Flash_Guardian kept running away from wherever he had come with his blinding speed, almost a blur amidst the background. His clothes were still torn and bloodied, but he triumphantly clutched the briefcase that he had fought so hard for with a smile. Sprinting up to the tower doors, he quickly hefted them open and threw himself inside, at last stopping to pant for breath.

Zelous notes it's a cloudy night and there is little light beyond the torches lit at the tower. There is a fairly strong wind blowing chilled air and rain into the area. Shadows seemed to be darker and deeper, nature seems to be silence minus the howl of the wind and the tunderous sound of the rain. The air couldn't be this cold in mid summer... could it? Lightigh cut across the sky and thunder quickly followed, seen standing for that split second on the tower was a white haired figure wearing a serious expressiojn. His lips forming a straight line... his long hair whipping in the wind and his clothes flapping wildly. His hand was resting on the top of one of his swords, through the darkness he staired down. In that breif moment of light, his eyes seemed to glow with a haunting look in them.

Flash_Guardian had run into the bottom floor of the tower already, not noticing the figure on the roof. He quickly finds a pile of cushions to fall upon, panting for breath and setting the briefcase beside him on the floor. Thunder rumbled in the distance as he wiped his now damp hair out of his face, shaking his arms dry as best he could. The rain was doing little to wash away the blood ... but it felt good, almost invigorating. Flash grinned, looking out into the dark and stormy night.

Flash_Guardian looked back down at himself ... he really was a mess. Shaking his head, he started to detach the cape from the back of his shirt, putting it carefully on the floor over the briefcase, then proceeded to remove his shirt, pulling it up and over his head.

[GiannaRitally] A soft blue-white glow can be seen underneath the East Tower door, turning into a light caramel skinned woman, looking to be in her mid-twenties. She slowly pushes on the door and enters, not sure of what she'll find.

Naia sits on a chair in an upper room, staring out of the window at the sky. She hears the door open, and stands. She leaves her room, and proceeds down the short hall to the staris leading to the main room.

Zelous stood there a moment longer after Flash had entered the tower. The figure suddenly jumped forward and off the tower, his body plumiting towards the earth below. The man snapped his hand and foot out as though trying to dig them into the wall, but that didn't happen, it mearly slowed his fall ever so slightly. Before reaching the ground he kicked off hard causing him to fall away from the tower and land with a loud thud onto the ground, his boots digging into the muddy soil. The sound of the mud squishing beneath his boots was lost in the sound of the hard rain. He could be found kneeling presently, though he held that pose for a moment longer before fully rising in his unholy grace.

Maliha flutters up to the edge of the forest outside of the tower, and looks up at the one lit window. Glancing around she sees a man undressing, and quickly hides behind her tree.

Flash_Guardian sits there on his cushions, his red cape draped over something next to him, bare-chested and holding his shirt up in front of him ... he blinks at the two ladies that had just come into the room where he sat, looking between them curiously, rather caught off guard.

Naia hears mud squelching outside, and stops, looking out the nearest window.

Flash_Guardian sweatdrops, sitting there holding his shirt, looking rather embarassed and not knowing what to say. "Ummm ... hi?"

Naia continues walking down the stairs, and meets the woman who just entered. She stared at her, face expressionless and unblinking.

Chiharu_Seiken raised her eyebrows to Flash. "Why are you your shirt like that?"

Zelous slowly walked forward, his chilling aura enveloping the area quickly giving all there an easy indicator of his existance. The lightning cracked through the sky once more and thunder followed... shaking the very foundations of the tower. He didn't say anything... he wouldn't say anything as he stood several yards just outside the doorway to the tower, his eyes appearing to glow every time lightning lights up the sky. It was only a matter of time.

Flash_Guardian notes that the white vest he's holding has several gashes along its right, surrounded by blood stains. The right side of his pants bears one long gash up its length, also bloodied up. He is uncharacteristically barefoot, his feet coated with mud from outside.

Chiharu_Seiken looks at the man with the unusual aural frequency....

Naia walks out the door, into the storm. She looks at the man standing several feet away, eyes twinkling at each flash of lightning

Flash_Guardian looks over at Chiharu, grinning as she walks in. "Oh ... I got rather beat up yesterday ... my threads are shot," he says with an embarrassed grin. "I never got around to fixing them, in hopes that I could just replace them ..." he stops suddenly ... he felt a familiar presence, one that he didn't like in the slightest. The hair stood up on the back of his neck, and a scowl crossed his face as he stood, kicking some more mud off of his feet and striding for the door.

Flash_Guardian sees the door open as Naia leaves ... and through the crack of the door he sees a shadowy figure. A flash of lightning illuminates the eerie face of Zelous for a moment ... Flash gasped, and the door shut behind the woman, leaving him to stare at the wooden entry before him.

Zelous stood there quietly, hands at either side relaxed. The warrior watched the monk stride out from the building... as execpted. Still the cleric remained silent, the end of his black long-coat (which was probably quiet wet by now) flapped in the strong winds. Silence was his weapon at the moment and his pericing aquamarine gaze.

Flash_Guardian notes he hadn't left the building ... at least not yet. He looks suddenly unhappy. "Chiharu ... you'd best stay inside," he said, throwing his shirt to one side, leaving his red cape draped over some kind of object next to his pillows as he pushes the door open and steps outside into the storm to confront Zelous.

Chiharu_Seiken was quite confused on why Flash has strided towards the door... At the first look, the man was quite strong, his normal aural level is much higher than her or Flash...

Zelous stood calm and collect, his serious expression unchanging. He mearly staired on at the guardian, he didn't even take his eyes off to look at the girl inside the tower. His visit here was for Flash.

Flash_Guardian watches the dark figure carefully, not seeming to mind the cold, or the rain that now pelted down upon his bare skin and all around him. So quiet ... just staring at Flash, he couldn't take it. His fist curled up tightly next to him, knuckles whitening. "What do you want?" he called out, glaring at Zelous.

Chiharu_Seiken was unaware that her eyes were turning red, their clan's unique body reflexes due to strong surge emotion, but she does'nt know why her eyes turned into that color. Usually she knows or she controls the color...

Zelous shrugs to Flash's responce. Finally he speaks, his voice sounding clear even through the raging winds, pelting rain, and the boom of thunder. "Wondering what you are still doing in the Nexus. You don't belong here Guardian." He said, his voice still holding that errie echo and cold edge to it. His features still seem clocked by the slightly baggy coat but it did show there was some muscle in some of his figure at least. The intimidating figure shrugged againa after stating his editorial.

Flash_Guardian hrmphed, also shrugging lightly and grinning malevolently. "Not my fault I was assigned here. Seems like our old pantheon is becoming more and more interested in this 'Nexus.'" He looked suddenly thoughtful. "And I suppose I could ask you the same. For what purpose has your master willed you here? Or are you just on vacation?" he snarked.

Zelous tilted his head to the side... not in thought more in gesture. "I'm here by my own will. My 'master' had no say in this, he infact is concerned of ordering me about... afraid that I might just turn around and cut him down then take HIS place as a the god of evil. But the reason I'm here has nothing to do with the Abyss and it's matters..." He didn't smirk about this, he seemed serious when saying this. A bold confidence.

Flash_Guardian gazed narrowly at Zelous, trying to read from his face what he wasn't saying with his words. The storm seems to intensify around the two characters, as if stimulated by their presence or the reaction between them. Thunder again rumbles somewhere in the distance; the wind whips Flash's rain-stricken hair about his head. He remembers something his friend had mentioned to him earlier, and quickly thought of a response. "Your master must not be very pleased with you ... I'd imagine he doesn't take betrayal well after the incident with Malifar," he states, taking a moment to glimpse down at Zelous's sword as Blank had earlier instructed, trying to make it look more casual than inquisitive.

Zelous notes the katana seems normal at first, though if one looks closer... past the face value of the weapon one would find it filled with power. The energy inside the weapon beyond most any Flash would have seen. The source of the weapon's power was souls... not just a few but thousands, millions, possibly billions of souls. Souls of innocents, bold paladins, animals, even great avatars and even souls of the wicked. The blade was indifferent in the lives and souls it took... it drank blood and energy when it needed. His other sword was less obvious, it seemed nor more than a simple sword, blessed with unholy flames for on it's blade. Though there was something strange about it... a potental to be something more horrifingly powerful. "I don't want his godhood... If I did I would have taken it a long time ago."

Flash_Guardian 's heart raced at what he saw ... he couldn't help but stare at least a little, but did his best to look away and back to Zelous's face, his eyes wide. That sword was NOT something to be trifled with ... He swallowed as lightning flashed over the area, its light seeming to be echoed in Zelous's eyes, followed by deeply rumbling thunder. "I'm sure you could," Flash said after clearing his throat, a slight edge of fear on his voice.

[Zelous] Infact I could take off his item of power and still surivive. I could rally the six other Dark Angels to my cause as well." He said, still completely calm as though he didn't notice the change in Flash's tone. "So I ask again Flash, why are you here? Is your god really that interested in planting his minions in this rotting realm? Either way... I suppose I did come for a reason. Stay out of our way and you might survive."

Flash_Guardian 's mind worked at Zelous's words ... there had to be some sort of reason behind his threats. Zelous wanted to stop him from doing something ... but what? He suspected his involvement in the plans to free Flowar ... but there was no way to tell for certain. He looked defiantly back at Zelous. "Angels or not, I have my reasons for being here as well, and I don't intend to leave until I've fulfilled them." He took a step backward, his eyes full of ire and not leaving Zelous's gaze. "I sincerely hope, when the time comes, you'll have the mettle to back up your threats." Without another word, Flash clapped his hands. Lightning flashed at that moment, blinding any normal eyes around him, and when the light receded Flash was gone from Zelous's view, now back in the tower standing over his things. Flash stood waiting, ready for Zelous's next move.

Zelous was still standing where he was when the move was complet, his arm raised in front of his face as a reflexive motion to not become blindined. Blinking once or twice he glanced about breifly, quickly spotting the guardian. He shook his head to himself and slowly walked towards the base of the tower, his hand going for the handle of his katana. Upon arrival, he stood there for a moment though in consintration, suddenly in one swift movement, almost impossible to follow the blade was drawn out and swung upward diagonally. It seemed as though his arm moved from one place to another instantly a second later came the horrific sound of the cursed sword, the Masamure. The howl of billions of tortured souls coming from the blade, it would make grown men fall to the floor sick from the stomach turning noise. Then came the responce. The tower seemed to crack and groan after several seconds passed then the tower started to slide from it's base in the shape of where Zelous had cut. It slide and slide bairly C

[Zelous] - one fall bairly missing Flash's head. It continued to collaps and slide untill it was completely rid of it's base... then it exploded into a shower of stones and moter. It sounded as though a moutain was exploding... or falling down on someone. As the structure fell Zelous had replaced his blade and began to walk away. No stones what so ever landed on Flash but he was now left in the rain, a remains of building all about him. If he had noticed... he would also see a lock of hair on the ground beside him... Flash's hair. It was a grazing shot but enough to put the point across. Zelous continued to walk away... the storm dieing down... and the sound of the rubble settling in the distance.

Flash_Guardian suddenly popped back into existence on top of the rubble with a puff of ether. His face an angry snarl, he assumed a cautious stance, thrusting his arm forward rapidly at Zelous with an open hand, fingertips curled as if pulling at something invisible. Nothing seemed to happen.

Zelous continued to walk silently toward the forest. His hand resting on the top of his katana handle. Nothing, he did nothing else. Silence followed.

Flash_Guardian just smirks, and suddenly Zelous hears a whirring noise of something approaching him from the woods nearby. A cloud of some two dozen throwing-stars hurtling rapidly towards Zelous. As each shuriken flies through the air, its chosen element begins to radiate from its whirling center - red-hot flame, sparking electricity, or penetrating sonic vibrations surrounding each one.

Zelous walked forward. Then it happened all in a split second... he was hit. Two dozen thrown stars stuck into his chest, arms, and legs. He stopped there.. flame trying to eat away at his flesh, eletricty trying to spread to his body, the sound vibrations seemed to have made little difference in how far they went. Zelous turned around to face Flash, his face completely calm as though nothing had happened. Blood slowly oozed from each wound and traveled down his black attire. He stared at Flash, a blank look... perhaps a look of warning or maybe intimidation... who knows.

Flash_Guardian narrows his eyes and scowls. He cocks his head to one side and pulls his open hand towards him, slightly bending his arm. He watches as his shurikens tear away from Zelous's body. The throwing stars fly back through the air, returning to Flash harmlessly. He snatches each one out of the air, gathering them in his two hands and looking at each one with a smile, as if forgetting all about the existence of Zelous for a moment. "I knew I'd left you all somewhere out in those woods after the incident last night," he said, smiling down at the shurikens as if they were his lost children. The smile melts off his face quickly as he shoots a final look of hatred at Zelous, before stooping amidst the rubble to collect his things. "Cut my hair, the bastard ..." he muttered under his breath.

Zelous looks away again and starts his slow march out of the area. "Remember my warning." He said, his voice echoing through the night seeming clear above the sounds of the soft wind. Once he walked into the shadows of the forest he vanished into a cloud of shadow.

Flash_Guardian quickly gathered his things ... now that Zelous had left, it fully hit him what had just transpired. He could be seen visibly shaking as he picked up his cape and briefcase, finding it had been smashed open. He pulled his shirt from the rubble frantically. He just wanted to be somewhere else, anywhere but out in this accursed storm.

Flash_Guardian watches as his white vest rips, now nothing more a single ragged shred of white cloth. He stared at it angrily, his fist clenched tightly about it, his rage building out of nowhere. "One of these days, Zelous ... you will meet your end. I swear it."