[D9 ME] Playing Around

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazuminwas surprised and let out a loud laugh as Yurei flipped upside down and Kazumi grabbed her legs to stabilize her before releasing her legs so she could return to normal. A few people had gathered around some to wait their turn and a few attracted by the spectacle, a light applause could be heard at the ronins antics. Kazumi stepped to the side and spread their arms out to the side toward Yurei as if presenting her.

Kazumi was breathing a little heavily from the exertion of the frenetic game "I'd say if you have the ability to do it no rules say you have to use your feet." They said clearly amused by it

[Yūrei]

Snip

Yūrei laughs, her face flushed with embassy as she gives a half bow before turning to present Kazumi in kind.

"Absolutely! It just takes some practice, the ability to fall down a lot and keep going, and a partner with quick reflexes. I think we made a pretty good showing of it all things considered."
She leans back against the platform rails to catch her breath.

"Imagine if it had been to one of your tracks, neh? Even higher score."

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi gave a flourishing bow to the crowd not as outwardly embarrassed as Yurei. They were fairly used to a crowd even if their own performance was less entertaining then hers had been.

Kazumi grabbed their jacket and hooked it on a couple fingers and slung it over their shoulder. Kazumi laughed a little at her words "Well I'd need to make it significantly bigger than I am now if you want to see one of my songs on a game like this."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"That's how you'll know you made it, when kids can compete to beat the high score on your latest single."
Jumping down lightly from the platform and looking around.

"Now, where are those completive cabinets? Tamori Splitters is always great and they've got that whole physical cover thing so you can get in a workout too. Plus, I want to see how good you are."
She makes a finger pistols and mimes firing off a few shots.

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi stepped off with her "uhh I think they're over this way. His free hand found hers again as they walked toward the part of the part of the arcade set aside for the shoot cabinets. Less kids and around this part mostly older samurai and some teens.

"Well I'm not tsuruchi marksman but I'm a pretty good shot and not too bad at finding cover if it's available. Can't have myself getting shot now or I won't be able to cook you any more breakfasts." They teased as they came up to the counter.

[Yūrei]

Snip

She squeezes Kazumi's hand gently, running her thumb over it as they venture forth.
"Oh yeah, no I can't risk those breakfasts. You put yourself behind cover when needed, and maybe see about getting some more of those dumplings."

TAMORI SPLITTERS flashes up on the consoles with 3 difficulties

Crab

Lion

Tsuruchi extreme

The little icons of the heroes, a pair of Dragons dual wielding ornate pistols blinked up at them.

"Oooh okay, so do you want to be the one who can teleport? Or the tanky one who can make a shield?"

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi thought for a moment "hmmm well the quick teleporty one seems to be more like me in real life so I'll got with big shield one, a little escapism can be nice." They said

"how about difficulty? Looking for a soul crushing challenge or something tough but manageable?" Kazumi asked one eyebrow raising in question.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Pffft, we can totally win on Tsuruchi extreme. Just remember to track your ammo and uh, hope we get lucky on the grenade boss?"
She picks the teleporter character who gives a little bow and the console's fade to black before a cutscene plays depicting the two heroes meditating on a mountaintop before their sensei is murdered.

"You ready Kazumi-sama?"
She takes up a pose at her cabinet with her lightgun readied.

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi smirked and posed in a ridiculous manner leaning far back and pointed the light gun over at Yurei in a way that mirrored a character from that over the top animated show "Let's do this Yurei-chan!"

They say before snapping back into a readied stance. Games like this were fun they not only tested your marksmanship (kind of) but they also tested your brains and strategy.

Being the tangier of the two Kazumi rushed their character forward to grab aggro and popped off a few good shots to distract the enemies so Yurei good get to a good vantage.

[Yūrei]

Kazumi smirked and posed in a ridiculous manner leaning far back and pointed the light gun over at Yurei in a way that mirrored a character from that over the top animated show "Let's do this Yurei-chan!"

They say before snapping back into a readied stance. Games like this were fun they not only tested your marksmanship (kind of) but they also tested your brains and strategy.

Being the tangier of the two Kazumi rushed their character forward to grab aggro and popped off a few good shots to distract the enemies so Yurei good get to a good vantage.

"Nice! Okay, now I'll get them!"
The little animated enemies dressed in black start firing at Kauzmi's character as Yūrei's teleports to a nearby roof and starts taking them in the back for bonus damage.

"Oh man, these guys are chunky! We're gonna have to work on our combos." She starts focusing on hitting the same targets Kazumi does to stagger the oncoming foes who blaze away at their cover.

Yūrei is getting right into it, ducking down when fired at, jumping back to squeeze off some shots, eyes narrowed in concentration.

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi smirked though the expression was hidden and their eyes never left the screen. They were just as focused as Yurei cursing inwardly at each missed shot knowing how precious ammo was in this mode but they hit more shots then they missed and likewise used cover generously.

"I'm popping my shield and moving out to flank" they said as they turned into mobile cover and moved to a spot that invalidated most of the enemy cover. Even with the shield they took a few hits.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Sweet, wait-crap! Miniboss!"
Yūrei pews violently at the screen as a much larger black clad figure with a huge ono enters the screen with a group of mooks.
"You gotta see if you can get around him on that flank, my teleport is on recharge!"
From her tone anyone would think she was in an actual firefight as she keeps crouching into cover before firing back.

"The rear of his mempo is the weak spot!"

[Soshi Kazumi]

shit kazumi thought as they looked for a good firing solution "no guys no glory!" They shouted as they moved to get an angle on the boss, their shield was at less than half charge as they moved it would take a little luck to make it to a spot with cover.

The shield broke just as Lazumi came to a spot just behind the boss and they ate another hit for their efforts "I'm low on health but have the shot." Kazumi peeked from cover and let off some rounds at the bosses weak spot downing it! "Good intel!" They shouted triumphantly.

[Yūrei]

Snip

Yūrei raises her gun in celebration.
"Knew you'd nail it!"
With a few more shots she clears out the chaff and the new little characters start walking to the next stage, a winding path up to an isolated mountain temple

"Pretty cool so far, right?"

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi took a chance to breath deeply gaining a bit of health from the check point but still injured "It's very fun, you seem to know your way around the game pretty well. More observation or do you play it often?" They asked as a cut scene showed the new level.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Oh I just watched a lot you know. And some kids would leave with money still in the machine, that's when I'd strike and try to finish their runs!"
Sighing
"Usually they left because they kinda suck though, so it was hard. But you live and learn."

The peaceful temple explodes and an army of oni possessed soldiers comes out to attack the pair
"Okay, now we just gotta keep moving since our cover will degrade. I'm gonna go for that rooftop powerup!"
Her avatar teleports to the roof of a shed and grabs a barely visible golden rifle.

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi chuckles this time "seems you've watched quite a bit." Their tone was a little teasing but with a warm undertone, seeing her into it was pretty endearing.

"Alright let's give it our best!" They said focusing back up on the game firing and keeping more mobile to not use up cover too quickly. In a stroke of luck they double tapped and took out two enemies with a pair of lucky headshots "yes!"

[Yūrei]

Snip

The announcer booms 'ultra kill!' and upgrades Kazumi's character with an armoured pauldron

"A girl's gotta have hobbies, you know...cheap hobbies."
She headshots a few mooks from the roof, getting a feel for the new weapon.

"You ready for the stage boss? He's got these different attack patterns and- oh there he is!"

A huge multiheaded dragon emerges from the flames, attacking both their characters simultaneously!

[Soshi Kazumi]

"Oh wow that sounds complica- holy shit!" They exclaim before diving behind cover. The armor upgrade was useful as the attack only took part of their health.

Kazumi popped off some wild cover fire to test how the ai would act to it hoping to slow it some "ok fearless leader you know the enemy, what's the plan of attack?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Right...plan. I've only seen one person beat this stage before. We both need to take down a head within 5 seconds of eachother. Then we combo the central one! We gotta make sure our timing is on point."

She looks over and beams at them
"You ready for that?"