Bait

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn wasn't a patrolman, nor did he ever aspire to be one. He was the guardian of his country in the sense that he would respond immediately to dire threats but he had never been the man to watch every village one by one and butt his head into every squabble he saw. Despite that, he had a keen eye for trouble and countless thoughts about what justice was supposed to be--so, he tended to intervene in problems when they presented themselves if only because of the fickle nature of what justice looked like to him.

Two farmers were arguing over a fairy mound, claiming ownership over a magic bow that sprung out of it. It had been hovering in the air, moving around on occasion from their perspective. Cu Chulainn, puzzled, wondered if the two men were fools--as there was clearly a man in white attire holding the damned thing. He stepped down from his horse to approach the two in the middle of their quarrel, watching the bowman, who was ignoring them as he read from a thin piece of paper held up in front of him. The two men didn't notice the bowman at all.

The bowman met eyes with Cu Chulainn, perplexed.

"You can see me?"

"Yeah. You can call me Cu Chulainn and... I'm curious. Never seen an archer carry that kind of bow, before."

Their exchange of words was brief, if not polite on Cu Chulainn's end. The farmers backed off immediately when they saw Cu Chulainn speaking to what they presumed was a demented ghost clutching the bow and ran when the bow lifted and fired, trying to take off Cu Chulainn's head from the neck. The young man let out a terse sigh, unstrapping his spear from his back after avoiding the volley before making a bit more effort to close the gap and stride towards him. The dark-haired archer was stunned that his shot hadn't landed and even more so when the following dozen bolts were parried and redirected just as easily. He jumped up and kicked the bowman square in the chest, dropping him to the ground before there had been a few popping sounds.

Strange. It didn't sound like the sound of bones breaking--he didn't think he kicked hard enough to do that. The bowman stumbled back, coughing and wheezing, his eyes bulging open as he buried his hand in his clothing to pull out a vial. The thing had broken in the center and little white tablets fell to the ground, dissolving. The shocked expression he wore spoke more about what happened than whatever he could pull out with his strange accent.

"I--I can't stay here!"

He threw a capsule to the ground, blinding light shining and catching Cu Chulainn off guard. He stepped back, vanishing into a tear in thin air, just as a few more of the tablets landed on the ground where he had been standing. Cu Chulainn rubbed under his eyes before stepping over to the remaining tablets, picking them up with a scowl.

"What a pain--fairy mounds are just troubling these days. Nothing good comes out of the damned things anymore--"

As if proving him right, a dozen or so howling voices rose up in the woods, the town, and the mountains all at once. Screaming farmers and milling people came shortly after, clearly bothered by the owners of those inhuman howls. His irritated scowl deepened and he ran off, away from the mound and towards the sound of trouble, "Speak of the devil... and he'll come crawling right away, huh?"

Comments

[red_branch]

"Well, I'll be," It was a thought on both Cu Chulainn and Fergus' minds at roughly the same point. Cu Chulainn, focused on raising up the wards he destroyed earlier, caught sight of Yoruichi's body as she flared up with white light and wind. The incantations she spoke would have been unheard of if he weren't training his senses to the limit to make sure he didn't miss a beat, so he knew none of it was like the magic he could use. Numbered incantations were unknown to him but he knew what she was doing just from the outline of her outstretched hands. It was similar to prana burst--an explosion of raw power meant to shield the body and destroy outside forces. Yoruichi showed a pretty terrifying hand right off the bat. Her charge was swift but Cu Chulainn caught enough of the tail end of her movement to know he could afford to take a few liberties with his spell.

Fergus didn't spot it as quickly as Cu Chulainn did. He watched carefully as Yoruichi's silhouette came into view and felt startled when she closed in swifter than he expected. Purposefully, he turned his heel to adjust his charge at the last moment when he saw that Yoruichi followed him, ready to adjust to each harsh charge of his feet. She didn't lose him even when he side-stepped. Shit, this one has legs on her--!

The whistling sound of her incantation and the power surrounding her came much later after she actually rushed him. It resembled the sound of an arrow loosed from a bow. The shaft would strike the target before the victim heard it. Even despite that, he still saw what he needed to do to avoid taking a direct blow. Possessing keen enough battle knowledge, Fergus could nearly predict exactly how Yoruichi would move though he couldn't quite tell what the full reach of her blast was. So, he over-compensated. He ground his feet to a halt, driving the tip of his sword up in a wide slash meant to drive the light off of it into her shearing winds. Combined with his momentum, the explosion of power that he used to clash with Yoruichi's Hado sent him spinning at an angle adjacent to his charge. She didn't quite stop him but he didn't end up any closer to the fortress.

Fergus pulled himself up to stand, a bit wobbly in his legs. He didn't expect to get hit that hard in the middle of his charge--none the less with enough strength and speed to force him to defend.

"Woah, now, missy--" He turned his sword over. He had two smoking burns on either shoulder, mwatching the point where Yoruichi's two techniques met at once. The swing of energy he tossed into the sky earlier was only really meant to be a maneuver to avoid him taking the blows directly but even using his Mind's Eye to see through her attacks--Yoruichi had been too fast for him to avoid on a dime. Even as Fergus played around as if he were more hurt than he had been, a trail of rainbow light tore through the sky above and parted one of the clouds, shedding moonlight on the two of them. Fergus winced, feeling the burn down to his bones. "That was a pretty serious strike. If I were any less crafty, you might have killed me!"

As friendly as his grin and laugh were, Fergus didn't show any signs of letting his guard down--especially not when Yoruichi was already readying her sword. Fergus's eyes were sharp and ready as if none of that pain mattered. Yoruichi, in his eyes, looked concerned rather than scared. It was a detail he wouldn't miss. If she had been more ready to kill him, he imagined she'd have put herself in more danger with that attack. The sharper the desire to kill, the easier it was for him to see through an attack.

"Though, I'm going to have to ask you to step aside. You're definitely no Ulster warrior, so I don't have any reason to fight you."

[goneonenight]

As the dust clears, Yoruichi can see that Fergus is still standing. He's looking a little worse for wear, but he'd managed to deflect some of the force of her attack. He seems good natured enough despite the damage he's taken, but he shows no sign of backing down.

"Cu Chulainn said I should take you seriously." Her face firms. "And these people welcomed me into their home. I'm not stepping aside."

She begins to chant again, her words quick but clear as energy gathers around her sword. "Hado #78; Zangerin!" She slashes the air in a wide arc, sending a curving blade of energy towards Fergus before he can advance again.

While he's distracted by the kido blast, she shoots forward, launching into shunpo. Fergus hadn't been able to keep up with her speed before; getting in range of his sword is a risk, but it'll pay off if she can disarm him long enough for Cu Chulainn to finish.

[red_branch]

Well, now. This young lady really is a good guest. I can't say I can fault her for that.

Still, I don't have the time for this.

Fergus never let his eyes off of Yoruichi. He had come for the bulls himself to save Ulster from destruction. As much as he hated Conchobor, the nature of Medb's demands called for a great shame upon the king--which normally would be fine by him. Despite that, Fergus knew what 'shame' meant to Medb. Men and women would die to appease her anger. Ulster would face an immense tragedy and he would have sat idly by while Medb flexed her muscles to get what she wanted. An army would have marched into Ulster if he didn't volunteer to pick up the steers and leave without so much as a single casualty.

An army was coming. Explaining it wouldn't do any good. If Cu Chulainn and Yoruichi needed proof, then it would be revealing itself in less than two or three minutes. Medb loved him but she knew what he was up to, volunteering to do the job himself.

Fergus sighed and turned his sword over, watching Yoruichi's own channel what looked to be raw spiritual power. The incantation meant nothing but he assumed it would burn just as much as the previous one if he was hit directly. It was no joke--she really was taking him seriously.

He lowered his sword instead of defending himself when she fired the blast in his direction. A straightforward attack? Didn't she say she was taking me seriously?

She was. Fergus felt the trajectory of the blast out and side-stepped it with grace that didn't match his bulky frame. He dug his heels in the dirt and lifted his sword in one clean arc. She went with the smarter approach--a feint. A faint image in his mind sprung to life, matching her movement. She must have thought he would use brawn to attack her spell. Sidestepping it instead gave him the time to move and compensate.

The next part would be the real test. If he could slow her down with one attack then he could still beat down his nephew and head out with the steers without a single casualty.

He and Yoruichi were interrupted when Cu Chulainn hollered, raising his voice so anyone and everyone could hear. He had almost finished repairing Cathbad's spell but it was still a stressful endeavor.

"Princess! He's trying to stall you out! There's an army coming in from the north!"

Fergus went white. That psychopath must not have waited a second before sending them out on their march.

"Well, now," His voice darkened and he leveled his sword--unwilling to enjoy his standoff with Yoruichi. In an instant, Caladbolg erupted in rainbow light that began shaking the ground and burning at the air around him. "This'll have to be settled in one blow or we'll be facing an unsavory situation."

[goneonenight]

Fergus dodges the blast, moving more quickly than his size would suggest. It streaks past him, digging up furrows in the ground as Fergus lifts his sword in response. Yoruichi gathers herself to intercept him, lightly changing direction mid-stride to meet his new attack.

But she's brought up short by Cu Chulainn's shout, looking to the north to spot the telltale signs of an army on the move. Fergus' expression goes stark, his previous friendliness completely gone. Yoruichi jumps back as he activates his sword, narrowing her eyes as rainbow light begins to scorch the air.

If this needs to be done in one hit, it'll have to be the strongest technique she has--even if it's not completely under her control. Blowing out a long breath, she re-sheathes her sword at the small of her back, then loosens the top of her robe, pulling it down to reveal a high-necked, sleeveless shirt underneath.

"This was always going to be unsavory," she snaps. "There are babies in there, and your side made sure their parents were too sick to defend them." Lightning begins to arc and dance across her back and shoulders, sending shreds of black fabric drifting through the air. It's purely compressed energy surrounding her limbs, and the furrows in her brow attest to the effort needed to control it.

"One blow, right?" She calls out over the wind generated by her shunko. She's no longer really worried about killing Fergus; he's proven himself capable enough. She can't afford a prolonged back and forth with him--not when that army will be there soon.

Yoruichi remembers the toddler and his mother that she'd helped inside just moments before--if she doesn't pull this off, they'll be the ones to suffer.

She lets out her breath in a near snarl, bracing herself against the force of her shunko blast. Unlike the last two, it's a much wider blast, leaving a wide trench in its wake as it speeds toward Fergus and his rainbow light like lightning itself. If the army does't already know there's a battle in front of the castle, there's no way they could miss this.

[red_branch]

"I came out here to stop all that," He muttered underneath his breath, almost to no one in particular. Fergus knew that look in Yoruichi's eyes. She was wild and only interested in meting out punishment to someone committing an evil act. She was entirely justified, he supposed. That was what he got for letting his dick get him that far north in the country. Still, it wasn't all bad. The lashed harshly against him once Yoruichi blew out the air with the pressure from her spiritual power. It was beautiful in its chaotic, unpredictable shape.

His Mind's Eye couldn't do much against that. Yoruichi wasn't actively guiding any of it around--whether it was on purpose or a coincidence. He really would have to take a shot in the dark defending against that kind of thing. He even considered the idea of simply dropping his sword and letting the young woman kill him without a fight.

Unfortunately, it wasn't an option. The moment he perished, his emotional young nephew would go on one of his rampages. Medb's soldiers would be annihilated--and so would Macha. So, he'd have to fight and hope he'd win without any more fuss.

What a meaningless dream! Grinding his heels into the dirt, Fergus drove his sword down when the blast closed in on him. There wasn't any need to see where Yoruichi was coming from or if she'd follow up. When the rainbow sword split the ground, it lifted a wall of dirt and stone that burst against Yoruichi's blast, sending up a tidal wave of smoke, debris and shrapnel in the shape of a mushroom.

Fergus barked out a laugh from the inside of the massive cloud.

"Well, I guess my aim really is off! I was looking to strike down your blow and ended up pointing my damn sword at the dirt," Feigning innocence, he prepared to back his way out of the cloud and make an escape--maybe to circle around past the army and back to Medb to work on his apology for a job failed. He made it one step before a flash of red light streaked across the horizon like a comet. The origin of the comet came from within Macha's walls--where the boy had been repairing Cathbad's spell.

The streak landed off in the mountains. There was a flash of light and heat before the impact of the shockwave came a few seconds later. A great fiery blast left part of the mountain in ruins only before the same red comet hooked back from its landing and shot back towards Macha. Cu Chulainn lifted his hand, catching his spear in his open palm before resting the tip of it on the ground. Fergus was still hidden by the dust but he was left dumbstruck by what Cu Chulainn had done without so much as hesitating. Really--why am I suddenly so surprised by the cruelty of that boy?

"It's all fixed up," Cu Chulainn commented, cooly--as if he hadn't just slain hundreds of men in an instant. He didn't look back to Yoruichi or Fergus, his expression brimming with fury that his voice kept subdued.

"If you were aiming to fool Princess Yoruichi and make a cowardly escape, Uncle--I'd reconsider. I'll let her know every one of your tricks to make sure you don't make it another step."

Well, that does it. Fergus sighed and turned over his sword. His cool smile and easygoing nature were abandoned for a look of utter defeat and a sense of loss. He dropped Caladbolg on the ground, the plume of dust still hanging overhead. He could still see the red line of the spear's path when he blinked.

"I understand, boy. I was hoping to avoid actually having to kill anybody but... Well, that went south fast."

[goneonenight]

A cloud of debris hides Fergus' form, but Yoruichi can sense that he's still alive. Her head is swimming somewhat from the effort of unleashing that massive, almost feral technique, but gives no sign, managing to stay on her feet. Dismay flickers over her face; a captain would have had no trouble dealing with Fergus, but for all her raw strength and talent, Yoruichi is still just a few years out from being a student. It'll be some time before she comes into her full power.

Fergus barely finishes speaking before she feels something streak past her, towards the approaching army. She barely gets the sense of something dark and powerful before a wash of heat and light hits her. The red light forms itself into a spear that returns to Cu Chulainn's hand like a trained dog. Without warning, and from this distance, he'd been able to cause that kind of damage?

Not for the first time, she wonders what kind of place she's been brought to.

While Yoruichi's techniques hadn't really seemed to bother him much, Fergus looks completely demoralized by his nephew's attack. He drops his sword, resignation in every line of his body. Her eyes flick over to Cu Chulainn--he'd know better than her whether his uncle is being genuine or not. It wouldn't be the first time someone had pretended defeat in order to launch one last desperate attack.

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn said nothing when Caladbolg hit the dirt. He simply reached down to pick it up while Fergus watched, wrap it in his cloak, and hold it out for Yoruichi to take. It was a trophy if anything--even if the entire weapon was almost as tall as she was. Fergus said nothing about it, even if the thought of losing it felt like a cold knife in his heart. The boy really knew how to add dramatic flair to cruel gestures like that.

Fergus' body ached. A young woman blew through his great sword's power and left him with numb fingers and a broken spirit. The only thing that could make it worse would be Medb's response. Of course, he'd tell his wife that Yoruichi wasn't to blame, so there was no need to extend her reach to the spirit realm--not that Medb held any real knowledge of the place. For all he knew, Medb would attack Hell by accident and assume she wrapped everything up with a neat little bow.

"There," Cu Chulainn breathed in a sigh and the air of malice around him vanished the moment Fergus' defeat was confirmed. "The fight is over, my uncle surrendered and Medb's army is routed enough that they'll need to pull back to recover from the damage to their main line. If they attack, they'll hit the wards I've recovered and get torn to pieces by wild spirits. That means--"

Cu Chulainn grinned wide, the seriousness of the situation dissolving from his perspective. He had, for all intents and purposes, forgotten how angry he had been with Fergus and his concern for Yoruichi was alleviated. She held beat Fergus, the barrier was restored and Medb was given a black eye she would remember. It wasn't a day's victory--not a war's victory but the way he looked, it was almost as if he thought that way.

"Let's go see how everyone is doing now that we've got the chance to breathe."

Swallowing hard, Fergus nodded. He didn't follow out of friendliness but because he understood that Cu Chulainn really was honestly willing to forgive and forget. Despite that, Fergus couldn't help but feel charmed by it. Cu Chulainn was downright terrifying when he was in one of his 'moods' and yet, Fergus liked the chipper nature he always swung back to.

"You know, lass--" Hunching his shoulders, the old man held his hands out in defeat while still managing to bow in his respect. "Had you been perfected that technique, I might have beaten it. But... No, I don't think I could work up the nerve to face it head on if I faced you, again."

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi takes Caladbolg automatically; it makes sense that Fergus wouldn't be allowed to keep his sword after surrendering. She can still feels its power even through the fabric, and her own sword grumbles at the back of her mind. He doesn't like that she's holding such a powerful weapon, even if she has no intention of keeping it.

Fergus seems subdued, but for Cu Chulainn, it's like the fight never happened. Yoruichi can hold a grudge like nobody's business, so she's a bit taken aback by how easily Cu Chulainn lets his anger go. But it seems like the danger has been averted for now, so she guesses he has reason enough to be in a good mood.

Caladbolg is a huge weapon--much longer than her own wakizashi. She settles it against her shoulder as they turn towards the castle, but pauses as Fergus pays his respects. Yoruichi gives him a long, thoughtful look; he looks like he's done fighting, but she's still not letting her guard down.

"If you stay on my good side, you won't have to." She nods her head in return, making sure not to take her eyes off him, then quirks her eyebrow in a half-smirk. With men Fergus' age, that expression either enrages them or makes them chuckle indulgently. For her father, it can go either way on any given day.

[red_branch]

With Yoruichi taking her spoils, Cu Chulainn felt confident in the night being secured for the castle and the outer grounds. He watched as the herders reigned the bulls back in their pens, the animals slowly shrinking down to smaller sizes as if their anger had inflated them and given them their terrifying appearances. Calmer and subdued, the creatures were glossy and strong in their frames but weren't burning with the ethereal flame they possessed minutes earlier.

Something in the mountains caught his eye, briefly. What he didn't mention was that his spear hadn't fully routed Medb's army. Someone in that contingent repelled his weapon and prevented it from truly wreaking havoc. If his spear struck properly, then he would have ended the conflict entirely. With only one name in mind that could accomplish such a feat, Cu Chulainn heaved and sigh and muttered to himself, "Better tell Daire her son is in good health."

Then, he turned back to Yoruichi and Fergus just in time to witness a man testing dangerous waters. He was about to ask Yoruichi if she wouldn't mind sharing with him what technique she coated herself with but the older man was clearly much more eager to grab her attention--at least he was faster about it.

Fergus, in a display of confidence that only a madman could really possess, saw the sharp and intimidating nature of Yoruichi's grin and want to capitalize on it. The second he saw a chance to change the nature of their relationship, he lunged at it with what he always thought was a smooth transition.

"If I'm on your good side, then what say you we roll around for a bit in a more friendly manner? I may not be in my prime, but I'm spry and more charming than the local pups."

Cu Chulainn looked at Yoruichi for a moment with an arched brow then made a point to step to the side--clearly not wanting to be between she and Fergus at a time like that. He couldn't claim to be any less brazen than his uncle but somehow he realized that it was a terrible time to make a pass at a woman--especially one who seemed very unhappy with his behavior.

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi's face is blank for a few moments. His words don't register initially; it's hardly the first time she's been propositioned, but no one's ever been so crude about it. She's still a princess despite her forthright manner, and men usually pretty up their language a bit.

But it finally dawns on her; her eyes widen, then narrow as her fists clench around Caladbolg. Without warning, she shifts, bringing one leg up and around in a powerful kick to Fergus' jaw. She doesn't hold back much, having seen what kind of punishment he can take. She'll apologize for the damage to the wall, but she suspects her hosts will understand.

"Roll around," she huffs, lowering her leg back to the ground. She gives Cu Chulainn a warning glare in case he gets any ideas; she hasn't forgotten that earlier marriage proposal. "You roll, you bastard. You want to roll some more?" She raises Caladbolg like she'd be happy to beat him over the head with it. It's a near thing, but coming from a clan of armorers gives her too much respect for quality weaponry to treat it that way.

The courtyard has gone silent, but one more glare from Yoruichi sends everyone back to their tasks. "Roll around," she snarls, turning back towards the castle. "Ugh. Dirty old man."

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn and Fergus had been in that situation a number of times, themselves. While his nephew heaved a heavy, drawn-out sigh Fergus was feeling the initial weight of incredible torque slamming skillfully into the side of his head. He knew to clench his teeth from experience, his head whipping back before he spun in a few circles--crushing a wall and barrier to the courtyard with his weight and the force of Yoruichi's swift kick. No one was surprised. Fergus, knocked right out, had a massive bruise already welling up on the side of his head and blood dribbled out of his mouth. At the very least, he lost a few teeth.

Cu Chulainn looked taken aback when all was said and done and he got the tail end of Yoruichi's irritation.

"Wait, did I miss something I did?"

He was left alone, dumbfounded as the shepherds, masons and Yoruichi all turned to return to the castle. Scratching his head, he followed with a sheepish look--somehow believing that he deserved a talking to but not exactly remembering why that was. A few of the boys came out to drag Fergus to the dungeons and bind him, a little disturbed by how quiet he was when he had gotten knocked out.

The last thought on Fergus' mind before he fell unconscious was straight to the point.

I'd regret not asking more than actually asking. Well, at least I can claim it was a war wound.

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi huffs in irritation as she stalks back into the castle. Between the thunder on her brow and her very firm rebuff of Fergus' attentions, she's given a wide, respectful berth as she enters the hall.

What a weird family. If the rest of the family is like Cu Chulainn, Fergus and Cathbad, it's a wonder this clan isn't constantly at war. They must piss people off without even trying.

Her frown fades as she scans the room. People are still clearly weak, but no one seems to be in any immediate danger. People who can move do so gingerly, bringing water, medicine and anything else needed to those still weakened. Absently, she adjusts Caladbolg where it rests on her shoulder, prompting a stunned glance from a nearby warrior. Fergus and his sword are likely well-known here, and spirit or not, Yoruichi just looks like a slip of a girl. No one could have expected her to come back in--unhurt-- with the weapon of such a renowned warrior as a trophy.

"Fergus is in your dungeons, now," she says to the room at large. "There was an army, but Cu Chulainn stopped them in the distance." She turns to the door to look for him, as if waiting for him to confirm her report.

[red_branch]

Cathbad, taking the reigns as the one in charge, regretfully left his wife behind to her pain at the instruction of a servant who was helpful enough to tend to her. At the moment Yoruichi and Cu Chulainn returned, he looked much frailer and tired than he had before--his ability to see into the future never truly preparing him for what he had to witness on a personal level. Somehow, Medb's actions evaded his sight but he could still see the pain his wife would endure without so much as lifting a weapon. It was enough to keep her still and bound tightly just as it had been with the other warriors. In Cathbad's eyes there was still a trace of hope at the sight of Yoruichi brandishing Caladbolg. The fact that she still had eyes to see with and limbs to move with wasn't just impressive--it was a relief. Had she been injured, Soul Society would take notice of Emain Macha's conflicts. That would probably spell disaster.

"Good," He reached out with one hand to Yoruichi, gesturing for Caladbolg. "I'll take it, if you don't mind, your lady. No one but Fergus knows how to use it but it's best if I keep it sealed so it can't be tracked."

Cu Chulainn spared Cathbad a somber look of his own. He hadn't become furious at all by Fergus' betrayal, seeing it as something he did at the request of his wife. If Fergus were a farmer, his wife's request would be handsomely small in comparison. It was simply the scale of the problem that was the issue. Maybe if he went to visit Medb, he could talk her down. She liked drinks and games--and he was good at one of those things, at least. For a moment, as Cu Chulainn mulled over the diplomatic solution. It seemed right.

A sharp snap of metal against brick and mortar woke him up out of that thought. A few of the boys and girls were assembling their pieces of armor and hiking up weapons for one another to get equipped and ready for a march. Their ill-fitting armor pieces had been borrowed from the barracks, poorly fit as they were barely close to growing into it.

It was simple enough logic--though he couldn't see it at first through his and Yoruichi's fight in the courtyard. The boys and girls were told that they were the last line of defense to save the farmers, the servants and the elderly. All the warriors knew the boys and girls needed motivation to grow up strong and protect their nation so they were never coddled and told they were too young to practice but just as many warriors knew the training was always just excercise. It taught the value of wanting to look out for your neighbor. What Setanta saw was children taking the message to heart and he realized the implications that came with Yoruichi's presence.

If Yoruichi hadn't been here, I wouldn't be here to tell them they weren't needed. They were already mostly dressed, ready to go out and protect their mothers and fathers who couldn't fight for themselves.

Without even realizing it, he asked Cathbad a question.

"Did you find out who cast the curse?"

"The Morrigan," Cathbad answered easily, though his expression turned suspicious. Cu Chulainn's eyes were wide and focused on him. People shifted to avoid looking at him. Whenever he had that look on his face, the young man always seemed to be serious to the point of ruthlessness. He didn't have a single funny thought in his head at times like that. He hadn't been outside at the time but Cathbad suspected Fergus was honest enough to tell Cu Chulainn that war had been declared by Medb.

"What's the nature of the curse?"

"--Muscle strain. Whatever it is, it's forcing their muscles to expand and contract rapidly and unpredictably. It's imitating labor pains for some but for the rest--they're likely to die from heart failure or exhaustion if we don't keep them treated constantly."

"I'm really grateful for your help, Yoruichi," He didn't look at her--simply staring ahead towards the children who were just learning that the army had been fended off. "I don't know what I would have done out there if I were alone."

When he turned to face her, he was smiling softly. His hair was crimson, ashes rising up from it as if it were a burning flame. Cathbad, the servants and the children swiftly took notice, their faces turning white when they realized Cu Chulainn's soft, calm voice had been a lie all along. The room grew warmer with each passing moment.

"I'll leave you to finish your dinner and rest if you want. I'm going to stretch my legs out and get some fresh air."

[goneonenight]

[Cathbad looks drained as they return, a far cry from the man who'd gleefully attacked his grandson earlier. Yoruichi's glad enough to give him Caladbolg, as she hadn't planned on taking it home with her; her zanpakutou is enough.

Cu Chulainn is somber as he looks around the hall, spotting young boys and girls in makeshift armor, ready to defend their home. When he speaks, it's with the sort of thousand yard stare and even voice that she's seen from warriors after unspeakable horrors, as though their senses and emotions have been so deadened, they have nothing left to display. It's unnerving, and sobering to see this from the good-natured boy who had proposed to her just a few hours before.

She's brought out of her thoughts by the sound of her name, and she turns to him as he's thanking her. Her initial reaction is to simply tell him there's no need for thanks, but she forgets all about that when she sees his hair alight. The heat coming off him is fierce enough to make her face stiff and dry.]

What the hell? [Without thinking, she spins, grabbing a tankard of ale and tossing it over his head. Spirits burn, but as foul as that ale was, she figures there's enough water in it to douse some flames.]

Are you all right?

[red_branch]

[The talking among servants and the children who had been gearing up had all ceased. The few ill who were still in the hall had their mouths shut by the servants near them--their hands covering them. No one wanted to be heard and not one person was with the exception of Cathbad, who very deliberately stepped beside Yoruichi and raised his hand in the air and grasped the air in front of her face as if trying to tug at grains of sand. Cu Chulainn turned to look in the direction where the tankard had come from. For a moment, the air turned red all at once.

Immediately, the sound vanished from the room along with Cu Chulainn. In his place, there was a black void that stretched out infinitely. Noxious steam and smoke boiled up towards them--the smell of ale burning and bubbling up past its point. For a few moments, Cathbad stood with his hand extended, wearing an expression of raw terror, his skin white and his muscle drawn back and tense as if he were truly standing at the edge of a real, infinite chasm. Cathbad had put up a barrier in front of Yoruichi that eliminated all sound and light from passing.

On his end, Cu Chulainn saw an empty room when he turned. The tankard landed with a clatter on the floor but its contents upturned over his head. Every bit of it evaporated as if turning a red-hot skillet and the cloud of disgusting gas fell over him and descended in the direction it came from.

Cathbad stared into the darkness that completely hid the room from Cu Chulainn, holding his breath. A few moments passed and nothing happened. The soundless void in front of them remained silent save for the breaths coming from the tense and wound-up people behind them. Cathbad seemed to relax.]

...He must not have--

[The darkness shuddered, light shining through points in it as a tremendous impression of a hand smashed up against its surface. Cathbad's barrier was struck from the outside--hard enough to damage it. Cracks formed in the impressions of fingers, a palm and part of the forearm of a right hand. Tables and chairs turned over and a number of people cried out as they fell to the floor, their hands snapping up to their mouths out of a reflexive desire to keep silent.

Cathbad crumbled, his hand twisting back unnaturally. His arm broke in two places. A few more moments passed and he finally breathed out, falling backward and finally gasping in pain when he couldn't hold anything up, anymore.

The half of the room that had been hidden by darkness was visible again--though it had changed. A swathe of its was torn away and some of it was scorched by flames which stopped dead at the curve of the spell Cathbad had cast. The great big, wooden doors at the foot of the hall were torn down in the middle and Cu Chulainn was nowhere to be found.

Far off, the roar of thunder filled the halls.

Cathbad cursed, grasping his broken arm in a fury.]

Fucking wretched witch! What's the good in leading him to you if you don't do the right... damned... job!?

You were supposed to beat that out of him!!

[He howled, gritting his teeth and glowering in Yoruichi's direction. It didn't take the ability to see the future that she had questions and he wanted to get through it as soon as he could so he could mend his arm.]

[goneonenight]

[To her horror, it looks like all she's done is make things worse. With more speed than she would have thought he could muster, Cathbad is suddenly in front of her, throwing up a barrier and dousing half the hall into a seething, noxious darkness. She has enough presence of mind not to interfere, and at the corner of her eye she can see others frozen, apparently not wanting to take the slightest chance of attracting Cu Chulainn's attention.

The old man is as tense as a bowstring, all his attention focused on his barrier. No sooner does he relax for just a moment than a massive blow cracks the shield, a hand and forearm briefly visible before they withdraw back into the darkness.

Cathbad can only maintain the spell a few seconds longer before falling back, clutching a badly broken arm to his body. Yoruichi has no idea who the witch is that he's cursing, but it seems like a question that can wait as she drops to her knees at his side. ]

Gods above. [Her eyes are huge with alarm, but her hands are steady, slipping one arm around his back to keep him upright.] Is he okay? What the hell was that? I didn't [She swallows, suddenly looking very young.] I didn't do that, did I?

[Despite everything here being new to her, Yoruichi's usual self-possession and skill have carried her through up to now. Having her efforts seem to backfire in such a spectacular way has left her shaken, and driven home how alien this place truly is.]

[red_branch]

[A number of the children followed instructions from the servants to repair the gate. A few ran over with staves and daggers, casting spells in the hopes that they could reassemble it in time. All the while, the servants moved furniture out of the way to check on anyone who fell or hurt themselves when Cathbad's barrier collapsed.]

Gods above...? [One errant look from the old man followed a trail of moonlight coming from the shattered doors. Perched on the broken doorframe was a raven who, when spotted, offered a hollow squawk and flew away. Cathbad's expression stayed grim.

Yoruichi left him at a pause, beginning to pant and swallow hard. She couldn't have known but people like her, he supposed, were quick to assume the worst of things had been within their power to stop. Maybe it had been but he knew better. Even Scathach couldn't clean up that mess. The more he watched Yoruichi, the more he felt she didn't quite fit his image of what a Soul Reaper really was. She wasn't the same as the Captain he had met. There wasn't any of the same callousness he remembered. In that time, Soul Reapers probably didn't have any more use for berserkers.

It killed him wondering how old she would have been if she were human. She couldn't have been any older than his grandchild. She looked smaller and frailer than one would have expected of someone who could dispatch their old king.]

Don't go... [Leaning against Yoruichi, Cathbad went about the messy business of locking his arm into place with a binding spell. A pale light wrapped around it and kept it straight the moment he muttered an inaudible phase in between his words.] ......Blaming yourself for a mystery we barely have figured out, ourselves. Come on, now. We can't stay idle and enjoy the evening, yet.

[Straightening himself, Cathbad reached with his good hand to grip Yoruichi's shoulder. In a pinch, he could muster the ability to be forthright and kind--even if he would have rather been lying in bed with a belly full of wine and pork. His legs barely had the strength to move, so he gestured Yoruichi to the stairs leading to the castle's exterior walls.]

To make it simple, the boy usually has a pretty thick skin but when he falls into a fury... the red mist clouds his judgment completely. Normally, the soldiers are all trained to cool him off with icy spells but... [Cathbad left it unsaid since Yoruichi knew that part. The walls were tall but the stairs were wide enough for two people. Looking off from the walls, they would see the red flames trailing from the gate to the outer wall, which was punctured in the same pattern as the door. The trail went into the woods and towards the area Cu Chulainn had thrown his spear at.

Each and every warrior in the kingdom had been crippled by pain and left incapacitated.]

Those children are his students. If you hadn't been there, they would have thought they needed to help Cu Chulainn defeat the army once he repelled Fergus. [The spell hadn't fatigued Cathbad nearly as much as his ability to see the course of the future. The imperfect gift he had could only confirm something once certain events transpired and for a brief moment, he saw what would transpire if Yoruichi were absent from the equation.

On the other hand, Cu Chulainn's fury was proof that one didn't need the ability to see the future to understand cause and effect.]

...The best thing to do is wait. He's not heading towards any farms or any settlements in the riverlands. With luck, we can recover him once he tires out.

[goneonenight]

[Yoruichi keeps her arm around Cathbad, easily supporting him as they make their way up the stairs. Cu Chulainn's fury leaves flames in his wake, heading off towards the remains of the enemy army. As long as said fury is spent on the attackers, she supposes it'll all work out. But there'd clearly been a danger of him striking out against the very people he'd sworn to protect.

It's too bad she doesn't have an ice zanpakutou; she could have helped cool him off. But Cu Chulainn is a problem she's not going to be able to solve, so she might as well turn her attention to something she can. Her face firms, and although her confidence is still clearly shaken, Cathbad's reassurance has helped somewhat. She can even see where Cu Chulainn is coming from; those kids are pretty young, and wouldn't have stood a chance against Fergus or his army.]

All right. What can I do around here in the meantime? Do your healers need any help?

[Simple breaks and swelling are easiest to handle; she's not the equal of the officers of the 4th Division, but she can handle some field medicine. If nothing else, she can fetch and carry as needed. Even though she's a princess, Yoruichi is no stranger to hard work. Her family would expect no less.]

[red_branch]

With something like this? It's better not wasting magic. They're not hurt yet--they're in pain. [Cathbad had been a druid his whole life even if he were treated more like a sorcerer from another era. It helped him gain respect since he knew tricks no one else could attempt but it made him just as reliable as any other druid--that was to say, he had a limit. If he tried to heal any injuries, he was sure to burn himself out quickly, even if he didn't want to give that away to Yoruichi. If she knew how exhausted he actually had been, she would have looked even worse of. For the moment, he knew he had to give her bravery.]

Herbs to relax their muscles and numb them should help for the moment and we have plenty of those thanks to our harvests. I already ordered it all to be ground down and fed to everyone twice a day until this is sorted out.

[While Cathbad had normally been a hard man to get along with, he couldn't help but notice Yoruichi had steadied herself quickly after. She was off-guard but trying to get her bearings as quickly as possible.

A few images came to mind. He could see inklings of her future behind blurry visions, a rascally grin coming over his face. The 'Yoruichi' who stood in front of her companions as a leader and a figure of respect grinned with confidence and clarity in her eyes and he felt the tension wash off of him.

It was the same light that shone off of his grandson when he took his vows as a knight. For all the good intentions Cu Chulainn had as a boy, Cathbad knew this war would be the end of him. When he left it, he would be different.]

What you can do for me is... [His fist tightened on Yoruichi's shoulder before he leaned in to stare her in the eyes. Yoruichi could see the vision of herself in the future, wreathed in light and a miasma born out of memories that didn't quite exist yet.] ... grow, Yoruichi. I need a goddess to save my grandson from Medb's army--as well as himself.

That is all I need you to do. Nothing else.

[goneonenight]

[Yoruichi is still young enough to be reassured by Cathbad's words. Despite his eccentricity, he's clearly a respected elder to his people. If he says his people will be all right, then she believes him. If nothing else, it means she can save her energy for fighting while the warriors recover.]

All right, if you're sure. [His weight is nothing against her side, and she takes a moment to look around as they climb the stairs. She's never been in a building with so much stone before; it feels heavy, and a little oppressive. It's been less than a day, but she already misses the way light and air filter through the shoji doors of her home.

Cathbad's hand tightens on her shoulder, and he grins as he leans in. A frown creases her brow, as she automatically distrusts that look--he isn't going to say something shitty again, is he? She'd hate to have to toss him down the stairs after helping him up them. But then he meets her eyes, and she inhales, caught up in the vision of her future self. She's wearing a captain's haori over the Onmitsukidou commander's uniform and her eyes are sharp above a careless grin. She doesn't look at all like the staid, proper person the elders would want, and the thought cheers Yoruichi immensely.]

Grow? [She shakes her head, clearing her mind of Cathbad's vision to look at him properly.] What was that? Was what I saw real?

[red_branch]

At the moment, it is. [A dry, pained chuckle escaped Cathbad as he reached to pat Yoruichi's shoulder to let her know she could let go of him once they reached the top. He lowered himself down to sit on a rough, elevated part of brick and mortar that formed a makeshift bench. It was supposed to be a post to lean casks of boiling oil but had never been fitted with a cask--so, it was relegated to being a bench to watch the hinterlands. Off in the distance, he saw a tint of red flames in the far distant, rising from the forest. It was reminiscent of the blood-red tint that came at sunset and it was a sign that Cu Chulainn was still lost in his madness. His smile dwindled, though it wasn't gone for good.]

I'm a bit famous around here as a Seer. Only a few men and women in all of human history have or will have eyes like mine.

[His previously broken fingers began to move--green light wrapping around them. Small branches and vines curled around his appendage to create a new makeshift splint and force his digits to move despite the pain it caused. He would need both hands to prepare seals for the next morning.

Returning to look back to Yoruichi, Cathbad took no small amount of delight in seeing the perplexed expression on her. The light in her eyes was bright enough to let on how she felt, if only a little bit and it was clear that what she saw wasn't disappointing, as he expected. Her ambitions fit her family but that wasn't likely to have been what she wanted to see.

She was smiling in the image he saw. It was the look of someone who had confidence and certainty. She looked free, which was something rare for a soul reaper. The ones he knew were criminals, scoundrels and desperate vagrants. He didn't feel bad at all for using his gift to sneak a peek and the little huff of laughter from him cut into his worries about his grandson.]

In most cases, the future is blurry and one's potential can change but... That's the first time since my grandson that I've seen such a clear image. [He shut his eyes--keeping them shut for a while to force the spell to stop.]

At the very least, it means you'll live through this.

[With a pleasant gaze over the hills and forest--Cathbad confirmed every worry Yoruichi had about him.]

I mean--you filled out that uniform nicely in that vision, after all.

[goneonenight]

[She follows his gaze to the horizon, which glows an angry red. From the way his expression sobers, she figures it must mean Cu Chulainn is still on the rampage. Well, better that he be loosed on the enemy than to hurt those he'd sworn to protect.

But when he looks back at her, Cathbad is fairly beaming, seeming smug at her reaction to his pronouncement. Even she hates giving him the satisfaction, it can't completely dim her excitement at the glimpse of her future. Even hearing that it's not a sure thing doesn't discourage her; if there's a way out there for her to get what she wants while remaining herself, then she'll find it. Knowing it exists only fuels her determination.

Cathbad squeezes his eyes shut, and for a moment Yoruichi wonders if he's in worse shape than he'd let on. But then he keeps talking and it's all she can do not to push him out the window.

What is with the men in this family?]

You-- [Her voice is utterly disgusted, and she finds herself lowering her fist, fighting her immediate urge to knock him out.

No, she's not going to hit this wounded, exhausted old man, but she will jab him in the side with a tiny, tiny bit of kidou lightning. It shouldn't do any permanent damage.]

You can Fergus can both--ugh! [Before he says anything else and makes her change her mind about hitting him, Yoruichi spins on her heel, stalking down the hall to another window. If Cu Chulainn needs fetching once his fury burns down, she figures she can watch out for him.]

[red_branch]

[Cathbad kept his gaze forward, desperately trying not to laugh until Yoruichi zapped him right in the ribs. He choked and broke down, snickering even as tears fell down his cheeks--just out of sight. I have a terrible sense of humor, he thought. Or maybe, I'm not having fun at all.

The jolly chortle he always let out, as if to spite the young ones he taught, was something he could rely on to cheer himself up. He was a jolly, stupid old man who assumed that laughing was all it took to improve a bad mood. That evening, he was wrong. Yoruichi left him to watch from a different window and he didn't say anything else to her after that--eventually going down the stairs when the red light in the distance died down. It had taken hours, Cathbad not leaving until the last flickering red lights in the distance vanished. He had been hunched over and tired, finally looking away when the horizon gave way to night once again. The castle, by then, was only illuminated by moonlight.

He didn't feel he had to explain anything to Yoruichi. His grandson's anger must have burnt itself out--so, he no longer had to check to make sure the boy didn't come stampeding back. He could lie down and finally sleep.]

-

[No flame could keep burning endlessly--especially not with its fuel being expended recklessly. Cu Chulainn woke up as his sword came down to cut down the last soldier he found. His mind was suddenly clear and the writing skin and flesh on his shoulder and arms relaxed. His muscled flared up in pain to the point that he couldn't even let out air to give his tension any voice. His anger was extinguished once the last of them was dead and he was left with an utterly peaceful, smoldering forest.

I guess I couldn't help it, he thought. Inwardly, he hoped no one at the castle had been hurt--though he wasn't even sure when he went mad in the first place. His stomach sank when he saw himself, for a moment, bringing his hand down to smash a shadow. He saw his grandfather's and Yoruichi's eyes for a moment before it became a shadow, again. Not that there's anything I can do to stop it.

He overturned hills and burned at the forests, leaving patches of it black and milled over. The great big trees he tore through had been replaced with blackened husks that still smoked and broke apart as he stood up straight to get his bearings. His heart sank, realizing what he had done and how he couldn't do anything to calm himself down before it all went red. It was terrifying and shameful all at once--so, naturally, he could never admit his concern to anyone. If he did, then he would be shaming his father for the gift he gave him.

He didn't have long to think about it, though. Reflexively, he reached up to bat aside an arrow with his sword hilt--spotting archers and spearmen in the distant woods approaching him. There wasn't any time to relax but there was plenty for him to brood. Even as Cu Chulainn ran forward to fight them alone, he felt a tightness in his chest--worry.

After she risked her life to save me and my students--I might have hurt her. Is there anything else more shameful than that!?]

[goneonenight]

[Yoruichi ignores him as best she can, keeping watch on the dull red fires smoldering at the edge of the woods. It takes hours, during which time she sneaks away just once to filch more food from the kitchens.

Finally, the light dies down and Cathbad makes his way back downstairs. His movements are labored, so despite her irritation, Yoruichi keeps an eye on him until he makes it safely to the bottom of the stairs. Once Cu Chulainn had burned out his rage, she'd expected him to be on his way back. But she can still hear the faint sounds of battle on the wind; his grandfather doesn't seem worried, but if the other army is still out there, he may not be able to get back out.

Especially after fighting on his own for hours.

It doesn't seem right to just leave him, and no one else in the castle is in any condition to help. Sighing, Yoruichi looks out into the night. There's enough moonlight for her to see, and she's sure she can follow the sounds of battle well enough to find him. With all the commotion from earlier, it's easy enough to slip downstairs and back outside. She might have trouble with the wards on the way back in, but she figures Cu Chulainn can deal with them again.

The smell of blackened trees and scorched earth gets stronger as she gets closer, and she can hear the hoarse cries of the last remnants of the opposing army. No one ever looks up during a fight, so she takes to the air in hopes of catching them by surprise. There's an off chance that Cu Chulainn will take her for the enemy, but with the confidence of youth, she's sure she can dodge any attack if need be.

The fight is in sight now, and there's plenty of debris around for her first volley.]

Hadou no 57; Daichi Tenyo.

[Rocks, chunks of wood and even discarded weapons surrounding Cu Chulainn rise into the air, hovering for just a moment before launching at his opponents. Yoruichi herself drops from the sky a moment later, landing at his side.

Hey. [She shoots him a quick look before turning back to the enemy army.] Are you back with us now?

[red_branch]

[There was a moment of sharpness in Cu Chulainn that showed his tension the moment he heard Yoruichi coming through the forest. Days spent in Scathach's court, at risk of an attack at all times taught him to react without any notice and, more importantly, with a deliberate air of nonchalance. Fluidly, he went from tense to relaxed when he recognized it was Yoruichi, his expression slipping harmlessly into a wide grin.

Ragged from exhaustion, tense from his placement on a battlefield and a touch nervous from realizing he looked like he was a thrice-boiled meal--Cu Chulainn couldn't quite pull off his usual grin flawlessly. All around him, debris and pieces of what was left of the forest rose and speared their way into archers and pikeman trying to surround the two of them. Arrows were let loose in Yoruichi's direction--or where they thought she was when she first showed up in the air for just a moment. Their eyes were uncanny in their ability to catch up with her but they were lucky to have even seen her at all. By the time they aired their atonishment, most of them were blown away--save for a few who hefted shields up just in time to catch themselves on their feet. Cu Chulainn felt relief from the sight of Yoruichi and, not quite as much, the cool breeze that followed from the incantation she cast.]

Yeah. It's a relief. [Yoruichi would have been able to get away from him, he suspected, but he didn't know whether or not his 'state' would have caught her off guard. At the very least, she looked untouched. She definitely looked cautious but it didn't look as if she were angered. If he had laid a hand on the vulnerable ones in the court--he imagined her expression would have resembled the one she showed Fergus.

He bounced on his heels with the appearance of energy despite the terrible state he was in.]

I must have fought one of Medb's favorites if they're all still this willing to-- [A 'buzz' of an arrow came close to him before he cut it down with the short saber in his hand. The smile drained off of him and looked more annoyed by being interrupted. Everything about their situation was exhausting but it was still a relief that Yoruichi hadn't felt the need to attack him.]

--Chase. I'm not sure retreating would be safe. More of them are gonna follow and Medb's finest are going to start coming out looking for our heads, Lord Yoruichi.