[Last Time, on Battle High: The group recovered slowly from their challenge with the number one freshmen team in the school. The group split up before long, with Hope staying in the room to practice and watch Kai's body, Atsuko and Mariah heading outside and getting into a match of a strange and mostly impromptu game that the GM made up on the spot, and Karasu roaming through the school and finding the library. It wasn't long before lunch... ...and then the second day of classes, which was pretty much like the first, with a couple different classes that aren't really important, followed by the exhausting hell that was detention and then dinner and blessed sleep.] [It's the next day now, at about six AM, and all of you, even Karasu, are just waking up. The smell of fresh tea, an english variety, is hanging lightly in the air, pulling you gently out of bed. Not literally.] [Brand New Battle... Fight!] * Mariah is, for once in her life, not up already. She climbs out of bed a bit groggily. "mm, that's nice... * Hope is.. just getting up? Okay then. * Karasu gets out of bed, wondering why he was asleep in the first place. He finds his answer when he pulls a small dart out of his neck. * Hope goes to take a shower. * As you come out into the living room, you're greeted by the sight of your aging bishonen principal, Quentin Nagawa. ... uh, hi, Principal Nagawa. * Quentin is currently just pouring himself a cup of tea, and there is a tea service for three others on the table. * Mariah is wearing her pajamas, for the record. She takes a seat at the table but doesn't touch the tea. * Hope blinks. "Hey there Princy. .. Err, why are you in our room?" * Quentin smiles a little. "Would you like some tea?" * Hope is unnerved by the aging bishy smile. "No thanks." * Karasu eyes Quentin. "What's this about?" Sure, I guess... * Quentin calmly pours Mariah a cup of tea. * Mariah picks up the cup of tea and takes a gingerly sip. Upon a good strong tea-inhale, she abruptly seems to wake up a bit more and looks around. "... uh. Where's Atsuko? Did she get up already?" * Quentin frowns. "Yes, in a manner of speaking." * Mariah blinks again. What's going on? I seriously doubt you'd come here just to offer us tea. No, but don't let that stop you from having some. * Quentin looks at the dart still held in Karasu's fingers. "So that's why you didn't wake up." I think I'll be having a... talk with Mrs Matsura about poisoning my students. Don't tell me Atsuko got knocked out too. ... what happened? We already lost Kai. * Karasu frowns as he pieces this together. This school is in the habit of sending videotapes of a student's placement fights to the student's parents. Uh? Lemme guess. Atsuko's parents didn't like her fight? Atsuko's mother was less than pleased with her daughter's performance, and according to the official papers of withdrawal I found on my desk this morning, she has decided to withdraw Atsuko in favor of a year of intense home schooling in preparation for her entry into Ninja High School next year. ... oh. Man. * Karasu says nothing. So we're down TWO fighters now? I wouldn't necessarily say that. Well, we still don't know what's up with Kai... So.. you're gonna... replace her then? I thought that didn't happen. So we were told. It _doesn't._ Of course, many things about this year are proving to be unusual. Oh. I don't know if you're aware, but normally by the end of the first week, ten percent of the admitted students have dropped out. ... really? I know there were a lot of people, but... Yow. * Karasu shrugs. "If their experience is anything like ours, it's not surprising." Atsuko's withdrawal is the second withdrawal this year. Less than five percent of the total admissions. Meaning? There's also the fact, which you are the first students to know, that we had to turn away qualified students for lack of room this year. So we're... doing *better?* Or staying here better? It means that there are many, many other qualified students available, and one of them is being called up to the majors, you might say. She'll join your team, since you've got the fewest active fighters. Oh, wow. Movin' on up huh? Huh. Not bad. * Quentin raises his voice, "You can come in now, Miss Shen." * Ao-Lang steps into the room, looking evenly at everyone there despite being barely over five feet tall. She's a pretty girl, with full black hair in braided pigtails and odd, mismatched eyes: one gold, one blue. She's wearing a gray silk Chinese shirt, jeans, and... black leather boots. Huh. * Ao-Lang keeps with the gazing, then breaks out into a grin. "Yeah, 'huh' about does it, doesn't it? Don't like the look?" * Hope walks over to the new girl. "Yo. I'm Hope. You're our new team mate huh? Nice ta meecha." Oh. Hi! I'm Mariah. * Quentin stands up. "I'll leave you four to get acquainted." * Karasu holds up the dart. "Wait, what about this?" * Mariah stands up and sets down her teacup. "... sorry about the PJ's. I just got up." * Quentin holds up his hand. "Give it to me. I'll take care of the matter." * Ao-Lang looks up at Quentin. "Cool. See you later, I guess. And, um, thanks." * Karasu hands the dart to Quentin. * Quentin strides quickly out the door, closing the door quietly behind him. So, maybe we should do some introductions or somethin'? I guess so. * Ao-Lang watches him leave, then turns back to the group. "Sure. Think I should start, since I'm the newbie and all?" I'm Hope Fayth. Psudo-captain, as our last Captain is in some sorta coma. * Karasu then bows towards Ao-Lang, European style. "Karasu's my name. A pleasure." * Ao-Lang snickers. "Or not." She looks over at Karasu, and her eyes go wide. "Yeah. Pleasure for me, too." Wait, what? Coma? * Hope grins and points at Karasu. "He's our one-hit wonder." Yeah, coma. We're still not quite sure how it happened. He got knocked out. We're not sure by what... One hit wonder as in one hit you're out, or I can only kick ass once? Hmmm... Both may be true. The former. Although he only did it once. And that reminds me, I should take Kai to the infirmary. * Hope pokes Mariah. "G'wan. Introduce yourself." * Ao-Lang grins. "Well, he's cute enough to make up for it, if it's the second." * Mariah is poked. "... oh, okay. I'm Mariah, like I said. Mariah Ritter. ... I think we'll be rooming together." * Ao-Lang eyes Mariah. "You don't snore, do you?" ... if I do, nobody told me. If you do, I'll be sure to let you know. Put up with enough of it with my family. Okay, no problem. Welcome to the team. Hey, since Atsuko is gone, I wonder if they'll still make us do that stupid detention. Wouldn't that be ironic? ... I dunno. I do wonder... Thanks. I'm Ao-Lang Shen, by the way, since I didn't tell you before. And- detention? * Mariah shrugs. "-- Uh, Atsuko kind of blew up the cafeteria." Or made it start blowing up. So we're in detention. * Karasu heads towards Kai's room, emerging carrying the comatose captain. "And I'm taking Kai to the infirmary. I'll be back soon." * Ao-Lang blinks. "Oh yeah, I heard about that. Rumors even in Toriyama." * Karasu heads out of the room! * Mariah nods to Karasu. "Okay!" * Ao-Lang watches Karasu go, and as soon as he's well out of earshot, she turns to the other two. "So! Girls. Is he taken?" * Hope grins at Ao-Lang. "We tend to attract the weird rumors. And you'll get used to Karasu going off on his own." Not yet. Kinda surprising, but he's got a demon inside him, so that could have somethng to do with it. * Ao-Lang waves flippantly. "What's a guy without the baggage?" If you wanna try, he's all yours... Yeah, just don't go sneakin' off and getting us more detention, 'kay? * Ao-Lang snickers. "Whatever. And you missed the punchline. I'm disappointed." So.. wanna spar? ^_^ ... sorry. Like I said, I just woke up. If you guys are gonna spar, I think I'll shower and stuff. * Ao-Lang looks Hope over. "Hm. Sure, why not." C'mon. I'll show you the training room. Cool. Um... any place I should put my bag, in particular? Oh.. yeah, forgot. ^_^; * Mariah points at her room. "In there?" * Hope points at the Mariao-lang room. "In there." * Ao-Lang nods. "Thanks." She runs and does that, returning with a pair of worn, blunted metal fans. "Okay, *now* you can show me the training room." * Mariah departs to... the shower! * Hope picks up her gigantic sword and leads the way to the training room. "Oh. Ya don't have to worry TOO much about getting hurt here. Something about this place makes you heal really fast." * Ao-Lang spins one of the fans idly as she follows. "Is that so?" She whistles. "Zanbatou, huh? You *are* strong." Heh. S'about all I am. You should see some of the stuff people can do here. Bet I will. ^_^ * Ao-Lang walks a bit into the room and stretches. She looks so mighty! Or not. * Not * Hope streaches a bit. "So, where were you before here? They said you came up from the minors." * Ao-Lang laughs. I guess that's one way to put it. * Ao-Lang taps a closed fan against her chin. "I'm from Toriyama High. Ya heard of it?" Fraid not. It's fine. Anyway, Battle High isn't the only hand to hand combat school out there. * Ao-Lang spins one of the fans. "Way I understand it, it's like a tier system. Battle High's on top. Under that's Napoleon High. And under that's Toriyama. That's where I'm from." Wow. S'like skipping a grade. So, ready to spar? * Ao-Lang shakes her head, the grin still on her face. "More like skipping eight, Hope. Eight." Sure. You gonna use that big-ass sword? Donno. You want me to? If you do, I'm not usin' these, that's for sure. * Hope puts the sword down. "Okay then. Ready when you are." * Ao-Lang nods and stops spinning the fans, bringing her hands down to her sides. "Ready." * Ao-Lang runs forward, snapping the fans open and striking at Hope twice. * Hope quickly moves, but is unable to avoid being clipped by one of the fans. * Hope ducks and aims a sweep kick at Ao-Lang's legs. * Ao-Lang jumps over the kick and spins, bringing a closed fan down to strike Hope in the head. * Hope quickly comes up from the crouch with a uppercut, aiming directly at Ao-Lang. * Karasu walks into the room about now, and watches. * Ao-Lang is caught completely unaware and goes flying, landing gracelessly across the room. "Ow! Damnit!" Jeez. Sorry. You okay? * Ao-Lang gets to her feet and shakes her head. "Yeah, taken worse. Earlier today, actually." She grins. "You're used to fightin' without that sword, aren'tcha?" Yep. It's a big ol' thing, so people think that if they take it away, they can kick my ass. I like to prove 'em wrong. * Ao-Lang laughs. "Let's see how you are with it." She spreads her arms, and the fans dangle from her fingers. "Come on." You got it. * Hope flips and grabs the sword. * Hope gets into a battle stance. * Ao-Lang drops the fans, letting them clatter to the floor. She's still grinning. You sure you wanna fight without 'em? These fans? Oh yeah. They're almost a handicap. * Hope raises an eyebrow. "So, should I go full out?" If you want. I will, too. Here goes nothin' then. * Hope rushes forward and brings her sword around. "Mega.. HIT!" * Ao-Lang takes it and goes flying *again*, straight into the wall this time. She makes a nice Ao-Lang shaped crater before tumbling to the ground. ... Ohshit. * Hope drops the sword and rushes over to Ao-Lang. "Shit, shit, shit.." she checks her pulse. "Please be alive, please be alive.." * Ao-Lang is breathing. And, oddly, clutching a different pair of tessen than the first. * Karasu heads over, too. * Ao-Lang is unconscious, though. * Mariah finally emerges from the shower, dressed and looking coherent. "... uh?" Shit.. She'll be fine. * Hope looks at Mariah. "Can you go grab one of the Health Drinks?" * Mariah nods and goes to fetch it. ... how'd she get knocked out? I hit her. She told me to! * There is, thankfully, a sixpack of the legendary energydrink available. Hard enough to knock her out? ... guess it happens. * Mariah gets an energy drink and tosses it to Hope. * Hope catches it and does her best to pour it down Ao's mouth. * Ao-Lang swallows some, then is sitting up and coughing. "What the hell is that?" Health Restoration Drink. Nasty stuff, but works wonders. I'm real sorry. Are you okay? * Ao-Lang rubs at the back of her head, then her arms. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. They didn't let me in 'cause I couldn't take a beating." She laughs a little. "Guess I didn't make all that great an impression, though." * Mariah looks at the dent in the wall and decides not to make the obvious comment. Heh. Sorry again. Like I said, I'm fine. It's my fault as much as anything. I wouldn't say that. Hey, it'll make you better for your first real fight, right? Yeah. Man, they weren't kidding. If everyone packs as big a punch as you, Hope... * Ao-Lang blinks, then looks up at Karasu. "Oh?" Naw. I'm just really strong. Don't got very many abilities though. * Hope offers Ao-Lang a hand up. * Ao-Lang takes it and accepts the help up, but still looks at Karasu curiously. * Karasu is looked at curiously. C'mon. Expand. Why wouldn't you say that? It depends. Some people are weird. * Karasu shrugs. "You two were sparring. Things like that -" he gestures at the crater "-are commonplace. I wouldn't say anyone's at fault for that." Ooh, I see. You'll get used to it. What, the craters or the cryptic statements? Yep! * Karasu shrugs. "Both." He heads out of the room. "I'm going to take a shower." And does just that. Both of 'em. * Ao-Lang laughs. Karasu's not the only cryptic one here... * Ao-Lang watches Karasu dash off. "Yeah? Don't tell me you qualify." * You'll have "Cryptically Speaking" as a class in your Sophomore year. ... not me. Other people. I dunno if I'm cryptic enough. -- Oh, wait! I almost forgot! * Ao-Lang thinks that over, then blinks. "Forgot what?" * Mariah walks out of the training room, back into her own room. "To read the Tarot this morning!" Forgot..? * Ao-Lang watches Mariah walk off. "Right. We're all batty as peanut butter fruitcakes around here. I think I like it." * Karasu comes out before long, in his usualy getup. But he's always in perfect condition anyhow. * Mariah rummages around in her backpack to pull out her tarot deck, shuffles, and begins dealing out an array. "... well, *maybe.* But it makes me feel better... Hey, whatever floats your boat, right? Damn straight. ^_^ * Ao-Lang grins, turning back to Hope. "So! What do we do here? Besides fight and fail random courses?" S'about it. Socilize, train, class. Rinse and repeat. Mmm. Socialize. A new and interesting aspect to my regimen. It's optional. * Ao-Lang glances over at Karasu. "Oh, I think I'll enjoy it. Until the rumor mill puts a stop to that, anyway. Pesky things, those." ... I dunno if there's much of a rumor mill. Most of it runs to how strong people are. Yeah. * Ao-Lang mmms and nods, then chuckles. "Man. Except this time, I *won't* be on top." Her eyes twinkle. "Least, it doesn't look like I'm starting there." Or how strong one appears. Bitter much? On the contrary, I believe we're still in last place. * Hope grins. "One day, I'm gonna be at the top." I thought we were next-to-last? * Ao-Lang laughs. "Fight ya for it, Hope. Again." Bring it. ^_^ Now or later? When do classes start, anyhow? Typically, in the afternoon. Right. Morning's fights? * Karasu nods. * Ao-Lang tilts her head. "So we don't have one today?" Hm. Yeah... ... we should have one. I don't think it's been cancelled or anything. * Hope looks for a note. * Mariah peers over her Tarot array. "And this isn't telling me anything. Foo." However, there hasn't been a not yet, either. * Just as hope looks, a note is slipped under the door. * Hope grabs the note and reads. Kay. We've got a fight in.. two hours. At the school pool building. ... at the pool? * Hope grins at Ao. "Doesn't look like you're gonna have any time to adjust." * Ao-Lang perks at that. "Pool, sounds fun." Is that weird, or is it just me? Yep! I'm gonna go grab a shower. After that, wanna head over? Hey, if you go into something, you've gotta dive right in. Or handspring, in my case. * Mariah nods. "Okay." She clears away the cards. Quite possibly literally, in this case. * Hope heads for the shower. * Ao-Lang grins. "Who said it wasn't literal?" She wanders over to one of the couches and plunks down. I wonder if it's going to be a special arena or something... Presumeably, we'll fight on a raft, or in the pool itself. Maybe it's just a test on the tiles. You know, they don't tell you not to run on the pool deck for a reason. Oh, maybe... Doubtful. * Ao-Lang shakes her head. "I know. It was a joke." * Ao-Lang sprawls on the couch and folds her hands behind her head. "So, how do these things work? Is it a free for all, or what?" One on one. At least, so far that's how it's been. One on one, huh. Then why're we on teams? Esprit de corps? Best three out of five wins. * Ao-Lang mmms and looks up at the ceiling. "'S different." You get used to it pretty easily. Well, maybe. Never had to do the team thing before. * Karasu shrugs. "Typically, it doesn't matter much." * Ao-Lang glances over at Karasu. "You think?" That's been the case so far. It depends. * Ao-Lang waves for Mariah to go on. She looks pretty silly doing it, sprawled as she is. ... well, on the fight. Sometimes you have to go through all five people, sometimes... not. Yeah? I'd think that the difference is... well, you're not by yourself, right? In Toriyama, it's you against the world. Or at least the rest of the school. You fight by yourself. * A true warrior never fights alone! Standing behind him always are the spirits of his friends, his family, and his loved ones! Yeah, but if- well, let's see if I get this. But you only fight one other person, so that helps. Two teams or whatever meet for their schedule fight. Right? * Karasu nods. And then there's one on one fights. So you pick who you fight out of five, right? * Mariah nods. "Yeah... We usually leave that decision to Hope. So, ideally... yeah, okay, she's acting captain, right? Yeah. But ideally, you'll go against someone you can take, and have someone else help cover your weaknesses. Ideally. Right. Like a game of rock, paper, scissors. Except this is done with vicious attacks and weaponry. * Karasu shrugs. "I suppose." * Ao-Lang sits up suddenly and grins at them. "So, ideally, you've got people to help you out, even if it's not when you're technically fighting. That's the difference between here and Toriyama. That and the really blatent power increase." I don't follow. Okay. In Toriyama, it's just you. None of this team match stuff. They'd stick you against somebody else and that was that. There's no strategy in picking your opponents, and you don't have anyone to help you cover your weaknesses. 'Course, then you don't need to cover for theirs. ... that's kinda rough. I suppose so. * Ao-Lang shrugs and flops back in the couch. "It can be, yeah. I've been told that I wasn't supposed to stomp the seniors, of course." She laughs a little. "Doing that kind of got the whole school mad at me." But, yeah. You don't need to worry about anyone else, either. It goes both ways, I guess. Wow, you were really that good? That's cool. * Ao-Lang flicks her eyes over Mariah. "I bet *you're* that good. Hope definitely is." I didn't skip a grade here. I skipped eight grades. Anyone here could probably take anyone there on one of their worst days. ... maybe. I'm still learning. * Karasu shrugs. "We'll see." * Ao-Lang peers at Karasu. "Crack a smile already." [Session End]