Tough Exorcism (Open to Demons)

[miyako]

**((OOC: I'm kinda in a mood for long posts, so if I could please ask anyone who joins this thread that they post at least two paragraphs...thanks in advance))**

Finally, after a half-day's travel, Miyako had made it to the town. As she passed through the streets, the townsfolk stared at her, mumbling amongst themselves. The priestess gazed around, beginning to grow confused. Was it that strange to see a priestess in this town? Her unasked question recieved an answer when a man came running up to her. From his clothing, she guessed he was a soldier.

"Miko-sama!" the man called. "Thank the spirits you are here! Our lord has become possessed! We had almost given up hope that anyone would arrive to save us...Will you help us, miko-sama?" Miyako stared at the man, blinking rapidly. "You will be rewarded well, I am sure..." the soldier continued. Miyako held up her hand to prevent the man from saying anymore.

"Take me to this lord's manor. I will exorcise the demons without a problem," she requested, thinking of how comfortable she would feel in a warm bed with a full stomach. The soldier nodded and began leading her through town. They stopped at last in front of the mansion. "Thank you, kind sir. I can find my way from here." Immediatly when she passed through the gates of the manor, she was assulted with a demonic aura. Suddenly, she wasn't sure this would be as easy as she had originally thought. Miyako collapsed to her knees, clasping her hands before her. She would have to focus all of her enrgy for this one, it seemed.

[Yami]

Ah... a priestess? Muzai thought as he sensed Miyako's presence, sitting behind the manor's lord in the form of a large frog. "Am I really that strong? To send you to your knees just by my presence?" he asked, the lords figure visible through the sliding doors about 25 feet away. He then caused the lord to stand and walk towards the door, opening only a crack so that Muzai could see the priestess more clearly.

"I assume you're here to exorcise me." he said, laughing slightly. "How do you expect to do so if you can't even stand?" he asked, laughing more as the lord stepped out, surrounded by a black aura. "Well then... come at me if you think you can win." he said, his voice coming from behind the lord.

[miyako]

Miyako searched the manor with her spiritual powers as she knelt inside the gates. The entire place was coated with demonic aura. How many demons are there? she thought, terror at the sheer enormity of the demonic power growing and steeling her resolve. Only one way to find out... Unclasping her hands, Miyako stood, shakily. It seemed the power here was thicker than she had estimated....either that or the demon was closer now than she had previously thought.

Removing a sutra from her kimono, she held it up in front of her, the stiff paper charm acting as a barrier so that she could walk up to the manor without much trouble. That must be the lord... she thought, seeing him step out. Carefully, she approached him, reading the dark aura as best she could without alerting the demon any more than she probably had. Shape shifter?! she guessed with a gasp. Oh yeah....this was going to be tough on her own. "My lord," she addressed the man with a short bow. "I have sensed a dark cloud hovering over this manor...If you will allow me, I will exorcise the demons that no doubt have taken up residence in your home." It was a customary thing to say, and she figured no harm would come from it...it would give her more time to figure out what she was dealing with.

[Yami]

Ah... here she comes... Muzai thought as Miyako approached the lord. "N-no need. I... already have some monks exorcising the manor..." the lord spoke reluctantly, though his eyes said otherwise. "There is... no need for you to stay. So... please leave immediately..." he said, his eyes looking as far behind as possible to try and reveal Muzai's location to Miyako.

What a fool... Muzai thought, knowing what the lord was trying to do. If things get out of hand... I may have to kill the lord. he thought, a grin appearing on his face. He then opened his mouth slightly, readying himself to attack if necessary.

[miyako]

Miyako watched the lord with much confusion. Slowly, comprehension dawned. For appearances, she would have to speak. She only hoped the demon hiding in the house would not pick up on her intentions....however unrealistic that hope was.

"I see. Your subjects made no mention of monks, but as you are the lord of this town, I shall take your word for it." Deciding that she needed an excuse to search the manor for this demon, she continued. "Though I have been travelling for quite a while and am in need of food and rest." She could easily see what he was trying to do now. No doubt the demon was forcing the words out of him. Hm? That's odd.... she thought, a small frown crossing her lips. The dark aura is fluctuating.....What could it mean? Now she really needed a reason to enter the palace.

[Yami]

This priestess... perhaps I should... let her in. Muzai thought, closing his mouth. It could prove to be rather interesting... he thought. "W-well, if that is the case... there is a small Inn just outside the manor." the lord spoke. "Behind manor... broken wall..." the lord mouthed as best he could, trying to tell her were to sneak in from. "T-tell the owner... I have given you permission... to stay for free..." he spoke, with a forced smile.

I suppose... you'll have to find another way to get to me priestess. Muzai thought, smiling.

[miyako]

Miyako's eyes narrowed slightly as she appeared to be in thought. "Very well. Thank you, kind lord," she said, bowing her head. An almost impercebtible nod followed as she read his lips. Turning quickly, she passed back through the gates, slipping quietly around to the back of the manor. She stopped and glanced around occasionaly, to make certain that she would not be caught by the demon. Feeling the aura growing stronger, she knew she was getting close.

There's the broken wall.... she thought, stepping over to it as quietly as she could. The young priestess did not know how good this demon's hearing was, so she had to keep as soundless as possible. Raising her charms and fanning them, she stepped through the broken wall, wincing as there were creaks and cracks. "Well, that was easier than I thought it would be...." Miyako breathed, lowering the sacred charms slightly.

[Yami]

"Of course." the lord spoke with a smile. Hmm... I'm sure I'll run into you later, priestess. Muzai thought, making the lord walk back into the room and sit down. "Now... I know you were trying to tell the priestess of my location..." he started. "But I wonder... did she pick up on your clues?" he finished, opening his mouth slightly.

"I-I'm sorry... I d-don't think she picked anything up..." the lord said in fear. "Very good... because if such a thing were to happen, I wouldn't hesitate to eat you whole." Muzai said, grinning.

[miyako]

The dark, fluctuating aura usually associated with shape-shifting demons hung heavy in the air inside the palace. So heavy, in fact, that Miyako almost collapsed again. Holding her fanned sutras against her chest, she forced herself to keep walking, exploring every room in the castle, searching for the demon. Of course, she saw no one else.

"I knew there were no monks here....that demon won't have a hold on this place for very much longer...." she muttered, returning to her entry spot from the east wing. Hearing a faint voice from a room on the west side, Miyako made her way towards it.

"...hesitate to eat you whole." At the words, Miya felt a cold shudder down her spine. Just by being here, she was endangering the person the townspeople trusted her to protect. Damn... she thought. If she jumped out now, the demon would kill the lord. If she stayed where she was, there was no doubt that the demon would find her and kill them both. Glancing at her sutras, she had an idea. Slipping one from the fan, she held it in her left hand and tossed it. Soundlessly, it caught on the demon's back. Now....it had begun.

[Yami]

As the sutra landed on Muzai, he winced slightly. "Gah! A sutra?" he said in surprise as he quickly turned into his human form and took the sutra off his back, turning back into the frog. "Ha... looks like you're both dead, then." he started, jumping backwards over Miyako as he grabbed onto the lord with his tongue.

"You shouldn't have come here priestess... after I eat the lord, you'll be next." he said with a grin, holding the lord between himself and Miyako. Let's see how this goes... it'll be a nice little experiment. he thought, watching Miyako closely.

[miyako]

Ah.....I was right.....it is a shape shifter! she thought in surprise, watching the frog jump over her. "Sorry, but dinner's cancelled...." she smirked, stepping to the side slightly to avoid hitting the lord of the manor as she flung the rest of the sutras at the frog. "Real brave, using your hostage as a shield....." Miya remarked, moving behind the demon.

This was definatly going to be interesting. There was no way of knowing which form the demon would shift to next....and the uncertainty unnerved her a bit. There wasn't much she could do while he was holding the lord hostage. So, Miayko did the only thing she could do....she narrowed her eyes and grit her teeth.

[Yami]

"A shield? Perhaps... but that's an old strategy." Muzai said, jumping high into the air. "And that's not all he can be used for." he said, flinging the lord at Miyako before turning into a Salamander, and shooting a few balls of fire at her. "I won't lose that easily." he said, smiling as he began falling to the ground.

((The Salamander is similar to this: Pic ^^)

[miyako]

Miyako screamed, hitting the ground hard as the lord of the manor crashed into her. "Mi'lord...it's not safe here.....run!" she whispered to the man, getting them both standing again. The miko screamed again as the fire barely missed her, singeing the hem of her hakama. How can I beat this....? she thought, searching wildly around for something to use as a weapon. She'd already decided to save her Kazaana until the thing was too weak to resist it. Cowerdly, yes, but also a lot safer than trying to inhale a struggling demon. She didn't know if she could take haivng her Wind Tunnel nicked.

Spotting a sword a few feet behind the salamander, she jumped up into the air and landed hard on the thing's back, using it as leverage to jump and roll towards the sword. She figured it must have been abandoned by one of the guards, judging by its size and weight. "Niether will I," she countered, holding the sword in front of her.

[Yami]

"Y-yes!" The lord said as he stood up and began running. "Well... looks like my shield has run off..." Muzai said, watching the lord run off. "Oh well... I guess you'll have to suffice..." he said, sending a stream of fire at Miyako before he dug underground.

[miyako]

Learning from her previous experience, Miyako dove for the ground to avoid the flames, her borrowed sword sliding across the floor as she fell. Feeling as though she was in the clear, she stood, retrieved her weapon, and stood very still. If she didn't move, the thing wouldn't be able to track her movements....maybe.

"Being cowerdly again, are we, Demon?" she called. "Running underground....not the best idea...." she muttered, turning slowly in a circle, laying one sutra at each direction. That done, she knelt and gathered her strength for the shape-shifter's reappearance.