Struggle for Existence

[Knell]

The Hakurei shrine located in you should all know where by now.


This shall serve as our first RP thread, do stuff! It's fine to RP in a script format, but paragraph/prose just flows better.


Like -


Saiyuki: All right, let's go!

--

Saiyuki gritted his teeth as his right fist trembled with excitement, he brought it up so that it was level with his face. He swallowed down his growing anticipation before shouting in a tone that would shatter the heavens. "ALL RIGHT! LET'S GO!"


^ See what I mean? Well, enjoy!

[Metroid Life]

I prefer not to start things, just to follow, but oh well...

---

The youkai Hakkyou stared down on the humans longingly from the treetop, wishing she could just eat them now. But no, I must be patient, she reminded herself. Wait till night, when they can't see and they won't have the advantage. She had already picked out her target, a woman in a blue kimono. She had been coughing all day, a clear sign that she was sick and wouldn't put up much of a fight. 

Hakkyou hated just picking off stragglers like this, it made her look like that was all she could do. Sadly, for the time being that was true. She wasn't the strongest of youkai, and if the human was strong enough there was a very real chance they could escape and sound the alarm. It sickened her that she had to worry about such inferior creatures, but there it was. At least, for now. She chuckled to herself. If things went her way, that would soon change... 

[Knell]

Suddenly a large magical energy engulfed the entire area, causing the ground to shake as the youkai known as Ling Shao-Li meandered through the vicinity, not even attempting to hold back his power. A naginata strapped to his back and his pink hair waving in the soft warm breeze that blew through the evening sky. The humans that were in the area scattered instantly, leaving the path before him deserted. He was known as the strongest youkai in Gensokyo for a reason, just his mere presence struck fear into all. Little did he know, that his influence would save a humans life this night, and perhaps he saved many other humans as well. His power often discouraged other Youkai from attacking, in fear of his wrath. He wasn't one to protect humans, so this was often done unintentionally, even so, he was like a guardian angel to all.

[Metroid Life]

Hakkyou growled in annoyance, knowing her plan was foiled. "That damn youkai, why did he have to show up, of all people? Now I'll never get to eat..." Her stomach growled, and she tensed, worried he'd hear it, but he didn't seem to notice. "Still, with the humans in a panic, I might be able to grab a bite when he leaves... and there's no harm in finding out why he's here, right? I just have to stay out of his way..." She jumped down from the tree, leaping from shadow to shadow, until she stood out of sight on a building over Ling Shao-Li, eager to satisfy her curiosity. 

[Knell]

The reason Ling was here was a simple one, he had been called here by someone. By who, he had no idea. Although the answer to that would come with a sudden cold wind that came with the changing of evening to night.

As if he had arrived with the wind, a man now stood on top of a nearby tree, his white cloak billowing in the breeze. He wore a white hood that was attached to his cloak over his facial features so that they concealed his identity from all. "Time begins to turn again..." He said in a quiet, but eerily powerful tone. "Will you be condemned to follow your fate? Or will you fight against it?" The mysterious being spoke, red eyes could be seen glistening in the shadows that covered his face. "The winds of destiny are blowing, I look forward to your actions." With those words, a magic circle appeared above his head, before opening into a dimensional gate.

"Are you...a gap youkai?" Ling asked before the man vanished.

"No, my dear boy. I am a dimensional wizard. A simple human." He said with what was presumably a smile before the circular gate closed around him, causing him to vanish into parts unknown.

[Metroid Life]

'A human can be that powerful!?' Hakkyou thought to herself. 'If a mere human can be so strong, then why can't I be stronger? I just need... magic. But what did he mean about Ling's fate? I've got to know...' She crept a bit closer, hoping she wouldn't be noticed.

Unbeknownst to her, someone else also heard that speech, a small human girl of 15 by the name of Shoki. While everyone else had run away, she had merely hid nearby, hoping not to draw attention to herself. She had similar thoughts to Hakkyou- if humans can become so powerful, why didn't they? There must be a reason for that, she thought, and she intended to find out what. Unfortunately for her, she had leaned out to watch the white robed man vanish, and Hakkyou spotted her. All thoughts of gaining power left both of them, replaced by their primal instincts- one to run, and the other to feed. Not caring about concealment anymore, Hakkyou leaped over to where Shoki stood, putting a hand over her mouth before she could scream or even move. 

[Knell]

Unfortunately for Hakkyou, having trained many years in dangerous situations, Ling had honed his detection skills to amazing levels and was able to sense the slight movement of the two forms. He appeared in a whirl of speed to where the two were standing, looming over Hakkyou with his right hand on the handle of his naginata. "To pick on the weak, is dishonorable." He didn't bother drawing his weapon, but the look in his eyes made it clear, if Hakkyou didn't back away now, he'd kill her without hesitation.

[Metroid Life]

Realizing she had no choice, Hakkyou let the girl go. Shoki ran past Ling, knowing Hakkyou wouldn't be able to follow. The youkai backed away slowly, hoping to make a run for it, but decided she shouldn't leave quietly.

"Sadly, the weak are all I can catch. We all have to eat, you know, and it's going to take forever to find another meal. I hope you're happy. Oh, right, you're being toyed with by that white-clothed human, aren't you? It's pitiful really, that you, the strongest youkai, are at a mere human's beck and call. Me, I'd never let myself be controlled like that."

[Knell]

Ling merely shrugged. "Oh him? I wasn't really listening to what he said, I was bored so I decided to heed his summons is all. You can eat humans all you want, I don't really care. But at least go after the ones that can defend themselves." He smirked. "It ain't no fun going after the ones that don't fight back, after all, isn't it more filling to defeat and eat something that posed a threat you?" He shrugged. "I just have a natural urge to protect the weak is all, so I apologize if I got in your way."

[Metroid Life]

Hakkyou, relieved she wasn't going to die, bowed respectfully. "Apology accepted, Ling. I'll be on my way."

With that said, she jumped back onto the roof, and quickly found a man huddling alone in his room, holding a sword nervously. He was clearly terrified of a impeding youkai attack, so Hakkyou manipulated and enhanced that fear, making him so fearful that he couldn't think properly. He could still defend himself, of course, but it wouldn't help him. She quickly pierced the roof with a danmaku bullet, then jumped down, knocking his sword away and biting into him. He howled in agony, but it was in vain, or so Hakkyou thought; Shoki wasn't too far away, and she knew plainly that this would happen as soon as Ling let the youkai go. She ran into the village's school, hoping to find Keine.

The Were-hakutaku herself was rushing outside, having heard the scream. She instructed Shoki to stay inside while she took care of this. Keine flew off in search of Hakkyou, but she had already moved on, leaving nothing to show her presence besides the broken roof. With nothing else to go on, she saw Ling nearby. She knew his power, and knew that if he really wanted to stop this, he would have already done so, but she simply had no other choice. 

"Sir, I'm begging you, tell me where that youkai is. I have to stop her."

[Knell]

Ling turned to the woman who asked him about the youkai he had just met. He wasn't the type to care much about humans, but if one came to him for aid, he couldn't just turn them down, it was just who he was. "I'm sure she's not far away." He said, feeling bad that he let her get away now.

"She's the type who likes to feed around humans, she's probably going to be hanging around the village for quite some time." A male voice spoke from a rooftop nearby. "I've been keeping an eye on her, didn't think she actually had the guts to go through with an attack though." He leaped from the roof and landed on the ground. He had unnaturally wild white hair and red eyes that seemed to pierce the darkness. He wore an all black outfit with a black leather longcoat. The top of his head was covered by a black turban. "Name's River D. Scarlett. Nice to make your acquaintance."

"I know you. You're that Fallen Celestial, the one who's a sky pirate. What are you doing around the human village?"

"I'm doing whatever I damn well please, this is why I don't like associating myself with people, they're such a pain. Now if you want to catch her, I suggest you simply wait for her next appearance, she's sure to show up."

"So, why didn't you interfere before?"

"Because the writer didn't think of introducing me yet, that's why."

"I was content simply observing. No need to interfere on something that I wasn't sure would be such a big problem."


"Fair enough."

[Metroid Life]

Keine sighed in relief. This River seemed to be an enemy of the murderous youkai, even if he was a pirate, and right now any ally would be helpful. She didn't like waiting for the youkai to make a move, but there wasn't much choice.

Hakkyou was quite pleased with herself, feeling much stronger than before. Eating even just that one human had restored some of her old strength, so diminished from hunger. "Ling's right, it is more fun when they can defend themselves, tastier too!" This time, feeling a bit braver, she casually walked into another house, and was promptly attacked by a woman with a ax. She caught it easily and shoved the woman into a wall. Her two children nearby started screaming in fear. Finding the noise annoying, Hakkyou instilled a sense of hopelessness in them, that their screams would go unheard, that to do anything would be pointless. Their yelling quickly subsided into terrified sobs, but Keine had already heard it and was flying to them as fast as she could.

[Knell]

Wham! The sound of crumbling debris as River burst through the wall in a calm fashion, his hands in his pockets. "Well now, ain't this a sight for sore eyes? I didn't think youkai still ate people, guess I was wrong. I would suggest." He pointed to the humans inside. "That you get the hell out of here before things get wild."

"Well, how about it? Let's get this party started." He said to Hakkyou.

[Metroid Life]

Hakkyou sneered at the intruder. "Youkai these days are rather pitiful, aren't they? They've lost touch with their roots, their superiority to these pitiful humans. But I have existed long before this world of Gensokyo came into being, and I remember. I will not submit to someone like you, River Scarlett, and this place will be your grave." She was about to attack, but she sensed something nearby and fired at laser at it. Keine barely managed to dodge it, and quickly returned fire. Hakkyou jumped out of the way, landing near the woman she had hurt earlier. She grabbed the lady and held her out in front of her. The threat was obvious: If they attacked her, the woman would die. Hakkyou had no intention of being boxed in, though and pulled out a spell card. "Emotion Sign: Embodiment of Fear!" Her shadow seemed to extend, forming a featureless black replica of herself with glowing red eyes. The replica took aim at River and Keine, ready to attack if either made a move.

[Knell]

"Hakkyou." A deep voice boomed suddenly from the center of the room. Standing there in his trademark outfit was none other than Blade Soulheart. "Risking your life for one pathetic human to eat is about as pointless as protecting them." He looked at her. "You will surely die here, you do not have the strength to fight against both of them." He turned to River and Keine. "Interfering with a Youkai's meal is a foolish thing. Youkai and humans will never be able to live in harmony, as much as I wish for that to be the case." He smirked. "After all, if this had continued." He looked outside the hole in the wall. "Would you have intervened, Ling Shao-Li?"

Ling landed in front of the hole, knowing that he been found out. "I would have killed hakkyou, that is without a doubt. To do something like that in front of children, no matter youkai or human, is unforgivable."

"There you have it, Hakkyou. We will retreat for now, there is no need to throw away your life so carelessly here."