piratejournal | 002. voice

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002. voice

[Mitsunari's voice may not be a familiar one as he uses the journal so infrequently. Today he's actually bothering with it because he's realized there's a practical, productive use he can get out of the darn thing. What is that, you ask?

He can spread propaganda for a dead guy!]

"Hideyoshi Toyotomi."

If you have never before heard this name--my lord's name--commit it to memory immediately. You are no longer allowed to claim ignorance of his existence.

Lord Hideyoshi was an exemplary person. A paragon! His noble ambition was to unify the Land of the Rising Sun once and for all! Though his life was cruelly extinguished by Ieyasu Tokugawa, I am speaking now to ensure that his memory persists.

When you hear that name, understand that it commands respect! Know it belonged to a man whose magnificence will never, in all of time, be matched by another!

...

And if you are aware of my lord's works and still choose not to acknowledge his greatness, know that your behavior is absolutely unconscionable!

[So! ...Any questions?]

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[Drawn or not, the sword makes absolutely no impression on the Grim Reaper, nor does he appear to feel threatened.]

Too bad you decided to change your image. The magical girl one suited you.

[A sensible person wouldn't crack a joke like that, but Ragna's always been far from sensible.

As much as he doesn't care about apologizing for anything (Hell, what for? For not giving a shit about some Random Dead Guy™ from another world?), that second part does cause the man to grow tense and frown at Mitsunari.]

... I don't think what I said earlier made it through your thick skull to whatever it is that serves for a brain, dumbass. Since I'm feeling generous today, I'll repeat it one more time, so listen closely.

Bring up what happened at the beginning of the month again and the Sea Devil's pets will be playing with your head faster than you can say "April Fool's". Capiche?

[Funny thing is, he seems to have referred to it himself in just a few sentences ago.]

[Fighting traitors by moonlight! Winning hatred by daylight! He is the one called Sailor Mitsun?]

You just mentioned that day yourself, you hypocrite.

[He'll let the jab slide otherwise, in part because he doesn't totally get it. It's a couple hundred years too early for the magical girl genre to take off, and all.]

I found your friendly disposition annoying, but to go from that to behavior as cruel as maligning my Lord Hideyoshi... You are not only blasphemous, you're untrustworthy! What is your true nature?!

[While he did of course notice that everything was kind of weird that day, he also doesn't know what Ragna is normally like. ~~He probably still doesn't even know his name.~~]

Shut the hell up.

[Goddammit, Mitsun. He's not gonna research ancient insults just for you.

The man raises his eyebrow, finally noticing what's getting Mitsunari so worked up. So he hadn't figured it out himself...? Ragna doesn't exactly feel like spelling it out for him, but hey. While he doesn't mind being called a jerk and such (he is aware he's not the kindest person on the planet, after all), the accusation of being fake leaves a bad taste in his mouth, so he might as well make things clear.]

... "True nature," huh?

[The Grim Reaper repeats that part, mulling it over in his head more than it should be necessary before giving up on that and letting out a resigned sigh.]

Look, I don't really know what the hell that was all about, but... it wasn't the real me, okay? Just forget that shit.

What you're saying is you fell prey to whatever afflicted us?

[Now Mitsunari is starting to understand.

Perceived insincerity puts him on edge, and he's not sure what to make of Ragna seeming so deep in thought over the question, but he also isn't paranoid. The April Fool's curse explains everything.]

Then I will not accuse you of trying to deceive me.

[But we're not out of the woods just yet.]

The charge of blasphemy still stands!

Something like that.

[It's good they managed to resolve that part of the issue without getting into too much detail, since Ragna doesn't have patience for that sort of thing. In fact, he's not interested with the other half of the problem, either. The Grim Reaper lets out a snort, not seeing how the guy can accuse him of something as stupid as that.]

"Charge"? The hell do you think you are, some kinda thought police? I don't give a shit about the guy you mentioned. So what? Keep your panties on and deal with it, moron.

...What did you...

[Okay, that he understood just fine, and now he is positively livid.

How livid, you ask?]

Lord Hideyoshi, for the sake of your honor, grant me permission to utterly slaughter this man!

[He's tried to keep his temper in check and not attack anybody on the Katabami, he really has. Mainly because he kinda doesn't want to get kicked off the ship. Today, Ragna's managed to push him far enough that he's not at all worried about the consequences.

He rips the sword from its sheath and appears poised to attack.]

[See? Communication isn't that hard!

Achieving something even Ieyasu's presence couldn't is pretty impressive, even though Ragna doesn't realize that. In fact, he doesn't seem to care all that much about Mitsunari's stance and just ~~taunts~~ scratches his head with all the disdain possible.]

Damn. You need to ask permission of a dead guy to kill someone? What are you, five?

[Still, that doesn't mean he's letting his guard down; while the Grim Reaper doesn't draw his sword just yet, his right hand is slowly getting covered by a dark-purple shadow as he speaks.]

Explaining the virtue of humility to you would be a waste!

[He's really looking like the picture of humility right now, about to attempt murder and all.

He takes brief note of the purple shadow and decides to ignore it. He's no stranger to ominous dark auras in battle himself, and if Ragna decides he's going to fight for his life, so be it. Mitsunari is certain he can handle it.

Having nothing else to say, he rushes straight for his now-opponent and attempts a sweeping, horizontal strike.]

[Well, he's not wrong. Trying to teach Ragna that would be pretty pointless.

Mitsunari's right about one more thing: the Grim Reaper is not the type to go down without a fight. Before the sword can reach him, Ragna lifts his left arm and a circle of blue light with various symbols immediately appears in front of him, blocking the attack.]

Is that all you've got?

[Without waiting for an answer, he throws a punch with his now shadow-coated fist straight at Mitsunari's chest.]

[To narrowly evade the hit, Mitsunari pitches sideways. It looks like he's going to fall over, but instead he darts around Ragna in a half-circle, an arc of purple light trailing his movement.]

Save this vile arrogance for when I am dead, and only then!

[What's a battle without a little bantering? That stated, he lunges for him once again, from the opposite side as before.]

["Dead"? Geez, talk about overdramatic. Sure, the guy is a loud and obnoxious pain in the ass, but that's not enough for Ragna to want to kill him.

Still, pointless death threats are a must in the midst of the battle.]

If you're in such a hurry to meet your maker, I'll make sure to make it happen.

[Even as he speaks, the Grim Reaper spins around, drawing his sword to block the upcoming strike. The sound of clashing metal rings in the air, and Ragna uses that chance to jump back, swinging Blood-Scythe upwards as he does. In response to that action, a dark-red shadow raises from the ground, taking a shape of a beast's snout, and immediately moves across the wooden floor towards Mitsunari, baring its sharp teeth.]

DEAD SPIKE!

[The beastly shadow reminds him of the Demon King's sister, and the ghostly hands that she commands in combat. He never feared her for her powers--on the contrary, he thought she was a wretch--and he doesn't fear this either.

That lack of fear doesn't stop the shadow from landing a hit on him.]

Gh-!!

[The shadow's teeth hurt a little more than one might expect from something so incorporeal-looking, if you ask him. He staggers and then rights himself, his eyes burning.]

You are naive to think my life will be ended so easily! I cannot afford to die at your miserable hands!

[...This really has escalated quickly, hasn't it? He knows a death in this world wouldn't be permanent, but logic has long since left the building. All that's left is emotion; white hot rage.

Mitsunari doggedly continues on the offensive, this time unleashing a flurry of quick strikes.]

[With an attack that's comparable to Jin's Sekkajin, Ragna has no choice but to revert to defense. While he tries his best to parry the strikes with Blood-Scythe, even he can't get them all, resulting in cuts in his left shoulder and right side. It gets a groan out of him, but he's not overly concerned─ the wounds aren't deep, and with his Azure Grimoire, they'll have been healed by the time his fight is over.]

... You got pretty damn talkative.

[For someone who's spent literally months without saying a word to him... Not that Ragna has ever been interested in engaging in any sort of conversation with the guy.]

I think I liked it better when you were silent.

[And Ragna will happily shut him up.

The next moment their swords connect, the Grim Reaper puts a little more force than necessary to push his opponent back in hopes to create some more distance between them. The man quickly re-holsters Blood-Scythe to his back, then jumps forward with his hand covered in the shadow Mitsunari is already familiar with aimed downwards; whether it lands a hit or not, Ragna will immediately spin around mid-air with a kick aimed upwards, dark red claws forming around his leg.]

[The kick and its accompanying red claws catch him in the chest, leaving him momentarily winded--and indeed, momentarily silenced. He finds himself confused; usually it's considerably easier for him to stomach that kind of hit. Where has this sudden weakness come from?

He holds his sword parallel to himself to block any follow-up blows as he catches his breath, though it's a thin blade, and can only deflect so much. When he can again speak, he has no less to say than before.]

You... you should have stilled your wretched tongue! Now allow me to decapitate you...!

[Whatever happens next, Mitsunari will decide to leap into the air, intending to bring his sword right down on Ragna's head. He's more sluggish than he was before, though...]

[Ragna does swing his sword at him after that, but in all honesty he's not really putting his heart into it, letting it get blocked without much effort. Almost as if he was holding back and waiting for Mitsunari to catch his breath...

You know what's funny about attacking from the air? ~~You're vulnerable to ground-to-air anti-air tactics─~~ It's pretty hard to change the trajectory while falling. The man could probably jump away, but instead just shifts a little to make sure his head will be safe. His arm and shoulder might suffer for in its place, but he doesn't really care that much.]

Sorry, but I like my head where it is.

[As he says that, his right arm changes into something... not entirely human. This time, it's not just covered in the eerie shadow; more like it became one. The Grim Reaper reaches out towards the falling opponent, ready to close the huge black and red claws around him.]

[He is seized from the air, the claws digging into him painfully. He doesn't react with fear, but his blood is pumping with adrenaline and he's doing all he can to make Ragna release him. He would very much like to stab him, but the arm holding his sword is pinned to his side, despite his best efforts to the contrary. So with his other hand he's scratching, trying to rip and tear the claws apart and free himself.]

Let me go! You worthless... vermin...!

[Unfortunately for Mitsunari, the shadow's draining capabilities are taking a strong toll, and there's little he can do that will make a difference. His strength is evaporating fast, and his vision is beginning to fog. He hasn't realized that Ragna is holding back against him, and sincerely thinks the man is going in for a kill.]

I... won't forgive you for... your wicked words...!

[Even the (perceived) threat of imminent death isn't enough to make Mitsunari shut up.]

God, you never shut up, do you?

[Mitsunari's struggle seems to bring no result, save for an annoyed groan that escapes Ragna's throat. He tightens the grip on his opponent with the claws, all while being careful not to injure him too badly, or worse yet, kill him.

He's not that cautious about not causing him any pain, though.]

You need to chill. How 'bout you go to sleep for a while?

[The mocking tone in his voice is obvious, and the Grim Reaper smirks as he watches the other man. If perhaps Mitsunari has enough strength and focus to look at his face right now, he might notice that the shadow that builds his arm seems to have crawled up the right side of Ragna's neck, now also taking up the area around his red eye.]

G'night, asshole.

Edited (missed a word) 2014-05-10 01:07 (UTC)

Kill...

I'll kill... you...

[Hardly a witty comeback, but it's all that he can manage before he finally succumbs to unconsciousness. It'll be a while yet before he wakes back up, so the Katabami should be able to enjoy a little more peace and quiet than usual in the interim.

When he finally stirs--whenever or wherever on the ship that may be--he won't be particularly happy, but without the heat of the moment clouding his judgment he'll refrain from trying to attack Ragna immediately afterwards. Besides, he's injured and he needs time not only to recover, but to figure out a way to deal with those shadows when they cross swords again. He's no tactician, but Yoshitsugu's not here to act as his advisor and there's no way in hell he's going to let this happen twice.

Next time, Ragna. Next time.]

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002. voice

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