milliways_bar | (no subject)

The boy is outside again, out back beyond the lake. He likes to be well away from the main bar when he trains, so that none will notice him swinging his sword, positively glowing with energy. A light blue aura surround him as he leaps and swings, his body covered in sweat as he goes over exercises and desperately wills himself to achieve that which he desires.

Day after day he's been out here, training as best he can by himself, all for Bankai. All so he can be strong again, strong enough to protect those he cares for. It sounds corny, he knows, but it's true. That's the only reason he fights. Not for more power and not for a love of fighting, but so that he can be strong enough to do as he has always wanted. Protect people.

So again today he came out, made his way out across the grass until he was almost out of sight, rocks and trees and the like hiding him well enough. He's not totally hidden, and his entire body is glowing brightly, but he doubts anybody will bother him anyways.

...or not.

[ooc: Plot-locked, so sorry.]

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"You lied to me!" is repeated again, loudly. Zuko really doesn't like being lied to. It puts you on level with his sister, Ichigo. His sister is a sociopathic murderer and was so at SEVEN YEARS OLD.

Now? You're basically te same.

"I gave you people who could help. I told you about Moraine. If she could't help, Arithon could! Why didn't you listen? Why'd you lie?!"

There are SWORDS OUT, Ichigo; he is not fooling about. THIS IS SERIOUS BUISNESS.

"Because it was under control!" He retorts furiously, standing shakily. He begins to make his way over towards his sword, slowly and a bit clumsily. He won't look at either of them (well, he might glare at Zuko for a second or two)both out of shame and fear. "I was doing fine until Steph got pig-headed and I had to save her sorry ass from a bunch of monsters! If she had left like I told her to, I wouldn't have had to push myself, and it wouldn't have gotten out!"

A lie, of course. From the first second he began using Bankai, he could feel it stirring in the corners of his mind. But he's grasping for some argument or another, anything to tell himself it wasn't all his fault.

"Oh, no, you did not just blame me for this," Steph says, disbelief clear. Hello, who's the one with gravel-rash on her FACE and multiple broken bones? "Don't you - don't even - argh!" This with the air of tossing up her hands. 'Cept that's not an option right now.

She's been dragging herself carefully back towards the trees, and now she leans gently back to rest against one, wincing. Zuko can handle this. She'll just ... rest a while.

"You asshole!" Yeah, Zuko's near frothing mad. "You blame your lack of self-control, your lack of sense, on the only person who would defend your sorry ass?!" Yaeh, you're looking at getting kicked again here real shortly. "You're pathetic! And security's going to know about you, and this!"

You know, people with evil demons that HURT PEOPLE roaming about are a safety hazard and public nuisance!

"Of course they're going to know about this!" He retorts furiously. "Just 'cuz I've got a demon, doesn't mean I'm fucking retarded!" That's probably up for debate, but he's not in the mood right now.

As he reaches Zangetsu, he pulls the blade from the ground. The cloth wraps tightly around it and he hooks it to his back via his usual red chain. When he speaks again, his back to them, the anger has seeped out of his voice.

"Both of you, just...stay out of this. Zuko, take Steph to get fixed up. Stay away from me, pretend I don't exist, do whatever the fuck you two want. I don't care. I'm gonna go talk to Security. I'm not leaving the bar, not yet, but you can do whatever you want to keep yourselves safe. Other than that, don't bother me. This is my business."

Steph just stares for a moment, in disbelief, and then shuts her eyes and slides back against the tree-trunk.

Don't bother him. What the fuck.

Zuko has her full blessing to TOAST THE FUCKER INTO LITTLE ITTY BITTY ASHES now.

There is an incredulos stare. Really. "... don't... bother you? This... isn't my business?"

He's sort of blinking. The sort of blinking that comes right before, you know, the asswhipping. Oh look. There's the roundhounse kick trailing fire, aiming for the face. There's the follow up with the other leg, wherein Zuko is completely airborne for a moment.

And then there's the landing, swords at the ready, flame all around.

"That? Back there? Curled against the tree? That makes it my business."

He knows he's wrong. He knows it's their business, and he knows he's being an ass. But he's tired, mentally and physically. He doesn't have the time for an argument, or a fight.

Ichigo is not too surprised when Zuko attacks him. He's not the type for restrained anger or quiet hate. Doesn't seem that way to Ichigo, anyways. He dodges far to the side, leaping almost, and manages to avoid both kicks and the fire as well.

"You don't want to do this Zuko. You attack me, I'll either run away, which gives you nothing, or I fight back. If I win, you end up with nothing STILL, and if I lose, or come anywhere close, my inner Hollow will get out and go fucking Bankai all over your ass. Get Steph help. Control your temper, and get lost."

And then he starts making his way towards the bar, sword on his back, a weight on his shoulders.

All in a days work...

"'m not a that," Steph protests blurrily, but Ichigo's talking again and she doesn't think she's loud enough to be heard properly, anyway.

Sleeping now. Sleeping's a really attractive option at this point.

There is a flat of the sword introduced to his chest. A light slap of the blade. And then he says, "I am not afraid of you. You -- and that thing inside you -- should be afraid of me."

The blade is carefully flipped-- the edge up now. "I don't trust you to go to security yourself. You've already a liar and a betrayer; you'll go with me, or you won't go at all."

He rolls his eyes, grumbles something unintelligible, and then mutters more clearly "Fine, whatever. Now are you gonna go help Steph, or would you rather I do it?"

He's waiting. He feels...well, sort of old. Worn out. Tired and sick and completely ruined. Everything seems ruined.

The prince looks to Stephanie, his jaw jumping; but then twin blades move in perfect synchronicity and are sheathed. He goes over to pick Steph up -- gently, carefully-- and then jerks his head.

"Get walking. I may have luggage, but I can still burn you," her says simply--

--and are his eyes a little... less human? Teeth maybe just a little... off?

No, way. Just a trick of the light.

"Yeah, 'cuz I'm really gonna run off now." He mutters, more to himself than to him. He sets off for the bar, knowing full well that Zuko is following.

He bottles up his emotions, keeps his face blank and bites his tongue firmly. He won't let anything out with them around. He just...can't.