Remilia Quest Dh?

[Oldmansour]

>Raise an eyebrow. "And what are they doing currently? I assume they're raising a fuss as we speak, no?"
>"At any rate, this is a rather deep enigma. I'll need to discuss this with everyone, the Countess included."

>"Couldn't tell you. The gate is my responsibility. But since I haven't been summoned inside, I guess things haven't gone completely insane."
>"And that's where I have my problem." The retriever to her right points its nose at Meiling. "Your servant vowed to tear this Keep apart, and us with it. You've already you've got a problem with the Countess, and I know what happens when vampires fight each other. And since you've shown up with this many servants in tow, what else can I think but that you mean us all harm?"
>"We're not her servants." Reisen says to her. "We all have our reasons for coming here. I wanted to find out how Rei was turned into a vampire."
>"I, and the one I serve, wanted to get to the bottom of the Sin Spirits plaguing Gensokyo." Shou adds.
>"As do I." Honoka says.
>Ranka, however, replies very casually, with a toss of her hair. "I followed the pretty girls."
>Despite yourself, you strike your forehead with your palm. As does Reisen, Shou, Honoka AND Yuzuriha. A five-way simultaneous facepalm. Even Yuzuriha's dogs seem to stagger.
>Yuzuriha recovers after a moment. "And yet, you... uh...." She smiles an uncertain smile. "I... lost my train of thought, there."

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "That's Hong for you, she tends to get a little carried away at times. I recall when she attacked a giant catfish, thinking it was some avatar of a god of destruction. Poor girl tends to let her imagination run wild with her."
>"Besides, I'd rather get all this over and done with as quickly as possible. If that requires a Spellcard Duel, then so be it. I care not either way. As long as the Countess knows her bounds, I can let things slide with an apology, and the return of my maid in her proper condition. I'm surprisingly not averse to resolving things like civilized people you know."

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh. "That's Hong for you, she tends to get a little carried away at times. I recall when she attacked a giant catfish, thinking it was some avatar of a god of destruction. Poor girl tends to let her imagination run wild with her."
>"Besides, I'd rather get all this over and done with as quickly as possible. If that requires a Spellcard Duel, then so be it. I care not either way. As long as the Countess knows her bounds, I can let things slide with an apology, and the return of my maid in her proper condition. I'm surprisingly not averse to resolving things like civilized people you know."

>Yuzuriha looks between her two dogs, who return her look.
>"Let me ask you something." Shou asks her as Meiling and Sabine exchange another flurry of blows, the two having moved onto dry land now. "If Reimu got here first, that means she fought you, right?"
>Both of her dogs snarl, but Yuzuriha merely says, "She did."
>"And Youmu, too?" Yuzuriha nods.
>"Typical." Reisen says with a slight shake of her head, setting her lengthy hair swaying.
>"Then if Remilia here really wanted to, don't you think she would have run you over already?"
>Yuzuriha lowers her eyelids and sighs. "Truth...."
>"Shou. Shou Toramaru." the lancer offers.
>"Toramaru-san. Even at my full power, I couldn't stop a determined vampire. But I'd try anyway. Although...." she trails off, idly toying with the chain binding her wrist and waist.
>"Yes?" Reisen prods her.
>"'The word of a vampire given over blood is sacrosanct.' That's what Celes and Shizuka told me." She has a bit of trouble pronouncing the word 'sacrosanct', but you understand her.

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow. "I take it that they too are either Vampires, or knowledgeable on Vampire Matters, no?"
>Come to think of it, with how close we're cutting it, running over her isn't a half bad option. We'll keep that in mind if she delays too much.

[Oldmansour]

>Raise an eyebrow. "I take it that they too are either Vampires, or knowledgeable on Vampire Matters, no?"
>Come to think of it, with how close we're cutting it, running over her isn't a half bad option. We'll keep that in mind if she delays too much.

>She nods and smiles. "They've been with the Countess for longer than me, and they're both a lot smarter than me, too."
>"What did you mean, 'The word of a vampire given over blood is sacrosanct.'?" Reisen asks her.
>"She means," Honoka answers for her. "That among vampires, blood is central to their way of life, their very existence. Any vampire that gives his word and accompanies it by spilling his own blood would sooner die than break that word. That's what you're asking, isn't it?"
>Yuzuriha seems a bit shocked. "How did..?"
>"I have lived long, and seen much." Honoka answers in a midnight voice. She says to you, "That's what she wants from you, Remilia. Your word in blood."

[Hanzo K.]

>"So, you want me to give my word that I won't bring harm to her, correct?"

[Oldmansour]

>"So, you want me to give my word that I won't bring harm to her, correct?"

>"Under any circumstances."

[Hanzo K.]

>Fix her with a stare that would make even the bravest of souls quiver. And while we're at it, double the wings for a total of 20.
>"Listen, I'm quite pressed for time, and while I am not averse to resolving things civilly, I do not enter into such binding contracts so easily. It takes one far greater than a mere gatekeeper to press me into such a thing."

[Oldmansour]

>Fix her with a stare that would make even the bravest of souls quiver. And while we're at it, double the wings for a total of 20.
>"Listen, I'm quite pressed for time, and while I am not averse to resolving things civilly, I do not enter into such binding contracts so easily. It takes one far greater than a mere gatekeeper to press me into such a thing."

>Your back's going to be very cramped... Actually, it's pretty cramped back there as it is with 20 wings. Any more than this would be ranging into the realm of the silly.
>Yuzuriha sighs, a sound of resignation. "Yeah. That's what I thought." She tilts her neck to the side and rotates it, stepping forward. She gestures with her left hand, and the two dogs lift off from the ground in flight, flying around the back of her and changing sides, the husky on her right, the retriever on her left. She gestures again, and the large front door of the keep creaks and slams shut, and you hear the sounds of locking from the other side.
>"Then you do it the hard way."
>"This isn't necessary-" Shou starts, but the gatekeeper cuts her off.
>"Yes it is. The vampire made her choice, and I made mine ages ago. Rei was right about you, Remilia. Now I'll see for myself if I can still beat Envy."

[Hanzo K.]

>"You are but a mere obstacle, a buzzing fly that I shall crush. I was going to resolve things civilly, but then you had to intend to force a binding contract on me, despite the fact that I have already given my word that I would not kill the Countess. That is as if one were to take those precious dogs you so treasure, and rip out all their fangs. Not a particularly pleasant thought, is it?"
>Let's take to the skies once more! "Now, show me what the Hound of the Cobalt Countess can do!"

[Oldmansour]

>"You are but a mere obstacle, a buzzing fly that I shall crush. I was going to resolve things civilly, but then you had to intend to force a binding contract on me, despite the fact that I have already given my word that I would not kill the Countess. That is as if one were to take those precious dogs you so treasure, and rip out all their fangs. Not a particularly pleasant thought, is it?"
>Let's take to the skies once more! "Now, show me what the Hound of the Cobalt Countess can do!"

>"You're just as pompous as the vampires on the outside. I can see where that china girl gets her aggression from." She and her mutts follow you into the air. "I'd have given you an escort to her personally, but your ego's obviously too big. You'll enter the demesne of the Cobalt Countess over my broken body!"
>Her dogs barking loudly, she raises her hand and points it at you, her canine companions opening their mouths, but as she starts to unleash danmaku, a wall of fire flashes into life between you and her. Her dogs yelp and recoil, and Yuzuriha stops dead in her tracks. Even you blanch a little at the sudden an unexpected inferno.

>Honoka, on the ground, has her left arm outstretched, flame dancing in her open palm. She looks Yuzuriha dead in her violet eyes and declares, "No."
>Lowering her arm, the flame vanishes, and Honoka turns to look at you. "I cannot allow you to do this. She would be weaker than you at the best of times, and she has been beaten twice before tonight. It is uncivilized and unfair of you to fight her."

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "You too would see me bound against my will? I do not enter into such contracts easily."

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh. "You too would see me bound like a commoner?"

>Even Yuzuriha doesn't seem entirely happy for the interference, though she does appear to be as much confused as upset. "This is my duty, Honoka."
>"And you perform it with honor. And I will see the same honor extended to you." Returning her eyes to you, Honoka continues, "I have seen vampires trod upon the weak before, and been helpless to stop it. Not this time, not while I have the power to prevent it. I do not ask that you betray your own nature, but I cannot betray mine, either."
>"Hear me, Mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. I will not interfere again. This duel is personal, between an invader and a defender, I have no right to get personally involved unless asked. However, I can and will ensure that it is as fair as I can make it. Know this, before you fight this person."

[Hanzo K.]

>Shrug, and return to the 6-wing configuration. "I already intended to use spellcards, so the interference was entirely unneeded."

[Oldmansour]

>Shrug, and return to the 6-wing configuration. "I already intended to use spellcards, so the interference was entirely unneeded."

>"Honoka's a fanatic about fair fights." Ranka chimes in, rubbing the back of her head. "Whether she's involved in them herself or not."
>"It is who I am." Honoka replies, deadly serious. She starts to raise her hand again, but Yuzuriha holds up her own first.
>It is you who she talks to, though, when she says, "You're okay with this? With Honoka-san helping me?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow. "So you intend to ask her to lend her support?"

[Oldmansour]

>Raise an eyebrow. "So you intend to ask her to lend her support?"

>"Well, no, but, she said something about 'making it fair.'"

[Hanzo K.]

>Look to Honoka with a questioning expression. "And do you intend for that, Honoka? To support one who serves my current foe?"
>Glance back to Yuzuriha. "Well, she is only my current foe until things are resolved at least."

[Oldmansour]

>Look to Honoka with a questioning expression. "And do you intend for that, Honoka? To support one who serves my current foe?"
>Glance back to Yuzuriha. "Well, she is only my current foe until things are resolved at least."

>"You'll remember I told you I possess healing powers. That is because I am a youkai of flame. But the flame is a source of energy as much as it is destruction." She looks up at Yuzuriha. "By sharing my energy with you, I can restore the energy you've lost this night, repair the damage caused by those that have fought you before-"
>"Look out!" Ranka shouts suddenly, as a blur of blue and red flies just in front of Honoka, missing her by a handful of hairs width. The form of Sabine careens past, crashing into the closed gate of the Keep, with Meiling right behind her. The chinese youkai drives her knee into Sabine's sternum with tremendous force, driving the kickboxers' breath from her body and the spittle from her mouth. Meiling follows this massive impact with a palm slap towards Sabine's face, but the youkai brings her right arm up to block it in the nick of time. Nearly simultaneously, she lashes out with her left elbow, catching Meiling with a glancing blow beneath her chin, but forcing the redhead to back up a step. This gives Sabine an opening, as a surge of electricity lances out from her outstretched elbow and blasts Meiling in the chest. Her opponent stunned, Sabine unleashes another terrifyingly fast kick, striking Meiling in her unprotected temple. Your gatekeeper staggers sideways as you wince in sympathy. That strike almost hurt YOU, looking at it.
>Amazingly, Meiling recovers her balance before the kickboxer lowers her leg, and uses the momentum of that strike to launch a counter attack. She spins clockwise and brings her right leg up in a rising savate kick, catching Sabine flush in the jaw and knocking her back a step. Meiling then reverses her body rotation and spins her leg around, her right heel striking Sabine in the side of her head in a flawless roundhouse motion. The kickboxer staggers to the side, and Meiling is quick to follow.

>"Someone should stop those two, before they REALLY get hurt!" Ranka cries.
>"You're right." Yuzuriha breathes. "But nothing can stop Sabine once she gets going. And Meiling said that..." She trails off, and looks back at you. "You came here for Sakuya, too, like she did, right?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Indeed I did, I'll force her to stop for now. My primary goal is to recover Sakuya after all."
>Let's float over with the full 10-wing configuration. "Hong, that's enough. You will stop this fight this instant. You are already in enough trouble as it is, running off and leaving your duties untended while I was taking care of locating Sakuya."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Indeed I did, I'll force her to stop for now. My primary goal is to recover Sakuya after all."
>Let's float over with the full 10-wing configuration. "Hong, that's enough. You will stop this fight this instant. You are already in enough trouble as it is, running off and leaving your duties untended while I was taking care of locating Sakuya."

>"Good luck with Sabine.." Yuzuriha mutters.
>Re-adding four more wings, you disengage from the cobalt gatekeeper to deal with your own.
>Meiling uses both arms to block another snake-like jab from the kickboxer, and then sends a front kick at her opponent. Sabine raises her leg and takes the kick on her shin, before hopping up and sending her left leg forward. Meiling skips backwards, warding off the strike with her right palm.
>She spares only a glance back at you as you approach. "That's exactly what I'm trying to do. I've got this one pinned down, you can take the other one."
>Sabine raises her hands in her fighting stance again, and fits you with a dirty look. "Butt out, vampire. This is a private duel."

[Hanzo K.]

>Facepalm. "Hong, I really do mean it. Do I need to punish both of you?"
>Flare up to the 20-wing configuration again.

[Oldmansour]

>Facepalm. "Hong, I really do mean it. Do I need to punish both of you?"
>Flare up to the 20-wing configuration again.

>Despite your attention-drawing efforts, both combatants remain focused on each other. Meiling does glance in your direction, but considering the look on Sabine's face, she is not intimidated by you at all.
>In fact, the instant Meiling glances at you, Sabine lunges forward in a blur of red an blue, her fist wrapped in lightning. Hong focuses her ki into her forearms and crosses them in front of her, getting them in place to block the kickboxer's punch, but only barely.
>Sabine shoots you a dirty smirk. "Wait your turn, will ya? China and me're just getting started."

[Hanzo K.]

>Alright, that does it. Kid gloves are off. Drop the aurawings entirely for an extremely focused aura, one strong enough to damage the very ground we walk upon with even the lightest of steps.
>Then, stride carefully,  meticulously, and methodically towards them. "Do not say that I did not warn you. I think a little punishment is in order."
>Once we're within 10 paces, rocket forwards to grab the both of them!

[Oldmansour]

>Alright, that does it. Kid gloves are off. Drop the aurawings entirely for an extremely focused aura, one strong enough to damage the very ground we walk upon with even the lightest of steps.
>Then, stride carefully,  meticulously, and methodically towards them. "Do not say that I did not warn you. I think a little punishment is in order."
>Once we're within 10 paces, rocket forwards to grab the both of them!

>Enough is enough.
>With a demonstration of the speed that belies your somewhat slim frame, you jet forward between the two fighters as Sabine advances on Meiling again.
>Your burst of speed catches both fighters off guard, and you snag the both of them by the front of their shirts.
>"Oh, you must be one of those impatient vampires." Sabine sneers at you.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let's surround Sabine with a blazing aura that's fierce enough to cause harm to her by her merely being in contact with it.
>"Actually, you'll find that I am of the sort who does not tolerate fools, or those who taunt one stronger than them."
>Then, we'll stare at Hong with a mixture of disappointment and anger. "You heard my order, and did not stand down when I ordered it. So that's twice you've disobeyed me. I'm quite disappointed with you right now."
>Then,  we'll fling Hong back to the others.

[Oldmansour]

>Let's surround Sabine with a blazing aura that's fierce enough to cause harm to her by her merely being in contact with it.
>"Actually, you'll find that I am of the sort who does not tolerate fools, or those who taunt one stronger than them."
>Then, we'll stare at Hong with a mixture of disappointment and anger. "You heard my order, and did not stand down when I ordered it. So that's twice you've disobeyed me. I'm quite disappointed with you right now."
>Then,  we'll fling Hong back to the others.

>The kickboxer flinches. But only just.
>Launching Meiling yields a brief yell from the Chinese girl, as you apply perhaps a touch more force than you'd intended. Or perhaps not, as you are annoyed. Ranka extends her hand and the air swirls around Meiling, slowing her flight until she gets her feet under her. Reisen floats slightly to her left and catches Meiling, the breeze ruffling their hair and clothes. Shou, though, seems to be missing from the group.
>"Thanks." Hong says to Reisen, who nods as your gatekeeper returns her attention to you. "What did you want me to do that time, stand there and take her strike?" she demands.
>"Probably." Sabine agrees with her opponent. "Why else would she leave herself so wide open? Not a big fan of defense?" she asks of you.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Actually, Hong, I intended for you to fall back and cease the battle. It's simply common sense. You two can have a more appropriate battle after all this is resolved. I've got a plan for that."
>Let's ramp up the Aura a few levels. We'll keep cranking it up until either she starts screaming, or she starts showing quite obvious harm. "And as for you...I'll deal with you first, I believe I've found one more arrogant than myself even. Tell me, how you ever hear the phrase 'bullying a dragon'? Well, if I so chose, I could easily push my Aura to the point where it boils the very blood that flows within you, ensuring a most gruesome demise. But, I choose not to, because I am a merciful individual. So I'll settle for merely causing enough harm to incapacitate. You can easily be healed later, when you aren't being an annoyance."
>Of course, once that happens, we'll level it off at that specific point, and drag her back to the gate, and then slam her into the ground in a way where her back will hit first.

[Oldmansour]

>"Actually, Hong, I intended for you to fall back and cease the battle. It's simply common sense. You two can have a more appropriate battle after all this is resolved. I've got a plan for that."
>Let's ramp up the Aura a few levels. We'll keep cranking it up until either she starts screaming, or she starts showing quite obvious harm. "And as for you...I'll deal with you first, I believe I've found one more arrogant than myself even. Tell me, how you ever hear the phrase 'bullying a dragon'? Well, if I so chose, I could easily push my Aura to the point where it boils the very blood that flows within you, ensuring a most gruesome demise. But, I choose not to, because I am a merciful individual. So I'll settle for merely causing enough harm to incapacitate. You can easily be healed later, when you aren't being an annoyance."
>Of course, once that happens, we'll level it off at that specific point, and drag her back to the gate, and then slam her into the ground in a way where her back will hit first.

>"You okay, by the way?" Reisen asks your gatekeeper.
>"Yeah, I'm fine." Meiling levels a bit of a scowl at Sabine. "But she does have a wicked kick."
>Despite the pain you know you're inflicting on her, the kickboxer actually grins. "Like this?" Your eyes detect the movement of her leg, but in this position, your reflexes aren't fast enough to react in time. The kickboxer's ankle strikes the arm your hold her with, and although your aura diffuses some of the impact, she still strikes you with enough force to break your grip on her shirt.
>Leaping backwards, putting about three feet between you and her, she fixes her gaze on you again. "You misjudge me, vampire. I'm not as stupid as I look. I could tell your power the minute you touched me. I know you're out of my weight class. But don't think for a second I'll be packed off easily. Not by you, not by anyone."
>She points behind you, to Meiling. "But she's the one I want, not you. You want to get into the Keep, fine. Take it up with Yuzu. That one and I aren't finished yet."

[Hanzo K.]

>"You'll have to fight her later then. I was specifically asked to put a stop to the battle."
>Let's fly back to the others, and land in front of Yuzuriha. "Stubborn one, isn't she? Would you mind too terribly much if I push her to the point where she can't fight any further? Because that appears to be the only way to put some sense into her. We can always have her tended to after the fact, given that we have two medics with us after all."