Sharp Exit

[innatelunacy]

They'd managed to avoid the worst of the trouble on their exit from Midgar's ruins, much to Saix's quiet disappointment. They ran into a couple of relatively weak Hollows, new and of low concern, which were quickly dispatched. Saix had hoped for a bigger challenge, but it was probably for the best when they were followed by a shellshocked flock of refugees.

The Turks left for Edge once they'd cleared the rubble, a silent, mutual understanding having been reached with them that it would help no one, now, to continue whatever unfinished business was on the cards. Some of the refugees went too, claiming family, or friends who could help them, but the largest number stayed with the party until they reached Palumpolum. This was, it was reasoned, as far as they could safely take them. Word would be spreading around Edge by now that there had been survivors, and that increased the risks. Rumour travelled faster than feet, and neither Axel nor Saix wanted to run headlong into a welcoming committee that might recognise them for Ryoka.

Aerith, fortunately, agreed. She'd been nervous when they first came out of the shadow of what had once been Midgar, but once they'd travelled further out, to where the wilds of nature shaped the land, instead of the technology of men, she'd seemed to relax and take it in stride.

"Do you want to bring her back to Rabanastre, or do you have somewhere else in mind?" Saix asked of Axel, once the city of Palumpolum was part of the horizon again, instead of breathing down their necks. He was, grudgingly, impressed; Aerith was a city girl, but she hadn't made a single grumble when they'd travelled, which was more than could be said for the refugees that had stayed with them.

Comments

[trepadora]

Luppi ran at Aerith zanpakuto pulled and raised to attack. He skirted the burning ground that Ulquiorra and Axel were duking it out on, but strayed slightly too close to the other fighters...

[innatelunacy]

Saix's vision was different in Galian form; it went the same as when he was berserk. Running targets stood out like beacons, prey flared in his vision, brighter and more obvious than ever.

He saw the small one nearby, paying Saix no attention, and Saix knew he was going for Aerith, and Aerith stood strongly in his mind as an ally. Ahead of him was his current enemy, and he could feel the fluctuations in chakra.

In one swift movement he swept the little one's legs from under him, hauled him up in the air and brought him smashing back to the ground. He hit again, and again, whipping the body back and forth in one paw like it was a ragdoll, and once he was sure it had stopped struggling, threw it hard at Grimmjow with a snarl.

[tozasemurcielago]

Ulquiorra was forced back, and forced to defend. He blocked a number of the strikes, turning slightly, but between the sparks and the flames, it was difficult to see when they were up close.

He blocked at one chakram, misjudging it slightly, his eyes widening as he felt the bladed edge slice his skin. The attack was powerful enough to penetrate even his defences, and that was unusual, and concerning.

He defended more concertedly against the next strike, but could only stop one. He stepped aside as the other wheeled towards him, just passing his head.

Then he felt the sharp blossom of pain on his cheek, too.

Ulquiorra backed off, ignoring his injuries, and concentrated his chakra while he raised one hand, and then snapped his fingers, instantly dispelling every buff Aerith had so carefully applied.

[declaregamuza]

Nel watched in horror as Luppi was used like a limp replacement for the claymore, and wasted no time in releasing her bankai, sending another wave of powerful reiatsu across the battlefield.

She galloped up to Saix, lance in hand, and attacked, meeting him in the clash, and trying to drive him back and keep him away from Grimmjow and Luppi, at least for long enough for the two to recover.