[Kazama is in no rush to finish this quickly. On the contrary, he seems almost eager to draw this out, for Shinpachi to exhaust every single option, so that he'll realize that the strength of a false demon is nowhere near enough to overcome a true one. The longer this takes, the more he'll be able to hammer it home that Shinpachi can't win, and that - rather than merely killing him or leaving him to die, as he had attempted in his rage over being struck by a mere human - is something he doesn't mind spending his time on.
The humans fighting the battle proper can take care of their own affairs. This is a human war, not a demon war, and he considers his debt to the Satsuma long since repaid. His interest lies more in stamping out the rasetsu he so despises, crushing the hopes of the Shinsengumi he has become so interested in, and absconding with a female demon worthy to bear his children.
He draws his sword back once more and - ]
That's enough. [This time, neither his sword nor Shinpachi's connects with steel or draws blood. Amagiri is suddenly there between them in the blink of an eye, having caught each of their blades in a different hand. His expression is somewhat disapproving - both of the appearance of yet another rasetsu and of Kazama's dallying to toy with him.] It is time to go.
[Kazama sneers and his eyes narrow into slits.] Amagiri...
[Amagiri holds Kazama's gaze for a few long moments and something passes between them silently before Kazama finally relents and nods once, sharply. The red-haired demon releases his sword so that it can be sheathed but keeps a hold on Shinpachi's lest the newly-turned rasetsu decide to try and attack again. Kazama glances briefly at Chizuru.]
Do not think this is over. I will come for you, Chizuru Yukimura.
[She shudders, Kazama turns to go, seeming to vanish in the blink of an eye. Amagiri releases Shinpachi's sword, bows once to the both of them, and does the same.
It's so lucky that Chizuru can scarcely believe it. They've really just... left? After everything? It means they'll be able to make it back to headquarters, but... it also seems too good to be true. She stares at the spot where the demons were just moments before and manages to make it to her feet to cross over to Shinpachi.
She stumbles, on her way, but reaches out to grab his arm to keep from falling on her face. Why aren't her wounds healing quickly enough...? Perhaps it's because she's been injured too much in too short a time. Perhaps she just needs rest. And she'll be able to have that, when they make it back, she's sure of it. A more pressing concern is Shinpachi, whose wounds are healing but who has paid a terrible, terrible price.]
Nagakura-san... [Her voice breaks. He should never have gone this far to protect her, never... she's not worth it. She isn't worth the ochimizu.] Y-you... Are you...?
no subject
The humans fighting the battle proper can take care of their own affairs. This is a human war, not a demon war, and he considers his debt to the Satsuma long since repaid. His interest lies more in stamping out the rasetsu he so despises, crushing the hopes of the Shinsengumi he has become so interested in, and absconding with a female demon worthy to bear his children.
He draws his sword back once more and - ]
That's enough. [This time, neither his sword nor Shinpachi's connects with steel or draws blood. Amagiri is suddenly there between them in the blink of an eye, having caught each of their blades in a different hand. His expression is somewhat disapproving - both of the appearance of yet another rasetsu and of Kazama's dallying to toy with him.] It is time to go.
[Kazama sneers and his eyes narrow into slits.] Amagiri...
[Amagiri holds Kazama's gaze for a few long moments and something passes between them silently before Kazama finally relents and nods once, sharply. The red-haired demon releases his sword so that it can be sheathed but keeps a hold on Shinpachi's lest the newly-turned rasetsu decide to try and attack again. Kazama glances briefly at Chizuru.]
Do not think this is over. I will come for you, Chizuru Yukimura.
[She shudders, Kazama turns to go, seeming to vanish in the blink of an eye. Amagiri releases Shinpachi's sword, bows once to the both of them, and does the same.
It's so lucky that Chizuru can scarcely believe it. They've really just... left? After everything? It means they'll be able to make it back to headquarters, but... it also seems too good to be true. She stares at the spot where the demons were just moments before and manages to make it to her feet to cross over to Shinpachi.
She stumbles, on her way, but reaches out to grab his arm to keep from falling on her face. Why aren't her wounds healing quickly enough...? Perhaps it's because she's been injured too much in too short a time. Perhaps she just needs rest. And she'll be able to have that, when they make it back, she's sure of it. A more pressing concern is Shinpachi, whose wounds are healing but who has paid a terrible, terrible price.]
Nagakura-san... [Her voice breaks. He should never have gone this far to protect her, never... she's not worth it. She isn't worth the ochimizu.] Y-you... Are you...?