Opponents (Rei no Kaado)

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji's eyes widened as Cain said his rebuttal, and he took a step back before regaining his previous stance and expression. How the hell had Cain found that out? The Shadow thing didn't surprise him too much, he figured Abel must have told the others in his group. But the "god's toy..." that didn't make sense. How the hell did they find out about Izanagi? Izanagi hadn't even come up until long after they'd left.

Nyarlathotep, Izanagi realized. He must have reported to them this morning while you were still sleeping.

Souji unclenched his right hand, and a light blue card appeared in his hand when Cain adjusted the dagger's position. Alright, two could play at that game. If he was going to make threats, Souji could too. He knew that Cain was observant enough to see it.

"And what about you? I may be a god's toy, but you're a demon's plaything. When's the last time you did something without your little brother's permission?" Souji growled. "Back when he was a human, maybe?"

[mugenginga]

Seth's eyes widened as Souji brought out his card. The reaction was delayed by only a few seconds, long enough for Seth to search his memories and remember what had happened in that messed up world inside the television. The group had summoned their demon-like... Persona. They'd called them Persona. That's what Souji had been referencing with Messiah, the thoughts had finally fallen into place. It had been irrational of them to react the way they had to Minato's Persona. Still, Seth remembered that fight. The memories weren't good.

Cain wasn't sure how to respond. He was in Abel's army because the end goal was the same. Not just that, but he did care about Abel. He couldn't use that excuse in front of Souji. Even if it would be amusing to see Souji try to use Abel as a 'weakness', Cain didn't want to show ground in that way. But Souji was right. That's what made it the worst. Abel kept him on a short leash, and every time he balked he put his life in danger.

Souji's reward for his comment was Cain tensing and giving one of his more infamous glares. It seemed the situation was about to go very south. Then Seth finally worked past the near paralysis feeling at Souji's action and was moving forward. It always ended up like this. If he had stopped and thought about it, he'd have realized it was odd it had taken this route with Cain. While he had developed a bond with Cain, the man had a better grip on himself than Abel. Still, someone was going to get severely hurt, if not killed at the rate this was going.

The Prince of Bel moved forward half a second before Cain did. Cain knew Abel would reprimand him for this, but if Souji was removed from the picture it would handle a lot of problems. Even if Izanagi surfaced, the form was mortal. Avatars could be killed. Hell, gods could be killed, but not in a manner such as this. Still, the murder of the avatar would weaken Izanagi for a while. Due to the timing, Seth positioned himself between the two silver-haired people just in time to get a huge gash in his upper arm by Cain.

Seth's eyes widened in shock. His weren't the only ones. Cain jerked back and in a very uncharacteristic lack of grace, stumbled. He almost hit the ground tripping over his own legs. Seconds seemed like hours when Seth finally noticed the blood welling up from his arm, the sleeve of his shirt sliced open. He knew injuries enough to know the wound would have been far worse had Cain not pulled back. It hadn't hit any major veins, but it was bleeding like hell. Seth's face contorted in pain, but he didn't let out a yell. He still seemed to be in a form of shock.

"_Shit...," Cain muttered before looking up and giving a glare at Seth, "Seth, what the hell are you doing!?"

Seth clasped his arm to try and slow the bleeding and turned away from Cain. Souji had only known Keiji for a few days, that was true. The few extended moments he had seen him, the teenager had been fairly meek. Scarred, in more ways than one. He'd seemed nervous around Abel and hadn't trusted Cain. So what he had just done was impressive to say the least. The blood threatened to seep through the fingers. Some of it had, and trailed down the dull grey COMP he was holding with the same hand he had against the wound.

"Souji, and whatever god you represent, this is just a misunderstanding. Please put your weapon away," he turned towards Cain as he winced, "You too, General."

Cain hadn't gotten too deep, and he'd avoided any veins. It still hurt like hell and was bleeding like a stuck pig. Really, it looked far worse than it actually was. Seth knew that, and it was why he was forcing past the pain. The issue for Souji would be less the injury and more how Seth was speaking. It was damn authoritive, what one might expect from a member of royalty. The first half was calm, flat, and devoid of emotion. The second half? Seth clearly expected his order to be followed.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Izanagi had seen Cain coming before Souji had, and had quickly taken dominance, though not quick enough to get their shared body out of the way of Cain's attack. Within an instant, Izanagi knew that this avatar's time on this world had ended and there was no way he could dodge out of the way. What he had not expected was for Cain's cousin/brother to jump into the way and take the attack.

He took a step back as he saw the wound on Seth's arm. It didn't look deep, but he had a feeling that the only reason it wasn't was because Cain had drawn back upon realizing it was Seth.

He watched stunned as Seth ordered both him and Cain to put away their weapons. He held up his hand, revealing it was empty. The card had turned into blue flames when Izanagi took dominance since Izanagi couldn't use a persona.

"Whatever you say, Seth. Cain, I'd have to say I didn't expect a reaction like that from you," Izanagi said.

No kidding... Izanagi, thanks. You saved me there. Souji said.

I told you I was going to take control if you got in a conflict. Though I didn't see the signs fast enough, it seemed, Izanagi replied back. That had been close. He and Souji both officially owed Seth one.

[mugenginga]

Seth's face didn't change the emotion. It was damn cold, and had more than a bit in common with Abel's flat expressions. In fact, due to his face having avoided the scarring, it was hard to distinguish. The distance and lifelessness were so easy to compare it was hard to tell. Izanagi could see it because he had turned towards him as he spoke. He turned back towards Cain.

Cain had thought about balking Seth, but he finally wiped the blade on his jacket before sticking it through the back of his belt at an angle to allow the hilt to catch. His expression had flattened as well. He kept an arctic gaze on Izanagi. He knew the shift had taken place as Souji's stance and tone of speaking had changed. He gave no response to Izanagi's push. He knew that if Seth hadn't gotten in the way, Souji would be dead. Now he'd have to deal with Abel when they returned to the Hotel. Even if he and his youngest brother tried to conceal it, he had no doubt Nyarlathotep was near enough and it would be reported.

"You're the god, correct?" Seth asked as he turned back towards Izanagi.

"Seth, we should go," Cain said.

"Quiet." Seth ordered. Cain scowled, but he didn't say anything more.

Seth's voice was still flat. His hand was clenching his arm tighter. The blood had gathered a bit on the lower level of the grey DS. The flow seemed to finally be slowing. A single drop fell from the gathered blood onto the ground. Seth probably needed to get that healed. He'd relaxed some as he saw Cain put the weapon away, but he still seemed so... dead. Really, the comparisons to Abel were just short of terrifying.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

For the first time in a while, Souji got the feeling that Abel and Seth really were twins, despite their normal personality differences. Really, with how Seth was looking at Izanagi with those creepy distant eyes and emotionless expression, the only difference between him and his brother seemed to be the scarring at this moment, and even then, the scarring had avoided his face, so his face was practically identical to Abel's.

Izanagi nodded at Seth's question, smirking a little when Cain was silenced by Seth. "Yes, I am. Would you prefer to speak to my avatar instead?"

His eyes moved to Seth's arm. The bloodflow was stopping, but that didn't change the fact that he had been bleeding fairly badly. He looked back up at Seth's face.

"Not to be rude, but I think you should probably get that looked at," Izanagi said. He pointed at Seth's arm. "I don't think you need any more scars than what you already have. Plus, it could get infected."

[mugenginga]

(OOC: Kind of unsettling descriptions of blood here. Just warning you)

Seth didn't answer because of the way Izanagi continued. He glanced at his arm and frowned. Somehow an action as simple as a pained frown brought comforting levels of humanity to his face. He carefully lifted his hand off the arm. A bit of the blood had already begun to clot between his fingers. He attempted to wipe it on his pants, but one spot had to be rubbed in to avoid the congealed blood from resting there. He now had a dark spot on his pants. He looked back up at Izanagi, and his eyes were a bit more focused. He shook his head.

Cain glared as Izanagi smirked at him. The only reason he wasn't trying to resume the attack was because Seth had been hurt. By him. He expected severe repurcussions when Abel learned about the incident. It had happened when he was moving to kill Souji. And he had harmed Seth. He kept his eyes fixed on Izanagi, but did nothing beyond that.

"I'll be fine, I can get it healed later," Seth said after wiping his COMP on his other pants leg. He looked back up, "You're better off staying away from Abel as much as you can. I can't do anything about your being watched, but I can guar..." Seth paused, hesitated, and broke eye contact, "...that is, if Souji hasn't done anything to slight Abel before, you'll be fine. Just don't get involved."

Cain's eyes flicked to Seth has he hesitated. Seth had closed his eyes and his face was pained. He'd wanted to assure Izanagi that he nor Souji would be harmed if they stayed out of the way. But he couldn't, not after Himitsu. He bit his lip, well aware the stumble would not be missed. Cain looked annoyed. No reason to hide that Seth had blown it, the god and his avatar would be more than aware. Seth looked back up, and waited for the response. He seemed to tense up as if expecting a blow.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

And like that, both Izanagi and Souji realized part of why Seth had been acting the way he had. He had stumbled when he said that he could guarantee something, and then added that they'd be okay as long as they hadn't done anything to slight Abel in the past. Going by that logic, it was possible Abel had it out for the whole group because of Yuugi and Atem blowing his secret. But Souji was getting the feeling it was something more specific. Izanagi decided to voice what Souji couldn't.

"Did something happen today related to Abel? Is that why he's not with you?" Izanagi asked.

[mugenginga]

Seth looked up. He bit his lip again. It was hard enough that his face paled where his teeth hit. Cain looked at Seth. The teenager finally looked back at Izanagi. He tried not to, but he almost choked on his words. It wasn't tears, but the teen seemed rather incapable of lying.

"It's... it's nothing," Seth shook his head, "Just... don't get involved."

"Are you done?" Cain demanded of Izanagi.

It could come across as two ways, and neither were totally wrong. The first was the less true one. It could seem Cain was protecting Seth somehow. The second was very true. Seth was digging himself into a hole and Cain wanted him to just shut up. They needed to get back to the Hotel. He wasn't looking forward to it, but the trouble would happen either way. Might as well deal with whatever Abel was going to do to him now rather than later.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Izanagi didn't like the sound of that. Seth had hesitated, and seemed reluctant to speak. When he had, he'd told them to not get involved. Izanagi frowned.

"You know that now that you've told us that, we probably will end up getting invovled anyways?" Izanagi stated. He turned to Cain as he asked if he was done, and smirked. Well well, looked like that either Cain was trying to protect his "brother"... or thought he just needed to shut up. Most likely the second option.

"I suppose we are," Izanagi said. He stepped backwards toward where Souji had dropped the groceries, making sure to keep an eye on Cain and Seth as he did so, and picked up the bag. He frowned as he picked up the one with the eggs. Dang, looked like they'd all broken.

Sounds like Abel did something that Seth and Cain don't want us to know about, something that Seth doesn't like too much, Souji said. ...And because they held us up, we lost Anpu too.

There wasn't much we could do with Anpu. We learned plenty with Cain and Seth. Izanagi replied.

Excellent point. We should go, though. I'd rather not provoke Cain again, Souji stated.

[mugenginga]

Cain returned the smirk with a glare. He didn't care about the words. If Souji and his group wanted to be involved, they were putting their life on the line. He didn't care if the whole group go themselves killed. No, not quite true. If Ryoji were killed, there would be severe problems. Ryoji had said the Fall would come faster. Then again, it wouldn't change the fact that most of the Island's Death Clocks would plummet to a few days, likely at best. Their group would not miss that. So as far as he was concerned, the entire group could pull a stupid and get themselves killed. Those thoughts made him smirk.

"Your blood is on your own hands if you do," Cain's grin became cruel, "And if 'Ryoji' gets himself killed, don't think we won't have methods of escape... not that you would."

Seth had nodded towards Izanagi and turned just as Cain spoke. He looked down as Cain gave his retort. Whatever Abel-like bravado he had worked up seemed to be gone. Cain wasn't criticized for his words. Seth flinched a bit as if he had been given a blow and walked past Cain. He stopped when he didn't hear footsteps and turned to look. He winced a bit and looked down at his arm. He could get it healed and cleaned up after they left the god's presence.

Cain was waiting for a response from Izanagi. He hadn't intended it as a threat, but it would be humorous if he took it as such. Besides, there was a possible seed of doubt now in the minds of both the god and his avatar. How the hell would the group even know to escape if Ryoji died and the memories were wiped? Souji had heard about the Death Clocks before, from Yuugi, but he had no way of knowing if they were still functional. However, if any members of Souji's group could draw that information back up, it was Souji and/or Izanagi.

Nyarlathotep flapped back. He had two options. He could continue to observe Souji or Izanagi or he could report to Abel. It was likely Cain would be heading back to the Hotel after this, and if the man was smart he'd reveal what had happened to get it over with. However, if the demon left now, he'd have be able to get there first. It was unlikely Abel had gone anywhere but back to his temporary home, and he had the power of flight Cain did not. He made his decision. Izanagi would feel the demon putting distance between himself and their group.

(OOC: If you forgot, I wanked that the Fall would only be delayed if MINATO killed him.)

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Izanagi didn't like the grin that had spread across Cain's face in the least. What also bothered him was the fact that they had methods of escape, even if Ryoji was killed. So they would have to know when the Fall was coming. Yuugi had mentioned "Death Clocks" before. But would they still work even though the summoning functions on the COMPs had stopped. Izanagi narrowed his eyes. No. The functions on the COMPs of Abel's court were most likely still functional. Despite how dark the auras of the majority of the group were, most of them were still humans. They could not hold their own against demons without those functions.

He clenched his teeth at the taunt about his inability to escape. No, he couldn't. And that was the most frustrating part; the fact that he couldn't escape because of this avatar's inability to use Izanagi's own abilities. If he was at full power, he probably could have left. Though Souji would never forgive him for it.

"Do you honestly think your dimension will be unaffected if this one Falls? I am a god, I am aware of this dimension's linchpin status. Obviously you are not," Izanagi stated. "Escaping to another dimension before the Fall comes won't save you in the long run."

His attention was momentarily diverted as he felt the demon's presence vacate the area and his gaze darkened. "By the way, it seems that the demon that has been watching us has left the area. Most likely to report to your king before you can yourself. I do hope you enjoy the punishment he will likely be giving you for injuring his dear brother."

Izanagi finally turned and started out of the alley. Now was the time to return to the apartments. They still had business... and Souji was right; they didn't need to provoke Cain further. Though Izanagi hadn't really been helping in that regard.

[mugenginga]

Cain seemed pleased with himself as Izanagi clenched his teeth together. For a moment, he'd thought he'd scored a "point", so to speak. He turned to follow Seth, and let the thoughts stew. However, Izanagi then spoke. Cain paused. The man had always possessed guarded body language, so it would be almost impossible, even for Izanagi and/or Souji to realize the pause was for more than listening... if it weren't for the fact Cain wasn't the type to stop and listen to his "enemies".

If he'd been facing the group, there would have been no doubt he had heard. His face lost its smug composure for a moment in a twitch. No, he hadn't been aware of that. He also felt like and idiot for not being aware of that. There was no other explanation for the sheer number of universes drawn to this Island other than that. He was the type that was good about noting things like that, and yet he had missed this one. He didn't doubt Izanagi's words either.

As if Izanagi hadn't "won" the encounter yet, he commented on Nyarlathotep. Not that it seemed Izanagi knew the demon following them, but the comment meant the same either way. He didn't change his expression. He had somewhat expected that. While Nyarlathotep still served him without a contract, the demon seemed to like to cause problems. In fact, it had in truth developed when Cain had tried to press Nyarlathotep for why he bothered Souji so much. Now the demon could do so without the contract limiting it.

Seth had stopped a second time to look back at Cain. It had been about the time Izanagi taunted Cain about Nyarlathotep's flight. He looked panicked and turned towards the corner of the alley and began walking quickly. Abel wouldn't be happy. Cain had been in the wrong, but his brother hadn't been aiming to attack him. Even if he pleaded Abel be leniant on their older brother, Cain would likely be sore for the next few days. At best. Cain noticed Seth's rising panic and scowled, but his back was still turned so the expression wasn't visible. He picked up his speed and came beside Seth just as the two turned the corner.

The encounter had ended with a win for Izanagi and Souji, in any case.