In the dead of night [video]

[hot_mes]

[it is pretty much the dead of night, since Law is doing his best not to sleep if he doesn't have to. It'll catch up to him eventually, but he's fighting it as best he can. Wearing this shirt no less, but it's less for irony and more for a need to do laundry. He's not here to talk about weird dreams, though, since without outside input he hasn't yet figured out that it's more than just...nightmares. Plain old nightmares that now feature people in Hadriel since he's been here long enough for them to enter his subconscious.

No, not dreams, although his query is related.]

Has anyone ever proposed an idea to find our benefactors an alternate food source?

It wouldn't help them with their Null problem but I have to wonder if it's even possible, and if so, how one would go about experimenting with the possibilities.

[this is where his mind goes on four hours of sleep]

Comments

[fracturedbeauty]

[Yukari gasps and has to abruptly change his plan of action to avoid getting sliced open, though the blade leaves a wide gap in the side of his jacket.

Yukari lands a few metres away and clicks his tongue in playful disapproval. That'll take some stitching later.]

Impressive~ However, if you must rely on your powers to do your very best, then are you truly a fighter at all? Just because you can obliterate someone in a second with your supernatural abilities does not make you talented. And while I'm certainly not above cheating if it should suit the ends, I recommend learning to be beautiful without the use of such abilities.

However, seeing your skills thus far, I must say, I truly believe you have so much more to give. And while your performance has been admirable, it still lacks beauty. So, will you give it to me, or do you forfeit?

[Without waiting for an answer, Yukari charges back into the battle, upping his skill level further. It's time to stop underestimating Law.

With more furious slices, inhuman speed, and a stronger set of determination, he's attacking from as many angles as he can, constantly trying to sweep around to Law's blindspots.]

[hot_mes]

You don't have to tell me that.

[he's Mr. You're Using Too Much of Your Power, but doesn't get into that, taking up the two-handed grip again and concentrating on blocking the fresh onslaught. It's actually quite refreshing, facing someone his level, and even if he's a little weary on account of the late night and lack of sleep, it isn't affecting his skill. Hell, he can keep up the conversation while he blocks.]

If you're so worried about beauty, you're going to miss an opening. All it takes is one slip and you'll make a pretty corpse.

[the one thing he can't turn off is his haki, so he can't stop himself from instinctively shifting to meet every swing, though some of those twists and turns are awkward and his blocks give here and there, forcing him back and risking his balance. He also can't find a chance to counter, now.]

I yield nothing. You're good, but you can't beat me with words.

[fracturedbeauty]

Oh? Do you intend to make a corpse of me? Don't go getting any unsavoury ideas of what you might do to such a beautiful corpse. I can't say necrophilia is all that flattering.

[Now, if Law were actually flirting, Yukari would be alot more uncomfortable. But Yukari takes the pretty comment in stride. It's certainly not meant to be an actual compliment.

And, with any luck, the playful words will cause Law to subtly drop his defences and cause an opening in which Yukari can get in a piercing strike.

And either way, Yukari will not let up on his relentless striking.]

Besides, without beauty, you cannot win. If you lack beauty where another wields it fully, you will certainly lose.

This will never do, you're still holding back. How disappointing. At this rate, you'll never impress me enough to get the information you want.

Show me what motivates you, Hat-chan. I will accept nothing less.

[hot_mes]

[his lips twist in a scowl, definitely offended that he should even think of such an idea, but Law holds firm, one foot sliding back to put more power behind his defense. It takes a lot more than that to taunt him to the point of losing his cool.]

Maybe if you stop blathering about some stupid ideal like that, I will.

[beauty, hah. Even petty vengeance isn't good enough. But this is supposed to be a spar, not a real fight, his life isn't on the line. Law is aware that he's just sort of taking everything without dishing it back, so if he wants to claim anything resembling a win, he'll have to take it up a notch as well.

The next strike against Kikoku's blade, he doesn't just block but counter-swings, hitting it hard to clear himself a path to attack. Rather than a wide cut, he lunges in a piercing move - Injection Shot, but without the actual injection shot behind it - and regardless of whether it's blocked or not, follows it up with short slices at close range]

[fracturedbeauty]

[The counter-swing knocks Yukari back and he actually stumbles, but he's quick enough to retract from the piercing move in time. And Yukari smiles. That was a little close for comfort.]

Better~ Strike me if you can.

[Better, but not great. The truth is, if Law can succeed in what Yukari asks, then he should have no problem landing a blow. Yukari has a high pain tolerance, so he's not afraid of getting struck. Besides, if Law holds anything back, it wouldn't be very interesting, would it?

Following this, though, Yukari becomes vividly more intense. If Law thinks for a second that this is just sparring, he's terribly wrong. His life could very well be in danger. In his homeworld, Yukari is infamous for desiring to let blood flow, and is second in skill only to the Kings. So, he should prove to be a valuable opponent indeed, when he's not toying with his prey. And, well, Law should consider himself in high esteem that Yukari has decided to hold absolutely nothing back at this point.

Every strike should match blow for blow with Law's, if the previous pacing means anything, and Yukari will prove to be much harder to knock back.]

[hot_mes]

[fortunately, Law is no dummy - he can read body language even without haki, and can tell when the mood changes and his opponent is no longer out for some casual fun fight-times. It's subtle, but he knows the difference. His energy changes to match, his eyes growing cold and his movements becoming more efficient. He charges slightly with each swing, pushing forward with small stutters of steps so that if his strength isn't enough to overcome, his momentum might be. Of course, circling doesn't help his cause, but he always repositions and presses in again. The faster Yukari moves, the more power he puts behind his swings, trying to wrestle momentum to his benefit and give him a real taste of his strength and speed.

Even Smoker had called him an excellent swordsman, once, in warning off his men from trying to attack. Law is more than a match for admirals, but that usually accounts for his ability as well. He's not using it now, simply his swordsmanship.]

[fracturedbeauty]

[Yukari is, unfortunately, thin and light. So while he is proving to be a challenge to push back, it still does not go unnoticed. He does get swung back more than a few times. And with the increased intensity, Yukari does appear to be remarkably enjoying himself with each strike.

In fact, he's also finding it remarkably difficult to restrain himself. He has the urge to use his own abilities and see how much Law can take. But there will be no rule-breaking here today. Going back on the rules you set yourself does not align with beauty.

So, instead, he feints his next move. Initially, he makes it appear as if he's going to switch to an overhead strike at a rapid speed, but in less than a blink, it switches to an underside strike, sweeping the ground with a large gash before angling it up to strike along Law's middle.]

[hot_mes]

[This time isn't skill that saves him, but haki, that instinctive flash that if he doesn't move in the right direction he's going to be slashed wide open. Law sucks in a quick breath as his shoulders move to counter, the length of his nodachi proving all the difference between success and death as he angles it to catch the strike and let it screech all the way up the blade. He disengages with a quick stutter-step back and goes into a defensive stance for a second or two, eyes scanning his opponent for hints before choosing his offense.

Law comes in for another sequence as fast as he can move that long blade, reversing his grip for the very last swing and cutting outward before jabbing it straight back in. It's almost a blind hit, half behind him, but he's already moving to get himself out of the range of any follow-up from Yukari. This fight definitely has him breathing hard, now, pushed far more than he would be against monsters.]

[fracturedbeauty]

[Truly impressive. Yukari's eyes widen a bit as the blades screech. But it's followed by a dark smirk.

And it's instantaneous that he has to dodge back from Law, unable to get in a proper angle edgewise. Admittedly, he wasn't expecting Law to be this much of a challenge, but it has been thoroughly exciting thus far.

But that wonderful block along Yukari's blade, that gave him the glimpse he was seeking. So, once Law's fury of blows are over, he resumes a defensive stance set in a fencer's pose. His smirk never fades.]

I'll call that enough for now. I've seen what I desired. You win your information.

[And he'll wait for Law to lower his blade before putting his away. Just in case Law has the urge to continue regardless of the prize being won.]

[hot_mes]

[Oh, well then. That seems easy enough. Law's whole body is committed to another charge but he breaks off with a quick jog to the side, lowering his sword.]

If you say so. What is it, then? What should I know?

[fracturedbeauty]

[Yukari sheathes Ayamachi onto his back, then sets a hand on his hip as he leans to one side.]

The one who keeps records of information regarding the city is one by the name of Mello-chan. Some sources feed into it, but overall, if a normal person were to know all that had been attempted, he would be the one to ask. He could at least guide you where to look, if it's kept.

[hot_mes]

[Law frowns deeply at the answer and then turns to go and find where he threw Kikoku's saya. He could have probably figured that out for himself, if he bothered to investigate - Mello's name is on the newbie guide, after all. Was this any faster than just looking around for himself?]

Yeah. [flatly] Thanks.

[fracturedbeauty]

[Not even a little faster. But Yukari got a good run out of you, anyway. It's not his fault you were so easily baited.

And, of course, Yukari's response is an airy chuckle.]

Of course. Fair trade, after all.

You are an interesting warrior. Maybe would should go all out next time. I'm curious as to what you held back, now.

[hot_mes]

[he'll blame it on the sleep deprivation - it's a handy excuse]

Probably something similar to what you held back. It's good to know how to fight without abilities, but using one takes things up a notch.

[aha, there you are, saya. He slides the blade home with a click and shoulders the nodachi as usual]

I suppose that was enough exercise that maybe I can sleep, now.

[fracturedbeauty]

So you could tell. I'm impressed. Very well, then. I look forward to our next little competition.

Call me if you have anymore insomnia bouts, hmm?