Worlds Collide

Chapter 7: Keiken'na itoko-tachi

We open on a shot of a recently woken up Kitiara (complete with bedhead) brushing her teeth groggily as her phone started ringing, still half away she answered her phone, yawning all the while. *YAWN* "Konnichiwa?". She tiredly said as her eyes suddenly widened in glee. "REALLY?? TODAY?? YAHOO!!". She said in sheer delight as she finished cleaning herself up and got dressed at the speed of sound, running over to the currently empty archery class to tell her sister. "SARAH YOU WONT BELIEVE WHOSE COMING HERE TODAY!!!" She excitedly yelled in Sarah's face, ignoring her trying to have some coffee. "If you tell me can i get back to my drink? Its early." Sarah said tiredly to her beaming friend. "MY COUSIN!!!" She said, smile threatening to split her face open as Sarah (now slightly more alert and a bit deaf from the scream) yawned out her response. *YAWN* "Cool sis...go tell someone more awake." She responded while struggling to stay awake as her friend ran off to tell the others. She bolted through the door of the shared home of Midiki and Tempetes to find both them, Kojiro, and a still unconscious Moto, the first three were sitting at the kitchen table. "MY COUSINS COMING TODAY!!" She yelled as Moto stirred slightly, worrying the greek man and the phantom soldier as Kojiro smiled happily at his girlfriends smile as she ran off to prepare. "So...what's the current status of the big guy?" Tempetes asked while gesturing his head towards the couch as Midiki read from a clipboard. "His wounds have healed nicely, jaw fracture left no lasting damage, strike to the trachea left minor bruising yet nothing too extreme, psychological damage is still something i am not sure of, he should be back on his feet by the end of the day at the earliest, at most the end of the week." The doctor said as Kojiro was still smiling towards where his girlfriend was, only to be snapped out of it by Tempetes asking him a question. "So Kojo, what's this cousin like to get her THAT happy? or is she one of those people that get naturally happy to see family?" He asked while Kojiro processed the question for a moment. "I...honest to God haven't a clue, never met much of Mdudu wa mapenzi's family but if they make her happy then i'm glad...but if they hurt her..." He finished with an ominous tone as Tempetes gained a shark like grin at the insinuation. We cut to an outside shot of the building where a cloud is swiftly descending as Kitiara is contained herself well, from the cloud walked out a middle aged man with swords and an electric aura around him...who was then tackled by Kitiara in a hug. "Ojisan susanoo mata aete totemo ureshidesu!!" She said in joy but not loud enough to deafen him as he chuckled and returned the hug, thunder rumbling as he did so. "You need not worry my little storm cloud, i to can speak the language of these lands, my how you have grown, last time i saw you, you barely reached to my hip." He said fondly as a woman leapt out of the cloud and joined in the hug. "Sup cousin? still training?" She asked as Kitiaras eyes lit up more. "Koto I'm so glad to see you! And yes I've kept up my training, you guys have to meet my team!" She said as Susanoo teleported them to a location Kitiara gave him...that being the home she shared with Kojiro, coincidently the other 5 were there, the aforementioned swordsman helping Midiki and Tempetes cook something while a now more awake Sarah kept an eye on a sitting up yet slightly out if it Moto, the sudden appearance of the three spooked four of the people. "Guys, this is my uncle Susanoo and my cousin Koto." She introduced as the two waved politely as Kojiro slowly approached. "Wait like Susanoo no mikoto, the god of swords...?" He asked slowly as the taller man nodded. "You must be that Kojiro fellow my niece kept mentioning in her letters, you had better be treating her well." Susanno said ominously as thunder roared in the distance making the building shake. "N-no sir i can promise you i treat her like a q-queen." Kojiro stuttered in an intimidated way at the look no mikoto was giving him only for the sword god to steadily calm down. "If i hear any different i will cut you to-." He was cut off by his niece jabbing him in the ribs, earning a quick laugh from Koto as Sarah noticed the blade at her hip. "Nice steel, names Sarah by the way." She complimented/introduced with an extended hand as Koto shook her hand with eagerness, almost accidently crushing the limb with her grip strength. "Nice to meet you to, 'tiara kept mentioning a woman with your name, heard you can nock an arrow at sound speeds, impressive." Koto returned the greeting/compliment as she noticed her dad eyeing the man limp on the couch, his eyes concerned but shook it off as she unsheathed her blade, glowing red yet not at all hot to the touch. "Thanks, its my Takei no ken, Amatsumara made it for me." She explained casually as Kitiara just had an idea that lit her eyes up as she turned to her cousin fast as the wind. "Koto we should fight! we got a place we can do it in, show these guys what it's like to see a fight between two shinto warriors." She explained to her cousin, who (after thinking it over for a hot minute) agreed. Cut to the auditorium where we see the others in the empty bleachers (Moto is slumped against the wall with a pillow and a blanket), while Kitiara and Koto were meditating across from each other, preparing for the battle, after a couple of minutes they both slowly stood up, and each took a stance as Susanno raised a hand. "HAJIMERU". Neither made an immediate move of attack, instead slowly circling one another, as if looking for an opening to exploit, a misstep, something, anything. "I've never seen her so focused before, our three vs one fight last month didn't have her this much." Kojiro muttered in awe as the sword god smirked to the mortal man. "This isn't their first fight against one another, they know exactly what they can do, the issue being my daughter is indeed physically superior, yet my niece has the ability to make that work, their skills are the deciding factor, never rush into anything unless you have complete certainty in what you're doing." He said with a proud smile as Kitiara finally saw an opening and subtly approached, not going unnoticed by her opponent who seemingly teleported in front of Kitiara, who reacted with a lightning fast roundhouse right to the side, which was blocked but did send Koto sliding sideways a bit. "Good form." Tempetes commented as Kitiara appeared behind her cousin, coming in for a downward punch, only for her arm to be caught as she was judo tossed across the room, landing gracefully as she tossed a few shuriken, which Koto simply dodged while following their trail with her eyes. "Those aren't even-". She was cut off by a fierce combination of moves: An ear-clap to discombobulate, a jab to the stomach to knock out some breath, a repeat of the previous roundhouse this time to an arm, ending with a spinning back fist to the side of the head, causing Koto to stagger as she regained her bearings. Kojiro subtly blushed at how expertly his girlfriend executed such a string of attacks. 'Beautiful...'. He thought. "I can see your blush, boy." Susanno warned, startling the man as his three close friends laughed. Slowly standing Koto rubbed her arm as she smirked at her cousin. "Always had a bit of an edge in hand to hand, but i think its time we had some actual fun." At that she would draw forth her katana, the blade crackled with electricity with a glow like lava while Kitiara grinned as she drew forth a pair of Tanto blades, followed by her cracking her neck as they took a stance. In an instant they both ran to each other, blades sparking like a firework as they continued to clash, neither letting up, neither showing an opening. "Hey uncle, cousin, wanna see something I've been working on?" She asked during the clash as she leapt back, her aura flaring like a missile, her swords gaining a seemingly divine glow as a silhouette of her uncle, the God of storms and swordsmanship appeared behind her. "Oh?" Koto and her dad said in unison as Kitiara called out the name of this technique: "SUSANOOSURASSHU." Her voice echoed as she teleported in front of Koto, who put more effort into blocking and evading her cousins attacks, thunder roaring with every swing, and lighting crashing with every strike to the katana. "Naming this after my dad? Really Kitkit?" Koto asked incredulously as she landed a quick slash to her cousins forehead, yet the wound wasn't deep at all, but what it did do, was give Koto an advantage: The blood slowly dripped into Kitiaras eyes, forcing her to keep her eyes closed more than not to prevent damage. Their battle would continue, Kitiara continuing to use her special move, winds sharper than razors causing damage to the surrounding area as well as laying cuts to her cousins face, arms and legs, yet unbeknownst to the swordswoman her breath was becoming heavy, her arms started turning red, and her legs started to slightly quake. "What's going on...?" Sarah asked, being the first to notice these changes, Midiki took notice to and his eyes widened in realization: "Her body is not used to this kind of power solo, it is overheating." He quickly stated as Susanoo and Kojiro quickly looked to Kitiara, her form slowly becoming severely haggard, she appeared behind Koto despite this, sword raised to deliver a strike...only for blood to shoot from her eyes, nose and mouth, yet despite this her body would not let her stop, it was as if the power was taking control. Susanoo manifested in front of the downward slash, blocking it with his hand with a concerned look on his face. "I can't bring myself to strike down my family." He said, regretting what he must do...only for a open palm to push air into her face, knocking her out without causing her serious harm, the camera slowly panned to the person responsible: Moto was awake, arm outstretched, palm open, as he slowly descended the bleachers to approach the two, eyes half open. As he approached Kitiara, Kojiro appeared, blocking her path with his sword pointing at Moto's neck. "Why did you not tell anyone you were showing signs of being suicidal?" Moto asked dryly as the swordsman did not waver. "Kill me if you can, but no one is bringing more harm to the love of my life, want her, you have to kill me." He stated, the two would glare at each other...only for Susanoo to clap his hands as he suddenly appeared alongside Kojiro. "Congratulations, you earned my respect." The brother of Amaterasu stated as the man was just confused at everything that was happening. "You stood up and threatened a stronger being just to defend my niece, and even willing to die protecting her when she can't defend herself, you have guts, try not to get them spilled." He added with a pat to the back as Midiki ran over to heal his unconscious teammate while Koto approached her father and Moto, ending this chapter for now (will be continued in the next one.)