[ Seylin has learned to track, while on the top of the mountain. Between her and Kenji, they have easily followed the path the bandits used to retreat earlier. The bandits have rested frequently, which makes catching up to them that much easier, along with the duo's greatly superior speed. ] [ When they are catching up to where the tracks grow very fresh, Seylin and Kenji begin to hear the sounds of what can only loosely be described as combat. It sounds one-sided; there's a lot of screaming and begging involved. Soon, they enter onto an area cleared through the forest for a dirt road; there, they see a single large man in a ratty old hakama and bandages kill the last of the bandits with a huge, jagged, blood-covered sword he handles carelessly. ] ( Dude stole your xp. ) (Curse him!) [ The man idly pokes around the fallen bandit's pockets with the tip of his sword, and, finding nothing, grunts disdainfully. "" ] [ Session Start, natch. ] Not bad. Guess we're not needed here. Well, technically that guy -is- a murderer, but they were bandits, so it's a wash. Sorta. * Kenji looks the guy over for any clan mon. [ "" The man looks up and grins at the lot of you. "" The man has a mon on his rags, but it's had enough blood get on it that you can't tell what it is from this distance. He considers both of you carefully. "" ] * Seylin looks over at Kenji. Them, actually, but if you're a murderous criminal, try not to bleed on my clothes. I don't get them cleaned for free anymore. [ "" ] Right, so, murderous criminal, then. [ He shrugs, like it doesn't matter. "" ] Iko-er, Kenji. Seylin. [ "" says the guy. "" ] * Kenji frowns. It's not a bad house to go back to, either. Seylin. He'll be a good match for you, I think. Go for it. [ "" ] Kill him before I decide to take the pleasure. * Seylin blinks, then nods and draws her halberd. Not that mother would have a particularly difficult time of it, one does not simply allow insults to one's family. Understandable. [ "" ] * Seylin eyes her opponent. "Let's go, then!" By the way, he just called you a slut, to use the common tongue. [ "" ] Well, he's unlikely to be saying much soon, I think. [ He holds his sword over his shoulder; it's still dripping blood, although it should have stopped some time ago. "" ] [ Seylin, go! ] * Seylin raises Kiyomaro, The First and Last Stand, to the heavens and chants something in Celestial. It begins to glow with holy light, even extending beyond the length of the blade. [ Kenpachi grins. He looks genuinely happy. "" ] [ Kenpachi pops his back and straightens up to his full height - which is somewhere close to the same height as Tia. ] * Kenji stands back and watches as Seylin goes to work, keeping a close eye on her. * Seylin takes off, soaring into the air in an arc towards Kenpachi. At the crest of the arc, she flips the halberd so the blade is pointing downward. As she descends, she strikes Kenpachi hard, then neatly jumps back so she's right behind him. [ Kenpachi hms. "" His grin widens, and takes on a manic edge. ] * Kenji raises his eyebrows, clearly impressed. She's come a long way, Kenpachi-kun. Best watch out. [ "" Kenpachi wheels about in a sudden flurry of motion and takes a single strike at Seylin, wielding his massive sword one-handed. After he turns, Kenji can see that the wound Seylin made is already closing by itself. ] * Seylin grits her teeth and hisses as she gets sliced. She doesn't cry out, though, and her eyes narrow as she contemplates Kenpachi. "You're very good." [ "" says Kenpachi, grinning. "" ] Well, he knows his techniques, I'll give him that. [ By now, the wound Seylin made on Kenpachi's back is nearly gone. ] [ Kenpachi holds out his sword. "" The sword still drips blood; far more than it should. ] I'd appreciate that. Um... your sword... is it *bleeding*? [ "" ] An ill-omened gift. You could probably find ones that were good at cutting that aren't cursed and annoying. [ The guy shrugs. "" ] I... see. Anyhow, let's keep going. [ He grins. "" ] [ Kenpachi stands there as Seylin tries to carve into his chest... and fails completely, instead kicking up sparks as her glaive's blade thuds against the guy's skin. His face droops, looking disappointed. "" ] [ He sets his sword aside, and it crunches heavily against the hard dirt of the road, kicking up some dust as it does. With his hand only loosely on the handle, he frowns. "" ] She wasn't underestimating you. * Seylin shifts slightly, though she doesn't relax her stance. [ "" He sighs. "" And he raises his sword to strike at her. ] (Going One With Shadow. Incorporeality, baby.) [ Seylin vanishes just in time; a few of her hairs float to the ground as she fades, and the sword hits the ground, throwing clods of dirt everywhere. ] * Kenji rams his sword straight through Kenpachi's chest from behind just as he strikes. * Kenji twists Soramaro once as he withdraws the blade and drops back just a step. [ Kenpachi looks down. "" ] Naw. I'm on musha shugyo. [ "" ] I'll survive. [ He grins. "" He turns and strikes at Kenji, once, just as he did with Seylin. ] * Kenji takes the hit solidly in his side and doubles over sidways across the blade, then pulls himself off. * Kenji draws Azusa from his side as he skids to a stop and turns into a whirlwind of steel death, giving everything he's got to put this guy down in a hurry, throwing sparks everywhere, both from contact with the man's sword and his skin. [ The man parries a few strikes, but takes the majority of them. His grin spreads across his face and his eyes go wide, pupils dilating down to specks. "" And he responds to Kenji's spectacular attack in kind. ] * Kenji drops Azusa to the ground, grabs Soramaro's hilt two-handed, and drops his guard utterly. [ Kenpachi takes the hild of his sword in both hands, and veins begin to stand out on his exposed arms; Kenji could swear he hears his opponent's heart beating like distant, rolling thunder. ] [ Kenpachi roars in glee and very nearly carves Kenji appart. He looks at his foe's fallen body for a while, grins, and turns to someone none of you can see, saying "He did good." He turns and wanders off, away from the village you are staying at. ] * Seylin swoops down, snatches up Kenji and his swords, and flies back to the village at nearly ludicrous speed. [ Session End! ]