>>1634 It's
>>1633's fault. I'd have been done a while ago if it weren't for those faggots distracting me.
===
Preference? You come up empty. You don't even know what they might have. She's waiting for a response, so you'll have to think of something. You run the thought across the surface of your brain, hoping it will pick something up. Old weapons, she said, all you have to do is not drop it. Something basic. A sword, or a club, or...
The thought stops suddenly. All thoughts stop. You feel something click inside you, like a key passing the first tumbler in a lock. Your voice sounds thick in your own ears. "You got any spears?"
As different as you suddenly feel, nobody else seems to notice. "A spear? I'm sure we've got at least one. Thought for sure you'd ask for a sword, though." Kanako turns back to Minoriko. "Well, you heard him. See if we've got any, bring out a few if we've got them." Minoriko bows in acknowledgement and flies off, through the back door and inside. After a few moments, Kanako gestures towards you, and you feel yourself float up on a cushion of air. "No point in waiting all the way out here. C'mon, everybody." Guided by her divine magic, you feel yourself move slowly through the air, across the lake to the opposite shore. You don't turn, or move, or anything. You just wait. Midway across, a loud clattering comes from inside the house, and you notice Hina and Shizuha both start a little out of the corner of your eye. It doesn't affect you, though. Soon, Kanako sets you down on the lake shore, seated just as you were on the shrine roof, still waiting.
After a while, Minoriko appears over the main building's roof, carrying one long spear rather awkwardly in both arms. "We've got more than this one, but we had to move everything out of that room and into the next one over to give Ku-chan somewhere to sleep. If he wants another one, someone else can go and get it. That place is a deathtrap, the way it is now."
The wait is almost over. You stand up, reaching out with one hand, anticipating. "This is perfect." Minoriko hovers down in front of you and works the spear into her hands, offering it. You grasp the shaft at the center and she releases it, flying past you to join the others.
Click. The second tumbler is cleared.
"All right," Kanako begins, "let me at least walk you through some basics, first." You glance over at them, arranged in a line as if standing on some invisible surface above the lake. Far enough away. You're clear. Without waiting for Kanako to continue, you move slowly into a stance: keeping your back to the group, you turn your upper body to the left and extend your right leg out in front of you slightly, left leg kept back and bent, widening your stance and lowering your body just enough. You grip the shaft near the back with your left hand, and place your right as far down towards the head as it can reach, pointing the blade at the ground. Experimentally, you hold this for a breath, then lunge forward, alternating the angle of your legs and twisting your left arm down and forward while keeping your right more or less in place, making four quick thrusts with the spear and returning to your original position. The whole sequence takes no more than a second.
CLICK. The key turns and the lock is opened. "Oh, my," you hear someone exhale in amazement. And then you begin.
You lunge, thrust, and parry. You dash backwards while slashing up, then immediately forward again, slashing down at an imaginary opening. You press the attack, advancing a little with each rapid-fire stab of the blade. You go back on the defensive, leaping back while holding the spear in front of you as a guard and rolling to one side as soon as you land. Standing, you instantly fall into the basic stance and begin again. For several minutes this goes on, as maneuvers and strategies pour out from the unlocked door and burn themselves into your muscle memory. Sweat flies from your body as you wear down your mock opponent's defenses. Finally, the battle is all but over, they are exhausted and exposed. You leap backwards for distance, face grim. Then, you spring high into the air, shouting a wordless battle cry, and fling the spear down with all your might.
CRUNCH. The blade buries itself in the rock, the impact creating a tiny crater around it, shaft sticking out at an angle. You land in a crouch, panting, staring in amazement at it as the flood trickles out and stops. You know you just did that, you can remember doing it, but Jesus, did you really just DO that? ALL that?"
"WOOOOOOW! THAT WAS *SOOOOOO* COOL!!" Shizuha begins applauding enthusiastically, eyes wide as dinner plates. The others join in, even Sanae, but slower and less certain. You stand up, nervously smiling and half-bowing as you walk over to retrieve the weapon. You feel your muscles relax and stand down. Was that just a one-time thing? No. Once your hand is on the shaft again, you can feel it all come back, just a little, waiting at the back of your mind to be called forward into service. Speaking of which... you grin over at Shizuha and pull the spear free, spinning it over your head twice before standing it on the ground next to you, holding it in the same hand. She squeals in joyful laughter, somersaulting in place.
The rest of the applause dies down, and four sets of eyes appraise you in something not quite awe, but very close. "Well, so much for the basics," Kanako remarks dryly, smiling at you. "You really are full of surprises, Ku-chan." So now she's started that up, too? Not that you're complaining. You return her smile, but she looks away at something above you, her eyebrows raised. "My, my, looks like your fanbase may be expanding."
You follow her gaze to see what she means. Stopped just over the roof of the house is a very nervous-looking tengu soldier. She's unarmed, holding something small with both hands, staring directly at you. You can see the whites of her eyes from here. She must have seen the whole thing, or enough of it.
[ ] Just stare back at her.
[ ] Wave and greet her.
[ ] Give her a taste of their own medicine. "Halt, intruder!"
===
Phew!
