EZMode !iIyIHD.1G6 2009/12/08 (Tue) 06:19 No. 23325 [x] Wait outside and ambush them when they leave, aim to subdue the group and take Tama away.
-[x] If Tama bolts, get at least one of the group. Tell them that Rin will tell embarrassing Tama stories until he gives himself up.
You don't want to cause a scene inside the building, considering it is filled with youkai. Visions of an old west saloon brawl come to mind; tables being kicked over, bars rolled over, chairs thrown. Someone falls from a balcony with a stock scream effect. Several windows are broken... hmmm... nah, actually that would just be a headache to deal with.
“We could ambush them outside,” you say, looking back out the door. “Lay in wait for them to exit and then spring on them, beat them all to the ground and then drag Tama away.”
“Works for me!” Rin says, heading out first, and Utsuho and yourself follow closely afterwards. Once outside, the three of you head over to some rocks beside the building and set up a stakeout, crouching or otherwise laying prone to hide yourself as best as possible while still being able to see the doorway.
“This ground is so dusty,” Utsuho complains, looking at the dirt road beneath her with contempt, running a hand over it and grimacing. “My wings will get all filled with sand, ugh.”
“Hush, you,” Rin replies, looking over your back at her bird companion, who sulks in response to being scolded. While Utsuho is laying nearly flat on the ground despite the large... thing on her chest, Rin is in more of a crouch, with her hands palm down between her chest and the road, and squatting on her knees. She reminds you of, well, a cat getting read to pounce, go figure. A few minutes of silence passes and a few people exit the restaurant, one of which is carrying a paper bag.
“Wah, I should have gotten a doggie bag,” Utsuho complains again, resting her chin on her hands.
“But those are for dogs, Okuu,” Rin retorts, a smile creeping across her face. Utsuho looks a little troubled by that response, and lapses into a ponderous hum.
“I suppose I should have gotten a birdie bag then,” she says after a few more minutes. More silence follows, and then some more people begin to emerge from the doorway, which gets a small chuckle from Rin.
“There they are!” she whispers, visually tensing up, hands rising to her fingertips, and planting her toes on the ground. Definitely a cat-like pose. “Hit them with your best, Okuu!”
“Roger!” Utsuho replies, pushing herself up quickly and bringing her hands to the large red eye thing on her chest, which begins to emit a rapidly brightening glow. You hear someone in the emerging group shout, and almost immediately afterwards, a bright flash of light emerges from Utusho as she fires a huge roiling fireball down the road at the group, followed quickly by a few running steps and a leap into the air as she takes flight, raining down more small fireballs apparently fired from her wings as she swoops in behind the ball of fire. Following the bird's lead, Rin springs over the rocks and lands in a dead run. You're the last to move, doing all you can to keep up with two youkai. Utsuho's initial attack scattered the group rather quickly, a few of which are laying on the ground smoldering already while the others dodge the hail of firey attacks coming from above while Rin jumps from youkai to youkai, swinging her wheelbarrow like some kind of hammer. You enter the fray as well, drawing your sword and turning it to the blunt edge. You're instantly targeted by a panicked youkai among the group, who launches into an attack you easily avoid by catching it with your stomach.
In fact, the only reason it wasn't an utter failure of an attempt on your part is because at the time the blow to your stomach connected, you managed to club the youkai in the head with the blunt of your sword, infused with the spirit energy you could muster on short notice, which is enough to disorient the guy enough for him to stumble back. You manage to swallow the pain rather easily for someone on the verge of evicting your stomach's contents, pressing on to make a few more swings at anyone fighting back, scoring a few more hits and landing a knock out blow on one you took by surprise. With the 'battle' having come to an end with your ambush team the clear victor in a small group of unconscious and lightly singed youkai, Utsuho lands, and you all begin searching for the actual target among the casualties.
“He's not here,” Rin says with a sneer, kicking one of the downed youkai in annoyance.
“Maybe he got burnt to ash?” Utsuho says idly, looking a bit more concerned with brushing off dirt from her clothes than actually searching the scene. Rin grumbles, then grabs one of the least unconscious groupies and drags him to his feet and jostles him awake with a shake.
“Hey! Where'd Tama go?” Rin shouts to the awaking youkai, who instantly turns to rubber.
“I dunno, lady! He ran when the fighting started,” the captive blubbers. Rin gives him another shake, which is met with a weak whine as the beaten youkai is rattled. “Stop! I don't know where he went! Seriously!” Rin lets go of the guy, and he collapses to a heap on the ground.
“Ah, damn it. We should have just went for Tama and forgotten about the riffraff,” Rin complains, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring back at you. “We need a new plan now.” You frown at having the burden placed on you again, but you run through a few ideas anyway, until a thought occurs to you.
“You said Tama's one of your charges, right Rin?” you ask, eliciting a nod in response. “So, would you know a lot of... secrets about him?” you continue your questioning. Rin nods again, looking a little more confused than angry now. “Well... what do you think this group would think of these secrets?” Rin's face blanks entirely, then quickly jumps straight to mischievous grin.
“Oh... that's... ahahaha,” Rin obviously enjoys the idea, her eyes shining with an evil light. Truly the eyes of someone holding many dark and terrible secrets that will forever destroy the reputation of a certain someone. “Let's get the audience prepared! It's story time!”
**
A few minutes later, with frequent trips back into the restaurant for rope and the assistance of the captive already taken, the group of battered youkai start to come around, seated in a half circle in the middle of the road, their hands and feet bound, with Rin and Utsuho standing in front of them.
“Good evening, boys!” Rin says with cheer. “Allow me to be your host for today's 'Storytime with Orin!' Now, you all be good little kids and sit still, or else my friend Okuu here will burn your body and soul to nothing!” Rin takes a moment to indicate Utsuho standing next to her, who is very clearly radiating heat, the large eye thing on her chest glowing brightly while the two girls smile innocently. You've never seen a group of people so quickly and irrevocably fascinated before in your life, all eyes on Rin and not a one dares to turn their head or even move on pain of terrible death.
What follows the introduction is a collection of embarrassing stories about Tama, the nights subject, and the various misadventures and situations he's gotten himself into around the household. It's informative for you as well, as you learn of the master behind all these pets, one Satori Komeiji, as well as a bit more behind their home, 'The Palace of Earth Spirits'. Of course, learning that Tama is actually a very obedient kid otherwise and a total brown noser despite his penchant for causing trouble is also entertaining, as well as the fact that he's helplessly determined to win over Rin's heart.
“Oh! I just remembered this one time I caught him 'cleaning'!” Rin says happily, clapping her hands and smiling ear to ear. “You see, being a cat, Tama is able to bend a lot farther than normal, and so he can reach a lot of places with his tongue. Well, it seems he got a little... carried away this one particular time. I had the misfortune of walking in on this scene afterwards, him furiously wiping at his face,” she pauses, likely to build tension, “it seems while he was 'cleaning', he had a bit of an 'accident' all over his own face. I actually had to help him wipe off some of the cu-”
“STOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOP!” a panicked voice calls out as a cat-eared boy runs towards the group, his entire face red as a tomato. “Don't say anything more! I give up! Take me home, please, please! Just stop with the stories!” Rin instantly grabs him by the back of the neck as he comes within range.
“Well, if you insist...” Rin says, feigning dejection as she hoists the boy into the air and floats up. “I'm going to take him home,” Rin addresses you before turning to the group gathered on the ground, “everyone is free to-” she never gets to complete the sentence, as the moment she says 'free', all the captives easily slip, break or otherwise escape their bonds and take off, scattering in all directions. Content with her victory, Rin flies off with her capture, leaving you behind with Utsuho. With just the two of you, you're not too sure what to do, or say. Utsuho's proven herself to be a bit dim, and you're not really sure of any kind of conversation you could have with her in the meantime. You do have one question, though.
“Say, Utsuho?” you call her attention, getting an inquisitive hum as she looks over at you. She's stopped emitting heat, and the eye has faded back to the deep red colour it normally is. “I was wondering what your power is exactly.” Utsuho smiles widely.
“My power is Nuclear... something,” the states proudly, losing steam almost instantly as her train of thought derails, “I actually forget what it was called again. I was told once, but I forgot since. It's really powerful though!” Nuclear... what. You've never heard of anything like that, but is it even safe to be near her? Wouldn't she be radioactive or something? You suddenly find yourself very concerned with your health, concern that must show on your face, since you're getting a very curious look from Utsuho. “Unyu?” she intones, a sound you still don't really understand.
“Uh, nothing... really. It's just... a little surprising,” you state, trying to make it look like you're not worried. Utsuho looks content with that explanation though.
“Thanks! What's your power then?” she asks in turn.
“I don't really have one,” you reply, looking down at your sword. “I can kind of use a sword, and a bit of danmaku, but I have no real power.”
“Oh? That's kind of sad,” Utsuho says, looking contemplative. “I could give you some of mine, if you want. I think,” she says, scratching her chin. “I do remember my power was given to me, so maybe I could give it to you too.”
“Really?” you ask, a little curious. If it would let you throw huge fireballs like she did not too long ago...
“Yeah! Maybe,” Utsuho cheers, but then seems distressed, “Oh, but wait... I had to eat something to get my power, and I don't really know if you could eat me...” You allow your mind to wander with interpretations of 'eat me' for a few seconds before Utsuho brightens up again. “I know! I could try just pouring some of my power into you! That worked to power up a few things before!” she exclaims excitedly as the eye on her chest begins to glow once again. FU-
“Nonononono!” you quickly interject, stepping aside and out of directly in front of her. “That's okay! You don't have to, I was just wondering if it was possible!”
“Oh? Okay then!” Utsuho says, her glow fading as she goes back to being occupied with her thoughts. Not too long after, Rin returns.
“Good news!” she says as she floats down, “Makie got herself caught by another pet that went out on an errand, so we don't have to go looking for her.” That is good news indeed. “Though, Satori learned about you and expressed an interest in meeting you, so if you want to come back with us for a bit, you're welcome to. Otherwise, we can go back to Yuugi and tell her you've completed your job.”
Well, you're all for collecting your pay and heading home, but you don't really know if you'll have a chance to go back underground any time soon. It might not hurt to try to make some contacts down here...
[] Accept the invitation, you want to meet her too.
[] Decline the invitation, you want to get home ASAP.