Conflicts of the Heart (Sentenza)

[War]

War floated in the darkness between worlds just mulling it all over in her mind. What did it mean to feel?Was Seraph truly dead, or did she yet live on without a heart. War knew who she was.

The problem was that War wasn't Seraph, or at least that had been what she told herself. War was a monster that used people up and had coated her hands in so much blood they would never come clean. War didn't care about such, but Seraph did.

Now she was going to rely on her certainty of War to push past these problems. She would destroy something, fight some one, maybe even get bloody in the process.

It was funny to her, she had always fought first and then had sex to come down from that. Now she needed a fight to clear her mind after sex.

She stepped out of the Darkness and brought her hand to her eyes to block the sun. She seemed to be on the outskirts of some castle town. She could feel a strong pull of Darkness near this castle, but she knew what she wanted waited away from the Darkness.

She drew her saber and cut a merchants stand to pieces, the strengthened blade slashing through the wood as if it were butter. She then scanned the crowd as she waited for a response. Someone would come, someone always did. Would it be soldier of hero, do-gooder or guard?

She moved into a defensive stance and just challenged everyone with her eyes. There was no need for words, what she asked for would be heard loud and clear.

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

Sentenza happened to be having a fairly normal day, well a normal day for him. He was buying some fairly standard stuff he'd need, food, gummi ship components, tea, other such things. Sentenza had an odd way of both blending into a crowd and sticking out like a sore thumb. The way he handled himself simply made him blend in, but not many people wore light weight armor out in public. A noise reached the dhampyr's ears and he turned his head. There pieces of a stand spread out across the ground, and a woman holding a sword in a rather menacing manner.

Sentenza made his way through the shocked crowd, and stopped several feet away from the women. "There's no need for that." Sentenza said, his voice devoid of emotion as usual, his face just as emotionless. He seemed to be making so move to attack, instead sizing the woman up. She had the air of someone who had been seasoned by countless battles, someone who had seen conflict so much that they thrived in it. For her, war was not hell, quite the opposite. "I suggest you apologize and move on." Sentenza said. "It would be horrid to start a fight her in public, someone could be hurt." Sentenza had utterly passive body language, he was relaxed, his hands were open, he obviously wasn't concealing or brandishing a weapon. Sentenza knew this person was looking for a fight. Everyone else did as well.

[War]

She licked her teeth slightly as she smiled at the man before her. She had picked him out earlier as a potential foe. Was he the first hero on the scene. He sure thought he was high and mighty, ordering her to behave. "Why would I apologize." She asked with a shake of her head. She tilted it slightly. "Of course I want a fight in public." She said focusing in on him. "That's why I cut the stand." She said a smile on her lips.

She was still cautious as she studied the being in front of her. He didn't carry a weapon, but was calm and controlling. She knew someone like that, and that one had always been able to beat her. But this man did not have the same Predator's grace as Chaos, but she could see something in his movements. He was a fighter, or at least had training, despite his apparent pacifist nature.

She liked pacifists. She liked watching the moment when they broke. Those she applauded them for their dedication. They were rare, and she knew this man would break easily, because she doubted he was a real pacifist. A practical pacifist, who accepts there is fighting. An ideal she could respect. This one was special. He was really improving War's day. Maybe she would spare him in the end.

"Only if the fight were good" She mumbled to herself. She looked up. "Let's remove that possibility." She said as she concentrated and called a few soldier type Heartless to her. "Now you don't need to worry about the people getting hurt by the fight. It'll happen anyway."

She smirked again. Now she would finally get to see the Heartless in action. It was her first time doing it for combat. This should push him over the edge. Now would the attack come on her, or the attacking Heartless. She knew he would choose the Heartless, to be the hero. None the less, she kept up her defenses, ready for anything.

Meanwhile the Heartless began to run into the fleeing crowd.

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

Sentenza's eyes hardened at War's words. She simply didn't care if people got hurt, in fact, she seemed to wish harms onto others. "If that's the way you want to play . . ." Sentenza said, he produced a simple black handle and in an instant, darkness formed a massive blade on it, larger the wielder itself. "Then I'll simply have to break your rules." Sentenza's previously blue eyes became a deep crimson red reminiscent of blood. Sentenza lunged into the heartless, and miraculously, with severally wide swings that had the precision to hit their targets and not any bystanders, Sentenza dispatched the heartless.

Sentenza maintained his previous position, but his weapon transformed. The sword became a gun, specifically a black assault rifle. Sentenza took aim at War, and started to shoot. Bullets made of darkness flew at War, but Sentenza was careful to make sure they didn't hit another person. "What is that makes you fight?" Sentenza asked. Everyone had a motivation. Sentenza fought solely to protect. War, he couldn't be certain. For all he could tell, she fought because she had the strength to. It was a noble thing in thought, as it practically shouted that you were alive, but War used that will to fight maliciously and without reverence for the harm she may cause others.

[War]

War smiled as she burst into action. The bullets were easy to dodge, or parry, and what made it through was of little concern n to War. Oh it hurt a little, and that was moderately surprising, but not enough to even concern her.

So he must be one of those strong hearts she had been warned about. War idly wondered why the bullets did not hurt her, was his heart not strong enough, or was the bullet not concentrated enough, or was it any number of other far fetched possibilities. She did not care for the science of Alchemy, why would she care for the science of this magic. She moved quickly faster then any human. She was upon him when she heard him speak.

"I fight for the thrill of combat." She said as she began slashing towards the man, with both elegance and strength. "I fight to remember every moment of battle, I fight to forget anything else. I am War, countless and eternal. I have stood on every battlefield watched the surge and flow. That is why I fight, to remember that feeling."

The collateral damage from her strikes proved her strength and the blades sharpness.

"What do you fight for young one?" War asked. "Are you a hero who seeks to uphold noble truths, knowing the world outside. The cruelty of the world is real, people should not be protected from it. They should learn what it is first hand, and learn to protect themselves or die trying."

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

War dove in, fast and hard, and Sentenza's weapon once again became the massive sword. "For the thrill" was a pointless reason in Sentenza's mind. Violence was ugly, no matter how contained it was, no matter the target, someone came out of it hurt. Sentenza's broad blade easily blocked War's strikes and he countered with a wide diagonal swing, aiming to cut through the right shoulder. "I Don't fight to protect 'noble truths' or 'justice' or 'the harms of a cruel world'." Sentenza responded to War's question. "I Fight because my strength can be a shield and sword for those that can't defend themselves. If I die helping another live, I'm far nobler than someone who fights simply to uphold pomp."

Sentenza's currently crimson eyes filled with a certain coldness as they locked into War. "Someone who simply fights, irreverent of the harm they cause another, without rhyme or reason." Sentenza said. "Someone like that disgusts me." Sentenza planted his sword into the ground as a lever, then swung the hilt down at the wrist War used to wield her sword. Sentenza then threw a kick at the area of War's abdomen. "For the fight is no reason at all. For the thrill is pathetic, if you see so little in existence to see wonder, to take enjoyment in, that you can only stimulate yourself through others pain," Sentenza said. "then I feel truly sorry for you."

[War]

War raised an eyebrow at how pathetic this fight was becoming. So she hadn't injured him yet, that was an inevitability. She could not tire out.It was sad when what could be fun fights drag on to such a tedium. She had no interest in such. Such a fight would rain down attention onto her. This one alone would be bad enough, but she needed to clear her mind.

He was so presumptuous. The world was pain. She had always known that, since she was very young. She was destruction incarnate. War felt the sharp pain in her wrist and followed his movements. Didn't he know that such a flashy move telegraphed his next strike. Maybe he was going to disappoint after all. War deftly caught his foot and held on. She squeezed with all of her strength for a second before trying to toss him off balance. "So your more then human, that explains the predator you hold back. No one's this noble unless they have something to prove, and I can tell you have a lot to prove."

She stepped back and shrugged. "I don't need your pity, nor care what you think. I fight because I am. I fight to remember the feel of being alive. I fight because I must.There are many reasons I wield this blade. Sometimes to hunt, sometimes to kill, and everyone in a while to defend. This time I wield it because I need to clear my mind. I wouldn't expect you to understand. You live in your fairy tale world where you can make a difference. Here in the real world, people die, wars happen, worlds end, and you can't stop it, just like you can't stop me. But don't give up, I like it when they try. Do me a favor, make me sweat, make your death at least worth my time."

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

War, unfortunately, misjudged Sentenza's strength and he wrenched his foot away just as she tried to throw him back. "I'm holding back a predator am I?" Sentenza asked. "What are you holding back? Your own pain? Suffering you don't wish to admit the existence of?" Sentenza ripped his sword upward, intending to tear straight through War. "And don't tell me one person can't make a difference." Sentenza said, wielding the massive blade and surprising deft in a series of cuts. He had been holding out on War. There was a certain extent to which he didn't want to harm an enemy. War was starting to cross the line into territory where Sentenza didn't care.

"To fight is not to be alive." Sentenza said. "To the bare the heavy cross of being one who fights, for whatever reason, means you bring death. You bring ruination, even if you manage to protect, you can't avoid harming another being. Wars, pain, suffering, endless cycles brought about people like you, people who thrive in those things." Sentenza took a step forward, cleaving downward with both hands on his sword. "To protect, to try and break the cycle, even if it means adding more violence, to gaze into the possibility of a better tomorrow, even if it's not perfect . . ." Sentenza said as his sword once again became a rifle, pointed at War's forehead. " . . . that's what it means to be alive." Sentenza pulled the trigger of his gun. "Perfection can never exist." Sentenza said. "As long as opposites exist, there can never be perfect, but there can always be better."

[War]

War was astounded. It was such a surprising speed. She parried, she dodged, but there were so many of them. She felt the first sting of the cut. It had hurt, even more this time. She could still ignore it, but it broke skin. At the end of the speech she stood stunned, blood flowing freely from hundreds of cuts., Her uniform a mess, stained with her own blood. The final punctuation took her square in the eyes, making her step back.

She began to laugh as she regained her balance and brought her free hand to her head. She touched the blood there and brought it to her lips. "First blood, impressive. I had hopped you had been holding back. I so rarely get to go all out." She said as her wounds began to regenerate, as did black clothing covering any exposed flesh.

She closed her eyes and centered her mind. There she found her absolute center, the center where her lust for battle existed. It was like opening a floodgate. She could feel the pour roar into her, filling every ounce of her being, suffusing itself with her. Brilliant ruby light coated War for a second. When it vanished War was standing there, slightly taller with more defined muscles, her eyes glowing with a ruby light. She move with infinitely more grace and her aura was that of a charging army. Any who remained ran terrified of the feeling.

"Now let's see if you can make me sweat." War said with a smile as she pointed her Saber toward the being. "Please don't disappoint."

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

Sentenza at first was shocked, though it barely, if at all, registered on his face. The regeneration was faster than anything he had seen. Sentenza's gun was swiftly once again a sword. The ruby light filled Sentenza's eyes as War transformed herself. War now stood before him, obviously empowered by some source. "What are you?" Is all Sentenza could manage to ask after the rather shocking display. Sentenza held is sword in a defensive stance and waited for War to attack him. Sentenza didn't want to be the aggressor of the fight. "Are you going to take all day?" Sentenza asked. "I thought you wanted to fight."

Sentenza was terrified, though not an ounce of it showed in his face or voice. He'd never encountered anything like War before. The most difficult thing he'd ever had to encounter in a fight were Wyvern heartless, and his sword had a wide enough range that they were easy enough to take out. Sentenza refused to back down though, he had to protect others from this woman. Besides, if it was a fight tooth and nail that War wished to have, Sentenza would give her exactly what she wanted.

[War]

"I told you." War said. I am War itself. I am battles untold, made soaked with blood. I am War." She said as she launched forward. She moved so fast, almost like she was flying. She slashed as she passed Sentenza. Even her lightest hit was stronger then they had been, and right now she was hitting lightly. She didn't want her opponent to dies to quickly. This was supposed to be fun, And she wanted to enjoy her Battle form a while longer.

It was funny that this being would still stand against her. She had fought entire armies in this form. Hundreds of men had fallen before her and driven back.Countries had learned to fear a tall red headed women. Kings were in awe of power. It had been quite an aphrodisiac for quite some time to her.

She moved her thoughts away from that, as she had come her to clear her mind of sex. At this rate she would barely be able to sit through the meeting with the other horsemen before returning back. She brought her self back to the matter at hand and smiled again. "I thought you liked words. So eager to die now?

She laughed as she back flipped and jumped off of the wall behind her..She flew past Sentenza again slashing at his chest ferociously. "Keep up boy."

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

Sentenza managed to deflect the first blow off of his sword, though it sent him staggering back a little. War's strength had increased, that much was certain. "I shouldn't have to speak to someone that will just disregard it anyways." Sentenza said. He obviously realized the futility of trying to get War to back down through words. Sentenza was not a man of action, but he still recognized when it was the better option to act than to speak. Sentenza managed to deflect the second quick strike, though only by a hair's width.

Sentenza made a swipe with his sword as War passed by. The fight had become much more difficult, War was hitting harder and faster. "What about you, I thought you wanted to fight, not flit around like a sparrow." Sentenza said. He was attempting to goad her into a much more straight forward attack. She'd be much easier to strike then. "I thought you were the embodiment of all conflict, a woman who's very arrival foretold an ocean of blood." Sentenza said. "Not a tiny and overly aggressive bird." Sentenza honestly like birds, but that was not going to help him in this fight. Playing off any possible insecurities the woman might have however could be vital.

[War]

War parried the blow and hopped back just watching him. He was cute in a certain way. So he wanted her to strike harder and more direct. He wanted what he thought would be an advantage. She chuckled lightly.

"War comes upon us from all angles with no warning." She said as she ran forward, covering great distance with each stride. She spun around so that she was behind him, slashing during this almost ballet-like dance. "Often striking where it is unexpected.

She hopped back and came to rest upon a crate. "Do not confuse me for a brute. I have been fighting for ages untold, I have learned many tricks and tactics. Goading a foe into striking how you want them to is something I am quite familiar with."

She jumped off, the box collapsing from the force. She landed and rushed forward at the being. At the last minute she threw herself to the ground and rolled under his usual defenses, striking at his legs.

She came to a stop a few feet from him and was quick to her feet. She looked back to see i she had caused harm. She never knew if her blows struck, already moving into the next one before checking to see if she was successful. "Your words aren't wasted on me. I just see the world in a different way. After all we are now closer then anyone else can say to be. We have each seen the color of our blood. You have joined me in the dance of blades." She bowed slightly with a half smile. "May I have the name of my dance partner?"

[Sentenza Hoshizuki]

War saw what he was trying to do. While Sentenza definitely did not like War at this point, he had a measure of respect for her since she had recognized what he was trying to do. Sentenza felt the sting of War's blade against his back and staggered forward. She certainly was handy with that sword of hers. Sentenza blocked the next strike barely, just barely. War still managed to graze him with her blade. Yet War seemed none the worse for wear, still vibrant with energy, and untarnished by a single sword blow. He regeneration certainly had done a nice job.

Sentenza locked eyes with War. "My name is Sentenza Hoshizuki." Sentenza said. "And I suppose I should call you war then." Sentenza took the opportunity to go on the offensive. Sentenza's blade rested on his shoulder, then in a blink, swung the sword down onto War with a single Hand, aiming for her sword, then swinging a foot up to try and trike her in the side. Sentenza definitely had a respect for War's fighting skill even though he deplored fighting. War had a skill with fighting that could easily be described as admirable skills in any situation, grace, dignity, and being one step ahead of those against you.

[War]

War had learned a lesson when she was younger. The easiest way to not be hit with a sword was to not be there when it struck. Had she feared this foe she would have jumped back. Instead she meant to parry it. She raised her blade to meet his, then he changed direction. It had almost been flawless in it's execution and had fooled her. Maybe she had underestimated him? Or was she just being to cocky again?

Sentenza's blade bit into War's side. It surprised her at how much it actually hurt. She had been hit by a cannon once, and it hadn't hurt as much as this. It was like alchemy, when weaponized alchemy had been used against her it had hurt. She struck out with her free hand, at the blade, to dislodge it. She was rewarded by more pain as she split open her palm, but did push back the blade.

She jumped back and let her regeneration go to work. It wasn't as complete this time as it was the last, but the black cloth covering the wound did not let Sentenza know the wound was still present. It was a weird sensation this pain, it was something she could utterly ignore, yet it was still present in the back of her mind. It would not hinder her, but it would annoy her.

"Of course I am War, have I not been saying this the whole time." She said as she threw herself to the side. She brought her saber to bear and smiled lightly. "That was unexpected. Maybe it will prove a challenge. Who knows if you believe in yourself you just might beat me." She said as she rushed forward executing a furious three hit chain. "Of course, I doubt you can do what entire armies have failed to do." She said huskily as she swung at the being.