I smell the blood of a petty little coward||Private|Izayuki|Ami|Elyx

The silhouette shifted again as the main proceeded to hurt her again- this time twice as much as before... how irritating. It was likely that Izayuki and that poor girl were also feeling the same thing. Whatever it was, she did not like it, but she dare not come out of her invisible hiding just yet. The raging yokai was not weak enough yet to listen to reason, and Elyx appeared to be in no mood to have her around either. Thus, she would stand by and wait quietly.

Izayuki, however, would attempt to block Yuni and capture the new celestial spirit with her ice vines. Elyx evidently could care less about her threat, so she attempted to crush Astrid harder with the vines of thick, darkness-infused ice to break and suffocate her. The yokai gave a small growl as the small girl managed to make her prey disappear... ah, now she definitely had more than enough reason to fight the one before her to take back what was hers. He was no more than a filthy thief that now needed to be punished. Because of her lack of logic, she would fail to measure the differences in power and strategize properly. She could only rely on her yokai anger to propel her strength and wrath. The celestial fire burning her as another spirit was summoned, Izayuki cringed and gave a low whimper from the pain... how irritating it all was.

Virgo, the strange maiden-dressed spirit, was attacking with two chains... easy to get away from. Shifting into a tight cluster of ice and cold particles and fragments, the chains went right through Izayuki with no harm to her body. Noticing that Elyx had completely stopped moving, the small flurry moved gracefully over to his direction at a fair speed, allowing four walls and a cover to form around them in order to keep the celestial spirits away. The spirits could break them, yes, but the instant they tried, the walls would keep using moisture in the air to repair themselves in less than a heartbeat. On the interior of that frosty prison, moonlight from above still shone through the black ice, illuminating the scene just enough. Taking physical, solid form again, she stood in front of the paralyzed Elyx, that sadistic smile once again on her face. Flexing her claws, the yokai would attempt to slash at him three consecutive times and knock him over, right as she summoned her ice vines to wrap around his wrists and ankles, in case he became unparalyzed for some reason. "I guess you're mine now," Izayuki would say, taking into account that he had made off with her last chosen prey, and now was the only option she had left, considering spirits did not seem like much of a good meal or very appetizing to her.

Were the walls able to keep out the celestial fire? She had not counted on it, but nevertheless, she felt the burning pain from inside of her again with them suddenly so close. So it seemed she had failed to keep out the annoyances that Elyx had summoned to his side for help. That fact was beyond irritating, but not something that she could exactly fathom or think about getting rid of. If anything, she had come to accept it, just as much as the splitting headache as her inner emotions violently fought against the overwhelming instinct and madness.

Subtly still manipulating the vines of darkness-infused ice, Izayuki would aim to have them continue to work their way up at fast speeds from the ground and wrap tightly around his core. From there, she would attempt to have them squeeze and crush him. Even if he somehow escaped them or was helped by his spirits, or if she were successful, she would aim more vines up from the ground to shoot up and impale him and the others.

For his first statement, she failed to comprehend most of it. She was not planning out the battle or her moves at all- only acting out of desperation and instinct. He stole her prey. He needed to die. The 'logic' behind it was simple, even enough for a mindless beast to understand. She was willing to tear down the walls, but instead manipulated them to split into at least hundreds of small to medium-sized ice shards. Using her Glacial Omnipotence and raw strength, she would attempt to send the points of black ice spiraling at high speeds towards Elyx and the two spirits. As she did that, she herself would revert to flurry form to allow her own attack to pass through her. This was no spell- they were equivalent to bullets, and quite devastating in many numbers. Just seconds before she broke the walls, however, Izayuki manipulated ice vines to come out of the frozen ground to wrap around the two spirit's in any ways they could, attempting to keep them immobile for the icy fragment attack. Words still failed to reach her and appeal to her light of reason amidst the thick and murky madness that had dominated her soul, and now her mind. A certain silhouette recognized at least most of it, but began to wonder if the boy would be enough to bring her out of it before killing her.

She had missed capturing the maiden, but for a few brief moments, the mindless yokai was actually gaining ground... not anymore. While she had been attempting to crush him in ice, he suddenly began to move again, and thus use his magic. This was not good... he managed to break the black ice that was ensnaring him and also destroy the ice around his other celestial spirit... all with churning winds? Once upon a time, Izayuki would have been able to admire that type of strength, and even be a little bit envious of the power, but currently, he was only proving to be nothing more than a nuisance to a wild animal.

Izayuki leaped up to avoid the blindly-aimed chains wielded by Virgo, her red, glowing eyes blazing against the darkness of the night. She prepared to launch herself again for the wind slayer, unable to take into consideration that the wind could harm her. As she leaped, however, claws flexed and ready to tear at flesh, he announced the use of celestial fire again, which made her fall mid-jump onto the icy ground. This was worse than the first few times- much more painful. It felt as if some sort of fire had been set to her veins... how was he doing this to her? She could not understand... not in her current state of mind. The yokai let out a sharp cry as she fell, but quickly attempted to recover, barely, a new form of wrath in her blood-crimson eyes as she met his own angry violet ones. Still on the ground, but propping herself up, Izayuki took a sharp inhale before releasing a giant, magical blast of swirling, dark, icy energy that increased in width and size almost instantly. Glacier God's Howl.

Damn... more pain? How was the Ace of Leaves pulling off such a stunt? The small, white yokai was truly curious. She moved closer, her invisibility almost fading due to having not been near a light mage to mimic in a while. Nevertheless, the battle continued to rage on, and Elyx was on the winning side so far until.... oh dear. Was she really going that far. The bellow or Howl of the Glacier God? It was a spell she knew that Izayuki seldom used, ever... how did she muster the logic to use such a devastating ability? It was hard to tell, but time could only explain how this battle would end. Elyx was S rank, experienced and powerful. Iza was B rank, weaker, and not even in her right mind to fight correctly. Even the tanuki herself would be ashamed of her own style of fighting this battle... a sad thing to consider. Shaking her head and attempting to clear the pain, Seika continued to wait for the perfect moment to intervene... before Elyx killed Izayuki.

Were she in her right mind, Izayuki would have anticipated further attacks from her opponent and strategized around it. She was a tanuki, after all, and could tap into unique wisdom and use practical cunning and cleverness to tilt the battlefield in the direction she wanted it. However, what was left was not the dignified type of tanuki yokai, but the mindless, monstrous sort; a bloodthirsty beast, that could barely use mindpower to any advantage at all. She released her blast of ice- a Glacier God Howl, and one Elyx would recognize, as she had used it near him once. However, it was a bit stronger than last time... nevertheless, his own blast of wind had not been counted on. A Sky God Bellow, and many times more powerful than her own characteristic slayer-spell.

His darkness-infused wind easily broke through the destructive churning of black, icy energy, before hitting Izayuki who was already at close range. The tanuki yokai was instantly blown back several meters, hitting the ground painfully with a cry, and abruptly and sliding back even more. The ice cushioned some of her fall and kept the roof tiles from shredding her clothing, but made her slide further back until she found the sense to dig her claws into the ice to stop her from slipping any farther. Thanks to the Sky God Bellow, she now hurt all over, and her hair and fur were beyond messy and mussed. She attempted to push her upper body up weakly with her arms, before that same sensation hit again- the fire blazing through her body. There were no flames, but once again it felt as if her veins had been ignited with a burning heat. This was much worst than the times this mysterious power had been used before, and Izayuki opened her mouth to release many agonized cries, despite trying to clench her teeth and fight the pain. She was unable to get up, and felt more endangered than ever. As she resisted the Celestial Fire, she found her body hurting more, and her arms gave out from under her as she emitted pained whimpers.

She was barely holding onto her consciousness, with only adrenaline and the pure yokai instinct driving her keeping her focus alert. Fear pulsed through her now- she was helpless, like a caged or trapped animal, paralyzed by both weakness and fright. She rested on the ice around, her breathing ragged and labored, and her body and tail limp. The ice around suddenly disappeared. She could have kept the Ice Jungle spell activated, but her body was instinctively now turning to her magic power to keep itself alive. The vision in her red, glowing eyes was blurred, and she failed to focus on the figures she had been fighting. She could only rely on her sense of smell, and knowledge that they were close. All the while, her inner emotions attempted to fight back at the instincts that were out of control, causing her much more pain, physically and mentally. Tasukete.

Not quite paralyzed, but for the most part, somewhat immobile, Izayuki's heart raced and pounded even harder as Elyx approached her. All her instincts pointed her thoughts in the direction of knowledge that she was in danger, and everything else focused on how to react to that. She was unable to lift herself, and was in immense pain, fading fast on the edge. Her adrenaline, use of magic power, and instincts kept her from going unconscious, but just for how long would this last?

He crouched down near her, and out of instinct, the red-eyed yokai would lash out with her claws weakly, unable to lift herself, but still managing to use her arms. Her breathing was labored and ragged, and she struggled to stay away from that dense haze of darkness that was beckoning to her warmly, hoping to wrap her in its cold embrace of death. If death was a monster with sharp teeth and claws, it was not just breathing at her neck anymore, but had its fangs holding strongly onto her neck, threatening to sink the rotten teeth completely in. What was keeping her alive? Instinct? Emotion? Determination? Desperation? ...hope?

If he tried to knock her out, or do any such harsh move, that would be it. Killing her almost instantaneously, and winning the battle... but the question was, would he? Seeing Izayuki attempt to weakly and powerlessly lash out at Elyx again, Seika allowed her stolen invisibility to cease, and flew out into the open in her fluffy, white, mew-like yokai form. "Motte! Er, wait!" She would open her mouth to give a quick shout at the Wind Slayer before stopping abruptly a few short meters away from the two. The boy had to know... Izayuki was already at her limit, and now it was up to him. He was the only one who would be capable of saving her, from herself, or finishing her off, which would be no more than she deserved.

With the miss of her claws, Izayuki retracted her hand to grasp her aching chest. Her heart was pounding, more than it ever had before, but there was a different pain that could not be described that burned through her core and her head. The throbbing headache only got worse, and in her obstructed mind, she could not fathom or even considering wondering as to why there was so much pain. Her inner emotions allied with the forgotten logic, reason, and morals to fight against the raw instincts that had dominated and taken over with fantastic fury. The inner battle that continued to drag on made Izayuki feel the full brunt of it all, in the form of intense pain, on top of the current physical pain from the injuries she had received.

Cringing again and remaining limp, the fallen yokai could only give out a small, weak, cry as another flash of agony coursed through her, before she clenched her teeth and shut her eyes tightly closed, not even noticing the devastating wind spell that Elyx was preparing. "It hurts.... help me..." she said in a hushed, fading tone with a soft whimper following. The red glow in her eyes seemed to flicker slightly, before resuming just as boldly as before. For once, it was the side of her emotions calling out in one desperate plea, though her instincts translated it as a pule of distress from the physical suffering. In reality, something deep inside of her could notice the bondage, and she wanted to be free of the inner turmoil and torture. Yet after what she had done, was anyone really capable of comprehending that as such? She had brought the outer pain and torment upon herself, but that did not bother her as much- adrenaline was her ally. The suffering from the inside was what she wanted to be free and rid of.

Her wounded mind failed to register the danger that she was in, or Elyx's words delivered in her direction. It was windier, yes, but she took no real notice of her surroundings. She was simply too weak to do anything anymore, except lie there helplessly, with no defense and pure adrenaline and cortisol being the only things keeping her from going unconscious. Izayuki would prefer the ability to slip away and fall into that soft realm of blacking out, but her instincts allowed no such thing.

As Seika moved closer, Elyx soon sprung away from her and stopped. A good thing too- she had acted in time. Of course, he did not seem keen on completely stopping what he planned to do. Thus, she would have to make her case quickly, before any more damage could be dealt to Izayuki. Thankfully, her Youkai Aspect would already slowly begin healing the tanuki, even if the small, white creature did not notice or recognize her own ability. Bringing her cyan gaze up to meet the boy's glowing, violet one, Seika narrowed her eyes in disapproval. "So... you really were going to kill her, then? Idiot!" she began, a low snarl in her voice. "The monster you see before you isn't Iza... she can't feel emotions or use logic, morals, or reason... she's a mindless beast; a Yokai that was exposed to too much blood and madness. Can't you see that, dumbass?!"

Breathing in and letting out a sigh, the tiny, mew-like yokai prepared to continue, attempting to calm herself. Was Elyx not Izayuki's mate? Or, maybe that was the wrong wording... he was her lover, her 'boyfriend'... did he not feel the same way? Could he not see her internal suffering? Humans could be so gullible and oblivious, really. "I was in the same state as Iza before- back when she found me. She saved me from myself. Now you need to save her, if you can. What will you do?" Seika continued, her glare not flinching once, but her words much calmer than before. "You've weakened her enough. Now you can get her to see reason, and free her, or kill her. The decision is yours, baka."

The arrival to the scene had only occurred long after Izayuki had already been torturing the other two, for Seika. She knew that she had no power to stop the tanuki yokai, and that the only magic around she could mimic would be that of the ice slayer at the time, who would just eat any magic attack and grow stronger. Luckily, Elyx arrived when he did, but enough was enough. The tiny, alabaster-furred yokai was incapable of weakening Izayuki enough for her emotions to have a fighting chance, but the wind slayer was definitely able to do so. Still, the darkness infused in his magic and aura were unsettling, and disturbed Seika to a very fair degree. Just how far did he intend to go? From here on out, if he went any further, it would be the end for Black Roses's Ace of Stigma, and her blood would be on the hands of the Ace of Leaves. Fairly fitting, but a flower did not simply try to destroy itself, and that was what was happening now. Unthinkable.

With his response, Seika opened her mouth to deliver a sharp retort and further lecture, when she noticed something strange take place. Being a unique kind of yokai, she was very spiritually-aware... but what was this? A younger, kinder, and seemingly more innocent version would form next to Elyx in spirit, and reach down towards Izayuki. The tanuki girl herself appeared to be unable to see this incorporeal form of the wind slayer, but the tiny, white yokai could see it as clear as day. She watched on as he failed to touch Izayuki, and eventually began panicking as he faded out... what was that? Personally, Seika had always found the lerale human a rather mysterious person.
He seemed like the typical introverted type who had is own quirks, and unique powers, but he was not quite purely human, was he? The purple eyes definitely added to that suspicion. Typically, she avoided the others in Black Rose and stuck closer to the tanuki yokai, but she had been able to observe Elyx as he was around Iza, and as they were in his house a good amount of the time. It was through him that she met Ignite, who she had her own thoughts on, but would contemplate them at a different time... right now, she had to focus on keeping her one friend from dying at the hands of another.

As that spiritual, young, and innocent form of Elyx disappeared, Seika heard Izayuki's nickname quietly whispered... what was to happen now? The small yokai took a protective step towards the fallen girl with her tanuki ears and tail still out. The girl's eyes seemed to fight the red glow as they flickered between bright, blood scarlet and her usual, unnatural eye color; pink. Elyx's own eyes were no longer a violent shine of purple, but had reverted to their natural shade of brown. The wind around them stopped spinning and churning violently, and quietly calmed itself as she observed him moving down towards Izayuki. Releasing a sigh, Seika relaxed, relieved to know that Elyx finally seemed to understand.

As for Izayuki, her emotion and reason continued to fight at her own nature, the fervent instincts, that when prominent, proved that she was more a monster and beast than a person. Had she not warned him once before? The internal battle was taking its toll, and the yokai had even lost the strength to cry out anymore. All she could do was rest there limply and with labored, ragged breathing. Unbeknownst to them all, Seika's own aura was slowly at work, healing her, yet it could only happen gradually. Her vision was still blurry as the inner struggle between instinct and emotion worsened, and in her mind, she still felt threatened, and the figure looming over her coming closer made her attempt to weakly lash out again with her claws. It would be of no use, however, as before she could initiate the violent response to his approach, a sudden warmth would wrap around her hand, making her instantly relax. What was this?

Her red eyes slowly made their way up to gaze at the blurry figure holding onto her, the expression being desperate. Her keen senses recognized his scent as so familiar... but in her state, she was unable to place just who he was... until his voice sounded again. There was feeling in it... not a cold or disapproving tone, but something else. If anything, it matched her expression- desperation. He said her name again... her nickname... Iza. Who was he again? She had to know... his presence was so familiar. Finally, it was a shout- a cry out to her. Her emotions churned inside, furthering the battle against the instincts and finally breaking through. To see what? A light? The red glow broke from her eyes, clearing to allow the familiar, light pink glint to return as she stared up at Elyx. Elyx! The memories that had been blocked out by the instincts came surging back as fast as a bolt of lightning, or perhaps faster, and there was a sudden final burst of pain before it subsided. How could she have forgotten the face of the one she held dearest and closest? He meant everything to her... and he had tried to stop her... from...
... no.

"Elyx!" she cried out with a gasp, forcing herself upwards in an attempt to throw her arms around him and cling tight, tears filling her pink-hued eyes as the red glow was finally gone. The realization of her actions soon sprung back to her mind, attacking with the ferocity of any wild beast- blood. The area had been soaked in crimson, and the screams of both Lucius and Astrid soon filled her ears as the memories came back, no longer nulled by instinct. Emotion had won, and its victory was brutal, bitter, and cruel. As she recalled the fruit of her actions, Izayuki began to visibly tremble as she weakly held onto Elyx with all her strength... why was he apologizing? What had she done..? Why had she done it? It was all a blur, but the details were beginning to patch themselves together.
The blood had triggered something inside of her- some fierce nature driven only by hunger and bloodlust, and a monstrous mind that failed to comprehend reason or ethics... "I-I'm sorry! I..." she failed to speak as sobs went on to wrack her body, making breathing and getting any words out beyond difficult. She had hurt them, her own guildmates. She had tortured and bled Elyx's own apprentice, Astrid, and had ruthlessly beaten her older brother who she had tried to protect... so why was he here, able to call out to her and bring her back? Why did he bother to deal with someone like her, and put up with her time and time again? She had finally proven it... "I'm a monster."

There was some strange comfort in Elyx not saying anything at first, as the words would sink in. At least, he did not deny any of it, his name, her constant apologies, and her statement of the obvious. Really, why did he continue to put up with her? Why had he dared to call out and apologize, and cancel his attack? Why did he not kill her- it was far more than she deserved, after all. After torturing two of her guildmates and viciously attacking her boyfriend, despite failing... the intent was what counted, in the end. She had intended to kill Lucius and Astrid. She had intended to kill Elyx, and for a while there, it seemed as if he had intent to kill her as well. It would be purely justified if he had- perfectly fair and valid. So why didn't he?

... Even after everything, could he still bring himself to love a monster, whose primary thought and desire was blood and suffering? She could seem and be as innocent as she wanted, but it did not change the fact that the nature was there, ready to surface and arise again when it could; and who was to stop it then from being victorious? Her trembling failed to cease, and Izayuki shook visibly in his arms, only slightly comforted by his stroking of her long, slightly-bloodstained, hair down her back. She clenched her teeth to avoid sobbing out more, and closed her eyes in an attempt to stop the streams of tears, but only failed in the end as a series of low, almost inaudible whimpers could be heard and the salty, bitter tears kept falling. There were few words of comfort for the situation, and at least she could understand that much.

She clung tighter, despite knowing the right thing to do, perhaps, would be to distance herself from Elyx. She did not deserve any form of sympathy, pity, comfort, or whatever he had to offer- no monster was obligated or entitled to such gentle things, after all. Izayuki tried to force herself away, but her body would not cooperate with that mental command, and only made her try to hold on more, desperate. What was she scared of? Herself? Well, yes, but that was not the case here. For now, her instincts would lie low. But what? Of rejection? Not quite... she could care less about that, some way, somehow, despite that having been a primary fear. No, her greatest fear now was simple- loss. She was terrified of losing him, of being rejected and then losing one of the few people in her life that she had actually come to truly love. Rejection played a key part in it, but it was the aftermath that truly struck Izayuki with despair.
Again, it was what would be more than deserved, but at the same time, when it came to accepting the consequences of her actions, the idea of loss was the one that she feared the most... she had already lost so much before. Her mother had been lost, her village and mentor and friends, her freedom, her rolemodel and little sister, her soul, and now she had nearly lost herself, as in her mind and entire being. What more needed to be taken away from her? The last thing there was would be the one she cared about the most in her life, surely, and it was the person right there with her, holding her in his arms. In a hushed whisper, she would give a soft plea, eyes still closed and body still curled in despair, crying, and shivering as she tried to hold on, undeserving and desperate. "Please don't leave me alone."