Rukia slowly relaxed from where she stood behind Jade. The healing spell that drove away her weariness gave her strength enough to rise to her feet with a grimace. The fury of the assault had vanished so abruptly that she could not feel true relief, although her gaze did linger a little longer than it should have on Jade's back.
It was really no time for admiration, however, that she knew. Something was wrong. All the while Kalki gracefully dodged their attacks, forcing them to strike one another instead, instilled Rukia with a growing sense of dread. They were not prepared to fight her, especially not on the heels of such a brutal confrontation with Garland and Chaos. And it was over so quickly? Much as Rukia would have liked to believe that the woman had simply had a fatal moment of carelessness, it didn't fit the facts. She stepped forward to stand beside Jade, reversing the grip of her sword so that the kanji stamped on its pommel started to glow in anticipation of the konsou -- soul burial ritual.
"We were provoked," she murmured to Jade. Doubtless he'd arrived at a similar conclusion, possibly much sooner than she had. "She goaded us into attacking intentionally, and opened her defenses. Why?" Nearly everyone had reached out to her, and she'd been willing to openly announce her designs upon this world with a nearly lethal demonstration of power.
Nearly.
Glancing at Sheena, Rukia nodded. If Kalki truly was an avatar, then the presence of her soul would be unmistakable were it present. Garland's should have been close by too, shouldn't it?
Her sandaled feet carried her closer to Kalki's still form. None of Rukia's attacks had been made with the intention to kill. It should have worn her down until the battle was concluded, not slayed her on the spot. Her eyes tracked to that black crystal and lingered there. Even with that brief glance, beads of sweat began to line her pale brow. It couldn't possibly be safe to touch. The energy it radiated made it difficult to pinpoint any wayward souls, but she knelt down next to Ranma prepared to plant the konsou's symbol on Kalki's forehead to see her laid to rest.
no subject
It was really no time for admiration, however, that she knew. Something was wrong. All the while Kalki gracefully dodged their attacks, forcing them to strike one another instead, instilled Rukia with a growing sense of dread. They were not prepared to fight her, especially not on the heels of such a brutal confrontation with Garland and Chaos. And it was over so quickly? Much as Rukia would have liked to believe that the woman had simply had a fatal moment of carelessness, it didn't fit the facts. She stepped forward to stand beside Jade, reversing the grip of her sword so that the kanji stamped on its pommel started to glow in anticipation of the konsou -- soul burial ritual.
"We were provoked," she murmured to Jade. Doubtless he'd arrived at a similar conclusion, possibly much sooner than she had. "She goaded us into attacking intentionally, and opened her defenses. Why?" Nearly everyone had reached out to her, and she'd been willing to openly announce her designs upon this world with a nearly lethal demonstration of power.
Nearly.
Glancing at Sheena, Rukia nodded. If Kalki truly was an avatar, then the presence of her soul would be unmistakable were it present. Garland's should have been close by too, shouldn't it?
Her sandaled feet carried her closer to Kalki's still form. None of Rukia's attacks had been made with the intention to kill. It should have worn her down until the battle was concluded, not slayed her on the spot. Her eyes tracked to that black crystal and lingered there. Even with that brief glance, beads of sweat began to line her pale brow. It couldn't possibly be safe to touch. The energy it radiated made it difficult to pinpoint any wayward souls, but she knelt down next to Ranma prepared to plant the konsou's symbol on Kalki's forehead to see her laid to rest.