Scene #1005: Struggle, Hero of Justice

Owner	Pose
Emiya Shirou	Now that Shirou's arm has fully healed, he's decided to exercise it. With Sir Bedivere sick he has only the Ring of Philosophy to use as a sparring partner, and so Shirou's doing just that. The chamber he's in is stylized like a traditional dojo with a hard wood floor, very like his own home's dojo! The door opens up to a safe area, but most of the floor is a battle zone. "Uuuuuuaaaaaahhhh!!" The redheaded magus is facing a bunch of wireframe-rendered skeletal enemies projected by the Ring. They wield a variety of weapons and fighting styles - some have swords, others have axes, one uses gauntlets... when diced up, another rezzes into existence. A pretty standard setup! He's dressed in his usual jeans and two-toned shirt. In his right hand is a dull (colored, not referring to the blade!) white shortsword. In his left, a black one with a crimson hexagonal patchwork. The weapons are fairly unornamented, but definitely finely made - and the Yin-and-Yang symbol was definitely their inspiration. It's even visible upon the joining point where the grip meets the blade. There is no guard. He dices down a spear wireframe warrior only to get clobbered with a club from another and forced back, stumbling...
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako slowly slides open the dojo door walks in and stops while standing in the safe area. She bows politely to Shirou has he's getting clobbered and stumbling and then watches; her head inclined to the side gently. "Hello Shirou! Hmm... that's an odd way of practicing." She starts absentmindedly sweeping the floor with the broom in her hands. Nevermind that the floor doesn't really need sweeping. It seems it's just something she does with her hands while she has nothing else to do. She then grins playfully, "Oh oh, want me to help you practice?" Ayako then raises her right pointer finger to her cheek, her broom in her left hand. "Although... it'd be pretty one-sided practice, huh...?"
Bitter Medicine	The stumbling footsteps and surprised protests of Shirou's practice session and the unassuming and polite tone of Ayako's observations both pale in comparison to the volume of Bitter Medicine's entrance. Unfamiliar with Japanese architecture (it's not like he's been to the Realm yet, having been advised against it), he simply walks /through/ the nearest wall. With his augmented strength, this is distressingly easy. The safe zone just became somewhat less safe. "Comrade Ayako," he says, remembering her first-name preference. He offers her a nod. The Alchemical Exalt rolls his neck. Pop-pop-pop. "I heard you needed practice, boy."
Toph Beifong	Seems like stuff is happening around the Ring, huh? As Toph steps into the chamber that Shirou has chosen she blinks, and she frowns. Ugh, wooden floors! It makes it hard to know just what is going on in the area, so she sticks to the wall as she walks to the side. What's wrong with a stone floor? She offers a nod to Ayako as she passes by her as she sweeps the floor, then the hole that Bitter made when he entered. She even offers a punch in the side to him as she passes by him before she turns her attention to Shirou. "What's up?" she asks before she flops down by the wall, not about to offer any training at this point a she reaches a hand into her satchel and pulls out a wrapped food roll. "Anything specific you are working on?"
Emiya Shirou	As people start barging into Shirou's practice room, he pauses the exercise with a quick shout of doing so to the AI handling things. All the wireframe figures freeze in place, then lower their weapons, and Shirou just focuses on catching his breath for a second or two while glancing over the people who've shown up. "Yo, Ayako! ...and... let's see... Toph Beifong, wasn't it..." Lastly, he eyes Bitter Medicine, who just plows through a wall (good thing they're simulated...) So, he basically is just GAPING at the Alchemical now. Yes, gaping.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles cheerfully at Shirou. "It's good that you're practicing!" She notes Kanshou and Byakuya. "Getting used to some new swords you've projected?" And then startles visibly when Bitter Medicine just walks through the wall. "Eep! Uhh... Hello Bitter Medicine! That's... quite a way to enter a dojo... even if it's a simualted one." Ayako giggles brightly and then smiles brightly at Toph. "Hello Toph! Here for a snack and a spectate?"
Toph Beifong	Good, he remembered her name. Toph nods as she chews on her food, and then speaks with her mouth full. "Just call meh Toph," she manages to say rather clearly. Why, she must have practice. Ayako's question also earns a nod, and she swallows the food in her mouth before she speaks again. "Can't see too much with these, unfortunately," she says and knocks onto the hard wooden floors. "I can navigate okay enough, but don't ask me to be able to fight here." It's okay to let her allies know about her limitations, so why not tell them?
Bitter Medicine	Looking like he does--namely, like he just flew in from the Western Front--what Bitter Medicine says next may surprise everyone. "/This/ is a dojo?" He leans forward, then looks around. "Autochthonian dojos are far sturdier." The Exalt reaches out with a gloved hand and ruffles Comrade Toph. "Good to see you." But the matter at hand is Shirou. "I'm Bitter Medicine, Chosen of the Machine God. We worked together when Comrade Tayuun needed help with those pirates. It's been a while since then, though."
Toph Beifong	Perhaps it's thanks to the hard wooden floors, but the fact that Bitter reaches down and /ruffles/ her hair takes the blind girl by surprise, and she reaches a hand up and slaps aside the hand with a huff and a gruff look on her face. "HEY! Hands off!"
Inga Freyjasdottir	The tapping of a wood staff against the hard wood floors of the ring announces the appearance of Inga. She walks in slowly, leaning on her staff to aid her walking and compensate for an obvious limp. The petite woman peers out from the hood of her blue cloak, eyebrows rising as she looks around the space, taking it all in. The space is interest in itself, but not as much as those who occupy it. Inga moves in further, at least one familiar face--two, if she can count having seen a vidio of Toph. "Hail, Chosen...and Toph, Bender of Earth," she says, smiling softly. "A pleasure to meet you in person," she says, bowing her head lightly in greeting.
Emiya Shirou	Recognition shines in Shirou's eyes after a few moments. "Oh! That's right, you were! ... Sorry, everything's been happening so fast some things are almost a blur." The apology's quite genuine by his tone and the way he relaxes his shoulders a moment later, looking away for a moment. Ayako's given a nod - along with a smile though. And he doesn't comment on Bitter's ruffling incident... "I've been training here for some days now, except the last few. My sparring partner's sick right now so I wanted to be ready even more in case anything happened while they're down...." NOt that anthing happens to Dun Realtai, but... The amber-eyed magus looks over Bitter Medicine and makes a weird face. "Sorry for not making dojos fit for supermen. That's why there's doors. If this wasn't the ring you'd've just made a nasty mess, you know."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga blinks, looks to Shirou and Ayako. "Oh, Shirou, Ayako--it is good to see you both as well! Indeed, Shirou I have the talisman I promised I would make for you, if you would like it?" she asks, pulling back her cloak to reach for one of the pouches attached to her belt.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako walks over to where Bitter Medicine did his Kool-Aid Man impression on the wall and slowly sweeps the remains of the wall off the wooden floor. Her broom's not just for show, after all. It's fancy AND functional. She chooses not to comment on the ruffling Bitter Medicine gave Toph! Perhaps wisely. She smiles cheerfully at Inga. "Ah. Hello Inga!" She waves hello enthusiastically to her with her left hand. "Oh oh, you do? I'd love one of your charms." She then inclines her head to the side gently. "Hmm... sparring huh?" Ayako leans her back onto her vertical broom. "I'm... not much of a sparring partner. I mean..." She nods her head once. "I think I'm pretty good at defending myself, but as for attacking..." Ayako thinks to herself for a moment... and then brightens. She raises her left hand up and into her witch hat and rummages around for a while... and then pulls out a small plastic bag with emtpy water balloons. "I could use these as my 'attack'!"
Bitter Medicine	Bitter Medicine snorts with amusement at Toph's vigorous response. She /is/ spirited, he'll give her that. And people who say what they mean so plainly are clearly a rarity in the Union. "Heard, understood, acknowledged," he says. The Exalt also gives a nod and grunt of acknowledgement to Inga, the other Chosen present. "With a name like mine, making nasty messes is a given. But, you know, I also didn't know where the door was and I didn't feel like finding it. So, there's that. If you'd like to spar with a 'superman' as you say, I'm ready, willing, and able. You could use the experience fighting Exalted--myself included, if I ever catch Gremlin Syndrome." A pause, and then... "Oh, I see. You stretch them over his head and asphyxiate him?" He points to Ayako's water balloons.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako immediately makes a bit of a choking sound. "What? No! I fill them with water and fling them. If they get hit by enough, it'll count as my victory! And they can still pop them too." She pouts visibly. "Stretching them over his head and asphyxiating... that's just horrible."
Emiya Shirou	The exchange between Bitter Medicine and Ayako is bizarre enough that Shirou's starin even MORe at the Alchemical now. Why is he surrounded by such stiff, no jokey people? "Seriously, you don't know what a water balloon is?" He asks of the Exalt, then answers Inga, "Hold off a bit if you can! I think Bitter Medicine and I are about to spar. Wouldn't want to damage something you worked so hard on!" Although damaging things in the Ring should be impossible... Taking chances with it? Why? "Thanks. I'm glad the group has you helping everyone, Inga." This good-natured kid can say such things without any trouble, that's for sure! So he ends up eying Bitter Medicine a tad suspiciously. "You came here for a spar? okay, how do you want to do this?" He's still holding Kanshou and Bakuya...
Toph Beifong	At least Bitter seems to understand that she won't just let anybody ruffle her hair. She might technically be a kid still , but she's hardly THAT little, is she? More familiar voices arrive, and Toph raises her head a bit, though she doesn't 'look' in Inga's direction. "Oh, hi Inga!" she greets, then returns to eating her food. Let the others sort out the sparring stuff.
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga smiles to Ayako warmly. "Mmm, I have been making them lately. You are so proficient with wards yourself though, I did not think you would require one! Still...yes, I think one would not go amiss if you plan to come to Kingsmouth again," she says, pursing her lips thoughtfully. Yes, with the Filth...best to be extremely cautious. Inga can't help but chuckle lightly at Ayako's bit of discomfort at Bitter's statement about...whatever those things were. Ah, the way a warrior thinks. Inga looks to Shirou, nodding. "Very well, I will give it to you afterwards," she replies. She waves off his thanks, smiling. Inga looks back to Toph. She blinks for a moment, looking to Tophs eyes, to the way she doesn't look directly at her. She hadn't noticed before that she was blind. Moment later Inga looks toward the food. Should have brought a snack... "Well I suppose I'd better keep myself out of the way if you two will be sparring--least I'll be here to heal you when you're finished," she says to Bitter and Shirou with a little smirk.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako walks over to Inga and away from Shirou and Bitter Medicine. She doesn't want to get in between the both of them when they spar! She stuffs the water balloon baggie into one of her muffler pockets and glances cheerfully at Inga. "So what kind of charm is it?" She shakes her head quickly. "I'm still working hard on making my barriers better... there's always room for improvement!" Ayako then nods her head once. "And I do think I'll come back to Kingsmouth again, and I do think more protection isn't a bad thing to have. I'm not really familiar with the things there, after all." Ayako then raises her hand cheerfully, "Oh oh, I'll help heal afterwards too, if it's needed!"
Bitter Medicine	"How?" The Alchemical notes the swords, then retrieves his own weapon--the gyroscopic chakram, Voidbane. Up close like this, one can better appreciate its construction. There's of course the blue-black color of its soulsteel contruction, and the bulky middle which seems to house some sort of machinery. He sends a current of Essence through it, and the weapon's buzzsaw-like teeth emerge with an ominous snik-/snikt./ "That's up to you. I'm comfortable with any level of engagement."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga goes to have a seat out of the way, smiling to Ayako as she pulls the charm from out of her belt pouch. It is a small, round pendant that appears to made of bone and carved with a rune, strung with a thick leather cord. She shows it to Ayako, holding it out on the palm of her hand. "I carved the rune into dragon bone, by far the most potent material I have worked with. It will give the wearer more fortitude...more energy and...will. It will fend off outside influeces that would seek to influence--such as the Filth," she says, lowering her voice near the end. She doesn't even like to think about it, nevermind speak of it. "Now that we know how dangerous it is--and how easy it is to spread--I wanted to make these for those who have been helping us in Kingsmouth. The thought that it could spread beyond into the multiverse..." Inga trails off, her eyes going distant for a few moments. She shudders, then shakes her head.
Emiya Shirou	Shirou studies Voidbane rather closely. That weapon is out of his realm - he cannot possibly trace it. But he can grasp some of its construction by looking at it, and what he can understand is frightening. That thing is a terror of engineering! He takes a stance at one side of the dojo, swords up in front of his chest and crossed somewhat. "Alright! Then, fight however you want. The Ring keeps all the injuries from being real!" And just like that, SHirou flings both weapons to either side. They spin like boomerangs, closely approaching the safety zone but not quite breaching it. The fight is on! The weapons close in from Bitter's left and right as though attracted to each other like magnets!
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako gingerly takes the charm from Inga's palm. "Ooohh..." She smiles softly at Inga and nods her head slowly. Her head nods slowly... and then she pauses. When Inga mentions that the charm gives the wearer more will and that it helps to fend off outside entities that would try to influence her, she gives the charm another look. It seems that sort of thing reflects quite strongly to her. Kingsmouth is one thing, but... perhaps something else is bothering her-although she doesn't give any sign of it other than the pause and second look at the charm. She nods her head quickly. "I'll take good care of it, Inga!" Her eyes close and she focuses... and her hands turn from flesh into water which engulf the charm in a blob of water. After a few minutes, Ayako's hands reform from the water and she puts the charm on, putting her head through the thick leather card and letting the charm rest on her chest. "Mmm..." She opens her eyes slowly and then beams at Inga. "Thank you so much, Inga!" And then of course, she turns to watch Shirou and Bitter Medicine spar!
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga looks a bit troubled, but soon enough she finds distraction in watching a bit of hesitation in Ayako, noting it. She smiles though at her thanks, watching the rather amazing way in which her form turns to water...amazing. She turns her eyes to the spar, but she does speak again to Ayako, quietly. "Something is bothering you Ayako. I am here if you wish to talk about it," she offers.
Bitter Medicine	Bitter Medicine watches the blades close in. The time for talk has passed--it's time to once again show the Multiverse the strange martial art known as Thousand-Wounds Gear style. Fear and hesitation vanish as the Exalt assumes the form, a stance communicating cold, industrial menace. His eyes lock onto Shirou's face, despite the blades on either side of him. His own face is a pallid, blank slate. Counterattacking would be inefficient, with two angles of attack to cover. Therefore, a dodge is in order. And what is the most efficient way to dodge the attack without leaving himself open? The way with the best effort-to-safety ratio? With only a few seconds to deliberate, Bitter Medicine acts. The Exalt's Sixth Dexterity Augmentation kicks in. He does a split which... well, would make most men wince at the sight. He holds Voidbane aloft, the weapon moaning as it revs up. With a shriek, it flies towards Shirou!
Toph Beifong	The blind girl closes her eyes where she sits, crossing one leg over the other as she listens to the sparring and eats. Ayako and Inga do have some of her attention though, and she arches an eyebrow. She isn't about to offer to talk, however. That's a bit too touchy feely for her in most cases, and only reserved for a few people. Instead she cheers Bitter and Shirou on. "Come on, guys!" Not that she can see much of what's going on! Well, she can feel any metal in their weapons at least... But she has nothing else to do, so why not spend some time here with her allies?
Emiya Shirou	"What the--" Shirou wasn't expecting his opponent to hurl his weapon too! But Bitter Medicine may remember that Shirou is never quite unarmed, even if he seems so! A flash of prana fills Shirou's hands - and in a quarter the time (under a second, really!) of his usual projections he's now carrying a second set of Kanshou and Bakuya. Sure, the sudden SPLIT has him confounded! Kanshou and Bakuya collide in midair right above Bitter Medicine and shatter, while Shirou brings his own weapons about in a flat-out parry. The revved-weapon dicing into them! Sparks fly as Kanshou and Bakuya are ground into. Kanshou eventually shatters but Shirou repels the Chakram with what's left of Bakuya. The broken weapons are discarded and replaced with a THIRD SET in the next instant. Shirou's already breathing hardand looking a bit uncertain. This lack of taking the initiative might cost him....
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly and shakes her head slowly. She makes a gentle sound of disagreement. "Mmm... It's... not really something that..." Her head shakes slowly and she looks sad for a moment. "I... right now... Umm... it doesn't feel... No... maybe later." She bows her head apologetically towards Inga. "Sorry Inga..." Ayako does keep watching the sparring too! She winces a bit at the splits that Bitter Medicine does. Efficient? Yes. Humanly possible? Sure. Painful looking? Very yes. Here's hoping Bitter Medicine didn't pull anything doing something like that. And then Shirou projects three sets of Kanshou and Byakuya! Ayako's eyes widen and then she nods her head quickly. "These swords really do suit Shirou really well. They're lasting longer and being used better than the other swords I've seen him use." She nods her head once. "Not only that... usually he would be exhausted after making three pairs of swords, but he's still going." She giggles softly. "Although it looks like he still needs to figure out his next attack... Bitter Medicine might not let him."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga is watching the fight, a fond smile returned. She'd always enjoyed watching the warriors spar. It had been a popular passtime whenever many people gathered at Uppsala. She supposes Shirou is the underdog here, and likely needs a little cheering on. Besides, he does seem to be doing better! He handles two weapons easier than one, and he's not quite just throwing a blade around as actually having some form. He /did/ say he'd been training with Bedivere. "Come on Shirou! Be quick!" she cries, then laughs lightly at herself. She hopes Bitter Medicine will not be...well, bitter if she cheers on the underdog. Inga looks to Ayako, giving her a knowing nod. "No, not now. But the offer stands," she says, serious for a moment before a smile returns. "Mmm, I had noticed as much. He's been training I hear. It shows," she adds. Inga looks to Toph now. "Toph, what do you think so far?" she asks. Inga is secretly still trying to figure out if Toph is actually a child or if she is some...different type of human that is older than she looks.
Bitter Medicine	Ayako's statement is very appropos! Attack on two fronts. That's the tactic Bitter decides on. After breaking Kanshou and being repelled by Bakuya, Voidbane flies back to Bitter Medicine, whose outstretched arm catches it without the slightest bit of worry. It's like he doesn't even care that his weapon's essentially a motorized death frisbee. He goes on the offensive again, leaning forward into a handstand only to spring into the air. While airborne, the Exalt puts his new tactic into play, spinning to generate some force and lobbing Voidbane at Shirou. He lands on his palms, legs outstretched in a perfect line. With some truly dextrous and expedient handwork, he begins to spin on his hands. As the chakram attacks from one angle, Bitter Medicine's now-spinning legs attack from a lower angle.
Toph Beifong	It shouldn't be too hard for Inga to figure out, really. The blind girl seems pretty relaxed, she eats a bit messily, and her manner of speaking isn't exactly what most would define as mannered and mature. "Eh, I would be able to tell if I could actually tell exactly what was going on," she offers with a shrug. "So you haven't been in the Union long... what do you think so far?"
Emiya Shirou	Oh god what. Shirou's gotten a heck of a lot better in the last few weeks, thanks to sparring with Sir Bedivere. He's gotten even better in the last few DAYS since seeing Chloe in action. Though she's so much smaller than he is she demonstrated a footwork, combat technique, and interesting way to use these twin swords that burned itself into his very soul with only a few glances. By remembering how she was moving, his own footwork's improved tremendously from the clumsy, utterly styleless shuffling of before, and his defenses and parries are much more calculated and efficient! "Uwoooahh!" Yet that's nto enough. He practically panics with the strange approach Bitter Medicine's putting on. two incoming attacks, and he again has two weapons! Shirou hurls Bakuya - the black sword - for the Chakram. The two collide in a shower of sparks. Kanshou's far lesser mass is unlikely to offset the Chakram too much, but even a slight deflection means it won't be coming in at him... now will it? Kanshou remains in his right hand and he brings it down to parry the low sweep! This goes less than stellarly. "ghhhuuuagh!" The weapon's wrenched from his grasp and he's struck hard, flung off his feet and backwards. he strikes a dojo wall hard enough to force the air from his lungs, but he ignores the pain and immediately flings himself into a roll up to his feet. With another sizzle-clang, yet another set of the Yin-Yang blades are in his grasp. This time, the redhead ducks forward, adjusts his balance... and rushes into the attack! the two weapons are swung with a strange rhythm and almost dance like motions for a series of quick slashes and thrusts!
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako's gaze moves around as she continues to watch. She watches Voidbane fly off and then stares at Bitter Medicine as he does his spinning leg kick. Her eyes blink slowly. And then she looks down at her own legs. She lifts one foot off the ground and gives it a little wiggle... and then shakes her head. "Nope... no way I could do anything like that." She giggles softly. "And I think Shirou's about to get hit hard." And watches Shirou try to deal with the two-pronged attack Bitter Medicine launches at him. Ayako winces when Shirou goes flying into the dojo wall hard. "Yup... oh, but it looks like he's figured something out." She claps her hands together once softly.
Inga Freyjasdottir	Not all adults are tidy and well mannered. Not by a long shot. Inga blinks, glances back to the match...and shakes her head. What in the world is Bitter doing!? "His style is...certainly unique," she comments, looking back to Toph. "So you are blind then," she confirms, rather casual about it. "Do you manage everything by hearing?" she asks. Inga clears her throat. "So far I have been made quite welcome. I am glad to be a part of it. I'm not a warrior, but I have certain skills I hope will be useful," she says, shrugging lightly. Inga looks to Ayako and laughs lightly, smoothing her dress. "I don't think I could do any of those things," she says, shaking her head.
Bitter Medicine	Shirou's improved since last they met--Bitter Medicine can tell that. The boy still has a long way to go, but he's improved dramatically. This information, for the time being, is stored away, to be recalled at a later time. A time, preferably, when the two of them aren't locked in combat. He utters a grunt as his legs and abdomen are beset by a number of rapid attacks. Controlled breathing. "Hoohhhhh." The Exalt's body goes stiff, becoming an 'I' rather than a 'T.' He bends backwards to avoid the last of Shirou's assault, the floor of the dojo wet with a strange luminous substance that clearly isn't blood. He springs off of the ground, initiating a series of backflips to manage his distance. Flecks of that substance are thusly flung across the room. Where's Voidbane? As it turns out, Emiya Shirou's deflection is a success, insofar as it prevents him from getting hit with a weapon which hungers for the Essence of animate prey. Its course altered just a bit, the chakram banks and comes around for another attack in clear defiance of physics--until Bitter Medicine calls it back. The redhead is not a gremlin, nor does he have the ability to regrow limbs, at least to the Exalt's knowledge. There's no need to go for the kill. On the other hand, there's no need to let Shirou know he's getting the kid-gloves treatment. The boy's not afraid to get inside his reach. It's a good tactic to use against stronger opponents, provided they don't use a style which focuses on grappling. Bitter Medicine's mind focuses on one word: reflexes. It's time to see how Shirou's reflexes fare! With another controlled breath and a focused use of Essence, Bitter Medicine strikes several floorboards in quick succession, each with the tip of his finger. Rather than shatter, as they might were he to use his fist or his heel, each one becomes an Exalted seesaw.
Toph Beifong	At first Toph blinks, then chuckles and reaches a hand up to pull down the lower eyelid of her left eye. "Blind as a wolf bat since I was born. But while my hearing /is/ better than most people's, I see with my feet!" she says and lifts one of her dirty feet off of the floor, wriggling her bare toes. "You will be useful no matter what, honey," Toph assures her and reaches down with her left hand to pick at her toes... all while she continues eating her food roll. "So how are they fighting, really?" she inquires of the two other girls.
Emiya Shirou	Indeed, Shirou cannot regrow limbs. He might be able to reattach them, if Avalon cooperates, but regrowing... no. best not to test that! He's just about to rush in when he sees Bitter Medicine striking downwards. That's alarming enough to get his attention! Shirou glances down and-- oh, oh dear. In the interests of protecting a rather vulnerable matter he rams one knee down sideways in a panic! And thus... protects one part of himself. The cost is that another floorboard flies up and clobbers him on the jaw! The force snaps his head back and he rolls lopsidedly backward. The only thing he doesn't do is drop his weapons. "Ghh... clever trick. That one's not in any books." He announces with some praise, wiping away blood from his nose and onto a sleeve. That one jarred him, but he can't afford to get his bearings. "Huap!" Once again he hurls his weapons in a wide arc, so kanshou and bakuya close in from Bitter Medicine's left and right! THIS time however... they're coming in at a lower angle. He will not be able to dodge them by doing the splits again! Another set of the weapons appear in Shirou's hand... he's trying something, that's for sure. The only question is... what?
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly at Inga. "Oh, I've no doubt you will be useful! I mean... I can't make charms like this." She gestures to the charm that's being worn around her neck, "And your type of magic seems way more versatile than my water magic." And then nods her head once. "Also, you have that prophecy seeing stuff thing, right?" She giggles softly. "I mean... I use tarot cards, but... there's no magic behind it." She watches the two spar and then answers Toph, "Shirou is using a pair of swords that he keeps creating with projection while Bitter Medicine is using a boomerang thingie that looks like a hoop. Oh. And he's using his arms and legs in a very martial artist-y style with power behind it." Ayako giggles softly and then resumes watching! It looks like Shirou is going to try something!
Bitter Medicine	The obvious answer to the question of boomerang swords at a low angle is to jump. He could take a pair of swords to the chest, grit his teeth, and charge Shirou, but that's neither practical nor advisable. Thus, the Alchemical jumps. Oh, boy, does he jump. In fact, thanks to his Parabolic Leap Overcharger, his vertical ascent is sufficient enough to clear the average height of the onlookers--Toph's short stature included, obviously. As he rises, the tip of Kanshou nicks his shin. Once more, the Exalt does something that isn't in the books. At the apex of his jump, he inverts his position, his feet facing the ceiling. Just as gravity begins to take its toll, he falls /up/ towards the ceiling, 'landing' on it with a thud and running across it towards the redheaded swordsman. As he approaches, his mind is only on the battle. Adapt, attack. Adapt, attack. There's just one thing--did Shirou knowingly corral him into dodging by way of leaping? If so... perhaps he can unlace the kid gloves. Slightly.
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga blinks, and can't help a little laugh of surprise. "Your feet? Ah, your sense of the earth? The way you control it..." Inga thinks on this for a bit, then makes a small grunt of understanding. "Astounding. Well you certainly seem to do well with it," she comments. Then Toph begins to /pick her feet/. Inga makes a face. Blind as a wolf bat? Maybe she was also raised by wolves...? Warriors. At being called honey, Inga wonders if she has a strong sense of smell as well! Inga /does/ smell like honey. Back to the spar, Inga watches more, shaking her head. "Shirou is fighting better than I have seen him previously. Bitter Medicine's style is...it is something else. Like nothing I have seen--but then I realize more and more that I have seen so little," she sighs. Her attention drawn back to Ayako, Inga looks a bit embarrassed for a moment, but seems to quickl dispell it, sitting a little straighter. "I began training when I was still a child. It is my life, to serve the gods," she replies. She breaths out quickly through her nose, nodding. "Mm, I am a Seer...tarot cards? That is a way of divining? There is certainly magic in that too--I use runes myself, they can sometimes give me answers when a vision isn't forthcoming," she answers. "Though...it grows more difficult not to See..." she adds, quieter. Shaking her head, she looks to Ayako squarely. "You put yourself down quite a bit. You should not. You're lovely and quite talented," she says. Inga looks back to Shirou, hmmm'ing. "Yes, his training is paying off--GO SHIROU!--I'm sure Bedivere will be happy to know his tutelage is being fruit."
Emiya Shirou	Shirou did indeed expect Bitter Medicine to leap this time! Though... the CEILING wasn't where he figured he'd go at all. But it doesn't matter, really. Because he hurls the weapons he's gripping with all his might up at Bitter Medicine the instant he has a pretty good idea of where they're gonna end up! Unlike before, there's no fancy spinning or boomerang-like arcing! The blades are flung more like knives - and, on magical senses, they're utterly PACKED with prana! An appreciable amount indeed for that matter, Ayako will note. Because-- On contact with either Bitter Medicine or the ceiling?! KABOOOOOOOOOOOOM! The weapons simply explode like grenades, all the magical energy making up the Noble Phantasm bursting free at once! The pair that had forced Bitter Medicine to move, well, they follow the route of the first pair. They slam into each other, fall to the ground, and vanish...
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles at Inga. "Well, it shows! You seem to be very good at what you do." She winces slightly when Inga mentions that it's getting more difficult not to See. And then blushes when she's called lovely! She opens her mouth to say something, but slowly closes her mouth. It seems she can't say anything to respond to that. She seems very happy about it, though. "I... umm... thank you, Inga."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako then suddenly looks up, seeming to sense the magical energy. "Ah! Shirou did..." And then quickly pulls the brim of her witch hat down with both hands to shield her face from the sudden kaboom! "Ooo... Shirou... that was pretty good!" She claps her hands together softly. "You've learned a new way of fighting too, it seems!"