Ryu Hitara
"You've got to be kidding me!" he cursed as he gently set Adelaide down onto the ground. Already he could hear the sounds of the Fallen coming through the brush. He hid the girl as best he could behind a tree, tucked right next to the roots and out of the way for the most part. He leaned down, smiled at her and patted her head gently. "Don't worry alright? Stay here. I'll be right back."
Ryu turned to Fletcher then and motioned for him to take cover behind a tree, "Stay hidden as much as possible. If you see an opening go ahead and take it, but don't draw attention to yourself alright? Let me handle her. I'm sure Takashi's on her way so we just have to hold out until then," Ryu turned to the forest and the sounds of the approaching threat. His heart tightened in his chest as he put himself out into the open and drew his knife.
From the green underbrush the woman with white hair stepped forward and addressed him. Her lips pulled into a bright smile and her burnt orange eyes stared at him with a dead cold that just about froze his blood. His own lips upturned into a cocky smile as he pulled his knife back and closed his free hand into a loose fist. The woman flicked her white hair back over her shoulder and turned her gaze from one side of the forest to the other.
"Send them ahead of you? Or just have them hiding?"
"Neither," he answered back, still smiling.
"Smart. I have you figured for one that hides his wards nearby. Easier to keep an eye on them. That's smart too."
"Does it matter?"
"It does. Lets say you sent them ahead of you. What's stopping my own pagelings from going after them?"
"Why do you want pagelings so bad? Oh wait, you're a Fallen, I don't even have to ask. I know the answer to that already. You're greedy, selfish and lack friends. So sad."
The woman's smile twitched, turning into a slight sneer for a mere moment before she composed herself, "Well, aren't you full of yourself. Let's see how that fares for you."
The Fallen flicked her hand forward and both of the pagelings under her command came at Ryu. The one summoned her paper from thin air and shot them at him again. Ryu was prepared for it, and from the looks she was reaching her limits. He felt terrible for the girl because he'd heard all about what happens to a pageling once they've reached their limit. He didn't want to see it for real, it was bad enough reading about it in his books during his training. The rain of paper darts didn't hurt him as much as it had before. They barely scratched him as they shot at him through the trees. Just as before, her aim was completely off and only a few of them managed to scratch his face.
"Looks like your pagelings are getting tired, there Fallen. Maybe you should do the fighting yourself!" Ryu called as he lunged forward to attack the pageling with the sword. Their blades clashed together, the paper sword not making a sound as Ryu deflected the attack with his short dagger. He really hated having to hurt the pageling but he couldn't let them have their way either. Ryu tried his best to just knock the boy unconscious, but he really didn't like the sound he heard as his fist connected with the pagelings jaw.
However, he didn't have time to wonder if he'd really done some damage to the pageling that was now on the ground as the fallen had taken him up on his offer and came at him from the fallen log overhead. She jumped down at him, wielding two long knives much like Takashi would. His eyebrow rose at the sight of her fighting style that reminded him so much of his red headed friend. All the same, he swiped aside one blade and took a shot at her exposed side with his fist. He connected with her ribcage and she stumbled backwards only slightly. Her dagger came forward at him and Ryu twisted sideways to avoid the dangerous weapon. In return he slashed at her midriff that was exposed, his knife just barely cutting her clothing as she pulled away.
Twisting around, her leg kicked up and knocked him backwards as well as taking the air from his lungs. Ryu went quite a ways before hitting a tree and slumping forward slightly. He ducked immediately as she came at him with both knives. Wood splintered as her weapons cut deep into the tree leaving long gashes. Ryu barreled into her and tossed her down to the ground, rolling away from her as he went. Twisting around, he stood and met her head on. His blade connected with hers and his hand caught her other weapon as it came down at him. His grin widened as he stood there, pushing against her.
"You're not very good at this are you?" He asked her tauntingly. The Fallen's gaze narrowed at him and he was suddenly lifted off his feet and tossed away from her. It was like his body weight had gone from a solid 175 pounds of muscle to nothing at all. Ryu crashed into a tree, his body arching off of it the moment he hit. His eyes were wide with surprise as he collided and then bounced off. Blood involuntarily spit from his mouth and flecked his face as he slowly fell to the ground. He landed with his back against the tree, his chin down on his chest and leaned off to the side.
Takashi Inevera
She turned to give him a sour look as he came with her even though she'd said to stay behind. He was going to be a pain in the ass, just like someone else she used to know. A lump grew in her throat and she bit back the memories that always led to the dreaded night she lost everything.
"I know I'll be safe, I can hold my own. Whatever's going on, I want to know now," he told her as he put his papercraft into use. She knew all about his craft and when he produced it she wasn't in the least phased by it. If anything she was impressed that he wielded it very easily. She liked his style too, two knives just like her own. Now all that was left was to see how well he wielded them. With a sigh she shook her head and continued on up the path back the way they'd come. Maybe it was better that he come with her. The last time she'd left her ward out of her sight, things had gone... terrible.
"By the way Red, don't tell me what to do," he said to her, his tone no longer joking as he looked at her sideways. To this Takashi ground her teeth.
"You've some nerve, boy," she replied in kind, "Fine, do as you like," she finished and continued through the forest. She reached beneath the back of her shirt and pulled out her two long knives as they moved through the trees. Soon enough she heard the sounds of a fight going on and she went from a fast walk to sprinting. Once again her nimble body moved easily through the trees and she was at the scene in no time. However, she was still late and as she came bursting through the brush into the area where the sounds were coming from, she spotted Ryu being crushed against a tree. Blood flew from his mouth and he fell to the ground, unconscious. Her heart clenched tightly and she quickly moved to intercept who had attacked him knowing full well that Ryu had his ward somewhere near by.
"Takashi," the cool feminine voice froze her blood, "It's been so long. I was hoping to see you. Oh my, look at what you have with you as well. Is that your new ward? What a handsome looking young man. Reminds me of your last one. Of course you always did like the rough looking type. Blonde hair, a nice build and a bit of a rebel, no?"
Takashi turned her full attention on the woman who'd spoken and her eyes widened in shock, then narrowed to dangerous slits of pure rage, "Ivy."
"Is that all you have to say to me? We've known each other for how long now? Your best friend comes to say hello to you and all can do is utter my name in that kind of voice? Shameful," the woman put a hand on her hip and pretended to pout as if she were hurt.
"Quit your game, Ivy. I know why you're here. I won't let you have what you want, not this time," Takashi hissed and her blades tightened in her hand. She rushed forward, then used a small log to get a jump start. She launched off the log at the tree where Ryu had hit and from there she propelled herself down at Ivy, both blades pulled back. Ivy's grin widened as Takashi fell down towards her, murderous intent in her green eyes. Steel screamed together as both women collided. Sparks showered slightly from the pressure of each attack. Takashi twisted, her blades coming around for another attack. She was deflected again, but she didn't stop, her momentum building with each twist, turn and hit. Soon she was moving so quickly that the sound of steel hitting was almost one continuous noise.
There was the occasional break in the sound, but that was only when one woman managed to make a hit with the other. Takashi pushed Ivy back into the forest, her intent to drive the Fallen as far from the pagelings and Ryu as possible. From there, she would figure things out.