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After she had finished healing Zaruba for him, Kouga had asked her to stay at his mansion so she could rest. He'd told her she could stay for as long as she wanted.

Jabi was on her way back to Kantai the very next day.

She knew Kouga would understand her decision. Not that she had anything against the Golden Knight, or his new Makai Priest, or even Kaoru. But Jabi would be lying to herself if she didn't admit to feeling... something... in the pit of her stomach when seeing Kouga and Kaoru together. Jabi could feel the warmth emanating from Kaoru, could see that Kouga himself was basking in it.

She envied it. She envied them.

The closest she had ever felt that way was when she was teaching Rin - the one she had wanted and sworn to protect - and upon thinking of the child Jabi realized that, surprisingly, she did miss her student.

She had thought of leaving Kantai for good, even if Tsubasa had recanted his request to never see her again in his land. But after visiting Kouga, after encountering the man in the red mask, she'd changed her mind.

She'd be foolish if she were to choose to be alone now.

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"He seems fine. Kaoru too - but you haven't met her yet, have you?" Jabi waved that away. "It was Zaruba who wasn't all right - but I've already fixed him." Just like how she was able to fix the Phosphorous Arrow - though Zaruba's came with an unexpected threat.

Speaking of the threat... "I've been approached by a very... interesting individual." Jabi placed a hand on her hip, opting to act as though she wasn't overtly concerned. "He was asking me to join him."

So, something had actually been wrong with Zaruba. It seemed a strange reason for a visit. Kouga had recently been assigned a Makai Priest of his own, who should have been able to take care of it.

"But you chose to come back here." Tsubasa knew that Akatsuki had once tried to leave them and ask Rei to become his teacher instead. He would have thought Jabi was too committed to Rin to do something similar; but that wasn't going to stop her taunting him with it. Perhaps she would take up the opportunity once Rin became a Makai Priestess and was no longer under Jabi's instruction.

"Yes," she said shortly. "Only because he didn't ask me properly." Pause, then, "He attacked me." Jabi was certain her attacker was male. A Makai Priest, who had abilities surpassing an average one - even hers.

"I don't know who he is; his face is covered by a red mask." She didn't tell Kouga any of this, partly because she didn't want to burden him and partly because she'd wanted to come to him when her suspicions of the man's identity were confirmed.

Tsubasa had suspected something like this from the moment Jabi had said she was attacked - so, to his relief, he was able to keep himself from too much visible reaction. The panic he'd felt when he saw the seal branded into his chest was still fresh in his memory. As a Makai Priestess, Jabi was in less danger from the man than a Makai Knight would be and of course she'd survived the encounter. But with her as anyone else, Tsubasa would always be prepared for an unexpected death, "A red mask. Like the man reported to have attacked several Makai Knights." It placed the mysterious assailant within Kouga's territory. If Tsubasa had to name a Makai Knight who might have been able to defeat the man, he would have stated Kouga.

It was just as she had thought. "Several?" Jabi repeated. And then it clicked. "I see. This man in the red mask is doing all he could to ensure that his goals are carried out - either by attacking Makai Knights directly, or trying to turn Makai Priests against them."

Kouga hadn't mentioned any of these to her - and she wondered why that was. Surely he had already received word from other Knights? "Would you know how many he had attacked and killed?"

"I have heard that he has attacked multiple Makai Knights. That's all. No report of anyone dying so far. Obviously, it's hard to confirm anything like this. I don't know how much of it is true." Tsubasa would have thought that Jabi would know more after her time with Kouga. It seemed that either Kouga wasn't telling her something or she wasn't telling Tsubasa, "what does Kouga know about it?"

Her theory made sense. "In other words, a Makai Priest who has fallen to darkness. He has to be cut down. There's no other way." It came with the risk that they would never find a way to defeat the curse; but as far as he was concerned, the law of the Makai Knights and Priests was inflexible.

Yes, a Makai Priest who had fallen to darkness - who lost all hope on the abilities and usefulness of Makai Knights and now saw them as liabilities than allies in the fight against Horrors. Him being in the same forest that she was - which was almost off-limits Knights themselves - were proof of that.

"It won't be that easy," she told him quickly. "Saying it is one thing - but doing it is another. He has abilities that make him a difficult enemy - had I been less skilled, he would have been able to kill me."

Tsubasa took a moment to consider the implications of this. He had seen for himself how easily the man could overpower him. The longer their situation continued, the more Knights were affected by the curse, the less chance they had to defeat him. What made it worse was the difficulty in knowing who or how many had been stricken already, "Yes. I fear you're right - but that doesn't change our duty. We are compelled to defeat him."

Tsubasa hadn't wanted to interfere in any business of Kouga's but felt that the subject should be mentioned. Jabi's discretion was her own, "I believe that if anyone could withstand him, Kouga is our best chance."

"Of course," she said. "There's no other option, seeing as letting him live will mean allowing him to kill all of Makai Knights - even you. And Kouga." And without the Makai Knights, who'd be left to protect humans from Horrors? Makai Priests could only do so much in subduing them on their own.

Jabi shook her head. "I don't know if Kouga knows any of this - or if he does, we never talked about it. But you're right. Kouga can defeat him - but not alone."

"Of course, I would support him. As would any Makai Knight who upholds the law." Tsubasa hesitated. Another confrontation with the man might not be so straightforward; even a routine battle with a Horror had forced Tsubasa to be carried home by his apprentices because he couldn't stand unaided. He reminded himself that as a Makai Knight, this shouldn't make a difference to him. There was no choice but to fight until he was cut down where he stood - if he could withstand even a few moments against the man, that could be vital time for another Makai Knight to deliver a blow.

Jabi nodded. For now their best chance was to get information on this new foe and fight him as best as they could - defeat was not and would ever be an alternative.

"...you say you believe Kouga is the our best chance in withstanding him," she said, eyes on him now. "One can only say that if one had seen both in battle." What wasn't Tsubasa telling her?

"Perhaps I was unwise to say so. From Kouga's skill alone, I believe he is our best chance." Tsubasa was aware that he had answered too quickly. He didn't intend to mislead Jabi, but thought it better that she find out after he had told Rin. Although it seemed unfair to bring Rin's closest friend home only to then tell her that her brother had been marked with the curse, there was no other alternative, "until we know more, we can't say. That is our biggest obstacle."

Jabi studied him for some moments. She'd like to think she was perceptive enough to realize whether or not the one she's talking to was telling the truth; now, her gut feeling was telling her that the Knight was not. But she wouldn't pry. If Tsubasa was keeping something from her, it might be because of something important. After all, why risk it in these dangerous times?

"It is," she affirmed. The mask on the attacker was there for a reason - why try to conceal his identity if he had nothing to hide? "It's alarming how there seems to be very few information reaching both of us regarding this man. Either he's only making his move on select individuals, or those he's encountered are already dead and unable to talk."

Edited 2012-10-04 09:35 (UTC)

Tsubasa worried that the second of her theories was the right one. In that case, the situation could be desperately worse than anyone anticipated. The disappearance of a Makai Knight should have attracted notice, but what if the man in the red mask had slaughtered entire households? Were they to wait until Horrors were roaming loose until anyone discovered a Knight had gone, "Makai Knights are territorial. If someone knows more, they may say nothing until it's too late. Most Knights would try to deal with the threat alone, even if they were to discover it's too much for them."

The words made his throat close painfully, so he swallowed hard to clear it. At this stage Tsubasa was more than aware that he himself was hiding information that might help others. Jabi wouldn't appreciate it if she knew he was lying to her, and neither would Rin, "is something wrong?" She had been watching him for several moments.

After a few seconds more, she shook her head. "Nothing," she replied. "I just hope you won't be among those Makai Knights who still try to deal with this enemy alone, Tsubasa." Think of Rin, she wanted to say, but knew that it wouldn't be the right thing to do. Duty was duty, especially to one like Tsubasa - familial attachments were only secondary to him.

"What else can I do? Any other Makai Knight would do the same." Tsubasa was certain now that Jabi was aware he knew more than he was prepared to admit. If she didn't, she would certainly know were he to go to fight a Horror and return home wounded. He resolved to speak to Rin at once, perhaps after dinner when she would have had time to see Jabi first. Jabi would know better than he how to help Rin deal with the aftermath.

"Any other Makai Knight, yes - but you now know more than any other, don't you?" Perhaps she shared her experience with the enemy as a warning to him. Jabi couldn't with Kouga - though she did leave him with ample warning as well, despite it being vague.

Here Jabi shrugged and looked away. "Do as you wish - but know that if you need aid, I'll be here to assist you." Perhaps Rin could be too, though this would be too dangerous. Jabi would prefer she be not involved, if she could help it.

Tsubasa exhaled slowly and took several moments to reflect before he spoke. Jabi's primary concern would of course be Rin, "I'm going to speak to Rin after dinner, when she's had time to see you. I don't expect her to be ... Unaffected, but she can't allow herself any distractions. If she talks about it, please remind her that a Makai Priestess is always prepared for a death." If Hyuga or Akatsuki replaced him as the protector of Kantai, Rin might be appointed a full Priestess to assist them. It was important to him that she must not overlook her duty because of any sorrow for him.

Edited 2012-10-04 11:55 (UTC)

Prepared for death? Her question was answered, then - Tsubasa had encountered the man in the red mask. But he had lived to see the days after it - surely that was a testament to his skills as a Knight? That should he encounter the man again, Tsubasa would able to live through it?

What else had the man in the red mask done?

She did appreciate that it would be Rin who'd be the first to know the truth behind whatever it was that was afflicting him. They were family, after all, and Jabi was glad Tsubasa was finally recognizing the importance of having one. "Of course," she said. Carefully, she added, "I'm certain I would hear from Rin whatever it is that you'll be telling her. However, I think in this situation it will be best if I hear the truth from you."

Under the circumstances he agreed with that assessment, "What is there to know? I encountered him. He has marked me with the seal of destruction. I couldn't be sure what effect it would have, but with each transformation I become weaker." Tsubasa clenched his jaw. Even admitting to that much felt like an enormous blow to his pride, "Rin will notice. I can't hide this from her any longer. But she'll have to accept it. I have every intention to still be here by the time we find the man." In case Jabi misinterpret his last statement, he added "I don't know his identity. He wears a red mask, just as you said."

"Seal of destruction?" This would be the first time she'd be hearing about it, as well as the adverse effects it grants to Makai Knights. Jabi stepped closer to him. "If the man in the red mask is a Makai Priest--"

--a Makai Priest of immense power. This was not some Horror they were talking about; she had no knowledge of what this seal was, let alone how to counter it. This was not something she could cure on her own.

Jabi shook her head, admitting to herself that she'd be no use to any Makai Knight infected with the curse. She wondered now if even Kouga was affected.

"I would have thought you knew about that." Until Jabi's departure, Tsubasa thought she had heard as much as he had before his own encounter with the man in the red mask, "It was reported that he marks each Makai Knight with a seal upon their chest. I confirm that's true. The curse appears to activate with each transformation." It was slowly beginning to dawn on him that he might be ordered to report this before the Senate. If they felt he was unfit to serve, he might be removed from his post, and Tsubasa couldn't allow that, "You met that man while coming here. He must be on his way to Kouga's territory."

"No." Her answer was swift. "I met that man because I've been to Kouga's territory." It was just one of her theories, though it would explain why the man in the mask would know her name and would call her by it. Perhaps he sought to catch her off-guard - and he did. "If I hadn't been there, perhaps he wouldn't even know I exist." Or he would, but he wouldn't seek her out... would he?

In any case, there was no mistaking the malice behind the seal of destruction. Death wouldn't come to Knights swiftly - it would if the Knights continued to summon their armors, yet it wouldn't if they choose to abandon their paths.

"You think he's reached Kouga." It made sense that the user of GARO would be one of the first targets for any war waged against the Makai Knights. And like Tsubasa, Kouga was not liable to tell anyone unless it was impossible to avoid. There was little they could do unless Kouga chose to act, "we have to find this man as soon as possible. The more we transform, the faster the curse will take effect. That's why I want Rin to be prepared now rather than later."

She thought the culprit was with Kouga, but it would be best to keep her suspicions to herself for the time being. It would be unwise to open her mouth now, when she had no sufficient information to back her claims.

"The curse only takes effect when you transform, doesn't it?" The answer to slow it down should be obvious. "Then don't."

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