The Muramasa Train Has No Brakes

[way_of_vengeance]

[1]-Hijinx and whatnot
[New person! It's a GHQ representative, accompanied by her maid.]
Pleased to meet you. I'm here to investigate the recent...Happenings.

[2]
[So you're with Kanae, chilling on a beach mostly alone. She's got her normal clothes, a fancy hat, all that sort of stuff. It's a calm setting, with the wind and the waves...and, out of the blue, she asks you a question.]

...Do you enjoy killing people?

[3]

[It's you and Kanae versus whatever your canon's bad guys are.]

...Who are these people again?

Comments

[shadow_of_justice]

[Her hand is motioned forwards almost in response to Kanae's drawing of the bow.]

Therein lies the way of the sword.

[The large red spider bursts apart in a flash of light, forming her cursed Tsurugi.

She charged straight at Kanae, drawing it's katana and swinging it once she got into range.]

So you were a Crusader...

[way_of_vengeance]

[The western Tsurugi steps to the side as a dodge, drawing its calvary saber as it does so. It's noticeably slower than Muramasa, even in its current state-and Kanae's swordsmanship is not of the same level as Ichijou's. All Kanae's Tsurugi has on Muramasa is the massive bow on its left arm, and Muramasa is already in close. The fight should be easy.]

Well. There's a lot of things you don't know about me.

[Muramasa is a Tsurugi of the highest possible make, capable of defeating even the Ginseigou. It is capable of approaching the speed of racing armors, despite carrying far more armor. Its pilot, broken as she may be, is no rookie fighter. Kanae Ootori should die this day. And yet.

And yet, and yet, and yet.

William Burroughs-Kanae's Tsurugi-moves faster than Ichijou's eye can follow. One moment it is beside Muramasa, and the next it is far in front of it, its bow leveled at the red Tsurugi.]

Good night, Ichijou-chan.

[It fires.]

[shadow_of_justice]

!?



How did she...

[Ichijou was sure that the Crusader shouldn't have been able to move that quickly. Let alone move fast enough that even she couldn't follow it.]

Linear Accel.

[The crimson Tsurugi began to move several times faster as the bow was fired. Only barely dodging the arrow as she went by it. From what she could tell the bow would have to be reloaded before being fired again. Of course there was always the chance that Kanae Ootori was leaving herself open like this on purpose. If anything, this was exactly what was happening. It would have been extremely foolish to assume that the most simple solution would work. And yet.

And yet she did nothing despite knowing that this was a trick. Muramasa approached William Burroughs in a straight path once again. She was going to take the chance presented to her. Again the katana is swung at the Crusader.]

Sagittarius GOOOOO

[way_of_vengeance]

Ha...haha...

[As the crimson Tsurugi approaches, William Burroughs draws its sword. The calvalry saber is not nearly so heavy as Muramasa's nodachi, giving Muramasa the advantage.]

Ahahahaha...

[Kanae Ootori laughs in the face of her coming death. And laughs, and laughs, her joy ringing across the battlefield.]

GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[As Muramasa approaches, Kanae swings her sword to match it. Muramasa should overpower her easily-but, things are not so easy.

The bolt from before comes back. It has, impossibly, changed its direction three times to shoot for Muramasa's rear.

Kanae Ootori never misses.]

[shadow_of_justice]

[Ichijou had no idea how it happened, she was looking right at the Crusader. It didn't do anything, it couldn't. And despite that, there was now a large spike through her chest. She could feel her blood begin to pump out of her.]

What...how?

[For the first time in the fight Muramasa had to back off from Willian Burroughs. And despite all common medical sense, Ichijou began to pull the bolt from her chest.]

Ghhhhgggggggggggraaaaaagggggggghhhhh!

[Once it was finally out she crushed the bolt in her hands. Her breathing was...strained to say the least. Muramasa was now working overtime to keep her pilot alive.]

It'll...take more than that...Kanae.

[It was pretty obvious that she was just stalling for time now. Time that she desperately needed.]

[way_of_vengeance]

Ah...It's rather silly, I have to admit. Basically, if time is split into indivisible instants...

...Well, the important part is, I don't miss.

[William Burroughs advances, loading another bolt-but not firing. Instead, it gets its sword ready.]

Of course, guns are so...impersonal. It's most fun to strangle people with your bare hands, to feel their life ebb away under your touch...A sword will be just fine too, though.

[And Kanae strikes, aiming to slice downwards through Muramasa's left shoulder and into its chest.]

[shadow_of_justice]

[Ichijou makes no effort to dodge. She moves forward, closing the distance between the two as Kanae strikes. Only at the very last moment did she raise the nodachi to parry the sword. It was at that moment that Ichijou decided to do something very stupid. She stopped pressing against the sword and allowed it to slice into her shoulder. In a different time, with a different Tsurugi she would have been able return this damage tenfold. She no longer had that Tsurugi and would have to return the damage herself.

As much damage as it was though, Ichijou was more than willing to take it to get another chance to strike at Kanae. Her grip on the nodachi loosened. The left arm of the Tsurugi was no longer functioning properly. With only the right hand still holding the large sword she swung diagonally upwards, aiming to cleave William Burroughs in two.]

[way_of_vengeance]

[The blade bites into Wiliam Burroughs-and Kanae inside of it, slicing into her side. Ichijou's injuries have robbed it of killing force, but it is still a serious wound, her intestines being held in place only by the armor.]

Ghhk-! So you still could move...

[Kanae sighs...laughs. And laughs, and laughs and laughs.]



Aaah...I'm glad it could end this way, Ichijou. You taking revenge for someone else, while I take revenge for our fallen friend...dying together with you will be just...

[She raises her bow to fire another shot into Ichijou's chest.]

...Perfect.

[shadow_of_justice]

[She was quickly losing consciousness. Her previous wounds opened up again and she could feel the embrace of death getting closer and closer.

It felt so kind, it would be so easy for her to let Kanae kill her. All she had to do was close her eyes and wait...]



Are you going to give up?

[Her eyes opened when she heard those words. She couldn't die here. As hard as it was, she had to keep going.]

No... Linear Accel. Gravity Accel.

[Ichijou was completely focused. In the span of seconds Muramasa sheathed it's sword. The Tsurugi's entire body crackled with electricity as she readied her attack. If Kanae was going to fire all she needed to do was to cut both the bolt and Kanae in two. This last attack would end it.]

Yoshino Onryuu Gassen Reihou - Jinrai ga Kuzushi. Railgun...MAGATSU.

[Muramasa drew it's sword and unleashed a single slash. One as swift as lightning. She was going to cleave through the bolt of light and Kanae in a single strike.]

[way_of_vengeance]

[Kanae is fast. Her bow is already in the right place to strike at Ichijou's vitals, and end this fight.

Ichijou's faster. Her cut makes it, and Kanae gets to take a mortal wound from her shoulder to her hip.]

Ghk-!

[She coughs up blood a few times, but then her breathing slows and becomes more calm.]

Ah...ha...ha.