#Azuki Suminori

[mitakiharaoriginal]

Azuki picked up the pace until they were at a brisk walk...

Azuki picked up the pace until they were at a brisk walk, avoiding jogging or running to keep up their energy and decrease the chances of slipping. She looked forward, squinting slightly against the renewed force of wind and rain batting against her eyes and glasses, continuing to grip onto Rino's hand, taking some solace in the warmth that human contact provided, and that a friend was still safe and close behind. After a few more steps, Azuki looked behind herself to check on Rino, noting her distress...

It was then that a pair of figures seemingly appeared out of nowhere; each of the assailants wore no shirts despite the biting cold of the rain, their skin covered in dripping "tattoos" that they had literally carved or had carved into themselves, their lower wear was ripped and covered in blood, and their faces all had a strange, circular symbol with arrows pointing in various directions painted on their faces. Their faces were contorted with rage and eyes were full of blood lust. One was much further back, apparently content in just cheering for his comrade, and the other one had somehow managed to stand directly behind Rino, having gotten there through means that Azuki knew could only be magical as she would have heard their footsteps otherwise. In his hand was a crudely made axe, with a sheen of rust and some fresh blood smothered around the blade, dripping off as rain washed it away. In the moment that the raven haired girl had noticed them, he already had his arm raised, ready to strike down upon his unwary prey. Within human boundaries, it should have been too late, he was already in motion and Azuki was still enough steps away that it would be over... However... She wasn't human.

"Rino!!" Azuki yelled, letting go of her friend's hand and gritting her teeth as the man's arm began to lower, his arm shaking and the axe trembling within the tightness of his grip. Time seemed to slow for the puella as adrenaline and magic began to kick in, she lowered her center of balance and mumbled in a hush, "One-hundred percent."

Within a fraction of a fraction of a second, the Puella ring she wore flashed, her eyes glinted a glowing bright orange before they glazed over. Then, Azuki was gone. Where she stood was nothing but air, and falling rain. Rino would feel a push to her back, pushing her forward and away from the attacker. In front of him now stood Azuki, her dash could be described as teleportation, if not for the splash of water and the gust of wind that followed her wake, her glasses left behind and ribbon carried off by wind. The puella's assault was almost as quick as her "flash step": in fluid, impossibly fast motion, Azuki swept her left arm upwards, forearm crashing into the axe man's own with a veritable crack. In the same space, before the man's face could contort in pain, Azuki delivered a punch to the his jaw, more cracking noises being released into the air as the man's cheekbone then nose broke in succession. Not yet finished, Azuki lowered her left arm once more, grabbing the forearm with its new "joint" and yanking, turning her body at the waist and pulling her left arm toward the right, lowering her legs to use full force into throwing the man into the cheering one behind him, sending both flying off to the side and into the wall, all of this happening within the same moment that it took for the axe to hit the ground in a clatter. The colors and light returned to Azuki's eyes as she took a deep breath and relaxed her now screaming muscles, walking one step forward and turning to Rino when there was adequate distance.

"Fuyuki-san," she started, pausing as she looked around to make sure the coast was clear. Her face was dead serious, and her mouth was curled in a frown, though her eyes, ever the window into her emotions gave way to the concern and fear for her friend's safety, and she didn't know what to say, "I... You could have died..."