A Trade to Die For

She would lower her brows into a scowl, before she suddenly burst into laughter. Not mocking laughter, honest to goodness laughter. She couldn’t hold it back, “I can’t believe you made that pun. I mean, it was terrible when I said it, but you…” She shook her head as her laughter died down, “I mean, come on. You have better than that, unless you also forgot your sense of humor.” She didn’t even act intimidated by his tough guy routine. She was desensitized to people trying to look big and threatening after dealing with Azores’ issues.

Her eyes were filled with shock when she noticed Yata get slapped in the back of his head and him come closer because of it. Honestly, this situation was weird. She could work with weird though, “And you’re right. I’m stuck in the past because of you, and it’s frustrating.” She would dart out one of her hands and grab him him by his shirt collar, pulling herself closer to him and him closer to her at the same moment; not that they were all that far apart as it was. She just needed a second. One moment he wouldn't be expecting her. Just one so she could sneak past his natural defenses. Just one, so she could do what she needed to do.

If that moment presented itself, she would gladly take it. She would stand on the tips of her toes and lean into him, pushing her lips against his. It was only for a moment, but it felt so much longer to her. She was already overstaying her welcome, but this is what she needed to do for so long. The instant the moment passed, she would back up and smile, “There. I finally did it.” She was content. After a year, she was finally able to do what she needed to, “And you’re nuts if you think I actually want to fight. I’m mostly a pacifist, with the occasional exception. Plus, I don’t want to break my promise to you from a year ago, again. I only said I had to give you what you deserve.” Her face burned deep read as she looked at him. Her eyes darted away from him as she felt the fire beneath her skin grow.

Intertwined stood at her side, both bears covering their own faces as if they were embarrassed. She had to say it now. If she didn’t she may never get to, “You’re strong and brave and determined, you know? You always have been.” What she said was true though. When she met him, she thought he was brave and strong. It was only in this moment she thought he had fallen. That didn’t mean he couldn’t get back up, “That’s why I always believed you could burn the world to the ground if you wanted. Why I loved being able to spend time with you. It’s why I fell in love with you in the first place...”

She would back further away from him. She was suddenly humiliated by her actions and how desperate she must have seemed, “I did what I needed. I know you’re safe now, and you seem to be with people that care about you, so go to your friend. Welcome her back and tell her you’re happy to be with her. Sounds like she’ll be waiting for you, and you need to be there to greet her back.” She would stand in place waiting for someone to say something or someone to make a move. It definitely wasn’t going to be her. She was frozen in embarrassment. Even so, her eyes darted to the woman who had set this up. She couldn’t say it out loud, but she was trying to silently thank her and apologize for her earlier outburst.

Jin's expression really soured when she wasn't responding. It would've been nice for an answer, but at this point it was really getting awkward. He simply closed his cellphone and put it back into his pocket with a stony expression. He was going to pretend that never happened. But something good finally appeared with Mikoto returning. So, the boy finally opened his eyes. This was good.

"I'm glad for you," he faintly smiled at him which then became an amused one given his obvious affection for her, "But yes, you're right. We have some loose ends to tie up."

The devastating deity was still here. Nothing ever changed that. He looked back up at the tower and towards Tomoe. The rest was up to her and he had hoped that what had just transpired would also make a difference in her own battle. Finally he looked back at the group that surrounded him.

"Caestus, Mikoto, Kahn, and Vera. I ask you to head back to the rest of the team and hold off Angra Mainyu. The more the merrier."

Seeing that they were fighting an enormous monster, clearly they needed to send more to the field. Though, Jin had other plans as well.

"I will go alone with Mister Reiguu to find the Second King. Her absence is a subject of some worry."

And for good reason. Seeing how she had such prowess as a combatant and can be rather unstable, to not know what she's doing would prove to be dangerous and could be their undoing. Knowing her rather... troubling nature, Jin really couldn't ask the kids here to take up the task and they were needed elsewhere too.

"Do you two know where I can find her as of this moment?" he inquired of both Vera and Mikoto.

They were on the enemy's side. So surely they must have a better idea. From the mental connection, thanks to Tomoe, from the earlier battle, she did run into the tower. Didn't she? Additionally they needed to know if she was still alive. Based on what had happened earlier, she did go up to "prove Yachiru's love", didn't she?

He looked back up at the tower and tried to see if he could contact Tomoe.

" Miss Kyokudou, have you seen the Second King up there?"

The arrival of Mikoto was an unexpected surprise, but not an unwelcome one given the news he had about how they finally managed to pull the Crow out of the fire and pit of revenge. "Good to hear, then it's time for us to go and help out our friends as soon as possible." Jin seemed to have come to the exact same conclusion, and asked them to go and help out those fighting. Kahn looked toward the head, well he knew that there was an airship up there, so...since he could now fly it made the most sense for him to go back up that way.

"I'm going to go help the airship out, I can fly, so it makes the most sense for me to go up there and help out. So none of you better die while I'm away, we haven't come this far just to let people die." The young man said looking at the other, "Jin, unless you need me elsewhere I'm just going to go ahead and fly on up. However, if you need me for something, tell me now, otherwise I'm going.

Naomi’s face burned bright red when Yata spoke. She was hoping he would say those words, but part of her was still freaking out over hearing them. She should probably keep her calm, and she tried, but her excitement and her nerves were showing through, “I accept your apology. However, I expect that we’ll need to spend some more time together after this.” She would give him a mischievous wink. She was mostly trying to fluster him. It was hard to not want to after all this time. She would chuckle at his pun. It felt like forever since she heard him earnestly make one, “You really didn’t give me much of a choice, you know?” He didn’t exactly leave her a forwarding address or any clue as to where he had run off to, “I’m just glad you were here.”

Her attention would suddenly be pulled toward the woman that had been with them this entire time. She had never really seen someone bow like that, and it kind of made her nervous. She would look at Yata quickly before bringing her attention back to the bowing woman, “I feel like I am missing something important in this discussion.” She would need to be filled in on what exactly was happening later. For now, she just held out her hand to the woman, “Ree? Please stand up. I admit I don’t know what’s going on here, but I do know that people bowing to me makes me all kinds of uncomfortable. So, stand with your head tall.” She wasn’t good at this sort of thing, “I mean, if you want to come with us, then I’m sure you can.”

“I believe we are still missing someone though. Let’s go grab her, shall we?” Naomi needed to meet her, and she was excited. How could she not be? Then she was overcome with more confusion and shock when the ground around them began to shake and the earth moved to form an umbrella above their heads. Naomi stared on in awe, her mouth slightly gaping. She pointed up at it, not even attempting to hide how lost she was, “This is on the list of things I don’t understand.” Someone was using a skill, but who and from where.

When her phone went off, she wouldn’t even question picking it up. This day could only get more weird, and she accepted that. Plus, she was curious why it was ringing. Past experience told her it should be impossible. She would stare at the phone before processing the information and what it could mean… She was at a loss and decided to just ask, “Who is… First King? Should we be worried about him, because he’s apparently on his way down here. Someone is trying to stop him by the sounds of it… Also, something about a Second King and how she went to the top, but might be with us?” She was just repeated the gist of what she heard. When the message was over, she would put her phone away.

She would look at the two and sigh, “You know what, explain while we run. I have a feeling we need to pick up your friend and fast.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the item she had been attempting to locate earlier. She would look at Yata and forcefully shove it into his hands, “Happy Valentine’s Day. Keep this with you at all times. Got it?” It was late, but better than never. It seemed like it now was the time to give it to him, just in case, “And no comments on how stupid or dorky it is.” She tried really hard to make it. She didn’t want to hear how lame it really was. She was just happy she had it with her. That’s what happens when you keep all your items in one spot.

She would gingerly drop herself off the platform's edge. As she did this, Intertwined would vanish and a flower would manifest in her hair. If someone was coming, she was going to be switched to her strongest Persona to deal with them. Hopefully she wouldn’t need to, but one never knew, “Umm…. One of you has to lead the way. I’ll play defense as best I can from whatever is going on.” A red mist would suddenly form around the three of them in the shape of a dome. The origin of the dome seemed to be coming from five feet above them, and spread out ten feet in any direction. It would be spread out enough for them to see through, but still work as a barrier if they were attacked. If the two of them looked closely, they could see the mist was dripping around them. She would wait for one of them to start running, so she could follow behind them. She would have to keep the barrier constantly moving, so they were inside. Of course, that meant the others couldn’t separate too far from the center point. They needed to do this and quick. The sudden crack in the air only reassured her of that. What the heck was going on?

Spoiler:

Jin was just looking up the tower to see the battle was raging on between the two deity-like entities. The level that they were at were something he could never reach no matter how much experience he accumulated. Rather, it was something mere experience would never ever reach no matter how meaningful. His very own instincts could tell this was a battle to stay out of. Yet, Tomoe's warning suggested otherwise. The First King was coming down and they were sitting ducks.

Jin was responding back to Vera with a tone of urgency, "Boss or not. Listen to me. We need to leav--"

He could never finish what he wanted to say. It happened too fast, even for him. Before Jin knew it, he was out. And with the First King's grip, his whole body was steaming from the vicious attack from the Heavens as his eyes rolled back to show the whites with his mouth gaping open as it gagged from the grip on his neck.

For all intents and purposes, Jin was out cold.

OOC:

Kahn was acually pushing for the group to leave, and when suddenly there was a crashing thunderous explosion and Kahn's vision went white for a split second. When it came back he saw..a man clutching Jin by the throat, holding him there. "Jin!" he cried out, but he already knew that the older man was either dead or unconscious and judging by the sheer force of that blow...Kahn could only pray that he was unconscious. Regardless, the red haired young man knew that deaths would only help this...being that struck Jin down...and he was on death's door already. He reached into his pocket and used his last revival bead to energize Jin and bring him back from the brink, his friend was in a bad situation, but perhaps Kahn could do something about that.

Green eyes narrowed at the first king, "You gods sure know how to pick the wrong fight." He said as he summoned Raguel to his side. "I've defeated a god once already today and saved Souka from its prison, so if you want a fight you have most certainly found one." Kahn said before gesturing back towards himself taunting the first king as if saying "bring it on". The red haired young man smiled as Raguel got into a combat ready pose as it shifted its position directly behind Kahn.



Kahn's grand scheme of things was to keep the first king's attention on him, to ensure that the first king did not go after anyone else. He had a plan that might just be crazy enough to work, but the king had to attack him first.