[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3YdqYf1.png[/img][/center]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/0zvnz6I.png[/img][/center]

[center][b]Kazenosuke, Dancing Blade[/b][/center]

[sub][@PaulHaynek][@Crowvette][@Nakushita][/sub]

[b]Kazenosuke's House[/b]
[hr]


[center][url=https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxRHwKlP7milNZja-RhZvN78ojKuQ4bTNA]A Deadly Dance[/url][/center]

Shizuka, unfortunately, found his plan backfired. Instead of stopping Kazenosuke's blade, his own blade was parried and for his trouble received several slashes that caused him to stagger back. Yuki, quickly came as a follow up, now angered and appearing to take the fight more seriously. She was able to deliver a blow to the distracted swordsman, shredding a bit of his robe in the process. Yuki dodged his counter, but he was able to push her away using his scabbard. Gaining back the ground he lost, he again span his blade, clearly confident they wouldn't find a crack in his defense a second time. 

While bleeding, thankfully the wounds Kazenosuke inflicted weren't too deep. Io had done the liberty of casting healing magic, stopping the bleeding and patching up the cuts. Acknowledging Io's signal of a plan of attack, he nodded in agreement. However, in the off chance it didn't work, he wanted to have a backup. At that point, he turned to his oni comrade. [color=0072bc]"Yuki-chan, that last exchange gave me an idea. Follow Io's lead for now and strike at our friend here as soon as you see an opening."[/color] He said. Looking at the spell Io fired, he immediately deduced the lich's plan. [color=0072bc][i]Slowing him down with frost, eh?[/i][/color]

With that, Shizuka utterly vanished from beside Yuki. Just after, three images of Shizuka charged at the Dancing Blade from different angles. Despite his technique being herald as the ultimate defense, he couldn't defend against an attack from Yuki whilst being distracted. He would attempt to find a blind spot using his afterimages, attempting to further breach his guard and coming with an immediate counter if Io's ice beam was deflected. If Shizuka got parried again, he'd have to make sure to use Eseryu in order to avoid a more damaging slash. 

Hopefully this would give him and Yuki an opportunity to put the match in their favor. 

[hr]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/cDfjYN0.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/0u0wcUo.png[/img][/center]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/NporBQG.png[/img][/center]

[center][b]Yurine the Death Keeper[/b][/center]

[sub][@PaulHaynek][@Restalaan][@Enkryption][@The Irish Tree][@Hammerman][/sub]

[b]Terauchi Temple[/b]
[hr]

The trip back was met with a bittersweet silence, especially from the Hangai sisters. Hinami was still unconscious, being carried back to the temple by Gringor and Skarsneek. Atsuha had gotten injured during the fight, which she didn't perform very well in. In addition, she already exhausted mind was completely focused on using the lilies in order to help quell Hinami's rapacious nature. She didn't want to think what could've happened if things didn't go at the cemetery as they did. 

Upon arriving, they were greeting by Ayu, as they usually were. 

[color=9e0b0f]"I believe Takeshi-san and Kikyo-san were discussing something in private."[/color] She said, barely acknowledging Ayu's presence.