If you need an explanation

[soundfivebitch]

Things had been fucking weird since Orochimaru's death. The Palace had been a weird place to be; Tayuya answered to Kuja now, and that was weird enough. Kuja had always been the damned prettyboy she didn't have much to do with, except for mocking Kadaj for taking after him. Now she had to report to him, take instruction from him...

They'd had to clear out Orochimaru's labs, too. That had been really fucking weird. There'd been a few samples to terminate and dispose of, and lots of research notes to either move, or destroy. L had claimed some, Kuja had, of course, been given everything relevant to the Sound Five....

There'd been some stuff on the Arrancar. Orochimaru had kept some data records from his encounters with some, like Ulquiorra, and Nel, and lots of data on Wonderweiss. Tayuya hadn't told Kuja about that, she knew what politics in Khamja could be like. She'd considered destroying it, at first, but then.... There was only one person that really should have data on the Arrancar, and she knew that most of it probably wouldn't be new, but some of the stuff on Wonderweiss at least, and the procedure he'd been put through might be helpful.

She'd taken it to Aizen, quietly, and somewhat sullenly, telling him that she wouldn't want it to get into the wrong hands. Kuja wouldn't have any use for it anyway, not that she'd asked him, but whoever was taking over the labs, and it clearly wasn't Szayel because he'd bitched loudly about that fact when he'd found out, might have, and they probably shouldn't have it.

She wondered if it had influenced the later decision to allow her, Grimmjow, and Yylfordt out together. Kadaj's absence in their little party was still being felt, at least by her. It was odd just hanging about the Palace. The rest of the Sound Five, Four now, since Kimimaro had taken the peaceful out offered to him, had got over their anger with her for being friends with the Arrancar. It wasn't her fault Nnoitra had got involved, and anyway, it wasn't like she was friends with Nnoitra. Sleeping with him once didn't make them fucking buddies.

Yylfordt had used the excuse of wanting to stop by Rush Valley and pick up some supplies. It was as good an excuse as any, and clearing it with Kuja was easy enough for her once Grimmjow and Yylfordt had been given the okay. Apache wasn't allowed, though; maybe it was because she wasn't actually part of Skite, or maybe Aizen just didn't want too many of the hotheads going out together. Tayuya was hotheaded too, but Aizen hadn't seemed to make much grumble about her joining them. Of course, she was part of Skite, and wasn't under Aizen's control, but maybe handing over that data had got her in Aizen's good books for a couple of days.

She'd asked Kuja if she could get out of the Palace for a while. He probably knew, or at least suspected, that part of her reason for wanting to get out was to see if they could get in touch with Kadaj, even if he wasn't prepared to come back home yet, but she wasn't about to admit that to Kuja. Still, monkeyboy wasn't dumb.

Yylfordt had done his shopping in Rush Valley, and then they'd moved on to the desert around, killing time before heading back, and picking on some of the local wildlife. Tayuya, at least, was finally feeling a bit better, especially after she'd called on Ifrit to murder some really unfortunate things. Working with her Aeons made her feel better in general, and Ifrit was her first, so he was always special.

Killing things helped too.

She'd dismissed Ifrit and was wearing a wicked grin when the absence of the Aeon's reiatsu allowed another one to creep across her senses.

"You have gotta be fucking shitting me," she said, turning towards where it was coming from. She couldn't see anyone there yet, but she could feel it there. They weren't trying to hide their presence, so they were probably on a hunt, or doing the same as them and letting off steam by murdering things that didn't deserve it.

She'd felt the Ryoka berserker's reiatsu enough times to know it by now.

Comments

[gotitmemorised]

Axel waited for the Al Bhed's attack and faltered briefly as he disappeared from view. With him gone from sight, he felt for traces of his Chakra to give him at least a rough idea of what direction he could expect him to come from.

He barely had time to defend against the attack that followed. He raised his Chakram just in time to catch the cutting edge of Yylfordt's sword and deflect it ... for the most part. His last opponent had been stronger and faster, but the terrain had been easier to deal with. There had been a wider playing field and solid ground underfoot.

This guy needed slowing down.

He blasted his Chakra outwards, a burning haze of flames and heat that left the air shimmering. It was intended to drive his enemy away, if only for a moment. When there was enough distance between them, he focussed his Chakra and concentrated it into his weapon.

With a surprising amount of speed for someone incapable of using Sonido or Shunpo, he launched his attack on him. Venomtouch was a skill he seldom needed to employ, but he wasn't above using it in this case.

[innatelunacy]

Saix felt a Regen spell kick in; a paltry thing, but useful over the long haul, as the claymore clashed with his opponents sword and was halted.

He had to shy away from the sand kicked up as a result. He could appreciate their terrain's tactical advantages, but he was less fond of them being used against him. The crackles of electricity were a more minor concern; this man was no Larxene, but they made the hair on his arms tingle anyway.

He replied with another strike at his opponent, trying to start a combo so he could get a few good hits in. The more they exchanged blows, the harder it became to see.

[palehornedprince]

Cred this bro was fast, Yylfordt caught himself thinking as he tried to block and evade Red's attack. He didn't have Sonido, but he barely needed it. Yylfordt beat a hasty retreat, trying to stay out of range, and groaned internally when he saw their mage cast haste.

Yeah, that was what this asshole needed. Another dose of speed.

He debated whether this guy would be familiar with Al Bhed yet; a few of the Ryoka were. Would he be fluent enough to speak it?

"Yho desa veja sehidac yku fuimt pa yfacusa," he said, in a sing-song undertone, when he was nearer Tayuya.

[soundfivebitch]

Tayuya narrowed her eyes and played the last few notes before she snapped, "Hold your fucking chocobos, asshole."

Moocow seemed to have Red's attention though, which was good, because it gave her an opportunity to try Lullaby.

It wasn't a favourite; she didn't use it often, but if she could take their mage out of the picture....

She put her flute back to her lips and started to play.

[hearstheplanet]

Aerith recognised a Bard when she saw one, of course, but she hadn't worried too much about that because she seemed concerned with buffing her own side than afflicting status effects.

She was readying vigilance for Lea, since his opponent was speedy and evasive, when she started to feel a touch drowsy.

[jawmask]

Grimmjow fended off Saix's attacks and gave him a few of his own, but all the movement and Chakra in the air made things worse for them both. Saix wasn't the only one struggling with the visibility and Grimmjow swore as their attacks sent more and more sand swirling up around them.

Annoyed, he pulled back and out of Saix's reach and got himself into a defensive position, holding his sword one-handed. With the other, he charged a Cero.

[gotitmemorised]

Axel narrowed his eyes and closed the distance between himself and Yylfordt, aiming a slash at his arm with one of his Chakram's razor-sharp tines.

He didn't intend it to be a deep cut, just enough for Venomtouch to take effect. It would make him slow and weak and all the more likely turn tail and run. He didn't want to kill anyone, not even this guy. He knew Aerith wouldn't approve and ending a battle wasn't the same as killing your opponent.

[palehornedprince]

Yylfordt tried, valiantly, to evade Red's attack, but boosted by haste as well Red caught him, a nasty scratch that pierced his hierro like it was nothing.

This guy had cut Ulquiorra. Yylfordt was nowhere near in that class.

Venomtouch took effect, leaving Yylfordt feeling weak and sickly, like he'd just taken a vicious blow to the nadgers.

"Not cool bro," Yylfordt complained, endeavouring to get out of the way of follow up attacks. Was it Marluxia that had said these two hadn't seemed set on killing the last Arrancar they ran into? Red here could have done worse with that strike; was he just holding them off here as well?

He was doing a damned good job of it if that was the case.

Yylfordt forced himself to stand up straighter, despite the horrible, draining effect, and adjusted his grip on his sword. He wanted to hold off on releasing for as long as he could, just in case it made this guy think he needed to finish things.

[hearstheplanet]

The melody continued, and Aerith found her thoughts growing fuzzy. The whole world was becoming soft and comfortable, and--

[soundfivebitch]

One down.

Tayuya made sure to finish the piece, letting echo take effect. That should keep the mage out of the way for a little while. Long enough for her to help Yylfordt, who was obviously getting himself into shit.

"Now for the real show," she said, releasing her cursed seal to the first stage for the chakra boost it provided.

[innatelunacy]

Saix could barely see through the sand and dust. His opponent was just a shape, and Saix attacked and defended as he saw the movement.

Then his opponent pulled back, out of reach. Saix moved to follow him, and then saw the glowing point of red forming and thought better of it, swinging a chakra blast along the floor at his enemy instead and then moving to get out of the way.

[gotitmemorised]

Axel could see that the Al Bhed was flagging. Venomtouch was a nasty thing. Once it hit, it had all the perks of a Poison spell, but without the potential for the effect not to 'stick' after the initial damaging strike.

He didn't like to use it, but it was useful for wearing down a difficult enemy that you didn't really want to take out.

Thinking he had got the better of him, he relaxed briefly. Very briefly. The increase in Chakra from the Bard made him turn his attention to her. She was just a back row fighter, right? Remembering his own, he looked over at Aerith ...

Damn it. She was out. The blonde was just a distraction.

He gripped his Chakrams more tightly and narrowed his eyes at the girl, his own reiatsu spiking along with his irritation.

[jawmask]

Grimmjow abandoned his attempt at a Cero and crossed his arms at the wrists in front of himself, concentrating his Chakra enough to throw up Steelguard. He could have moved, but the Berserker would have expected that.

Sentinel wasn't his favourite of the Classes at his disposal, but it was useful and allowed him to weather that shot with minimal damage. His feet slid in the sand as the blast hit against his twice-augmented defences but he recovered quickly, dropping it in an instant to counter with a slice from his own blade.

[innatelunacy]

Saix shifted to defend again, but the terrain was giving him an issue, slowing him down. He barely managed to defend in time, but it was only enough to keep the damage to minimum.

Saix snarled as the sword caught him, slicing through flesh.

He retaliated, quickly but without finesse, a move designed more to create some space than damage, and then pulled back. Blood dripped from the wound, slowly healing already thanks to the regen. Chakra fluctuations from Axel's direction told him that someone had irritated Axel. A glance toward their healer told him Aerith was out, for now, but it was only a status effect, she wasn't actually hurt.

She would be if they didn't bring this situation under control, quickly.

Saix gathered his own chakra, his eyes flashing yellow as he used berserk, and moved in on his opponent again.

[soundfivebitch]

Tayuya gathered her chakra, playing a short set of notes before releasing it to create the glyph, which grew, glowing and rippling like water.

Bimarck wasn't an Aeon Tayuya liked to use often; he was her opposite element, and quite powerful, so using him was a drain. He was, however, her best option up against this Ryoka.

The rippling effect became a large pool of actual water, and whale song could be heard, the same tune that Tayuya had played, but with whale song's eerie, underwater quality, and then Bismarck erupted from the water, showering the sand around them before he came to rest by Tayuya.

[palehornedprince]

Yylfordt backed up as the glyph grew, staying out of its way. He'd seen Tayuya summon plenty of times before, but he hadn't seen all her Aeons. This one was new to him.

The horrible, weak feeling venomtouch had afflicted him with wasn't fading, and staying on his feet was starting to hurt.

He sagged as Tayuya took command of the field.

[jawmask]

Grimmjow backed away from Saix's desperate swing and grinned as he caught the scent of the blood from the cut he'd inflicted. His joy was short-lived, however, because he didn't miss that flash of yellow eyes even through the fine rain of sand. He knew what that meant.

He dodged Saix's first berserk attack, making a conscious effort to stay out of his reach. Berserk made him much stronger, he knew that by now, but it sacrificed defense and rational thinking for the power boost that the self-inflicted status affect afforded him.

Then he heard whale song. It was a curious thing to hear in the middle of Ivalice's biggest desert. A low, haunting tune mixed with the one Tayuya played and he could have laughed when the smell of brine mingled with that of the desert heat and fell around them all.

The Fire Elemental's life was going to get a whole lot more difficult.

Still, he had his own battle to fight. He moved in when a swing left Saix open and charged and fired a bala at mid range.

[gotitmemorised]

Axel watched as Tayuya played her flute. He was wary of it. He knew by now that she was a Bard of some talent and had no doubt that it had been her that had put Aerith to sleep. People tended to underestimate Bards and he have known better than that. He knew Demyx and Demyx, despite his slacker attitude, he was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

He had no idea what she was casting, but there was something ... oppressive... about it, as though she was readying a Water spell. But Bards didn't cast Elemental magic, did they? Demyx did, but he was the exception. Spira's natives didn't work like they did. Besides, this girl was Fire Elemental, not Water. Her Reiatsu told him that.

His dread increased as the sensation of Water grew more intense as the tune went on and mingled with the distant song of a whale. It didn't make sense. A whale? In a desert? He felt as though he was being drowned.

It all became clear when the singer burst from the watery Glyph.

An Aeon. A whale Aeon. It was immense and impressive and terrifying at the same time.

Axel had heard about them, but he had never seen one. This one was his opposing Element and it was powerful. It wouldn't be susceptible to any of his Fire attacks. His options were limited. His Commando abilities were part of his easy repertoire, but his other Classes weren't so good. One damaged him as a matter of course and the other wasn't a front line class at all.

He gripped his Chakrams a little tighter.

[innatelunacy]

Saix barely escaped taking the bala blast full on only because he was already swinging again. The weapon caught some of it, Saix's arm caught some more, and the berserker snarled, staggering with the blow and losing his grip on the claymore.

It was the only acknowledgement Saix gave of any damage, however. He'd suffer for it when he came out of his berserk state, but for now, his only real focus was on hitting Grimjow as much and as hard as he could. To that end, he bellowed, and moved in to attack again, bare-handed for the moment.

[soundfivebitch]

Tayuya smirked cruelly. She could see the little changes in Red's body language which strongly suggested he was considering his options and didn't like any of them. It gave her a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

First thing she needed to do was cripple his defences.

"Hit him with whale song, Bismarck," she said.

She might have been the opposite element, but there had been common ground for them to work from; they both used sound to damage an opponent.

[jawmask]

Grimmjow snarled, using Sonido to evade Saix's anger-addled bare-handed attacks. He stopped near Saix's weapon, gripped the handle and pulled.

It was lighter than he expected, but just as unwieldy. He swung it hard, aiming a vicious blow at Saix with the flat of the 'blade'.

[gotitmemorised]

Axel's eyes widened as she gave the Aeon that command. He didn't know what Whale Song was, but he was about to.

Oh, it was worse than he imagined. The sound almost caused him physical pain, or seemed to. He gritted his teeth, holding his Chakrams out ahead of him defensively, as though that would do anything to hold back the sound.

When the song faded, he felt drained, though not weakened, not in terms of strength anyway. Whatever that move was, it caused Deprotect and possibly Deshell. That was... bad and it was bad enough that he was at a disadvantage anyway.

He couldn't risk that again. He concentrated his Chakra before the Aeon could make another move and aimed a Silence spell at it, hoping that the metal augmentations the thing wore wouldn't block the effect.

[innatelunacy]

The blow knocked Saix off his feet and he hit the sand with another snarl. The impact left him dazed, and in a lot of pain as earlier injuries caught up with him.

The enemy held his weapon, Aerith was down.... Saix tried to shake the fog from his head and assess the situation.... He could feel the reiatsu of something powerful and water elemental, but it took him a moment to realise it was an Aeon.

This was going very badly.

He fought to get himself back to his feet. He needed to finish this fight and help Lea. He needed to finish this fight and help Lea now.

[soundfivebitch]

Bismarck recoiled from the Silence spell as it landed, and Tayuya cursed, "Clever little rat bastard, aren't you?"

Not that it mattered much. It would have been nice to keep using Bismarck's special attack, but she could adjust the plan. Aside from some status effects and physical attacks, this guy probably didn't have much he could use against Bismarck, and that's what she'd been aiming for.

"Boost." She wanted Bismarck's Overdrive.

[jawmask]

Grimmjow watched Saix stagger to his feet and allowed himself a smirk when he saw that he was no longer in a berserk state. The blow had effectively knocked him out of it ... good. He'd keep that in mind for future reference.

He concentrated his Chakra while Saix was still reeling, boosting his defences in the process.