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[wise_maiden]

Who: fortunefail, wise_maiden, divinepooch
What: "Saving Private Yuan"
When: Late afternoon on the 11th (Saturday)
Where: Forest / that one cave that Yuan likes to hang out in :|
Summary: After hearing about Yuan's disappearance from his roommate, Raine knows just where to go to investigate. What she encounters is not exactly what she expects.
Rating: ... idk. PG? Higher?



All things considered, it was probably a foolish thing to do -- heading out into the forest alone. Not that she didn't have her staff with her, or have some experience on these paths. She knew exactly where her destination was, even if it would be a couple of hours walk to it. Yuan was nothing but a creature of habit, after all.

It wasn't the first time Raine had to track the man down, though perhaps the first in over a year. If his illness was what was prompting him to go into hiding - without a word to anyone, no less - it was also obvious that he wasn't willing to wait to see if there was any hope in curing it. For a man who had dedicated a good portion of his life to trying to change the worlds, he had certainly become quite a pessimist.

She wonders if she should have taken Astrid with her - but she needed the walk, really. She had too much on her mind these days. It was good exercise. And there was the cave. She was certain this was the one - Yuan's presence was all over it. ... As well as something else. Something stronger. It was a little unnerving, but now that she was here, there wasn't much of a choice but to continue inside.

Comments

[wise_maiden]

If this had been anyone else ... and honestly, how much did she really know the man? Idiot.

She shouldn't have come alone. If Kratos had been there from the start, it might have been a chance of convincing him -- but of course she had to poke her nose into it. Without thinking. So much for being past that.

"... Yes, support." Raine finds herself speaking anyway, keeping her voice calm, even as she maintains that distance. Stepping back as he rises so he'd feel that he had more space. Always has to have that last word, even as the sound of that claw catches her attention. Just what --- "You're the one who came to me first, remember?"

[fortunefail]

"It's too damned late now," Yuan growled before he could stop himself. He sought Raine out because he didn't know what he was dealing with. Because he thought she could help him. Instead, she's been nothing but dead weight.

His right hand moved further up against the wall. That light was really starting to get on his nerves. It made him feel cornered.

[wise_maiden]

"We... don't know that for certain." And how would they have anticipated how quickly this ailment would have spread? He was supposed to keep in contact with her. But there was no use in revisiting that aspect.

Raine keeps one hand in her pocket, around the unicorn horn, the other on the staff at her side. She just wants to keep everything calm - and that if she leaves, it would be on her terms, not his. Not Aku's -- Yuan was still in there, somewhere.

[fortunefail]

It wasn't hard for him to miss the hesitation in Raine's voice. She wasn't even sure of things herself, so what gave her the right to try and reassure Yuan? She was just pitying him. He scrunched his eyes shut, trying to block out the light. Something heavy was washing over him. The same feeling he experienced just before challenging Emil. It was pure hatred.

"Out. Get out." He knew that if she didn't get the hell out of his sight right now, he'd end up tearing her to shreds.

[wise_maiden]

It wasn't pity. Though perhaps this sort of reasoning could be blamed on Lloyd and Colette, and the entire journey. Not allowing logic to rule the day - but between the two of them, who's judgment was the most impaired? That answer seemed obvious enough.

"Yuan... please." Focusing on the properties of the unicorn horn made her feel calmer, somehow. If only there were a way to use that.

[fortunefail]

"OUT!" He pushed away from the wall entirely, lightning magic flashing and crackling between his fingers. The black rash spread across what was left of his other hand, the Keycrest serving as a final barrier to protect its crystal. Long, slender fingers twitched and moved alongside each other like knives. He didn't summon his weapon; it'd only get in the way. There were faster, cleaner ways to inflict damage.

Why didn't she listen? It was just one simple order. Not too hard to grasp. She'd brought this upon herself.

[wise_maiden]

... That damn lightning magic. Of all things, it had to be lightning. She backs away, but doesn't turn around. She had already come out there - alone and foolish as it was. There was still light in the day left. Maybe getting him out of that cave would help him see that.

That and... well. You just don't turn your back on someone who was under that sort of influence.

[fortunefail]

As Raine backed away, Yuan stepped forward to match. She wasn't moving quite fast enough for his liking, and if she really was a devious as he gave her credit for, she may still have a trick up her sleeve. No, it was best to make sure she got out and stayed out.

[wise_maiden]

Almost there, even though this all felt rather horribly in slow-motion.

"You can still fight this, Yuan." Thoughts of her conversation from Derek earlier in the day filtered in. How did you heal partially devoured souls? ... And if they were left to their own devices, would the soul that had taken over the body remain in control, even in Luceti? Wasn't that what was going on in this situation, as well? As long as Yuan could maintain control - somehow regain it --

Too many variables. And what did she have on her side, exactly? Not much. But perhaps - now wasn't the time to think of them as being disadvantages. She just had to use her strengths. And those were -

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to concentrate on the unicorn horn as they continued to move.

[fortunefail]

He didn't respond to that- He didn't see a particular need to. If it was up to him, this conversation was over. Quite frankly, the way he saw it, it was up to him. The moment Raine entered this cave, she was at his mercy.

The lightning continued to spark, illuminating the darkness at irregular intervals. Yuan's breathing was harsh; he was still suffering from a fever. No matter how much Aku had altered his body and mind, it was ultimately still just an illness.

[wise_maiden]

The little light slowly gets smaller the more that Raine's concentration goes toward the horn. It's harder to concentrate on a spell while moving, but as long as she can maintain that pace -

"Purify."

[fortunefail]

Yuan froze for a moment as the spell took effect. His breathing got easier and the searing pain in his throat lessened. The mild case of dizzyness he was suffering from dissipated mildly. Other than that, nothing happened. The spell eased some of the symptoms, but had no effect on their cause.

"What... are you doing?"

[wise_maiden]

She was hoping that the distractions of the illness would help him concentrate enough to regain some semblance of control.

But she had been thinking too automatically -- too short-sighted - in the hopes that any actions she made could be followed up just as quickly -

Getting back outside was the priority, with the cave growing dimmer. She doesn't answer him - she needs to save that energy.

[fortunefail]

The lack of a response isn't making Raine look any better, though. She used magic on him without warning. She was still trying to defy him. Apparently, she didn't plan to do as he said at all.

An impatient snarl left him. This was taking too long. He reached out to touch the wall beside him, his fingers scraping past it again. It was a warning. If she didn't hurry the hell up, he'd just have to attack her and toss her body outside with his own hands. Alive or dead, that made little difference.

[wise_maiden]

"I'm trying to - help you. If you'd let me."

She's still moving, at least. She's not going to run, but acting without thinking would cost her even more time. Learn from miscalculations.

[fortunefail]

"Pointless."

They were nearing the cave's exit. Outside, the sun was still shining brightly. What time was it, anyway? Yuan had lost track. Well, it didn't matter much.

[wise_maiden]

"If you're supposed to be looking within yourself, you must have tried a starting point. What was... it, exactly?"

Conserve her energy, but distract him with talk. If it could be managed.

[fortunefail]

"That's none of your damned business!"

His hand clenched into a fist, which he rammed into the wall. Normally, that would hurt like hell, but Aku's essence had encased it so thoroughly, he barely felt anything at all.

[wise_maiden]

"I'm not asking for myself."

Because Yuan was still in there. Somewhere.

[fortunefail]

The lightning crackled again, more ominously this time. She was almost at the exit, all she had to do was go through it. What was keeping her? If she wanted to die, that was her choice. He'd be happy to cater to her needs.

[wise_maiden]

It felt eerily familiar to a situation she still had occasional nightmares from. Possession was always such a messy business. Especially by demons. And the hope that Yuan could keep himself from striking out -- enough to listen. Possibilities.

... She really could be foolish.

Raine had to try one last thing. At least that, so close to the exit. Then she would go, perhaps-- regroup. Reconsider. Not a pleasant thought, if this is what he would be left as. And if Yuan were no longer in control of the demon -- ... well, that didn't leave many options.

"... Do you remember when you first found this cave?" Almost there. It was almost reassuring to have that sunlight peeking through.

[fortunefail]

What the hell kind of question was that? She was trying to trick him. She was trying to catch him off-guard and then pull another stupid stunt. He wouldn't fall for it, though. Lloyd and his companions had made Yuan look like a fool far too often. This time, he wouldn't bother wasting time on petty small talk. His first strike would be true.

He pulled the hand away from the wall again, assuming an offensive stance. He'd just have to run Raine through with one clean jab. Ironic, that's exactly how Aku managed to take Kratos down in the end.

[wise_maiden]

As soon as it's obvious that he has no intention of answering, Raine quickly steps back completely outside of the cave, attempting to block the incoming blow defensively with her staff. She does have some reflexes.

[fortunefail]

Yuan moved out of the cave with her as he made his lunge, but his razor-sharp fingers were stopped short when they came into contact with Raine's staff. Now that he was out in broad daylight, the full extent of the damage became visible.

He'd removed his gloves and his shoes, as they'd grown too small for him, only to reveal clawed appendages. His clothes covered most of his body, but the black rash was inching up above his collar, towards his chin and ears. His cloak had been discarded somewhere in the back of the cave as well, revealing that his once pink Filial wings had turned black.

Yuan wasn't going to waste too much time with showing himself off, though. After a few seconds of pushing back against Raine's staff, he jumped back and prepared for a second attack, this time aiming for her face.

[wise_maiden]

Now that they were in the light, it was easy to see that it was worse than she had imagined.

Not that she has much time to be horrified by his appearance with his second incoming attack. She's had far too much experience being defensive though, attempting to duck the blow while still blocking with the staff.