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Reiji Arisu Tokyo-52605. It's a Tokyo like any other, there are many out there like it. The difference is, of course, that most Tokyos aren't headquarters to multidimensional supernatural special operations forces. But all of that- the phantoms, the spirits, everything is hidden away beneath the surface... Quite literally, in at least one case. Shinra's secretive base is deep beneath one of Roppongi hills' many office buildings.

Nobody outside of the know realize where it is.

And, it seems, the higher ups intend to keep it that way.

    That's why Reiji Arisu is standing in the courtyard of one of Tokyo's more famous temples. Zojo-ji stands within spitting distance of Tokyo Tower, and has been home to the Jodo school of Shingon Buddhism for centuries. Littered with gardens and lush with well-trimmed trees juxtaposed with the roaring noises of the city that sprawls around it, the temple is less a scenic retreat and more an integrated component of the vast concrete-and-steel organism that is Tokyo.

It also happened to be the family shrine to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Six of the shoguns were buried here, in fact.

Maybe it was less for secrecy and more for the raw spiritual power of the place that Shinra has chosen it for their staging area.

    There are no sounds within the temple but those of the monks going about their business, and the shuffling of various Shinra and Union personnel preparing for the destruction of a most evil blade. The public have been shooed out, ostensibly to allow for rededication of some of the more sacred mausoleums maintained by the temple.

That's a lie, of course. But all for security.

    Reiji lights up a cigarette, taking a long draw of the grey-blue smoke as things go into motion. He eyes one of Shinra's agents- a member of their standard workforce- as he hauls a box of sacred salt into the temple's central building. The exorcist checks his watch.

It's about time for things to start.
Setsuko Kaminagi     The blade known as 'Shouri no Ken' has been under heavy guard by the Cyberia Police Corporation, and Setsuko has checked in with them regularly. The paperwork for the transfer has only just gone through the evening before, and there's only so long Setsuko is willing to delay. She's collected a specially-made artifact weapon container from the Union's R&D division, and with that to contain the sword's influence she's off into the sky, to personally deliver the blade in a relatively small, inoffensive package. A separate small convoy has headed out on a different heading as a decoy from CPC HQ. They almost certainly have wacky adventures.

    Setsuko, meanwhile, comes in over Tokyo-52605 on a hoverbike, keeping out of sight where she won't cause a fuss for the citizens. On her way in, she's already putting out a couple of different radio calls to parties of interest; both of them smiths, after a fashion. A magical eye for discerning a sword's nature, and a magical smith's experience and knowledge for insight. Both of them will get coordinates for the site Reiji has selected, and Setsuko herself is headed there as fast as she can. It won't be hard to feel her coming, long before she actually comes into view.

    But even with her presence easily felt, she parks some distance away and arrives via the rooftops, such that she can stay out of the sight of those with no supernatural senses, until such time as she can step into the temple proper. Perhaps surprisingly, perhaps not, she stops at the entrance to the shrine to properly cleanse herself before proceeding further with the package.
Xiaomu While Reiji is keeping watch outside, Xiaomu is within the temple itself - praying, assisting in preparatory rituals, helping get everything arranged properly. It helps that she's a Buddhist nun.

.... Officially, anyway.

Okay, so in reality, she flunks EVERY single one of the novitiate vows on a regular basis. She still has the training, and her raw spiritual power is up there even if she fails at the basic tenets which are expected of mortal human monks and nuns. It's not like being a vegan and getting superpowers, only to lose them because you drank half-and-half; she may fail at the vows, but she still knows how to recite a sutra and make it count.

And she's making it count now. She finishes reciting another incantation with the monks who are helping to prepare the 'ground' for the sword's destruction, then ducks out to the temple's door, glancing out to see how things currently sit as far as the 'honored guests'.
Emiya Shirou     Emiya Shirou's never received a request like this. Analyze a cursed sword and see what can be learned from it? He's never put that much thought into other ways to use his ability before. But if he can help... then help he will!

    His arrival is via a fairly quiet and unassuming motorcycle that he parks a few ways away similar to Setsuko, approaching the temple on foot.

    And although he almost strolls through the torii without thinking, he stops at the last moment and bows, then skirts around the side, making his way towarsd Reiji and the others as inconspicuously as possible.
Yukihana Masamune     "That is... That is the grave of the Shogun."

    It's a simple, and quiet murmur of wonder from a new figure arriving at the shrine. A young fox-girl, silver hair bound back and decorated in red ribbons and bells, Yukihana Masamune edges slowly along the path, scarlet eyes taking in the sight of the shrine and it's grounds. She is dressed in an elegant pink kimono, decorated in white snowflake patters, her katana worn with its red saya tucked into the obi. The ornate blade is perhap contrasted by the, dull, heavy blacksmith hammer also tucked at its side. She had come tonight at the request of Setsuko Kaminagi. Though the offer of being paid for her time was given, she would have probably come to sate her wild inquisitive curiosity regardless.

    It is with a low and formal bow and a quiet, "I am here now." That she announces her presence to Reiji and Setsuko.
Reiji Arisu     The arrival of the Union's myriad experts sees Reiji push off his position under the awnings of the shrine's main gate. He expected Setsuko- nothing today will actually get done without the package she's carrying, after all. Showing more than the usual amount of decorum, Reiji does NOT spit his cigarette onto the ground, nor does he stomp it into dust. He just extinguishes the thing against a small, brass container before sliding the thing inside for later.

It's not a good idea to show disrespect before the tombs of so many sovereigns, after all.

    "Kaminagi. I see you've brought the sword," Reiji observes as the War Goddess performs the ABSOLUTELY REQUISITE ritual cleansing. "Good, everything's just about ready."

He nods to Shirou as the young man arrives. His arrival was an expected one, too. That ability of his should be useful.

And the third...

Reiji does not recognize.

    "Several shoguns, actually," Reiji calls over to the distinctly vulpine girl as she approaches. "The Tokugawa family were regular patrons of Zojo-ji, and the priests have been sure to maintain it ever since." The exorcist reciprocates the bow-- this one is... clearly a bit old-fashioned, isn't she? UNLIKE CERTAIN OTHER FOXES HE KNOWS. "I am Reiji Arisu. I'm not sure we've met, miss?"

Something seems to get his attention. He glances over his shoulder and then nods, "Looks like we're almost set. We should probably head in."
Xiaomu "Hey, Yuki!" Xiaomu calls out, emerging briefly from the temple and trotting over to join the others. "Everything's ready inside, I think." She offers some fried tofu to Yukihana. This package actually hasn't been opened yet ... either Xiaomu's being a good girl for a change, or she's just been too busy to snack.

(Mostly the latter, truth be told.)

She *would* make introductions, but it's more polite to let Yukihana introduce herself, probably. Xiaomu also takes a moment to bow/nod to Setsuko and Shirou - both familiar faces, and she's glad to see them in a non-combat situation for once.
Setsuko Kaminagi     Shirou receives a brief nod of acknowledgement; Yukihana, a more careful appraisal. It's Setsuko's first time meeting the swordsmith, and she finds herself rather curious. But the bow is returned without hesitation, and Setsuko shifts the package on her shoulder slightly afterwards. "This is the swordsmith, from the broadband. I requested her presence. Like Emiya, I believe she may be able to provide us insight." She glances in the same direction as Reiji, then gives him a simple nod. "I see. Let's not waste time, then."
Emiya Shirou     Shirou returns all the greetings headed his way. He doesn't frequent shrines much, but now that he's here he's on his best behavior.

    "I'm Emiya Shirou. You're a swordsmith?" He has a glance at Yukihana... almost a little more than a glance.

    The attire and way she carries herself is seemingly enough to catch his attention. The young man smiles approvingly.

    Much, much better than Xiaomu over there.

    Then his attention turns towards Setsuko's case. "You said we're here to study a cursed sword and destroy it?"
Yukihana Masamune     "Ah... Hello, Xiaomu." There's recognition there, and the blonde fox gets a nod of friendly affirmation of acquaintanshep. But then to Reiji she offers a formal bow once more. "We have not had the pleasure of meeting, no." Her voice is soft, speaking in a much more archaic form of Japanese very similar to Setsuko's.

    "I am Masamune. Masamune, Yukihana. --My father was the swordsmith," She quickly adds when Setsuko says that's what she is, "I learned what I could from him before his passing, but I am not quite at the level he had reached."

    Very modest this one, cheeks turning a slight pink tint before she is thusly distracted. Fried Tofu is a valid distraction for a kitsune after all, and thus something of a nervous smile is Xiaomu's reward. Of course Yukihana shall not hog it all. She clearly accepts the package, and opens it as well, not declining the other fox's graciousness, but offering some of the tofu right back.

    "It- it is always best if shared, I think I have learned."

    BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY... She is very dignified in nibbling fried tofu- and stops once deeper in the shrine. Best to be saved for later when there's less business to be handled.
Reiji Arisu     "More or less," Reiji says to Shirou. "Though I'd advise against touching it or trying to pick it up. It seems to have the power to affect the minds of the ones who wield it." That's pretty standard for Evil Swords, though. It'd be a pretty awful Evil Sword that didn't coerce its wielder to kill at least SOMEONE before being shoved back into its sheath.

    His eyes widen almost imperceptively when Yuki introduces herself. "I see," he says, taking a moment to incline his head in sympathy. "My condolences. Your father's name is quite famous, though. Legends of his skill have lived on long after his death."

After all, who HASN'T heard of the time that Masamune used his skill to seal an ancient sprit of chaos and fire and destruction- a mighty confluence of Mikaboshi and Kagutsuchi- away?

(The general public, that's who.)

"We'll have to speak more later," he says, then, turning to follow as Xiaomu begins moving into the shrine. "After we deal with this. I'm sure we'll have enough tofu to go around."

    The Shinra agents lead the group to a small chamber set deep within the main temple complex. It's a rather inoccuous little pavilion, almost bereft of anything noteworthy for a temple... Except for the six statues that loom at the back of the chamber, their fierce faces illuminated by the flickering light of dozens of candle-flames. A few monks tend to an altar at the center of the room, upon which a red and black lacquerware sword-stand has been set amidst a small collection of spiritual tools. "Place the sword there," Reiji instructs, "The spirits here should be able to keep us safe while we work."
Setsuko Kaminagi     Xiaomu gets a nod of greeting as well; Setsuko has worked with her once or twice alongside Reiji, so she's a welcome face to see. Shirou gets a response of, "That's correct. It's the blade that I've reported on a few times. Higeki, or Shouri no Ken. Both names I've heard applied to it." She follows along with Reiji as he leads the way, sliding the container off her shoulder as they reach the chamber, only opening it once she's received instructions from Reiji.

    She's careful about removing the top of its container, but she's at least confident in her own power enough that she's willing to lay hands on the weapon directly. Her aura glows a faint blue, just briefly, before disappearing again, and she's very careful in taking the blade over to the stand and setting it, gently, in place. "There."
Xiaomu Xiaomu smiles, accepting the return offering from the package, and munches quickly but decorously before setting foot back inside the temple proper.

She doesn't know many details of what's involved in unmaking the sword; Reiji was the one who planned this out and made most of the arrangements. All Xiaomu figures she really has to do is help maintain the appropriate seals while Yukihana does the hard physical work. If she has to step in to help more directly, though, she'll be ready.
Higeki     There it is. The accused Shouri no Ken. The blade reflects the faint blue of Setsuko's divine aura in glittering patches, highlighting the masterwork craftsmanship that had once gone into creating this weapon. It is clearly old, an ancient forged sword from a Japanese past, layered, acid-etched, and stained with so much bloodshed that the blade is a rippled dark shade, appearing as black under most light. A bronze hilt guard and a sharkskin-wrapped handle. From the bronze endcape sprouts a short, untidy tassle that at one point must have been some garish color, but now is the same stained black shade as the blade itself.

    Resting in the stand, it looks quite malicious. But the hateful violet glow and enraged miasma it's become so known for are both absent. Perhaps it only awakens when bloodied, or it's up to something.
Emiya Shirou     "Ma..." Shirou blinks a few times, eyes going wide. "Masamune?! The legendary swordsmith?!" Even Shirou can't help but blurt it out. And wait, this girl's... a kitsune of some persuasion, isn't she? His expression turns a bit baffled for just a few moments. What could this mean?

    Of course, it means the Multiverse is weird.

    But only a few moments after Setsuko places the weapon on the stand...

    Shirou peers at it for a few moments. Shirou walks over and addresses her. "Hey, hold on a moment. Are you sure that's the right sword?"
Yukihana Masamune     Yes, Masamune. That is the name, and almost immediately that flush on the girl's face heats brighter. "A-Adopted." She quickly notes to Shirou at his outburst. It's obvious she knows the reason why, vulpine ears splaying almost embarrassed. But on to more important matters.

    "I believe that is why he took to hermitage in the mountains, yes." Explained to Reiji, regarding her father's fame- that now rests squarely on her shoulders thanks in no small part to the name bequeathed her. "Yes, let us see the blade." She finally agrees, waiting and watching as the demi-god sets the blade down. Immediately she grimaces just from the sight of it. The dark gleam of a blade bathed endlessly in blood. Her reaction is almost one of blatant distaste. "What a horrid looking blade... I shudder to think of how much blood it has shed just looking upon it."
Reiji Arisu     The blade is revealed, and it is indeed wicked. Reiji's eyes affix upon it, watching for something, anything that might indicate the true nature of its terrible malevolence. But there's... apparently none of that? None of it, aside from the weapon's monstrous, black blade.

Blackened with what, he wonders?

    "In the worst case," Reiji says, his lips drawing into a slight frown, "We have ways to brute force the blade. Until then, we should try to learn as much as we can." What is this 'brute force' method he's talking about, exactly?

One might wonder.

    One might then cease wondering when one notices that the exorcist is carrying around his usual, oversized hand-cannon. The golden gun waits patiently in its holster just under the small of his back. "Ideally, we probably want to figure out how to undo the spirit's hold on it first. That'll be less... dangerous. For several reasons."
Setsuko Kaminagi     The wrong blade? "No, there's no mistake," Setsuko says, shaking her head. "Chell even intended to come after it. Are the sword and sheath a package, perhaps...?" she murmurs, crossing her arms and looking at it thoughtfully. The power in it seemed to linger after cutting off Chell's hand, but now even she can see it's not radiating that evil energy. It's possible they lose their power if separated. Hers isn't... quite the same, but the sheath is as much a part of her as the sword is.
Xiaomu Xiaomu eyes the 'Sword of Victory' warily for a few moments. "If you need it flash-frozen to help make it brittle for the breaking, just let me know ..."

Short of that, she's going to be focusing on the wards around the 'altar' - to try and help make SURE that the spirit (or spirits) contained in that weapon don't get a chance to start making additional trouble. Until something more specific calls for her attention, the best Xiaomu can see for her to do is to stay on backup for the rest of the group.
Emiya Shirou     It IS the right weapon? Shirou eyes it doubtfully. "... you're sure it wasn't replaced secretly or something on the way with a different bloodsoaked sword? Because..." Because what? He stumbles in whatever he was going to say. Shirou takes a few steps back, consternated.

    "There's no magic in that weapon, Setsuko. It's old, there's no mistaking what it's been used for... but it just looks like an old, blood-soaked sword. Yuck, who lets a weapon get like this..."
Yukihana Masamune     "While I do not doubt the words of sir Arisu, nor miss Kaminagi, I will note, that a blade need not any magic in it to become wicked." Yukihana points out gently to Shirou. She hesitates a beat, looking troubled by the sight of the black blade, but with no true discernible reason why save for perhaps its malicious appearance. For steel to stain like that, it must have been no simple case of just not cleaning the sword.
    Her hand slowly travels to the handle of the hammer resting in her obi, lips pursing. "All blades have a spirit. Most are silent, living in harmony with their wielder. But some... Some can grow so terrible and wicked over time... If you say this blade has such a spirit- even now when it cannot be ostensibly seen- then I would agree upon whatever course of action that keeps it from reaching the hands of another. Be it containment. Or shattering."
Reiji Arisu     "Options exist for either," Reiji says to Yukihana. There's more than one way to break a sword, after all. But... "It does seem pretty strange," he agrees, not taking his eyes off the sword. "If it does have power, then it's vastly diminished since the time you acquired it."

    He pauses, rubbing idly at his chin, "...You said something about its sheath? Maybe the blade's power is stored there, and it must be regularly sheathed or it starts to lose strength?"
Setsuko Kaminagi     Setsuko looks between Reiji, Yukihana, and Shirou with a thoughtful look. "...It should radiate some magic, at least," she says after a moment. "I've seen it unleashing arcs of some rather hateful power. And it doesn't seem like the type of blade to hide itself, if that makes sense." Reiji's suggestion earns a more analytical stare from the demigod, looking over the blade carefully. "...Possible. I can't think that there'd be no importance whatsoever if Chell thought it was worth coming after us over."
Higeki     While it's discussed, the sword remains where it was placed, glinting malevolently but otherwise showing no activity. It merely reflects the discussion around it in the glistening black finish, somehow giving the conversation a darker tone when shown through its own surface. For the casual observer it appears benign. To magical senses, it may be hiding its power in hopes of being underestimated. To those who've encountered it before, it's clearly capable of more than this.

    Meanwhile, a helicopter crosses overhead. It's perfectly ordinary, helicopters are far from out of the ordinary in the big city surrounding the shrine. Though this one bears an unusual side logo, it's at a safe cruising altitude and has a proper flight plan.
Emiya Shirou     "Trace... ON!"

    Shirou closes his eyes, extends a hand. His brow's furrowed in focus, but... not a lot. Not nearly as much as he tends to exert with Noble Phantasms.

    In a few seconds, power flows from his fingers into an invisible mold matching Higeki's shape. It 'cools' and dims in no time at all, revealing an EXACT DUPLICATE of the sword, including every bloodstain. Even the dirtied, soaked tassel.

    Aside from his apparent disdain at the bloodied exterior though, he seems more PUZZLED at the thing than anything else after opening his eyes.

    "This is definitely the sword she was wielding. It's been used to do that. But that's not one of its abilities. What could that mean?"

    Yukihana's explanation leaves him even more perplexed. "If you're saying that then I'm probably wrong... but there's no comparing this sword with..."

    Another moment of closed eyes...

    And in his OTHER hand another weapon appears, forged from pure magic in a matter of moments. It is the the ancestral weapon of the Murasame family. Souji Murasame's hungry blade.

    And THIS weapon's a bit different. Just looking on it might trigger a few shivers. It all but exudes bloodlust, though it's far better kept.

    Shirou doesn't leave the latter in existence for long though. The weapon disperses into motes of light that quickly vanish as if eroded by the wind.

    "It just doesn't feel like a cursed sword to me. It looks like it should be. It's done awful things. But I don't sense any intent behind it."
Yukihana Masamune     For a good, long, moment, Yukihana's hand is lingering very close to her hammer. Though her ears twitch at the sound of helicopter blades overhead, her gaze travelling upwards but dismissing it as another wonder of the modern ages beyond her world. Well... She dismisses it after a few beats of staring at it in wonder, when Shirou presents her with another sight to linger on, anyway.

    She nearly squeaks when the youth nign-instantaneously copies the blade- and another. For the moment, she's left gawping at the quick copy- almost identical- no completely so after a moment of closer inspection. Completely identical yet, to her practiced eye, still a forgery... "How did you...?"

    That too trails off, when Souji's blade is summoned next.

    Already as pale as snow, now all color completely drains from the kitsune's face, blanching a sickly shade of monochrome as she stares upon the Murasame family sword and the malice it radiates.

    "I know of a sword making school that forged many evil blades such as that one. But that is not the reason why we are here. There is no need to compare them, they are both terrible blades, cast them aside please, looking upon one right now is difficult as it is."

    A breath and she folds her hands together in the sleeves of her kimono. "It could mean many things. But I have only seen it for the first time today and never in action as many of you have. So I cannot speak."
Setsuko Kaminagi     "...I think we should still destroy it," Setsuko finally says. "If it needs to recharge, if it's a key to unlock the power rather than a container... I don't know. But I think that if we can remove it from the equation, we can hinder Chell, and perhaps bring her to her senses. At worst, I doubt we'll make the situation worse than it already is."
Reiji Arisu     Reiji cuts Shirou a harsh glare when the boy conjures MORE EVIL SWORDS. "This is a temple," the exorcist cautions. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't risk angering the spirits enshrined here by summoning things that might offend them."

Because, honestly, what the heck man?

More importantly...

    "So, if this is a completely unremarkable blade, with the exception of its appearance..." He inclines his head toward the bottomless, black blade, fingers twitching mildly. "Setsuko, I leave it to you. If there's nothing more to learn from it, we can always destroy it."
Emiya Shirou     "Er... sorry," Shirou backs away a bit, having bothered both Reiji and Yukihana. "Sorry, Arisu, Masamune." And he means it. But there were only a few ways to really make his point.

    The copy-Higeki vanishes quickly. "I'll explain later," he answers Masamune.

    "Then we're in the same boat... I guess it might be special. But it's hiding really well if so."
Yukihana Masamune     With the copied blades vanishing, Yukihana takes a moment to regain her composure, adjusting her kimono with a slight fidget before her ears finally un-pin from where they had been laying flat back. No more words however...

    It is with a careful, delicate, reverence, that she withdraws her hammer from the sash of her kimono, treating the blunt tool almost in the same respectful and soulful manner a samurai would treat their own blade. She holds it in upturned palms, towards Setsuko.
Setsuko Kaminagi     So they're in agreement. That's good. Setsuko remains looking at the sword for a few seconds more; but then someone to her side approaches, and she turns to look... and is greeted by the sight of Yukihana holding out her smith's hammer. Her eyes widen just slightly. Her world has no mythical swordsmith Masamune, but the reverence with which she treats it, and the reverence with which both Shirou and Reiji uttered the name, tell the demigod all she needs to know. She reaches out, gently takes the hammer...

    And her eyes go just a bit wider.

    "...I have held many finely made weapons, both melee and ranged. My divinity is potent enough that most of them simply cannot hold up to my use. Blades shatter, guns simply come apart after repeated firing. Most of them last a minute or less." She takes it in one hand, and adds simply, "I feel as if I could swing this hammer all day and cause it no harm."

    And with that she hauls back, her divine aura rippling around her briefly like a thin veil of fog, before bringing the hammer down with a simple, perfect swing, using all the strength she can bring to bear. If she should go through the blade, she will halt the blacksmith's hammer just before it makes contact with anything else.
Higeki     Struck on the flat, where the blade is most fragile, the Shouri no Ken rings with the chime of fine steel, beneath its dark finish. Silvery cracks shoot through the black surface from hilt to tip. It takes a second blow to finish the job, the musical ringing giving way to the violent shattering of steel beneath a craftsman's beloved tool. As it falls in countless pieces, the black stain flits out of the metal, colliding with the wards and dissolving in a brief but intense lightshow. Before long, all that occupies the space where the Shouri no Ken rested is a collection of countless silvery shards and the discarded hilt.

    In the helicopter overhead, a woman pulls binoculars from her face with a scowl, "Fuck, I'm too late..." The girl's expression tenses, mulling her options. Should she really just give up on this after all?

         Surrender is not in your character.

    The girl's eyes widen and she raises the binoculars again, staring down at the glimmering remains. Lowering them, she glances down at her side, at the empty scabbard hanging from her hip.

         Let me show you ... another way.

    After a moment, Chell's expression twists into a sinister grin, "Pilot. Take us back to Cyberia."
Reiji Arisu #-1 INVALID ANSI DEFINITION: +Ansi160 LO#-1 INVALID ANSI DEFINITION: +ANSI173 VE SIGN - MASTER SPARK!
Reiji Arisu       #-1 INVALID ANSI DEFINITION: +Ansi160 LOVE SIGN - MASTER SPARK!      
Reiji Arisu        #-1 INVALID ANSI DEFINITION: +xterm LOVE SIGN - MASTER SPARK!