Genshu turned his attention toward this woman. It seemed he was in a rather awkward situation. Genshu spun his sword in his hand, rested the blade against the scabbard, drew his arm upward, sliding the length of the silver sword across the length of the sheath until the tip of the blade entered the opening of the scabbard, then thrusting the sword into his sheath. "You misunderstand lady, I do not mean her any ill will."

Genshu paused a moment to study this woman. She was strong, and very passionate toward her quest, yet a darkness resided within her, as if a cloud of sin shrouded her soul, and this observation mad Genshu all the more cautious.

Slowly, Genshu lowered himself, his fingers drawing Valeria's hair away so that he may check her vital signs.

"I said get the Hell away from her." Lorelai screamed. In a mere moment, Lorelai's weapon was drawn as she charged the silver haired samurai. Her life, her past had been a huge weight of sin. Valeria was her friend, and though she was not the most loyal of people, Lorelai would protect her friend with her life.

~ Why bother? ~ That damn voice again, taunting her, mocking her. ~ Do you really care so much about this person to risk your life? Will saving her erase your past? ~

"Shut up damn you!" Lorelai screamed, the frustration and hate wracking her body. She was tired. Tired of being ill, tired of her good intentions being questioned, and most of all, tired of being manipulated by this voice. Her life was her own; she was not a puppet to be toyed with. Lorelai was so enraged by the voice; she lashed out at the only thing in sight, the silver haired samurai.

Genshu's eyes narrowed and his body tensed. For a moment, only the briefest of moments, he sensed the presence of a darker entity. It was subtle, but it was there, within this woman. Though Genshu had no time to react or ponder this swelling darkness he felt, for now, this maddened, raven-haired warrioress was charging at him, her eyes burning with bloodlust.

Sword, quickly in hand, Genshu dropped to a defensive stance, blocking the swinging attack of this woman. Their weapons locked, these two stared each other down, reading in their eyes the intent of the other. Lorelai's eyes were wide and frantic, her anger driving away her fleeting sanity. Genshu's eyes, cold, hard and impassive. He did not seek this battle, but he would end it.

Lorelai was the first to act, pushing Genshu away and swinging her weapon in a wide arch. Genshu turned his body with the attack, spinning in a complete circle while avoiding the swing, and coming to rest behind Lorelai. With both hands on his sword, Genshu forced his weapon forward, driving the hilt of his sword squarely into the center of Lorelai's back.

A grunt of unpleasant pain escaped Lorelai's lips as the force of the attack pushed her forward. Genshu pushed the offensive, swinging the blade of his weapon at Lorelai's back, intent on finishing this battle early. Lorelai, her back to Genshu, brought her weapon up, over her head, then down behind her, the shaft of her scythe running parallel to her back. The thick shaft of Lorelai’s own weapon deflected Genshu’s powerful sword.

Genshu turned completely around, spinning his blade in his hand before facing Lorelai, who had now turned toward the samurai. Lorelai prepared herself, her knuckles white in the death grip she held her weapon in. With a quick jab forward, Lorelai extended her left arm, allowing the devilish, sickle blade to slice through the darkness and tear toward the samurai. Genshu easily ducked the attack, his sword jutting forward, slicing into Lorelai's leg, but the unbalanced attack made it only a glancing wound, and not dangerous to the warrioress, as Lorelai did not even scream. Unexpectedly, she stopped the swing of her own weapon, and reversed her attack, drawing her left arm in while thrusting her right arm out. The quickness of Lorelai surprised Genshu, but not as much as Lorelai's staff slamming into the samurai's face.

As Genshu stumbled backwards, Lorelai kicked the staggered man in the chest, knocking him to the ground. The wound in her leg was only an inconvenience. She had had several wounds, worse than this, though she never had the benefit of a draining rune before, as the attack to the samurai caused her own wound to heal. For the first time since she got this cursed rune, she was thankful to have it. Too much blood loss would cause a serious problem.

~ See, we can be useful. ~ The voice again, that damned voice. Why the Hell wouldn't it ever shut up? ~ Because, truth be known, you need us. And deep down, you know it. ~

"Shut up!" Lorelai screamed, charging again at Genshu, who was now on his feet. Again, Genshu felt the darkness ripple from this woman, but he was now more concerned about stopping her rampage. Lorelai pressed the attack once more, swinging her weapon in a downward arch. Genshu, ready for her assault, swung his sword upward in a furious strike, deflecting Lorelai's scythe in a shower of yellow and red sparks that briefly lit the clearing. Genshu, with his arms raised over his head, brought his fist down, punching Lorelai squarely in the face. Then, while Lorelai still suffered from the initial attack, Genshu raised his arm, his elbow driving under Lorelai's chin, the force of the attack snapping her head backwards.

Genshu then spun his body, extending his leg in a full round house kick. Yet his attack was blocked by the shaft of Lorelai's weapon. She recovered faster than Genshu anticipated. With his planned attack blocked, Genshu threw his body forward, into a somersault as Lorelai swung her scythe at the samurai. The sickle blade of Lorelai's weapon sliced through his robe, and cut his lower leg open.

Genshu rose to his feet, only to collapse to his knees. The wound in his leg, yet deep, had not caused this sudden swelling of weakness. Lorelai too, seemed puzzled until she saw the rune, the beautiful blue sleeping rune on her weapon glowing a gentle, lulling sapphire.

~ See, we are useful, now finish him while he's still down! ~

Genshu had wearily risen to his feet, as Lorelai swung her weapon, the blunt staff driving into his midsection. The overwhelming fatigue, combined with the force of Lorelai's attack sent Genshu flying through the air, stopping only when he slammed painfully into a nearby oak tree.

Genshu groggily attempted to shake the fatigue from his mind, but already, Lorelai was standing over him, her weapon toward him. Genshu was just alert enough to roll inward, underneath the violent swing of Lorelai's weapon. Lorelai raised her scythe again, driving the blunt end of her weapon's shaft into Genshu's ribs. Genshu coughed in pain, blood exploding from his mouth.

Lorelai, having stunned her enemy, raised her scythe to prepare to deliver the death stroke when Genshu kicked his leg outward, sweeping Lorelai's feet out from under her and knocking her to her back. Genshu raised to his knees, folded his fingers together and closed his eyes in deep concentration. A mere moment was all he had, as Lorelai was already getting to her feet, but that was all the time he needed. Opening his eyes, Genshu felt renewed energy coursing through his body. His mind managed to push away the effects of Lorelai's sleep rune.

Genshu rose to his feet, as Lorelai again pressed the attack, swinging her weapon toward the seemingly recovered samurai. Genshu sidestepped the attack, as the deadly blade of Lorelai's weapon split the ground where Genshu had been standing a mere moment prior. Genshu then kicked his leg, driving the flat of his foot into Lorelai's midsection. The wind rushed from Lorelai's body as she stumbled backward, only to have Genshu slam the hilt of his sword into Lorelai's neck muscle, forcing her to her knees. Genshu then grabbed the back of her hair, and drove his knee into Lorelai's face. Lorelai fell to the ground, expecting the deathblow from the samurai, but it hadn't come.

"Why doesn't he finish me?" Lorelai asked as she painfully rose to her feet.

~ Because he is weak. Just like you. We let you do it your way, now it’s our turn. ~

The night itself grew deathly still as the darkness swelled in the evening twilight. Lorelai felt the darkness creep up her spine, a moment before her world went black.

Genshu watched the transformation with reserved disbelief. Lorelai's eyes changed, the pupils and whites of her eyes, swallowed by the inky blackness within her. Her posture too, changed slightly. She slumped at the shoulders, and her face was distorted by a sick, sardonic sneer as she stared at the samurai.

~ Why do you act as if you are so surprised samurai? ~ The voice taunted, though it spoke through Lorelai's voice, it also echoed the darkness within. ~ I can see it in your eyes. You should not be so surprised, this vessel is only a temporary base until I find something else. But I see you don't really care. So, human, do you wish to see Hell? Don't worry, I will take you there personally. ~

Lorelai proceeded to attack again, her body moving at inhuman speed. Every part of her became a weapon, as she spun the sickle in her hands, kicking with her feet, punching with her freed hand. She was a weapon, just as the sword, a tool of destruction.

Genshu was forced back by the attack. The surprising speed and efficiency of Lorelai gave him little time to react, and no opening. He could do nothing but defend, and even with his superior speed, he was quickly losing this battle, as Lorelai gave no signs of slowing down, or weakening.

Lorelai gained partial control of her eyesight, seeing the battle as if it was happening between two other people, and she could only watch to see who would be the victor. Past the samurai, Lorelai could see Valeria beginning to stir. She felt relieved her friend was alive.

~ Good. Now we get to kill them both. ~

NO!! Lorelai mentally screamed. She was mentally exhausted, but she fought control, taking possession of her body once again. She fought to save Valeria; she would be damned if she let this voice kill her. "NO!" Lorelai screamed, throwing the scythe aside, leaving her defenseless before the samurai.