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12:30 PM
Tempus HQ - Coliseum Sparring ground.
The dome of the empty coliseum was closed for this momentous occasion as no one would be present in the coliseum besides one. Darkness was in the coliseum save for a small glow. An array of candles were lit in the pattern of yin and yang as a lone man sat in the center of them, meditating as a white aura was surrounding his body.
Dark purple hair in a ponytail and a small braid in his bangs with a single white streak and has a red hair tie with white feathers that has black tips. His attire consists of a white exorcist’s robe that was worn on his shoulders that as you go down had black feathers like a crown on the sleeves where both is hands are in his lap, his left was normal albeit besides the large bird like nails while his right was corrupted and had dark purple skin that went up to his wrist with an amulet that hung from it, preventing further corruption. Gold and purple sashes were tied around his waist as purple shinto hakama that went down to his shins with golden anklets that kept them together. Short socks were worn as high platform sandals sat behind his back. Next to his right were a singular spear with gold ornaments that are shaped like the bones of a crow with a purple crystal like blade with blue in the center.
Banzoin Hakka, mediating in deep silence in the darkness of the tent with immense concentration, a face of peace was shown.
All was well for the Exorcist with Tengu genes suppressing his corruption while passing the time. Until an unexpected guest accidentally stumbled into the coliseum.
“Hmmm, where am I again?” A surprisingly cute yet familiar feminine voice was heard, with Hakka half-surprised that this particular woman would wander here. Hakka cleared his throat and addressed her.
“Are you Mumei, Guardian of Civilization?” Getting the woman's attention as she came a little closer. “Oh, I didn't know someone was here, Hi.” Hakka was well aware of who he was dealing with, making sure to sense a shift in her behavior, especially with her casual psychopathic tendencies. “Seems you have taken a wrong turn, the main hall is outside to your right once you reach the courtyard.” He directed while also hearing the sound of something being unsheathed.
“Ah, I lost track of Kronii so easily. Thanks, Uh what's your name?”
“I am Banzoin Hakka, Xenokuni’s greatest and ahem cutest Exorcist.” He smiled at that line as he was well aware Mumei was directly behind him with a subtle amount of bloodlust.
“Hmm interesting…just that there is another question I have to ask…”
Hakka's eyes opened as dark blue flames manifested on his face, they burned until a red tengu mask with a black beak covered his face; his eyes becoming blackish blue and avian-like. He snatched his spear to block a slash from Mumei's dagger, the sound of metal clashing rang through the coliseum as a few candles were blown out. “You have another one of those Tengu masks? I'd like to take that off your hands.” She asked with Hakka grunting from Mumei's surprising strength. Hakka noted her attire was more casual than her usual travel clothes.
Medium length light-brown hair with the front bang having a fair patch of white and black as if it was an owl feather. A pair of red earrings that were shaped like small berry-like fruits hung and shook from the clash. Golden-brown eyes stared into the exorcist's purple with a lackadaisical allure to them with a gentle smile on her face. A black choker and a golden necklace adorned her neck as it had a rune that held the meaning of new beginnings. An oversized light brown hoodie with a white T-shirt underneath. The left sleeve was rolled up to reveal a wrist sheath that the dagger she was using came from. A long brown plaid skirt covered her legs with a pair of black sneakers that were making dents into the ground as she pushed her offensive.
“You really need to temper that bloodlust of yours.”
“And you need to stop giving me challenges.”
The owl girl sticks her tongue out playfully before the pair jumped back to create distance between themselves. Hakka flourished the singular spear with anticipation with Mumei taking a moment to toss her knife in the air, catching it on the tip of the blade.
“Don't you normally dual wield spears? Or are you holding back?”
“I just kinda decided today, fuck it we ball with one.”
“I like you funny, tengu man. So about that mask...”
“Just try and take it, senpai.”
No other words needed to be exchanged as Mumei's eyes became more avian-like before both of them moved at a speed that couldn't be seen, yet the sounds of weapons clashing in the air was heard as the two exchanged blows; Hakka uses swipes and thrusts to open Mumei’s guard with the girl nimbly countering with well-timed parries and short slashes.
Soon the two were back on the ground with Mumei's knife being pushed back by Hakka’s spear, as they tried to see who caves first. Mumei was puzzled at first before recollection shone in her eyes. Mumei twisted her left heel slightly with a blade coming from the toe of her sneaker as she pushed forward before doing a backflip, with Hakka barely dodging the blade from nicking his mask. The tengu didn't have time to think as soon Mumei was now using her legs to deliver turning and sweeping kicks with the hidden blades in her sneakers, occasionally swiping at him with her held blade while juggling it in the air.
“Woah, Oye, ¡Ay! Senorita, are you trying to actually-” Hakka paused before the owl girl did a front flip with a blade coming out of her right heel, aiming for an ax kick as her eyes were red for a second. Hakka uses his spear to stop her leg by using the golden ornament to hook onto her ankle and reversing his grip.
“How the hell are you able to fight in that skirt?”
“You wear similar shoes to Ina! I should be asking you the same thing!”
Hakka rolled his eyes before letting his spear fall down before using his left hand to deliver a palm strike to her abdomen to knock her away, all while catching the spear in said hand to deliver a swipe in which Mumei did a handstand to dodge it, with Hakka covering his eyes as he noticed the skirt falling down.
“Espera un minuto, uh, tus bragas-” He panicked before a dropkick made contact with his face, knocking him back towards one of the stands in the coliseum as cracks formed against it. The owl’s face had a sadistic grin as she managed to land a hit on Hakka finally.
“Ow, what the-” He noted Mumei landed on the ground using her hands letting her skirt fall down again to reveal that she was wearing spats underneath, all while chuckling with a cheeky smirk on her face. “I forgot I had these on, neat.” She remarked, while continuing to walk while handstanding, forgetting about the man she kicked to the stands.
“DUUUDE THIS IS SO NOT FAIR!” Hakka cried as he was at first irritated that she managed to get a hit on him through accidental trickery, yet the longer he started at Mumei he realized that she was lacking something. Did she…forget to wear panties under those? Hakka found even more reason to be weary of her kicks, now that he was aware of this fact. He finally recovered before twisting the bottom hilt of his spear until a click sound was heard, catching Mumei's attention as she turned her head a full 180 degrees.
“Huh?” Was the only response as Hakka separated his spear into two, in his right hand was the heavier spear with the larger blade and in his left was the inner spear with the shorter shaft and blue blade, its edge being slightly fork-like. Brandishing both spears in a short dance, Hakka points the larger one at Mumei while the small one is kept close to his side.
“I should have figured it worked like that…” A shadow was cast under Mumei’s eyes as she pulled out a 2nd knife from her other sleeve sheath before calmly approaching Hakka with slow steps. While she was at it she discarded the hoodie to reveal her white T-shirt with short sleeves, the shirt hugging her frame to lightly highlight her small bust, with the owl's forearms covered with the brown arm sheaths for her knives.
“I thought the Guardian of Civilization’s job was to observe and record human history? I didn’t think you were an assassin.”
Hakka teased before beginning to step towards the approaching owl. “I mean I only picked up a couple of things from humans over time…especially of the art of war. Trickery, and means of death.” The two had the same thought and sped up before clashing with their weapons; Hakka’s speedy spear thrusts being dodged by Mumei's agility, with some retaliatory swings from her knives, in which Hakka blocked. Mumei goes for an overhead slash with the right knife while going for a stab with the left with Hakka guarding the overhead with the larger spear and the short one thrusting at the knife at the same time. Both of them knocked each other's left hand weapons with Hakka’s short spear behind Mumei and Mumei’s other knife between Hakka’s feet stuck in the ground.
The two didn't mind it as they continued trading blows, with Mumei using her concealed foot blades while doing a cartwheel to land blows on Hakka's arms mid-swing while he managed to use the blunt side of his spear to swat her out of the cartwheel and into the other side where the stands were. Hakka’s sleeves were slightly torn before he discarded the top robe revealing his lithe arms and purple sleeveless undershirt as he preps his spear in a guard.
Mumei slowly got up and stretched her neck, twisting her heels to disable the hidden blades in her sneakers before dashing at Hakka with a low stature. Hakka did a flourishing swing and swipes with Mumei dodging them with agile weaves. Hakka did a thrust to the ground only for the owl to step on it and toss the large spear to the side with her legs, then use his head as a springboard. The exorcist was disoriented by the blow but retaliated by grabbing her right ankle while she was mid-air and throwing her to the ground on her side, disarming her in the process.
The two got up and realized that they were both disarmed. With their respective weapons being too far for them to grab.
“Wanna call this a draw, and I'll just give you a spare?”
“Hmm, nah.”
Immediately closing the distance, Mumei swung her leg for a roundhouse towards Hakka's stomach. Yet the Exorcist caught it with only his corrupted hand. “Ah…” Before she knew it Mumei was Judo thrown behind him which she landed on her face, before bouncing on the ground on her butt.
“Ow.”
Before Mumei could get up, she felt a blade near her neck as she felt Hakka's spear pointing at her from behind. Hakka managed to retrieve his shorter spear with the blue blade shining as he pointed it at the back of her neck. “That's game, Mumei-senpai.” Mumei let out a cute giggle before she turned her head 180 degrees to face him with a closed eye smile. Honestly Hakka would be more flustered if it wasn't for the fact that she quite literally does owl things. All the more reason why he sweated as her eyes dilated and turned red.
“Didn't you know that I'm a bit of a sore loser?”
Hakka didn't have time to anticipate that as something blunt hit the back of his head, before he felt his world get dizzy. Falling to his knees he turned to see a small floating creature that was shaped like a paper bag with green eyes and a mouth. “I-is that…Friend?” Then he notes what hit him in the head was a 10-pound gray dumbbell that was lying on the ground. “Hmm, well played Mumei…” He shakily said as he took off the tengu mask he was wearing and held it. “It's yours.” Were his last words before he passed out on the floor on his front, with a large cartoonish like bump on his head forming.
“Ah, sweet. This will be a wonderful part of my collection. Might as well try it on later.” Though before she left, she went over Hakka's unconscious body, took out a bag of chocolate covered almonds from her pocket and put it in his open hand. “Thanks for entertaining me…and Happy Valentine's day.” The owl girl retrieved her hoodie before leaving the coliseum, with a pep in her step.
Unknown to her was Hakka moving to sit up, as he faked his defeat. He was well aware that if he didn't give up then, she might have tried to seriously kill him. Though a wicked smile was on his face as his eyes opened to reveal his black and blue avian like eyes. “Gotcha, Senorita.” He rubbed his head for a moment, opening the bag of chocolate covered almonds, before humming with delight from the flavor.
“This makes me wonder if violence is how she displays affection at a point, bro. Nah, I guess its highkey hot, but with her its also very...dangerous to the health.” Rather than the crystal wings he normally has, two giant black wings sprouted and stretched in the shadows of the coliseum. The cursed bloodthirsty tengu and the wise merciless owl will cross paths again.
X-x-X
1:06 pm
Main Hall
“Hey Kronii.” The aforementioned Warden of Time had her longer hair grown out to where she had a ponytail. She wore a white shoulderless turtleneck sweater with a large tan trench coat that went down to her ankles, blue denim jeans with a tear on the right thigh, and she was wearing white heels. Kronii turned to her owl-like companion with a questioning look.
“Yeah, Mumei?”
“Got this cool lil mask from Hakka.” She raised the mask towards her companion as the warden noted Mumei’s attire; the dirt and slight tears in parts of her skirt and hoodie. Kronii sighed as she facepalmed knowing full well what the Guardian of Civilization did.
“Seems like you picked a fight again. Makes me wonder who really needs to be protected. Us…or the world.” She remarked as bit into the chocolate she got for herself, and lamented how her jaw still had some aching after her surgery even after her full recovery.
“But Kronii, it's not often I get souvenirs from other worlds besides our own. Especially with the impending end of civilization coming.” Kronii had to stare long and hard at the owl girl seeing her mischievous smile as she wasn't wrong yet didn't need to hear about grim tidings. “You are lucky Fauna isn't nearby, and you are cute.” The clock woman frowned before sitting down at one of the lounge chairs.
Mumei took a look at the inside of the mask noting the inscriptions that it had. “This thing definitely feels real. Though I wonder if I can see spirits with it.” Mumei put it on her face before turning her head to the side, then she began to stare at Kronii for a moment. Kronii soon made eye-contact with her as she soon yelped with sweat down her brow and fear on her face.
“YO WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!” Mumei was confused before touching the mask, feeling a protrusion coming where the gem of the mask would be. “Huh?” Mumei took the mask off holding it by the protrusion before swiftly putting her knife to it as she turned it facing her with a smile, with a small voice being heard out.
“WOAH?! Dollface, wait wait wait! It's not like those knives can kill me, but look, I'm just a lesser spirit that just inhabits this husk which is oddly enough shaped like that tengu’s mask. I can still feel pain ya know.” Kronii came closer to take a look.
A small red oni with jagged teeth and a pair of shades came out of the gem of the mask, clearly on the fetal position while facing Mumei's knife. “An…Oni? I thought they were all like Ayame and to some degree Oga senpai?” The creature looks both directions before raising its head. “I hate to tell you this, scary doll face and…” The oni stared at Kronii for a moment before noting her clothed chest.
“Wow…”
“I get that a lot.”
“Anyways, I hate to tell ya this but congratulations dollface, ya played yourself. Better luck next time, and at least I got to see a fine babe before going out.” Were the last words before the mask sparked into blue flames with the oni inhabiting it being exorcized in the process, with nothing but ash in Mumei's hand, with a note left behind.
Check your hoodie.
Mumei checked what was in her hood as a small bag of chocolates fell out. When did he, that fucking… A shade fell over Mumei's face as Kronii noticed this pattern, Mumei notably shaking. “Oh fuc-”
“I figured it really wouldn't be that easy, I keep telling that guy to stop holding back. Tch, you win this time, Hakka.” Mumei mumbled as she sat down on the lounge chair next to Kronii’s.
“So are you two, like a thing or something?”
“Nah, I challenged him several times to let me have one of his cursed masks. This would have to be our 3rd actual ‘fight’. Yet something tells me that it was a bit too simple even with Friend’s assistance in dropping that dumbbell on him.”
“Are you sure you aren't just a little nutcase with a mind for half murdering your co-workers?”
“Kronii, my dear…” An empty look in her brown eyes as she popped a chocolate in her mouth. The Warden is caught off guard by Mumei calling her ‘my dear’ with the owl girl opening her eyes for them to be blood red, a chill running down Kronii’s spine. “ ...who said I wasn't? Living for a long time and very close to humans does this to ya. Even without my proper memories, it's best to make new ones. Sometimes I get bored even when I often try to stop wars and conflict. Until I realized something…” Swallowing as she licks her lips before grabbing Kronii’s chin suddenly, making the warden stutter a bit as she felt her head being turned towards Mumei, a ravenous smile on her face.
“Conflict makes for the best entertainment and the best development for mankind. I want a taste of violence even at my core. Especially when differing species occasionally have the urge to fight.” Letting go before her eyes return to normal as she continued popping more chocolates into her mouth, humming in enjoyment, while Kronii sat there stunned.
Mumei, you are my best friend and all, yet will I ever truly understand what runs on your mind? Even until the end of time itself, I will never know, that's why I enjoy being around you.
[END]