"They're experienced," Eir whispered in his ear. Tadakono yelled and fell through the door. Chibi and Lack looked up surprised. Eir bend over and picked Tadakono up. "Sorry for the disturbance. I was just coming to see Tadakono." Chibi narrowed her eyes at Eir. "I'll come see you soon too…. Promise."
The sound of raised voices floated in the door. Tadakono rolled his eyes and said "Not again." He looked at Lack and added "The Blacksmith Society keeps going on strike on us. Kei is at a loss on what to do." Eir took Tadakono's arm and dragged him off before he forgot about her.
Chibi got up and dusted off her skirt. "Then I'll just blow them up. Being flattened by Phen, sliced to pieces by Syao and frozen by Tada didn't affect them. I'll blow them up and see what that does." Phenomenon, Syaoran and Lack followed Chibi down through the long corridors to where the Blacksmiths were.
They looked at her defiantly. Chibi closed her eyes and threw bottles into the air. The three could tell these were bottles filled with Alcohol. "She's really going to blow them up." said Syaoran as Lack and Phenomenon cast Safety Wall around the three of them. The Blacksmiths laughed hard. Chibi drew out a bundle of Bombs. Their laughter began to die out as they realized what was going to happen. Chibi threw the Bombs hard at them. Fire filled the room catching all the Blacksmiths and melting weapons and armor on them.
"Chibs," Phenomenon said after the fire died down and the smell of molten metal and singed hairs filled the air. "That was overkill."
"I did say I was going to blow them up," she replied. Lack stepped forward and cracked his knuckles. The Blacksmiths shivered and ran. "I'll gladly blow you all up again if you strike one more time. But next time, you won't be able to run away so fast." She called after them. She gave Lack a slap on the back and added "I think you delivered the final blow. I doubt my Bombs are really that scary."
Lack stared at her in disbelief. "They're definitely scary. Add to that when you are angry and it's purely terrifying!" He laughed and noticed out of the corner of his eye that the Blacksmiths were watching them. "Chibi…"
"Hmm?"
"Want to fight? Mock-battle I mean."
Chibi stared curiously at him. He moved so she could see what he saw. "All out? Or practice?"
"All out. Don't hold back." he replied pulling his gloves. Chibi could hear the little hints in his voice. "I want to see how strong you are now."
Chibi called her Homunculus and moved her pouches so her pouch with her offensive bottles was closer to reach into. She knew Lack was going to hold back a little because of the strength difference. Drawing her sword, she pointed it at him and said "Come on then."
Lack darted in at her. Chibi swiped at him with her sword in her left hand. With her right, she drew out two Coating bottles. As Lack leapt away from her blade, she coated herself and her sword. Lack summoned spheres then cast Fury and leapt at her once more. Chibi's blade locked against his right Knuckle.
"You're actually going to cast Asura on me again?" she asked him in a whisper grabbing a hold of his other wrist when he attempted to catch her with his right Knuckle.
"Not yet," Lack replied pulling back. "After a little battle I'll use it on you." Chibi frowned slightly. "Unless you can escape it."
Chibi pulled away and threw a few Bombs at him. If he really does want to go all out then I will. She switched her sword to her right hand then drew out two bottles and held them in her left. Creator only specialty… Acid Demonstration! She threw them at Lack knowing well that he hated her Acid bottles.
Lack noticed the green and red bottles and artfully stepped away, the flames from the mixed bottles just catching the tails of his shirt. She's really going all out. Or did I anger her just now by preparing Asura? He moved again away from another pair of bottles, again the tails of his shirt getting caught. She's angry…
Phenomenon and Syaoran watched them battle, increasing in ferocity by the second. "Is it just me…" Phenomenon asked watching as Lack forced Chibi down to her knees. "They aren't mock-fighting anymore."
"They aren't," Syaoran replied steadying himself as the floor rocked from Chibi's Bomb. "Lack's holding back a little but not as much as he was at the start and Chibi's not holding back at all."
Chibi thrust her sword at Lack. Her choice of attack surprised him. Locking sword to Knuckle again, he asked "You're not happy that I prepared Asura, are you?" Chibi pressed hard with her sword against his Knuckle. "They're still watching. If I didn't prepare Asura it wouldn’t seem real to them."
"You also said go all out," Chibi replied slyly. "If I don't even attempt to defeat you then it won't look real either." She reached to her belt and drew Azoth and swiped at him with it. "You aren't using Mjolnir anyway. You using Mjolnir is what people are use to."
Lack caught her wrist and lowered his head to whisper. "You want me to use Mjolnir? You know from the last time I really almost hurt you to the point of no return while I was using it."
"You used Asura on me too that time," Chibi hissed back flicking her wrist and moving it so the blade of Azoth was pressed against his glove. "Its like a damn instant kill move with you." She forced him back and walked away. Lack watched her go a little stunned.
"That was unexpected…" Phenomenon said giving Lack a pat on the back. Syaoran sighed and Phenomenon nodded. "Last time you two had a mock-battle that turned real, she left for Velvet Touch of Enishi."
"I don't know if she'll do that this time…" Syaoran added turning to stare at the Blacksmiths. They froze and disappeared. The three smiled at each other and went inside, just in time to catch sight of a blue cape disappearing through the Main door. "On second thought…"
~~~
Chibi sat at her desk tapping her quill against the piece of paper in front of her. Yukiko and Mazenda stood at the door watching her. "This isn't good." Chibi said after a while. "The recent number of disappearances of Creators is staggering. How long has it been like this?"
"For a few months now," Yukiko replied giving a silent order to Kishu. "I came by Fight Club Headquarters to see you but you weren't there. An Assassin Cross named Kakaxi told me you were on Nameless Island."
"Hmm…" Chibi leaned on the palm of her hand and stared at the page. Kishu entered with a pot of Chibi's favorite Milk Tea and some biscuits. Chibi gave Kishu an absent pat on the head as a thank you. Yukiko and Mazenda waited a little while longer before leaving the room and closing the door behind them.
"She's been here for almost a full week," Mazenda said with a sigh. "Lack's been by but she's no where to be found when he's here." Kishu walked next to Mazenda's Filir, Nowaki. "She's avoiding him."
"Lack said that it was because of his Asura Strike," Yukiko replied. Mazenda's eyes widened. Yukiko noticed and added "He didn't use it on her. But he has in the past. She got angry because he uses it as an instant kill move, which is what Asura Strike is anyway. I understand her reasoning for getting angry but he doesn't understand because she didn't say anything."
"I don't get it either," Mazenda said thinking. Nowaki flew up and perched on her head. "Asura Strike is the instant kill move of a Monk-class. Chibi knows that Lack will use it if he can. So I don't see why…"
"Because if Lack is to test Chibi's strength," Yukiko said cutting Mazenda off. "He can't use Asura Strike. It's basically a way to shut her down without seeing how strong she really is. But technically, she has to be able to withstand Asura Strike to defeat Lack, but because she still can't, it makes her still feel very much inferior even though they are both very strong. Just in different aspects."
"I get it now," Mazenda replied opening the door to the Hall of Notable Alchemists. "So she's avoiding him til she cools off? Or more for contemplation on her angry outburst at him?"
"I think both," Yukiko replied seeing two familiar faces coming towards her. "Phenomenon, Tadakono, What brings you here?" Nowaki and Kishu flew upwards and out a window near the ceiling. "Chibi's not really in a talking mood at the moment."
"We know," Tadakono said with a sigh. "We need to borrow an Alchemist for a Guild battle." Chibi peeked out and saw Tadakono and Phenomenon. Phenomenon gave her a little wink in greeting. Tadakono, not realizing she was there added "A guild called Steel Hearts has challenged ours. Lack's at a loss because our numbers are still on the low side from the battle with Loki. So he's trying to even up the numbers a little."
"Then why not directly ask Chibi instead of borrowing an Alchemist?" Yukiko asked feeling a familiar alchemical reaction behind her. Chibi stood leaning against the doorframe with Flyte's embryo in her hand. She listened carefully to everything being said.
"Lack feels that Chibi wants to calm down before returning," Tadakono replied finally noticing Chibi. "He wants another Alchemist so he can make a comparison. He says he doesn't understand why Chibi got angry and so he wants to see from a different perspective."
"Then take Yukiko," Chibi said disappearing back into the Orbital Room. "Only she and Mazenda are close in strength to myself. Better to borrow one of them for the Guild battle. Tell him after the battle to come see me." The door closed leaving the four looking stunned.
"So she says," Yukiko said. She whistled and Kishu floated back with her pouches. "I'll be your replacement. But I can't promise I'll be as good as her battle-wise. I've never seen her fight before but she's apparently very strong offensively."
"You don't need to worry," Tadakono replied taking her hand. "Chibi's supportive not offensive in our battles with other Guilds." Yukiko let out a sigh of relief and followed them to Fight Club Headquarters. Mazenda walked back to Chibi's office and poked her head in.
"You sure?" she asked Chibi. Chibi lifted her head, her eyes dark red. Mazenda could feel her demonic aura stable but slowly lessening. "You told them to take Yukiko."
"Part of me wants to go back to support them," Chibi said her eyes going back to normal colors. "But part of me wants Lack to understand that it's difficult to be constantly support. Also I have all the paperwork here I need to do as well that's been piling up since I was away."
"Want some help?" Mazenda offered with a small smile. Chibi shook her head. "I'll be in the Orbital Room then if you need me." Chibi waved and Mazenda left the room.
~~~
Yukiko breathed hard. She never had to support so many at once. Minna, as secondary support, filled the holes in her support but it became increasingly difficult. Lack, frustrated, yelled "Phen! Be supportive too. Yukiko just focus on myself, Syao and Tada. Let Minna and Phen work on the rest."
"Right," Yukiko replied and moved. Phenomenon changed to High Priest and darted everywhere Healing and Resurrecting as fast as he could. Yukiko pitched Whites at Lack, watching him move from opponent to opponent. He's not using Asura Strike. She said in amazement. Pitching a few Blues at Tadakono, she asked quickly and quietly. "When Lack fights, does he normally not use Asura Strike?"
"Depends on the opponent," Tadakono replied casting Frost Driver. "He uses it when the opponent appears stronger than himself. Its like flattery I guess. He likes a challenge but with Asura Strike, the challenge isn't there."
"So when he…" Yukiko paused noticing Lack snap towards them.
"He wants her to be able to withstand his full power Asura Strike," Tadakono replied sitting and relaxing.
Lack reached and gave Yukiko a pat on the back. "You did well. I can see now the difference between Chibi's way of battle and yours. I can also see why she is High Seat of the Alchemist Society." A letter floated from the sky to Yukiko. "From Chibi?"
"Yeah," she replied breaking the seal and opening it. "I better get back. She's freaking out." Lack raised an eyebrow. "Creators have been disappearing all over Rune-Midgard much more now. She's freaking out cause apparently Mazenda just told her that twelve have disappeared in the last few hours."
Syaoran, Minna, brighteyes, Phenomenon and Tadakono looked at Lack, who nodded "We'll come with you. It sounds way too much like Loki's work. I hope Loki hasn't broken free from Forseti." The Guild Master of Steel Hearts got up and shook hands with Lack before they left the grounds of Fight Club.
~~~
"Mazenda," Chibi called. "Make sure you take down the name of every Creator that has gone missing. Hei, bring me all the files on those who have passed from Alchemist to Creator." Chibi waved at Lack and the others as they entered the Orbital Room. "Where is Rumi? And Nicholas? I asked them to be here an hour ago."
"I don't know!" Mazenda cried dropping an ink bottle. "They're marks show they are down stairs." Chibi started shaking and Mazenda called "I'll go get them."
"Stay where you are," Chibi replied stalking off to her office. "I'll call them back here." Lack looked around the room at the mess of Alchemists and Creators running around gathering papers, writing things or watching the orbs. Yukiko showed them a place to sit for a while and darted off to help Mazenda. Chibi stalked back out dragging two Alchemists by the ears. "When I say get your asses in here I mean it."
"Sorry Chibi," they mumbled. "We've got the completed lists for you." They handed her the pages they were holding. They shook under her glare.
"That is everything," Rumi whispered scared. "We haven't had many students recently to teach." Chibi glanced over the pages quickly. "People seem to feel that Alchemy is too expensive a profession to take up. And youngsters these days seem to not understand that only the start price is the most expensive…"
"I don't care about how much they think it's suppose to be," Chibi snapped her eyes wild with fury. "How many students have there been that have passed from Alchemist to Creator in the past month? Hei doesn't have complete numbers." Tadakono jumped up and caught Chibi's arm before she hit Rumi. Chibi swung her other arm, which he caught as well, and said "Tadakono!"
Tadakono held her tightly a little surprised that she used his full name. "Calm down. Biting at your juniors isn't going to solve anything." He pulled Chibi closer and gave her a hug. Rumi and Nicholas saw their escape and ran off to find Hei. "It isn't like you to get this worked up. We're all here." He indicated to Lack, brighteyes, Minna, Syaoran and Phenomenon. "We'll help. Just tell us what needs to be done."
"Paperwork," Chibi mumbled quietly. Tadakono could tell she was crying. "Paperwork… And recording. Watching the orbs and recalling Alchemists and Creators to renew their insignias with the new system I've created that tracks when one disappears." Tadakono stroked her hair gently. "Registering those who have attained Azoth."
Lack took a deep breath. "Right then," He got up and signaled to Tadakono to take Chibi somewhere quiet for a while. Tadakono nodded and left. Yukiko and Mazenda came up to him. "What's been done so far?"
"Uh…" Mazenda rifled through the papers she was carrying. "Hei, Rumi and Nicholas are working out our current membership lists, Yukiko and I were watching the orbs. Chibi was with us sending letters." Noticing Lack's slight change in expression, she added "Chibi's the only one who can send letters via the orbs."
"Then I want Phen to go help Hei, Rumi and Nicholas," Phenomenon nodded and left. "I want Minna and brighteyes to stay with Yukiko and Mazenda.
Syao and myself will be in Chibi's office doing the paperwork in there." Syaoran got up and went to Chibi's office. Lack peeked in at Tadakono and whispered "When she's ready, get her to start sending letters." Tadakono gave him a thumbs up and went back to comforting Chibi.
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