Hounds eager to rip into him.

(@XLegs)

[Kindos]

Ketsui looked to the boy who approached him with a smile. His gaze was there on the boy for sometime as he listened to what he said. As much as Ketsui didn't want to agree with him, the boy was right. Between the three of those he reacted to, they each had monstrous auras. Just going up against one at a time would prove to be difficult let alone the three of them at once. Ketsui shifted his eyes away from the boy, looking off to the side away from him. By the time Ketsui looked back up form the ground, he heard a scream from outside and the boy was gone.

Wanting to go investigate the source of the scream Ketsui was approached by a cat like Youkai woman. He looked at her for a moment and his serious tone was overcome by a small smile and a chuckle. "You're right, what was I thinking. That is very dog'ish of me, since you asked so nicely I'll certainly oblige by the rules. My apologies, I would not like to frighten any of your customers. Although by the looks of all their auras, it seems as though this may not be something that would scare them." Never the less Ketsui clenched his right fist causing the bone whip to disintegrate into dust, putting his hands up he would pull the bone blade from sticking out of his left forearm back into his skin. Setting his hands back down to his sides, Ketsui would send his left hand into his pocket and pull out the three baoding balls, beginning to spin them around in his hand. "I appreciate the way you decided to approach me on the matter, I'll be sure not to play with my bones in the cafe again." He said with a smile, tilting his head to the side.

With the baoding balls in his hand, Ketsui seemed to be more relaxed as if his whole demeanor had changed entirely. He looked back to the woman who had thrown the knife when he first walked in to the cafe. Wanting to have said something smart, he refrained from doing so. Instead he took a deep breath and spoke up. "You asked what my business here is, well let me answer that for you now." His eyes would shift to the man with the hamsters on his arm, then back to the scarlet woman. "I heard an interesting sound when I was on my way to my favorite crossing point. The sound was intriguing so I felt as though I needed to find the source of it... Then Bam! I'm here, to be met with a knife by my head. Now I ask must ask a question of my own. What are more than one Youkai doing here in this dimension? I mean you don't hide your auras well... I don't mean that in any disrespect but you don't..." Ketsui would simply stand there after that, spinning the baoding balls around each other in his left hand awaiting a reply.

[Spriggs27]

Besides the knife sticking out of the door frame, Eiko thought that the cafe was like any other perverted cafe in Japan, then a woman approached her and the Dreadlocked man, before Eiko could speak the woman guided them to a table and took Eiko's coat asking if Eiko was okay even though Eiko protested for her not to do it, the woman still did it and hung it up on a coat rack, with out her coat she was revealing her tight, black full body suit, with her cobalt colored robotic right arm." I didn't need to you take my coat." Eiko sounded a little angered, then the woman asked if they would like the couple's menu.

" No, we're not a couple, just two people." Eiko sounded a little angered. The feeling of not having her coat made Eiko feel a little naked, the full body suit almost made her feel like she was nearly in nothing due to the tight feel of the suit, the woman then pulled out a note pad trying to take an order."I don't have any money so I don't want anyth-" Suddenly before Eiko could finish there was the scream of an adolescent child, Eiko jumped up from the table and saw the other two guys run out of the cafe to help the child, ran over to her coat and grabbed her small machine gun, she pulled back on the lever of the machine gun and caught up to the two men, passing by the slower one to catch up to the man that was following the sound, she stopped next to him and looked at the other guy who was trying to catch up to the other guy and now her." Where's the child at ?" Eiko asked.

[Ariamis]

Ikkime's threat only caused Yamato's smile to widen, and his eyes to focus on her even more intently, his interest in the spirited woman even more piqued. "The crouching tiger bares her teeth at the hidden dragon. Marvelous."

Kazuo was one of the few Chasers who actually respected Yamato despite his eccentrics, and thus Yamato also showed respect back to him. "Upon my travels across the five realms, I have never encountered a creature of that description. You have been most fortunate to have seen such a rarity. If it indeed takes the form of papyrus, then it must be untouchable by blade or bullet. If I were to encounter such a fiend, I would incinerate it with fire, for that must be its true weakness."

His Evil Eye spotted a child staring at them through the window for a passing moment, but he ignored it, for harmless children were beyond his concern, and he was occupied with the stranger, who turned out be like a demon. His interest was piqued at the flesh arts that the one who has identified itself as Ketsui wielded. He was no mere mortal, and in fact mocked him openly, a travesty Yamato would not allow to pass unchallenged.
"These 'cute little things' are the Four Dark Devas of Destruction, as mortals speak of their true names in hushed whispers of dread. Speak ill of them once more, and they shall feast on you, Flesh Devil."

Yuuma, or the White Wizard as Yamato called him, went to speak with Ketsui. The bone-wielding human was then approached by a feline girl who also worked at the cafe. While he didn't care for ditzy and saccharine personalities like her, the animal-like qualities she showed in her mannerisms, speech and appearance made her likable to Yamato. She managed to calm this 'Ketsui' down, and seeing that the situation was now resolved, Yamato had his remaining hamsters retreat back into the safety of his purple scarf. It was only now that he noticed a dreadlocked man and a blood-stained woman, who entered the cafe while his attention was diverted by Ketsui. Yamato's eye followed the woman, but once he saw the ugly thing that replaced one of her arms he found himself conflicted; he found the mechanical arm to be a perversion of natural beauty. Still, the blood that she was soaked in did make Yamato's eyes gleam; a woman in crimson red was a sight to behold.

Shortly after that, Yuuma sensed something and flew out of the cafe like a hurricane. Yamato, interested in the discovery that his fellow Chaser has made, followed his frantic path with his Evil Eye, and saw the truth through the illusion of the Crimson Sky: the child he spotted was now attacked by Hell Hounds, a foe he has encountered previously. Knowing their audacity, he decided to aid him.
"San-D, awaken, and run with godspeed to the aid of the Chasers. Rend the Hell Hounds with your fangs of starlight!"

San-D transformed into her true form of Star-Destroyer Grey Fox, and barked as she zipped away faster than any eye could follow, leaving a glowing white trail behind her. She reached the others, ran past them, and leapt at the yokai that dragged the boy away, biting away with unmatched ferocity and agility. Yamato himself followed after the others on foot, prepared to awaken his other Devas if need be.

[Stormlight3]

Kelin barely had time to react as the Fox zipped past him. He frowned slightly. He seemed to be the slowest one around. He didn't give himself much more time to think, leaping forward and helping the fox which appeared to be an ally. He grabbed a Hell Hound by the jaws, his iron skin preventing it's sharp teeth from doing any real damage in the few moments it took Kelin to take advantage of his enhanced strength to fling the dog up into the air. At the same time, he used one of his other powers-that of Gravity-to make the dog go soaring upwards. To the Hell Hound, gravity now pulled him upwards. From experience, Kelin knew his power would run out eventually. The dog would keep falling upwards for close to fifteen minutes, before it finally came crashing down.

Kelin next threw a leg into the midst of bodies to sweep as many Hell Hounds as he could away. Two more of them were caught in this blow, pushed forcefully to the side. Other hounds moved forward quickly to assume their place in the attack. But it gave Kelin the moment he needed to pick up the small child and shield him in his arms.

[Spriggs27]

As Eiko watched both the fox and the man attack the dog like creatures, Eiko wondered where they were coming from as the large guy grabbed the child they arrived to save." Take the kid to the cafe !" She ordered him to go back." He could get hurt in the fight !" She continued to order Kelin. Then one of the Hell Hounds charged right at her, but she just jumped over it and dodged it, she fired a couple silenced rounds into the beast only angering it and making it jump at her, Eiko grabbed the beast with her robotic arm and gave it a shock then threw it onto the ground." What are you waiting for go ! " She yelled at Kelin.

[TheWendil]

Shiina was unfazed in the slightest as the newcomer promptly replied with snide remarks along with latching his spine out, or at least attempting to. She was old enough for things like this to fail to surprise her and she had even seen the boy try conceal the bone blade through his arm. Again, she was much too experienced for something like that to elude her gaze.

Thankfully, the combined efforts of Ikkime, Yuuma, and even Tico were enough to bring the boy to his senses. The maid really didn’t want to have Ikkime clean the place when they had just polished the shop only a few days ago. She then spotted Eos bringing in two new people along with some others following in. Shiina nodded in approval over at the robot. Regardless of confrontations, they still had a job to do.

That came in more ways than one as several Chasers sensed the presence of the young boy and thus left in their dramatic as always fashion to save the human soul. Shiina said nothing, only moving to the kitchen in a blur. She trusted the abilities of her comrades to protect the boy and deal with the houndish Youkai. No, she was preparing for the aftermath of that battle.

The boy would no doubt be scared beyond belief and it would take some coping to keep his mind intact. She had spent enough time with Yuuma to know how to deal with such a situation. Sure enough, the vampire was back in mere moments at the counter. A plate of freshly reheated cookies along with a warm vanilla milkshake with a cheery rested in her grip, ready to serve to the boy.

“The sound you heard was a call for the Chasers in this City,” she finally answered Ketsui, her eyes reverted back to their ice blue hue. “A Chaser is someone who knows the truth that lies beyond the edge of every corner, within the back alleys where the light never shines and above the rooftops where the night wind howls fiercely.”

She then moved to give the newcomer a milkshake of his own, albeit this one was chocolate with no cherry.

“It is the Chaser that protects the human realm from the Crimson Sky young Master Ketsui. The world which breeds monstrous Youkai. Those that seek to cause desolation and gorge themselves on the flesh of humans.”

Despite the boy’s rather rude attitude, Shiina remained calm and as polite as ever. Now that the threat of his coming had passed, she dashed to retrieve her knife before being by his side again.

“Have you come to join our group? Or would you like something to perhaps fill your stomach, Master Ketsui?”

[XLegs]

Yuuma looked back as he ran, seeing Kelin and an unfamiliar girl close behind him. As the girl asked him where the kid who needed help was, a white blur passed them -- one of Yamato's hamsters. Good, whoever it was that was in danger, they wouldn't be for much longer.

He took another quick look at the girl, choosing to not speak and simply motioned for her to follow him with a nod of his head.

Soon enough, they were in the Crimson Sky, a young boy getting dragged away by a pack of Youkai. Eyes widening from the shot of anger he felt, he expelled mana and leapt dozens of feet in the air towards his enemy. Wind rushing by his ears, he strengthened his right fist, before bringing it down like a hammer on one of the dogs as he landed, shattering the creature's skull.

Nearly simultaneously, he reached into his cloak, unsheathing and strengthening the knife that waited on his left hip. Still following through with his overhead blow, he drove the point of the blade into another Hell Hound that had the child in it's jaws. Yelping angrily, it let go and twisted its body, snapping its jaws at Yuuma's neck. Reacting quickly, the robed man brought his already strengthened hand up instantly into the hound's mouth, stopping the creature's furious drive for his vitals. It snapped its jaw closed with enough force to draw blood from his hand, despite the fact it was strengthened. Clicking his tongue at the hot pain, Yuuma forced the mana in his hand out, creating a powerful shockwave directly in contact with the Youkai's head, removing it from its body rather messily.

Seeing Kelin kick two other hound's off the boy and moving to protect him, Yuuma grabbed the two beasts by the scruffs of their necks just as they leapt back at their target. As he felt a third Youkai sink its teeth into his calf, he let out a loud, frustrated curse, turning his body to drive the dog he held in his left hand head-first into the wall next to him. Dropping the lifeless body and reaffirming his grip on his knife, he plunged it into the second Youkai's neck, before tossing that one away too. At the same time, he strengthened his leg and immediately expelled mana from it. The blast rocked the creature that had its teeth in him, causing it to let go and stumble away.

He looked at it with contempt, breathing a little heavy, and picked up a small rock near his feet. "Die, mutt," he spit as he imbued the rock with mana. Winding up, he whipped it at the creature's head, willing it to release its energy the moment it made contact. With yet another loud shockwave, the Youkai fell to ground, dead.

[Stormlight3]

Kelin didn't like being ordered around. But he could see the good sense in what the woman was saying. "I wish you the best of luck in your battle!" He shouted, turning to go. "As if you'll need it. HA!" he added, seeing Yuuma make quick work of at least three Hounds. The last exclamation was not one of laughter, but wry amusement and confidence that the three companions he left behind could handle themselves. He turned quickly, and lunged back through the entryway and into the normal world. He didn't like having the sounds of battle to his back, he was not a coward nor a deserter. But some things were more important than his pride.

The world took on it's usual hues. A familiar blast of an assortment of colors briefly shocking his pupils. They quickly adjusted however as he dashed towards the Cafe. The boy rested in his iron arms, one arm tucked in the crook of the boy's knees and the other cradling his shoulders and neck. He felt a cold breeze on his left leg-the one he had used to kick the hounds. He looked down to see the pants leg in tatters and splattered with blood. They must have tried to rip at it when he kicked them. His skin however hadn't been pierced. The blood was likely from the rather messy deaths of the Youkai he had witnessed. Kelin shifted his gaze, trying to asses the damage done to the boy. Alas, there was a lot of blood splattered from the Hounds and he could not tell how much of it was the boy's. Kelin kept running.

[Kindos]

Ketsui, took a seat and listened to what the woman said, still spinning the baoding balls in his hand. He would take the beverage with a nod and a thank you before pulling the straw to his lips, taking a sip. When the chocolate milkshake hit his taste buds, he closed his eyes immediately for he had never tasted a milkshake so good before. Although enthralled with the wonderful flavors of the beverage, he brought his attention back to the woman speaking. He realized a lot of what she was saying sounded familiar to him, however there were pieces of it that were also completely foreign to him. It made him stop to really think about what it was he was doing. Was he really able to call himself a Chaser when only living up to a little more than half of what was expected, he wondered to himself. He stopped spinning the balls around in his hand and put them away in his pocket.

As soon as the woman was done talking Ketsui stood himself up from his seat and bowed his head slightly. "I must apologize for the way I carried myself earlier. I'm just not used to being caught in situations with anything other than the Stray Youkai. So, if you'd please forgive me I'd be so very grateful." Soon after he would raise his head again. "As for joining your group... I believe if I was able to here the call then there must been a reason behind it. So yes, I will be joining to offer what help I can." He would say before bring the straw to his lips once more, drinking more of the milkshake. Having now finished the beverage, Ketsui folded his arms at his chest with his right legs bouncing on spot, and asked curiously. "What are we to do now?"

[Medjedovic]

Thanking Shiina for the cup of tea she set before him, Ayato took it in his hands and brought to his mouth. Before he took a sip the scent assailed his nostrils and they spread in order to inhale more of the sweet aroma. The pleasant feeling which it invoke in Ayato made him close his eyes as the tea passed his lips. With the exquisite taste spreading through the inside of his mouth he saw himself not in the maid cafe, but on a green hill with wind blowing to his face and the calming sound of swaying trees reaching his ears. Ah... Under her guise of otaku-pandering maid, Shiina was the master at preparing tea and that is why Ayato loved Dangeki.

After what felt like hours Ayato was brought back to reality by a child's scream. He opened his eyes to assess the situation. "Ara?" a sound of surprise escaped him. Things were pleasantly noisy before, but now it seemed they were close to escalating into quite a mess. Ayato scratched the back of his head and looked at the tea cup again. "Was I out of it for that long...?" he murmured to himself. "As expected of Shiina-chan's tea!" He wasn't in any hurry to help the child. Ayato noticed that other Chasers already jumped to help it and, although some of them were unfamiliar to him, he believed that any proper Chaser should be able to deal with a couple of stray Youkai who terrorise children. Thus, he turned his head towards the source of other commotion: the young man who held a spine in his hand ("Is it his?") and the cafe regulars and employees who surrounded him and tried to persuade him to calm down.

Though it seemed as if that situation was defusing, Ayato still decided to involve himself. "Now, now, Shiina-chan, believing that all Youkai are out to get humans is a common beginners mistake," he spoke with a refreshing smile on his face. "Even I used to think like that at the beginning of my Chaser career. It is our duty as senpais to guide him. So let him of the hook this one time, please?"

[KoL]

Kelin was running back towards the café as fast as he could, he already knew that he wasn't the fastest Chaser around and this had never bothered him before, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the return trip was being more long than the coming.

"Ah, good there it's!" He exclaimed as the portal was finally within his sight line. However...

"Wha!?" He shouted as he was stopped dead in his track when three sword-like weapons hit him, all of them aimed at vital spots, nonetheless. Weren't for his steel skin Kelin would probably be laying on the ground in the middle of a pool of his own blood right now. "Show yourself, coward!" He shouted taunting his attacker.

"What a surprise that you survived my first attack", said a man dressed in priestly as he walked out of the shadows of a nearby alley while drawing even more of the same blades from within his coat, "Though, I must admit that I'm disappointed by not being able to meet Yuuma Saito." The man said in a deep voice as he threw yet more blades at Kelin. Different from the first volley these ones were strengthened by the man pumping mana into them, so they sliced clean through Kelin's skin, sending a jolt of pain through his body that almost made he drop the boy.

The Priest

Kelin placed the boy at a safe looking place before turning back to face the man, [color=ffa500]"I don't know who you're, or why you're doing this, but there's a kid in danger here, so if aren't going to let me pass...", he said as he charged in the man's direction breaking the ground below him with the force of his steps, "I'LL HAVE TO TAKE YOU DOWN!" Kelin altered his own gravitational pull to jump about five stories high and then changed it again so that his right fist would come crashing down on the man like a pile driver.

"Shhh..." The priest breathed calmly and assumed a wide fighting stance, amazingly he didn't dodge as Kelin came down on him with about like the iron hammer of god, instead he pumped a inhumanly large (even for chasers standards) amount of mana in his whole body, strengthening every fiber of it and grabbed Kelin's hand with his own in a vice-like grip, the ground below him shattered and a cloud of dust covered the street.

The priest didn't allowed all of the energy from the impact to go to waste tough, he used his own strength against Kelin, twisting his arm around until Kelin forearm almost snapped in half, then he dragged Kelin below, allowing him to complete his fall only for his guts to be met by the priest's knee.

"BLARGH! Who are you, you son of a..." Kelin threw up all of the food that he had ate just a few moments ago as well as large amount of blood from his ruptured internal organs. He was completely surprised by the brutality of the priest's attacks, they didn't even broke his skin, instead sending vibrations through it targeting his internal organs.

Then, the priest turned away as a strange sound, not dissimilar to the Dangeki Chasers' call, sounded through the crimson night, "I'm Ogawa Seijuu -Executor of the Holy Cross-, send my regards to Yuuma Saito. And tell him that the time of joy is upon him," The priest said before jumping a nearby ten stories building in a single bound with his reinforced legs, leaving Kelin to struggle behind.

Meanwhile...

The fight against the hellhounds had finished just few moments ago when Eiko gave the finishing move to the last one of the beasts, the scenario around the remaining group was surreal to say the least. There were at least fifty Soul Stones laying on the ground, their individual value wasn't great, but with this many they would probably score quite a good amount of cash when they bring them back to Chikage.

However, something else worried the Beastmaster Overlord's mind, "An evil omen rides this night's breeze, for this many hellish mastiffs to gather in one single place... it can't be the work of fate alone."

As if on cue of Yamato's words, a voice echoed through night, "You're right, Yamato Ikusaba, or should I call you 'Oath Breaker'? These hounds were but puppets that I used to bait you to this place, thought I didn't expected for this many to come along."

The voice came from high above their heads, when the Chasers looked up to see it's source, they were met with the cold gaze of a mysterious girl dressed in black garments that billowed wildly in the fierce wind of the skyscraper's roof.

The Puppeteer

"What is the meaning of your presence here, Puppenspieler -Master of the Marionettes-, former Beastmaster Overlord Tokusada Orihime? You should have been banished from the Beastmaster Clan for the unspeakable sin of dealing with the dark arts of the Marionetteers."

"You forgot to add, former bride that you've betrayed, Yamato Ikusaba. As for my reason of being here? It's quite simple, I seek revenge against you and against those blind fools that can't see the beauty of my dolls! STREIWAGEN!"

At the girl's call a figure, resembling a mix of human and machine wielding a long sword and gigantic shield, jumped between the Chasers and wheeled her 'feet' with incredible speed at Yamato's direction, swing her blade in an arc meant to behead him in a single sweep.

The Doll

Though before it could even move single feet Star-Destroyer Grey Fox dashed at the speed of wind and grabbed the blade between her fangs, stopping the doll dead in her tracks.

"Hahahaha! How foolish of you to think that such hideous monstrosity would be able to match the power of even one of the Four Dark Devas of Destruction! Star-Destroyer Grey Fox, Rending this abomination to shreds with your fangs of light! You also, my comrade-in-arms, join this fray, for there's bound to be many other tricks in the sleeves of Der Puppenspieler!"

"You didn't even need to tell me this!" Yuuma said as he pumped yet more mana in his legs and gave a roundhouse kick to the Doll's stomach that sent it flying until it smashed against a nearby building.

"Yeah, do you think that we would still while you do all the fighting?" Eiko shouted as she changed her P-90's ammo clip and unloaded a stream of bullets on the Doll, as her master was way past the weapon's effective range.

"And you even dared to get a Puppet of your own after banishing me for it? How dare you call yourself an Overlord, Yamato Ikusaba?" The dark dressed girl shouted in rage. "Streitwagen Angriff!"

"RRRRRRRRRRRR!" The abominable monstrosity howled as it slammed its shield on the ground before getting back up and wheeling again in the Chasers direction, though this time the Doll's eyes started to glow on a maddening red color and it sped up so fast that only Star-Destroyer Grey Fox had any chance to keep up with her, however, this time the Doll was ready for the beast's attack and tackled it with her shield while bringing her blade down on Eiko's direction.

"Oh no, you won't!" Yuuma shouted as he pumped yet more man in his legs passing way his body's limits, making his leg bones almost snap and the blood vessels of his lower limbs burst, however he was able to catch the Doll's blade before it slashed Eiko in half and used the momentum of his dash to throw the mechanical beast several tens of meters in the air. "I was forced to used that bastard's technique again, damn it!" he said before collapsing.

At that time Eiko used the confusion to find a better sniping position and tried t end the fight by shooting the Doll Master, but her bullets were intercepted by the Doll's shield that had been thrown in her direction from a seemingly impossible angle "How come?" Eiko asked just a moment before noting an almost invisible wire attached to the shield. It came down on her and she was crushed against the ground with enough force to cause her mouth to spill blood before she too was knocked out.

Just as things were starting to become really grim, the calling sound echoed through the night, "Streitwagen Rückzug!" The Puppeteer shouted before disappearing from their sights when a flash of red moonlight blinded the Chasers, "Yamato Ikusaba, we shall see each other again. I'll finish what I began here at that time."

Minutes later, bac at the Dangeki Cosplay Café Club...

The Café girls helped the Chasers that went to rescue the boy as they were recovering from their wounds and also had taken care of the boy who was treated and put to sleep in one of the couches. Who could have that something as simple as offing some hellhounds would become such a mess? The same thought ran on everyone's mind.

At that moment another figure got into the Café, this night's MVP, Akane Chikage, had finally arrived.

Chikage

"Oh my, it seems you've raised quite a commotion here, huh Shiina?" Chikage said before taking a good look around the café, then her eyes turned sour and she said, "I... damn! I apologize for being late. You have met them already, haven't you?"

After that Chikage gave the Chasers a little time to recompose themselves before she finally could explain the situation.

---

.@TheWindel@Lvl Down@Stormlight3@XLegs@Spriggs27@Ariamis

[Ariamis]

"I'll have a small plate of the finest water you have, if you would be so kind." As Eos went to fulfill his order, Yamato sat in a corner of the cafe and caressed the fur of San-D, who was sleeping on the table, along with the other hamsters. He had been silent ever since his encounter with a person he didn't dream of ever seeing again, the one who changed his life forever.

"San-D, you were commendable today," he softly spoke to his beloved pets.
"To think that of all the people who walk this earthly realm I would meet her..." Memories of the past flooded back to his mind. They were filled with broken promises, betrayal and ultimately, grief. He wished to see the future that laid before him, but knew that even if he focused all his might, the Evil Eye would stay blinded from his destiny. There was one thing he didn't have to foresee to be absolutely sure about, though; the path before him would be filled with hardships. Nevertheless, he was clear in his conviction.
"Tokusada Orihime, who I once cherished many moons ago...I will deliver judgement upon you, and release you from your madness."

Eos returned, and placed the plate of spring water on the table. The hamsters drank from it enthusiastically. "My Four Dark Devas of Destruction, drink deep of the elixir of life. Sharpen your claws and steel your resolve, for we shall go to war." If he was to be victorious over the shadows of his past, he had to co-operate with the others, for his opponent was also allied with warriors of great strength, as he found out when a wounded Kelin was brought to the cafe. He stood up from his seat, and left his Devas momentarily; even animals needed moments of peace by themselves. He went to check on the young boy. He started speaking to whoever was looking after him there:

"She used this boy as bait...as expected of her. We are not the only ones out there on the hunt; an opposing faction is building in power. And with someone like Tokusada Orihime at their side, they are to be wary of. They are opponents far more deadly than any youkai. To stray alone into the darkness of the Crimson Sky in our current situation is sure to end in tragedy."

[Stormlight3]

"You mean the priest who kicked my butt? I met him in grand style! HA! I haven't been whooped so badly since a friend turned out to be a backstabbing son of a b***h!" Kelin roared with a grin. He clutched his stomach with his left arm, as if that would somehow help his innards heal. His other hand held a cold chocolate milkshake on the table before him. It felt like his entire body ached of pain, he barely had the strength to keep himself sitting straight in his chair.

Kelin turned to the nearest Cafe worker "I'm going to need more food. Lots of it. Preferably three or four whole chickens." He frowned slightly, looking around at the Cosplay Cafe. He wasn't sure if they served anything other than drinks and pastries. "If you have it." he added quickly. "If not, I suppose a few double chocolate fudge cakes will do. Hmm Yes! Forget the chicken! Bring on the fudge! Oh and I'd love a couple more milkshakes." As if to amplify this point, Kelin tipped his head back and guzzled down what was left of his milkshake without using the straw. "Oof." he said shivering "Brain Freeze."

[Spriggs27]

After the events of that happened outside and seeing the woman called Chikage, Eiko began to figure out the names of everyone, Shiina was the owner of the cafe, Eiko believed, the strange guy with the hamsters was named Yamato, the man wearing the red Gi was named Kelin, she knew the names of nearly everyone else and the small child. Eiko sat in a booth on her own, she had her revolver on the table along with her P90 smg, the petite woman took her weapons apart and set her knife onto the table, she put on her bloody coat again and walked over to Shiina.

" Shiina, can you help me ? " Eiko asked, she looked away from Shiina and crossed her arms." Do you have a washing machine, and some spare clothes that I can borrow, I don't think walking around in a bloody blue coat would be the best thing to do, and I think the smell of blood could make everyone sick to their stomach over time." Eiko explained, she looked back to the vampire Yokai while still keeping her arms crossed and waited for her to answer.

[TheWendil]

“I’m glad to hear that Master Ketsui,” Shiina said with a smile and a bow. “There is always room for a Chaser to join in the cause and we would be most grateful for your assistance in driving back the Youkai. It is convenient that you were able to hear the call…but perhaps that too was an act of fate,” she mused.

The vampire gave a nod to Ayato, indicating that she understood before turning back to Ketsui. She didn’t get the chance to answer the boy’s next question though as the rest of their party had promptly returned from their battle. However, her eyes widened slightly at the unsightly state the others had returned in. Moving fast, she helped to take care of the boy first before soon giving brief orders to Tico, Eos, and Ikkime to treat whatever wounds they could.

With the unconscious boy settled on the couch, the vampire personally treated his wounds before laying a thick blanket over his frame. She then placed the platter of cookies and warm milk on a stand next to the couch, in case the boy woke up in a panic.

Surely the Chasers couldn’t have been defeated by a mere group of hound Youkai? No. No, of course not. Shiina crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, perceptive enough to realize that low level Strays such as those couldn’t cause those kind of wounds. The appearance of Akame Chikage pretty much confirmed those thoughts.

“Hardly,” she answered the fellow Youkai with a professional voice. “When you mentioned something about an oncoming threat, you didn’t mention that our enemy rivaled our own power.”

The vampire stifled a sigh as she quickly set to preparing their benefactor a drink, even swinging by to get Kelin his meal. They didn’t really have anything menu-wise when it came to actual food, but they had plenty of treats. And so she fulfilled his request of another milkshake coupled with his double chocolate fudge cakes. She was glad to see that their spirits hadn’t been dampened too much and she gave a polite smile and bow to Kelin before being stopped by Eiko.

At once, the smell of blood made Shiina’s right eye shift slightly though nothing more happened after that. They did have a washing machine out in back since their customers usually came back with more than a few bloodstains. As for extra clothes however…

“I’m afraid all we have are a few maid costumes,” Shiina answered, moving to take the bloodied coat. “Apologies young Mistress. Would you like to follow me while I bring this to the washing machine? Hopefully you can choose one that best suits you if that’s what you desire.”