Battle of The Bands Arc

[Anonymous]

Olguin shrugged Sasami's hands off his face, and turned away from her shocked visage. "Whatever, I'm not associated with you, so why should I bother?"

His form faintly glew with dark emotions as he raised a makeshift barrier to keep that damn ghost's music from affecting his mind.

Walking away from the light, and into the gloom of the backstage area.

Sasami's eyes watered at the sight.

[Dracos]

OOC: Write write write write write
channel rage
IC:

The Axe rose from a knee, his face scarred with rage.  He lifted his metal axe and began a fearsome tune, his music entering the void the bard of light left behind.  His hands were like lightning as they strummed across his axe, a powerful rhythm of darkness leaving his instrument.

Fearless Leader

[Asrana]

Yui blinked and sighed as she watched Yosho, trying to tune out the dark music.

Turning from the brooding priest, she looked to Miyuki, trying to guage how she was doing.

[Anonymous]

Sasami's breath caught in her throat as she turned away from Olguin. Wiping at her eyes, she turned back to the musical battle before her.

Her eyes narrowed as she watched the golden spirit.

Was this the person who the harp had belonged to before? It had to be...

Concentrating on the two bards before her, she tried to put the image of Olguin walking away from the light. And her.

[Dracos]

OOC: THe Man in the Machine...

METAL MACHINE

IC:

A kind yet determined look rose upon the young blond bard's face.  His image bolstered with the power of the harp he played in response, his music forming a duet as the two bards played.  A sense of majesty flowed from the stage as the background band began to join in as well, twin masters of the art matching wits in a duel of song.

Fearless Leader

[Anonymous]

Is this...it?  Sasami thought in wonder, breathlessly staring at the two dueling bards. What I lack, the drive to make something truly special?

She knew in her heart that it was true, though. With a quiet sigh she continued to watch the show.

As concentrated on the bards was she that she didn't notice as the twin green spheres on her brow softly glew and merged together.

[Dracos]

OOC: Power Power Power

IC:

No...  how could this be.  Even in Death he matches my skill and surpasses me.  No matter what I do his skill is the greater.  Even turning to the dark arts has left me weaker than his power.  Could...no, this couldn't be wrong.  I will defeat him.  I will be the greatest bard in the world no matter what the cost.

The intensity of Axe's song increased as he poured his heart and soul into his instrument, all that he had learned over the years.  A melody forged of his dark memories flowing in the air.  This...his bardic spirit would not falter here before Gildward's harp.

His eyes glowed with passion, there was no longer any stage.  No band in the background.  No crowd silent in awe of the two.  There was only him and Gildward.

Here, the strongest would conquer...

Fearless Leader

[Anonymous]

Sasami's body shook like a leaf in a storm as she gazed at the Axe and Gildward in shock. Nothing else could simply describe it.

Was this passion?

But...no, she didn't want this. She didn't want to frighten with her song. No, never.

Her spirit tried its hardest to latch onto Gildward's song, and turn away from the darkness.

"Passion...without kindness..."

[Dracos]

OOC: Beautiful
Future Shock
IC:

He never understood...



"Come on Direlend...  let's play."  A young blond child smiled at his friend as he held his small wood harp in his hands.



never understood at all...



"And now the most talented in the class..." The Old bard smiled.  "Gildward.  Your work this year has been remarkable."

Direlend looked on, his purple hair hiding his eyes.  How..could he.



It was never about that...



"I challenge you.  Under the autumn leaves...  I'll defeat you Gildward.  I'll be the strongest bard!" The young teenager held his wood lute.  His instrument of choice since his childhood.

"But..."

"No buts, We will settle once and for all who is the best."



Never about being the best...



"Gildward, you have done it.  You have recovered the legendary harp musicallibur."  The old bard coughed, a bit of blood spitting out onto a cloth he held in front of his mouth.  His withered form looking proudly at his greatest student in his moment of glory, carrying the ultimate bardic tool, the golden harp of legend.  There was only one thing left to do.

"I have one last thing to teach you.  A song passed down by the greatest bards.  This song must not be forgotten...  from long ago it was handed down by heaven unto the greatest bard of that age.  Learn now...my final gift...  The Song of Finite."

The old bard began to play...a simple song of incredible power.  His fingers growing slowly in speed across his own metal harp as he passed on his final song.  Death waiting but a moment longer to claim his soul...

and in the shadows, a scarred and battered Direlend looked on...his eyes glowing with hate.  How...dare he...



It was merely about...



"Damn you Gildward.  Damn you to hell!"  Direlend lay on the floor.  His body broken by the ninja's attack.  His fated duel with his rival ruined.  He would die here certainly... in this miserable jail cell.

Damn him...Damn him!  What...

"Are you just going to lay there and die?  Or are you going to become stronger?"  A dark voice echoed deep in the blackened room.

"Who..." Direlend's one good eye opened weakly.

Standing before him was a black robed figure, a smirk on his face as his red eyes glowed.  "Well?  I can give you the power you need.  Why not give it one more go?"

A name he would soon know well...  Khrima.



the music.

Glowing with a golden aura, the ghost of gildward began his final song.  The last teaching of his master.  Knowing well his successor lay behind him watching from the shadows.   His hands streamed across the harp, a crystal melody flowing from them...  the song of finite.

Fearless Leader

[Anonymous]

"What...is this..." Sasami muttered in an awe whisper. Gildward's song...

Deep within her, a prescence stirred at the music. Waves of joy spread out from her very essence as she heard the song.

Something...

"This is it..."

[Dracos]

OOC: FEEL IT FEEL IT RAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWR V^_^V

IC:

No...  even that song.  That damn song.  He would not be beaten.  Not by that Damn Song.

Axe's eyes calmed suddenly as his hands flew in time to the song.  His own memories giving him the song he needed.  He matched Gildward note for note.  The song becoming a matched duet...  yet a solo at the same time.  A beautiful melody of life and death flowing from them.  Lost in their melodies the two bards played...

Friends...
Rivals...
Enemies...

They were united once more in their music...

Fearless Leader

[Anonymous]

The True Emblem brightly flared as Sasami felt her mind suddenly gain a sense of duplicity.

She quirked her head to the side as she took in the scene. And a soft smile played over her features.

***

Yosho blinked awake, feeling himself being drawn out of his memory world he gazed on the stage.

Moments later his barrier dropped as he gazed at the scene in shock.

***

High above them all, Olguin watched through clear eyes.

"Well well...this will be interesting, that's for sure." He mumbled as he felt the surge of power.

Bounding off, he grinned as he swiftly made his way back to the stage.

[Dracos]

And as suddenly as it began...it was over...

The song ended as Gildward vanished again into the harp.  Axe...no Direlend looking on, a strange sense of peace in his eyes.  He watched in silence as the harp floated off stage...straight to Sasami.

The crowd remained in stunned awe of the performance they had seen.

Fearless Leader

[Anonymous]

Sasami nervously gulped as she saw the harp float straight to her arms, and took a nervous step backwards.

She suddenly felt her mind expand as a warm, caring voice softly whispered in her ear.

Do not fear it, Child. It will never harm its new Mistress.

"What?" Her head turned from side to side frantically, but her nerves were quickly calmed.

Peace, Child, peace. I mean you no ill intent. I'm merely a spectactor, watching the story that is your life.

Sasami bowed her head as the harp crept ever closer, "I don't deserve it."

Oh, but you do, Child. The great bard Gildward has honored you not only with his skill, but with his mighty instrument. Musicallibur is now yours, and with it...

Her arms slowly rose towards the golden harp, fingers slowly extending.

The power and responsibility.

"Destiny." Fingers curled around the harp, and slowly pulled it to her chest.

Yes, good luck Sasami. I'll be watching...may your life be full of light.

"Wait!" Sasami cried out, "Who...are you?"

Call me...Tsunami. The duality of mind slowly faded away, leaving behind a lingering trace of amusement.

Shocked silence filled the air.

[Dracos]

The Axe rose from the ground, following the harp slowly.  His heavy metal boots thudding as he walked right up to the young woman.

"You are his successor."  An intent look in the taller man's eyes.

Fearless Leader
3 seconds, sasami only