( »'the- sinister♛ blade!_⊱

     “You better not waste it either.” Leaning back, she moved onto the box beside her, opening it up to show a perfectly baked version of what he had. She didn’t waste time already taking a bite out of her piece, licking at her lips to show that it was indeed delicious. 

“That’s fine.  Sometimes, yer not needin’ words t’ express a thought.  Action tends t’ be a much more louder tune,” and it went without saying that a lot of people had no words for the snake.  If he was to be honest, he almost had no idea what to say about any of this.  He never had prepped for this kind of reunion.  In a way, he had given up on ever seeing Katarina.  He figured he was doomed to see the duplicates that lacked her flair.  A repetitive nightmare that he would continue to cut through even if he was aware that each cut he created was just a loss of his own sanity.  Now?  He had no reason to worry about that.

His kitten was back, after all.

“Heh.  Ain’t gonna stop.  Oughta know better than that,” he spoke before finding himself in a matter that wasn’t involving blades and blood.  She was awfully close with arms and a leg around him.  A rare moment as far as he remembered to not see Katarina being fueled by rage.  Around him, anyway.  Instead, it was something far away from the spectrum of rage.  A bit of a smile cracked as lips were so close, and her words spoke a bit of what she had on her mind.  No happy endings?  He doubted that, highly.  Granted that they could never have a proper happy ending in this city, they could at least live a very peculiar fairy tale.  One that wasn’t meant for kids, surely.

“Let my guard down?” he asked without much of a chance to respond back.  Couldn’t smart off just yet, but maybe it was for the best to be taken like this.  Let her have a victory as a welcome back gift.  He could tease her whenever he wanted later on, so to have this?  … This was something he didn’t deserve but he craved it.  Craving her embrace, her lips.  There was a twisted desire about her.  Someone so violent, so filled with anger that wasn’t all necessarily toward him now in his arms and sharing in this moment.  It was a guilty pleasure he would gladly bathe in as long as he could. 

     —  ★ Seeing as how she was occupied with something else, she’d let that comment slide. Not that she expected him to comply as he had stated. Being called Kitty Kat or Kitten was usually a death sentence for most, fortunately for him she found more use in him being alive. Now, for example, gave an excellent reason why he was better with a heart beat. She wasn’t the type to find pleasure among a lifeless corpse. The heat from his body and the passion from his kiss kindled a burning ache that only a living Gin could cause. Scratch that, he was literally the only person who was capable of raising this desire in her. One that wouldn’t find satisfaction from a kiss alone. Tonight she wanted, needed, more than his lips and he was going to give it all to her. Judging from his response it was obviously a mutual feeling.

     Just barely pulling away, she slide her tongue across his lips, smirking. “So we know that your fangs are in perfect shape.. but hopefully,” lips continued across to his chin then downward it met his neck all the way to the collarbone where she licked before biting down on the skin, “the poisonous tip still has its lethality.” They had descended once together a long time ago, at least in his case where he had spent years without her. She wondered if he had found satisfaction with another, something she’d have to erase from his mind. After all, there was only one Katarina and he’d be fooling himself that anything else could give what she did. Emotions were messy but when it came to the physical, she stood confidently at the top.

     Growing impatient, she finally unwrapped herself from him, sweeping through their surroundings. The area was a mess from his earlier demonstration of power, a crowd beginning to gather to investigate. They wouldn’t have any privacy here. Without so much as glancing at him, she began forward, seeking an abandoned spot. Eventually she lead them to what seemed to be an empty alleyway. It looked sketchy enough that not just anyone would dare to walk to the dead end.

   She looks to the young man unceremoniously thrown onto the pavement; he stares back, eyes wide & terrified, and scrambles to get up and bolt out of the scene, leaving the sarong to float for a half-second just above the ground before it drops. 

   “Haven’t you heard of a washing machine?” The nerve of this woman! For a long moment, Athena almost seems more offended by the notion of her paying than she is by the violent reaction to the teen’s mistake. “I’ll buy you a trip to a launderette. You can probably pick up some manners while you’re there! Such as not attacking people over clothes! ¡Que matona!”

   With a steadying breath, Athena moves a step back & off the woman’s personal circle. Nowhere near far enough to be detaching herself from the conversation, but better. The teenager is long gone and wisely so; she hopes he doesn’t happen upon her again. That woman looks as though she holds grudges to her heart when she wants to. 

   “At least pick on someone your own size!”

     —  ★. In all seriousness she couldn’t care less about the sarong or how it had gotten dirtied. With the boy running off, she had accomplished her original intention. He wouldn’t be caught walking around absentmindedly any time soon. However, someone didn’t appreciate her approach to the matter and she debated on how to handle the situation. She could simply wave it off and walk away as to not waste her time or she could continue ruffling this woman’s feathers. 

      “That would defeat the purpose of teaching him a lesson.” An eyebrow rose at the woman’s last words, curious to what they meant. Judging by their conversation however, she could assume it didn’t mean anything nice. Either way she chuckled before reaching down to one of the daggers at her hips, twirling it between her fingertips. “Attacking? I was merely speaking to him,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes. As an assassin, her definition of attacking was definitely far more sinister. 

“Aaaah.  That night?  That night was quite an experiment t’ say the least.  Either ya would go through with it or not.  I hadn’t really accounted you t’ go half way so that was surprisin’,” a hand subconsciously moved to where a scar was left from that fateful evening.  Quite a fun night to say the very least, and he questioned whether or not he’d make it out of that alive.  He was thankful for that much.  Be quite a blow to his pride– Not that he should talk about pride considering.

“Killin’ ya ain’t my goal.  Never was an’ never will be.  Only one person I really wanna kill, an’ the guy is immortal.  Now don’t get me wrong.  Don’t mean I’m soft.  The moment someone tries t’ mess with one of my favorites?  They’ll be dead in a blink.  Now havin’ someone comin’ after me, lookin’ t’ kill me?  A perfect assassin tryin’ t’ slay a snake?  May as well think of it as good trainin’ for ya.  Good trainin’, and it keeps me amused and rather active.  For a human?  You’re far better than a lotta shinigami I know.  You’d be good for the Onmitsukido back home.  Basically a crew of assassins, by the way,” a long spell of explanations on his half, yet he felt he didn’t answer much of anything there.  It was cruel to ramble on.  Maybe he needed to just shorten the deal.

A hand lifted up to take her hand that rested on his face.  A soft hold for such a cold killer, he wondered if she would even like such a gentle touch.  Who knows? Maybe it was something he needed.  “Yer ‘lack of strength’ as ya put it is not a reason at all.  Nah.  I could never bring myself t’ hurt my precious Kitten.  Despite all I been through and despite how cold it may sound?  Ya became quite a special case for me.  I knew if I left ya be … Ya would become somethin’ terrible.  I’d rather see ya get a happy endin’, after all.”

    —  ★. That night she had almost died to her own dagger, the one that was meant to take his. She remembered now that he had wanted to talk about it them but she had denied him of that. If there was one thing she was absolutely great at, it was making a mess of her emotions. It was horrifying to recall everything she’d experience and done. Perhaps it was time make a change. Just as she had been cast away by her father, she’d done exactly the same. With Gin, she could at least finally have that talk. Whether or not she could do it at this moment would be found out shortly. 

     He was rambling, possibly because he too wasn’t used to these sort of things. In a way it helped her relax. Hearing him praise also patched a bit of her pride. Still it was odd hearing him attempt to cheer her up even if he was expressing the truth. Another truth was with her constantly chasing him down, it had helped build her tracking skills as well as heightened her other senses. Would she thank him for that? No, not when he had to pull stupid pranks to provoke her temper but she’d silently appreciate the attention and outcome. At some point she’d ask him about the Onmitsukido and even more about his world. What she knew about him outside his death and Rangiku was a mystery. 

     Feeling the warmth of his hand upon her own, she almost flinched. The gentle touch wasn’t something she was used to, at least not from him. More than anything, she was surprised by the comfort it gave her. Memories of the times they’ve kissed and held each other close filled her mind, along with the urge to do it again. Sighing lightly, she let all the anger disperse. Deep down everything he told her, she’d already known. She just wanted to hear it, to get a feel of where he still stood despite the years of her absence. Finally she believed him when he said he missed her, that she was special to him. 

     “I.. don’t even know how to respond to any of that,” she admitted, cracking a half smile. “First off though, you really need to stop the kitten thing.” Leaning into him, she wrapped her other arm around his neck, a leg hiking up to press against his thigh. “Secondly, I’m already pretty terrible and happy endings don’t sound nearly as fun.” 

   Amber-hued optics are not remiss in noting the flash of recognition in the red haired woman’s eyes — Noxian by the look of her. Such realization causes hatred and bile to rise. Noxian boots had defiled Ionia’s forests and made them run red with blood til the very soil was rotten. She’d loathed the army then… Ahri loathes them even still, though curiosity is piqued. That gleaming little metallic tag obviously holds some meaning to the Noxian woman. There’s innate desire to know what that is. 

Lithe digits pluck the trinket from its place, the air laced with just enough of Ahri’s signature Charm that any onlookers were unconcerned with her blatant theft.

    ❝Dear, did you need mine help acquiring this little trinket?❞

Words are said with undisguised lilt of curiosity, said object dangled betwixt the Kumiho’s fingers before its supposed rightful owner.

      —  ★. There was something vaguely familiar about that voice and when she turned to meet the owner’s gaze, she recognized her immediately. Despite that it didn’t seem as if the recognition was mutual. This Ahri was different from the one she’d met in the past, at least it appeared so. The nine tailed had always been a rather tricky one to figure out. Regardless, she didn’t try to hide her mild irritation while she held the trinket up. 

     “I think you’re mistaken. I don’t need that.” If she were to take it, she’d only end up tossing it away. She was no longer chained to her father or any of his memories. At least this was what she told herself. Sometimes his stern voice would echo in her mind, pulling her back to the past when she’d been desperate for his approval. No matter the mistakes she had made due to her ignorance, she’d did more than enough to make up for them. 

Of all the things that Six has been and done throughout his career, being a professional model wasn’t one of them. He knew of the profession, of course: he’d seen advertisements and magazines and the rest, both here and back home. But… well, this was the first time someone had considered him of all people fit for anything like that.

It was why he had accepted the lady’s offer (something about street fashion and a gallery, a lot of interesting-sounding stuff) to begin with—it was something to do, a new experience that seemed more than a bit of fun. He’d been waiting for the photographer to come back with instructions, but instead she brought with her a stranger—a rather striking woman who looked a little out of the loop, just like him. 

“Howdy.” He nods towards the stranger as the photographer asked them to remain here before scuttling off to see to some other errand. “I didn’t think she’d manage to get another model so quickly. I suppose she’s more convincing then she looks. Guess we’ll be working together, then. Name’s Six.” She didn’t come off as the handshake type, so he decided to hold off on offering his hand to her.

     —  ★. He seemed like a friendly sort of fella or at least someone accustomed to being social with others. Katarina wasn’t the shy type but getting along with people had always been one of her weaker traits. Taking a good look at him, he looked like he’d seen his fair share of wars. That’ll make it easier to interact. So with a casual smile, she returns the nod back at him. 

     “Well, it’s not every day someone’s brave enough to come up to me, much less ask for something. So you could say that.” An eyebrow rose at the mention of his name but she wouldn’t question or judge it. Most likely a nickname or a preference to go by. “You can call me Katarina,” she responded. Glancing around the area, she noticed two mannequins dressed in similar outfits. Both were had long jackets and boots. The only real difference was the size and one had shorts while the other had pants. She’d guess these were probably the ones that the woman wanted them to model. It was surprisingly more durable looking than she expected. 

She was still looking to bite hard and tear away with her claws of those words.  A small chuckle left him as a hand moved to his head in disbelief.  He should had expected that, but a part of him hoped that he didn’t need to do this.  Not right away, anyway.  How much of this would harm him? or how much of it would hurt her?  These were very dangerous aspects he would need to watch out for.  What could he do?  He held his blade off to the side as he pointed the blade to the ground.  As it comes with the release, the blast of wind would emit from all sides of Gin with the release of the spiritual pressure in preparations for the release.

“If ya wanna show, then I’ll give a show.  Don’t blink.  Ya may miss it…. Bankai…”

“Kamishini no Yari…”

With the blade pointed forward, the entire blade would glow white before extending forward in a simple flash.  Buildings and objects in the blades way would be nothing but collateral at this point.  Of course, the weapon hadn’t pointed to her but he was careful enough to make sure he had it aimed right to graze her cheek.  Enough to show a point with the fastest zanpaktou in Soul Society.  It may also not help the case that the blade looks to extend  farther than the eye can see.  The dangerous bankai that Gin possessed … A bankai that hid much more venom than one may know.

“Be a shame if someone was walkin’, huh?  Guess I shoulda went off t’ a safer spot.  Kamishini no Yari is quite capable of cutting a city ‘n two,” he spoke as he raised the blade up, the weapon had already retracted before anyone could even blink.

“So… what do ya think?  Quite a weapon, hm?”

     —  ★. Every survival instinct went off as he held his blade up, the words spoken slowly like a countdown. Immediately she knew that she needed to move and she did, leaping to the dagger she had previously thrown at him. Despite that, blood slide from her cheek, the liquid indicating that the attack had already gone off even before she reacted. She knew that he was insanely powerful but for her to be completely at his mercy wasn’t something she ever wanted to acknowledge. For her to ever measure up to that, she’d have to sacrifice everything, surrendering to outside power that would not be hers. That made her feel sick to her stomach. 

     Taking in what destruction he induced, she felt her body grow numb. Any other person would have buckled in fear but for Katarina, her pride kept her from falling. For a moment there was only silence as she reached up to wipe the blood from her cheek, gazing emotionlessly at the crimson upon her fingers. Then she started laughing, her fingers curling into her palm, the nails digging into flesh. Emotions of all kinds rose up in her; from disgust to awe, hatred from admiration. He’d done exactly what she had asked him to do but somehow deep down, she knew he was still holding back. She’d only arrived to this city but here she was already dipping into a life threatening game. 

     She turned to finally meet his gaze, a snarl twisting her face. “I hate you so much.” Despite the words, there was a lack of true acid. They both knew her feelings towards him was far more complex than something as simple as hate. Slowly she walked to him, unflinchingly, a fire in her viridescent hues. How much further could she push closer to the edge? With her lips now curling into a bitter smirk, it was obvious she was crazy enough to find out. “That night when you allowed me to shove the blade into your chest, it must have tickled you funny knowing you let it happen but I still failed.” Those memories had been locked away, even before she had returned, but with everything pouring in without mercy, she gave into it once again. 

   She pauses just in time to witness an accident waiting to happen – and happen it does as the boy, paying no attention, crashes into someone with a drink in hand. Athena has already had her share of melon earlier; it’s a relief that it leaves no room to be as careless –

   – What is she doing. 

   More disastrous than melon spilled across a loved outfit is the way the woman chooses her reaction, clasping the perpetrator as though she intends to make him pay for a minor affair–

   “Hey!”

   In her palpable fury she stomps over, crossing into the woman’s personal space; a little too close for comfort. “Do you think you’re being tough or what?! Cut that out and put them down!”

     —  ★. There it was. Someone who stood on the side of ‘justice’, too painstakingly for her tastes. It wasn’t as though she’d hurt the kid. They were already far past the age to be babied. If this boy had been in Noxus, he would have probably paid with his life. When you compared how things were in her country, she was being very generous. 

     A smirk curled across her lips as she glanced towards the young woman barking out an order. “Oh?” It was pointless to argue with these types but she might as well have some fun. Staring down at the woman, she tossed the boy to the side, letting him fall right onto his bottom. Placing hands upon her hips, she cackled, finding more amusement in the situation than annoyance. She’d admit the woman was brave, which was one plus for her. 

     “How cute. Something like this is hardly a case to get fussy over.” As far as she was concerned, she’d done nothing wrong. “Are you his babysitter or something?” Untying the sarong, she lifted it up before tossing it onto the frightened teenager. 

     So far there seemed to be an event going on specifically for creation. She was never one interested in technology, at least nothing outside of what was introduced to Noxus. There was especially no interest in how it was created, finding the details boring. It made sense at least, as she was an assassin that mainly used steel and a bit of magic. There was no time to become acquainted with knowledge that wasn’t needed for her goals. 

     Now none of it mattered, the memory nothing more than a reminder that his rules were for the weak. While she survived and grown, he fell to his own grave. 

The dagger coming for him would be smacked away with his bare heads as he knew such a weapon wouldn’t pierce his flesh so easily due to his durability, alone.  She should know that all too well, but she looked to do whatever she could.  Ah how he remembered some tricks back in the day.  A day that she could had gotten away with killing him, yet she couldn’t go through with it.  It really made him wonder how much she really believed she could actually kill him.

Removing the remains of his top, Gin would keep a hold of his weapon as he faced the woman with a smile that may as well haunt her dreams and nightmares.  She had to question him, but he couldn’t help but chuckle at those questions.  Calling him desperate?  If she only knew the torment he felt over the years.  Something she should understand considering her first objective was to get his attention.

“I’d like t’ say the memories we share together are rather special… so when I hear yer name bein’ mentioned, I have t’ make sure it ain’t gonna be an insult t’ those memories.  Those bad fakes … They were a complete insult t’ yer memory, so I had t’ kill ‘em non-stop.  So bein’ told yer lookin’ for me? I had t’ make sure ya were the real deal.  If not?  Well, I’d have t’ remove the fake.  I’ve been gettin’ awfully testy when this place tries t’ tease me wit’ what I want.  Like danglin’ a pinata fer a kid an’ never lettin’ it in his reach… Only difference is, my reach…” he paused with that thought coming into mind.  A way to get back at her teasing.  Maybe it was time for her to learn the truth.

“Thinkin’ about it … ya never once seen me at full strength, have ya?  Dear me.  It’s a wonder why ya may think goin’ fer my life is actually possible.  So tell me … For a welcome back gift … Would my dearest Kitten want to meet Shinsou’s sister?  I mean … If you truly want a challenge an’ all.” he commented as a jab to her.  Curious to see where this led, the captain held his blade, ready … but wondered if she was.

     —  ★. As expected, the dagger didn’t phase him. Not that she expected it to. His body wasn’t made like hers. She was human, him a spiritual being. To think she’d somehow gotten involved with someone so dangerous. One would believe it would be foolish to chase after a man not of the mortal realm but to her, there was no resisting. Besides by the time she knew about his origins, she’d already been ensnared by him. Truly was a frustrating circumstance. All she could continue to do was be herself, a woman who did what she wanted, how she wanted. 

     Making note of where the dagger had fallen, she returned her full attention to Gin. Her lips twitched, a smirk trying to form as he spoke. He was more honest with his thoughts than she was, that much was for certain. Perhaps it was because the memories had only just returned full force that she had to readjust to them. While he spent years with her existing only in his mind, she’d spent hers differently, no real name to what she felt back at her world. 

     “Well, well.. I guess I should say I’m honored you see things like that.” She hesitated to say more, choosing to once more play it cool. 

     Yet somehow, the young woman who had taken a picture of her came forward, a look of pleading on her gaze. ‘I need a female model to go with my male model.’ Whom she apparently also gathered off the street. It had something to do with a military type of line. She’d have rejected such a request but she was somewhat curious of what kind of reward the woman was willing to put out in return. 

     Unfortunately relaxation was rudely interrupted at the sound of toned deaf singing nearby. 

In a blink of a moment, she was gone and right behind him.  A familiar feel of cold steel against his flesh with the warmth of a dearly missed assassin standing beside him.  This feeling he had building … It was the craving he has had for so long coming to fruition.  How he had missed this feeling for so long.  Being hunted, being targeted, and begin threatened by the woman that should know better.  A woman that was so far deep into his poison that there was zero chance of escape, zero cure to save her.  She was so far deep into it, and she didn’t care. 

“Defanged me?  Ya would think fer so long I’ve played along tha’ I would lose any sort o’ hope.  Ya would think that, huh? No tellin’ how much time has passed since ya saw me, an’ ya can’t guess how much I’ve been through since those days.  Apocalypses, illusions, hell, an’ the likes …” he spoke before his head lowered and his smile showing rather brightly.  “Even a change o’ scenery as this? … Ain’t a soul tha’ exists tha’ can steal away these fangs,” he spoke what may as well be a threat.  All the while he spoke, his arms had shifted a bit with intent on finding his opening.

No matter what, this woman came at him with pure intent even if she truly had no chance against the snake at his full strength.  He always held back despite the insult it would have on her if she was aware. If he didn’t hold back?  It just wouldn’t be as fun with her.  Granted he was curious to her reaction to his truths.  How she would react?  Would she break?  Would it only create a wild fire uncontrollable? She’s tasted his blood once, after all.  She may crave that blood again.

“By the way.  Awfully rude t’ say hi t’ me.  I ain’t the only one tha’ missed ya.  Ain’t tha’ right? … Shinsou,” speaking his sword’s name, the blade would suddenly erupt from the kosode he wore, tearing off that half of his shinigami’s garb to aim this cheap shot at her.  Sure, it was a way to get some distance from her… and she should expect such tactics as his blade was very unforgettable.  He thought so, anyway.  She did ask for it, though.  Questioning his fangs like that.

“So tell me.  Did ya really miss me tha’ much?  T’ the point of wantin’ ta get her claws at my throat as soon as possible?  Maybe ya sat at home preppin’ fer yer noxus mission with that inklin’ in the back o’ yer mind? A dull pain in yer chest that felt like somethin’ was missin in yer life.  Did my poison reach tha’ deep?” he would ask as his blade retracted back after the attempt.

      —  ★. Sounded like he went through quite a bit. A better woman would have felt sympathy for him but she was not that woman, nor would he want her to be. Someone like him didn’t need pity, not when he knew sinners didn’t belong in paradise. Besides she doubted his sanity would last long in a world of peace. If he truly wanted something like that, he wouldn’t have sought her out when he heard of her arrival. There was a thrill in knowing he was the one who found her. The man that loved to disappearance without a trace came to her instead of the opposite. Honestly it was about damn time. 

     “Are you sure about that? Here I thought you’d go soft by now at the hands of a gentler heart,” a teasing towards his other toys. Given she had no idea if they were also tossed back into chaos but memories of a kind virtuoso reminded her that those people always found ways to disrupt the predators. Of course they could never fully tame the feral. Her disappointment would be immense if that had been his case. 

     Even with the slightest of movement, she sensed it. Perhaps if she hadn’t expected him to do something she might have missed shift. At this point, no matter the years apart, she knew his routines. This also included the fact he was holding back on her. She’d seen the raw power of the people of his world, knowing that they stood at his level effortlessly. Unfortunately there were no hints given to what exactly was hidden from her. This drove her to challenge him time and time again, all in hopes of getting a peek. Regardless of being denied that, she still gained something from their clashes. When she thought about the targets back home, it was all a waste in comparison to what he offered. 

     His pause right before the name already had her moving. The blade being only one of the things she expected him to pull. She had leapt backwards, dodging the blade from piercing into her flesh. A dagger had been thrown at him in the process, though whether it was meant to hit him or not would be found out later. For now, with the distance between them, her lips twisted into a sneer, as she huffed away pieces of hair that’d fallen over her eye. “Don’t flatter yourself. The only thing that felt lacking was the empty space on my wall where your head should have been.” Her answer came out naturally, without a pause. Had she indirectly just admitted what he said had been true? Quickly she shoved the thoughts out, it was impossible after all.