[@sassy1085]

[color=f49ac2]"Come back here you little snot!  I'll carve your eyes out!"[/color]  And so the assassin Yuki chased after rin, leaving Kaname to continue her fight with Tohru.  Though weakened, Tohru succeeded in matching her adversary blow for blow, however, sustaining a few more ghastly wounds in the process.  Her wooden blade, it was whittled down now, no more than just a birch twig.  How foolish of her to grapple against a real blade with it.  Now, more than ever, desperately she wished she had Lionheart.  If so, she could've finished off Kaname in a few short moves, but still the woman held her own against Tohru.  [color=8493ca][i]"Are you just about ready to give in, Tohru-san?"[/i][/color]  Rather mockingly she cooed.  [color=8493ca][i]"If you continue any further, surely you will not last.  Surrender, and I will give you the mercy of a quick death."[/i][/color]

Death?  No...death would not have her.  To her last breath, Tohru was determined to fight, but she could feel it, the blood slowly draining from her veins, her uniform practically dyed red, how heavy and bloodshot her eyes grew, the frailty of her limbs.  Her body, it was shutting down, unable to endure any more from the wicked assassins.  But still, she rose her blade, with every ounce of strength, how little she could muster in a painful gasp of air, glaring in defiance.  Kaname, to this, merely a dismayed sigh, [color=8493ca][i]"Very well.  You've made your choice then Fair Prince of Claymore.  It's a shame...that I must kill a beautiful woman such as you, but..."[/i][/color]

And then, she charged forth, like a black, poisonous wind sweeping across the battlefield, the end for Tohru was near, [color=8493ca][i]"...this is GOODBYE!"[/i][/color]

The end...it was here.  Tohru knew she didn't have any strength left to fight at all.  She was finished.  A final breath, she closed her eyes...and awaited Kaname's killing blow, but then...

((Battle Music: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgitOsgrkIs]Death by Crucifixion[/url]))

[color=8493ca][i]"AGH!"[/i][/color]  A swift strike of silver connected with Kaname's mask, slicing through the hard porcelain and carving quite the nasty scar across her rather unblemished face, such a force that threw her back, her body crashing into the thick trunk of a nearby tree.  Tohru, her eyes opened as another force pushed her to the ground below.  There was nothing, no agonizing pain erupting from her chest, no cheshire grin from Kaname to haunt her in her final waking moments, no blood spilling from her heart pierced by an assassin's blade.  No...there was only her disbelief at who stood between her and the now unconscious Kaname, her blade drawn and a fierce glow in her eyes blue as ice,

[color=6ecff6]"...Ha...Hanazono-san?"[/color]  Asuka, of all people, she had saved Tohru, but why?  Sheathing her katana, the red haired beauty hissed her answer glaring at Tohru over her shoulder, though typical of her to be so...selfish in her endeavors, [color=ed145b]~"If anyone is going to kill you, Tohru-san, it will be me.  Not these miserable cutthroats."~[/color]  And another surprise as she offered her hand to help Tohru stand after being knocked down.  [color=ed145b]~"You had best tend to your wounds.  I would hate for you to miss our duel."~[/color]  Yes, there was malice behind her charm, but nevertheless, Tohru managed to eke out a small grin, taking the girl's hand and rising to her feet, [color=6ecff6]"Likewise.  It will be an honor to face you in battle, Hanazono-san, but now I must hurry.  Rin-san is still in danger!"[/color]  And with a generous farewell, off was Tohru towards the school, praying that Rin wasn't hurt already.