"I... I'm.," Nobu was nervous; after all he'd been through, a pretty girl that seemed just about his age was asking his name, and calling him a cutie. He blushed slightly, worried that she might find out that he was all drugged up. Something was up, though. His hallucinations were making her look rather strange, and the imaginary words of the talking cat were only making introductions uncomfortable. "... I'm sorry, is this your cat? I'm not feeling well. I have to go. I-I-I'll see you around."

With that, he ran off, darting down an alley way. What strange foolishness was he experiencing? Was this going to last forever? "Was that cat really talking?" he asked himself. He waved his Bachi around, insisting aloud. "I mean, it's not like I could just say something and become a superhero like 'Spear-san.' That'd be ridiculous."

He looked down at his lucky drumstick, scrutinizing it in private. "The first thing that comes to your mind, she says," he murmured in disbelief. "That could be anything, it could be about a planet, a person, an item, or even a direction! I could just say something dumb like, Mercury, Knight... Armor Up, and I--"

Suddenly, ribbons of pure curiosity shot out from, and above his head. They swirled about, proudly sharing his thoughts and feelings with the world itself. The Snow-white, magical ribbons then wrapped his body; snaking around his limbs, before fading into the crisply seamed fabric of the Solar System's finest tailoring. Once transformed, he was sporting a peak lapel, one button, swallow tail morning suit; an ice-blue, six button vest and a white collared dress shirt. He also gained an ice-blue bow tie, that was pinned with the silver, horn-ringed cross of Mercury.

Finally, and most importantly; his entire face was shielded by an iron Somen, suspended by laces of blue silk that hung over his neck. A horsehair mustache complimented the bushy iron eyebrows of his face mask. He was dressed to kill, and hardly felt himself. Memories of a warrior's life passed through his mind, and with it; he couldn't help but let his mind drift away. It was as if he was no longer here, as if someone else had taken his place.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

“Val?” Sophia says, as her former teammate steps out of the darkness. The sickening air about her was a clue something had changed. Valdis never carried her corruption so heavily before. Like high level youma or… Zodiac as Luna hissed.

Her face goes neutral as she watches Valdis comment on the scene and walks up to the knight. At this point, Sophia can’t quite tell what is going to happen with the youma, Lance, Val, and the new knight. However, the new knights darts off. “Wait!” she says after him.

Frost energy heads in her and Lance’s direction. “Shield of Radiance,” she calls, and creates two shields around both of them. Now, she is torn between going after the new knight and helping Lance. Crap… When the frost energy breaks, she forms a bubble shield around the youma, trapping it in light. From what Valdis said, the shield of light was uncomfortable to be around for most youma. “You are being irrational right now. There is a high level Covenant member, a Zodiac, and a Senshi here, all three of which disagree with the actions that you have taken. Albeit for different reasons, but the point remains. If you think for a second that you will win this fight, you are wrong. I hate fighting, so I’m going to give you the opportunity to leave.” She gestures at the scene around here, “Besides, you can’t collect energy around here anymore anyways. Everyone has ran away after all this. There isn’t even a point to this!” With that, she releases the youma from the bubble shield to hopefully make the smart decision here.

Valdis giggled at the puffed out cat; her eyes narrowing and a twisted grin spreading across her face. She had been wanting to do this for quite a while. She walked up to the spitting cat; and put her foot under its belly and proceeded to launch it a good distance away….it other words she kicked the cat. A laugh coming from her throat as it skidded away.

”Really you should learn that the Zodiac are like a swarm of bees; you kill one and another one takes its place. Frankly you can’t wipe as all out at once…futile fight really.”

She giggled a bit more; however she turned to Lance when he addressed her. Her eyebrow quirking up as her smile slightly fell.

”Territory or not you accepted being a part of the covenant; you may be Taurus calf but you still answer to the Zodiac and The Queen who is above us. This one is acting on her Zodiacs orders; whom may or may not be aware of your arrangement.”

Valdis sighed as the newbie was running off; she was really hoping for a name. Her joyful gaze turned that of one of boredom as the ice blast came towards her. It never reached her though; fizzling to water a few feet before it hit her. Her eyes turned up towards the woman.

”There is no more energy to cipher here; report back to your Zodiac with what you observed. Tell them that there is a possible knew knight along with a short skirt squad member in the area. Then move on to another district; and use some god damn subtlety next time.”

She then turned to Sophia; a cheshire like grin on her face and gave a deep mocking bow.

”Lucky for you due to the contract between Lance and the Cow my hands are tied with dealing with you; until next time…Little Mouse…

She let out a bark of a laugh at a joke now only known to her before fading away into the youma world once more.

Luna’s eyes bugged out as she was suddenly forcefully kicked and sent flying. The blow had been executed where it more launched her then hurt her. She landed deep into a snow bank; by the time she wormed her way out the knight was gone. Sophia was also surrounded by a force field and Valdis was just disappearing…The cat blinked….what by the earth and moon just happened. She ran towards Sophia.

”This has to be one of the most confusing awakenings yet…We have to find the new knight and inform the others that there is a new Zodiac! and its Valdis! I knew she turned covenant but...this. Lets hope the new Knight is still close by!”

Luna looked towards the other fighting the youma; He seemed to have this handled. So she turned paw and went to go find the new knight who had run off. He needed to be convinced!

The youma watches Lance approach and the shields from Sophia deflect her attacks. She narrows her eyes as he approaches and stomps the platform she was on, causing a large burst of frozen spikes to erupt several feet in every direction which would make a straight attack from Lance more complicated. The Eris Knight's rush into melee forced her to conjure a blade of ice to exchange blows with him for, but it was clear Lance was the superior fighter in terms of melee as her blade shatters within two parries of his spear and a strike lands true with yellow blood piercing armor and skin.

She leaps back and begins to form a distinctly powerful ice spell as a swirling mass of frost and chaos energy begins to gather, but when Valdis barks the order to disengage, she glares for a moment, before evaluating her options. She dives off the side of the building and onto the ground, having condensed as much energy as she could within her body and begins to flee the area.

A yellow trail of blood would allow pursuers to keep up if they inclined, and she would flee down the street and several alleys scaring the few awake civilians still about.

As the youma leaves and the new knight flees Lance sees his chance and decides to take it. With his superhuman speed he darks after the new night eventually encountering him in a slightly sketchy alleyways. Sophia would eventually catch up, but Lance had an offer to make first.

"Listen pal, I've got an offer to make you. You're now a knight, you've got some new and pretty potent powers. A group of do gooders is going to come and try to recruit you, but you won't be able to do much more than help them blow their dying cause. I'd like to offer to hire you to help protect Shinjuku from those who try to hurt the innocent here, like what I tried to do today. The city is too big for just me and I could really use the extra fire power." He suggests.

"What do you think, it comes with free room and meals."

Sophia frowns as Valdis says her hands are tied about dealing with her. “You and I both know that is a bluff.” She still couldn’t figure out why Val was so scared or why she needed to hide what she was doing and what she was doing. She shakes her head a little as Val disappears, and turns her attention to the situation at hand. Relief washes over her as the youma runs off. She nods as Luna mentions finding the knight, and darts off after her.

Superspeed seems handy because Lance beats her to it. “I can’t really compete with an offer like that,” she says, “I am a member of the band of do-gooders and the short skirt squad. We’d like you to join us, and attempt to save everyone and bring an end to this continuous war and winter. Unfortunately, we don’t have anything to offer you. And admittedly, it is difficult work. I don’t think hope is lost for a good future though. I think we can bring one about. You don’t need to make the decision now though.”

"KEEP. YOUR. FOOD."

It must have been a shock; for what was expected to be a sweet, and timid young boy to be shouting through a mustache of horse hair in the grizzly voice of an agitated senior citizen. His posture was sharply attentive, and commanded as much, if not more respect than any other in the area. His mask was locked in a perpetual, exaggerated snarl; only adding to the intensity of his rough, commanding voice. He was strong willed, assertive, and forceful in his gestures. He pointed his index finger, at the young man that dared to call him 'Pal,' very nearly touching his nose, and unleashed every piece of his mind that he had.

"You think because I am an upstart, I am without shelter or food-?!" His gloved fingers rapidly clenched, as if snatching Lance's very nose out from under him, and crushing it. "It would do you well, not to insult those that you beseech for alliance." He raised a hand, panning it about, referring to the buildings around him as he spoke. "You speak of PROTECTING, Shinjuku; and yet, refer to your rivals as 'do-good-ers.'  What utter nonsense."

The masked man slammed his fist into his open palm, to emphasize yet another point. "You lack CONVICTION! What matter of man are you, that fights for a cause other that what he deems as 'good,?  Lest, you pride yourself as a coward?" Concluding his scolding, he waved an open palm at Lance, dismissively. "You have told me very little about your allegiance, but I have heard enough that I know I would have NO place in it."

"... but," he interjected, raising a halting hand to Sophia before she can contribute to his ramblings. "Just because you, young lady, have not gained a rival; it does not make me your ally. We have much to discuss, before I decide if our interests align. Sit, and we shall speak."

With that, the masked man drew a pair of drum sticks from his belt, bowed politely to Sophia, and crossed them over the floor. Miraculously, the man was able to sit over the drumsticks, as if an invisible stool had appeared before him. His knees were far apart, and one hand rested on his knee with his elbow squared. He leaned to his right side, interested in the conversation to come. Clearly, this masked man had no sense of urgency about a Youma running rampant about the streets. It was not yet HIS responsibility. The pressure of their obligations to combat the fleeing beast would surely give the bargaining advantage to him, so there was little reason not to exploit his opportunities.

"For the purpose of addressing me during our negotiations, you may refer to me as, 'Bushido no Yūki,' and nothing short of 'Bushi-dono.' As you are guests of my company, you will ask no questions until you have answered three crucial criteria."

Bushi-dono raised one finger on his free hand, asking, "Who -- are you?"
He raised a second finger, demanding, "Whom -- by name, do you represent?"
He raised a third finger, concluding, "Why -- have you chosen me for your ally?"

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

Lance shakes his head as the boy suddenly turns into an old man samurai. "Well that was simple, alright let me lay down the basics then." He says with a sigh. "Shinjuku is my territory, I protect the citizens here from supernatural threats be they covenant or senshi. Due to an agreement I have I cannot endorse a meeting between transformed senshi and knights so I am afraid I will need to ask you to leave." He says as he reaches over and plucks up Sophia.

"You know the rules kiddo." He warns the venus knight with a not unfriendly tone and he was obviously not trying to hurt her, but he does begin walking her out of Shinjuku. "So long as your transformed and not actively defending the city your dangerous."

Sophia steps back and blinks as the knight’s voice booms. She’s not sure what it is about knights, but becoming entirely different people from time to time seemed to be commonplace. She gives an apologetic bow, “I did not mean to assume anything about your allegiance, Bushi-dono. I simply wanted to request your assistance in my cause.”

She doesn’t really expect to be picked up off the ground. “Sorry. I’m turning back now.” Sophia says to Lance, turning back to her untransformed state, “Can I get set down now?”

The chin of the masked figure lowered, giving the illusion that the eye-holes in the mask had narrowed. He grew more, and more unimpressed with the scenario as it dragged on. "... and for what you you have us changed?! It is not the blade between the palms that defines danger or might, but the warrior that wields it."

Slapping his knee authoritatively, he turned his head to lance and insisted. "I play no such part in your contracts; and so, refuse to obey them. I have joined no such covenant. I am no such 'Senshi.' I am no such 'Knight.' Take that as you will -- as these terms ring loudly in my memory. Yet, I fear that my meaning for them has long been forgotten. Trying to remember them, gives me nothing but visions. Visions of a great Daimyo, and his wife; long cursed with unending death, and their farmlands plagued with endless winters."

The masked man then hung his head, slouching in his invisible stool. "I fear that these daydreams are not merely children's tales of superstition. Both of you speak these words, 'Knight' and 'Senshi,' as if I am to simply understand them as they mean to YOU!" Balling his fist, he pointed between the two of them, demanding, "I have no such knowledge of either factions you represent. Thus, I expect my questions answered, before any more requests or demands are made of me!"

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

Lance sets Sophia down as she returns to her untransformed state with a nod. Though when the samurai rails off at him Lance's eyes narrow and he shakes his head. If the samurai wanted a fight he was very close to getting his wish as Lance's patience was limited. He looks at the main and says simply "I do not care if you do not understand what is going on, either leave the general area or turn back to the clueless kid. I need to go confront the boss of that monster that was here earlier, but I can't leave as long as you are sitting here like that." He tells the man with an irritated tone as he looks at Sophia and takes a deep breath.

"I am trying to be reasonable, but if you are going to insist on being a problem just tell me now and we can start mixing it up. I am not making an unreasonable request, but if you are really spoiling that much for a fight I certainly won't say "no"." He tells the knight as messages his temple, this was really getting to be a headache.

Lance could feel the chaos inside him pushing him to fight, but he had made a set of rules for a reason, he would not violate them unless he really had to. He looks at Sophia "listen kiddo, do you wanna take your new friend somewhere that isn't here to talk? Maybe you can make sense of his gibberish." He asks giving Sophia a chance to try and convince the mad samurai before he got himself and possibly a chunk of Shinjuku hurt.

“Ummm. I don’t think you’re the only one has another person take over the driver’s seat anymore,” Sophia says quietly to Lance.

She places a hand over her chest, “I am Sophia Torres. I take the title of Sailor Venus. I represent the Senshi and Knights who wish to end a war that has lasted 8 years. I haven’t chosen you, but ask you to join us as you have a power that few possess. With the magic that you wield, you can protect people, and I believe we have a moral obligation to do so, Bushi-dono. If we are truly capable of generating peace, should we not do so? Not just for humanity, but youma alike. Unfortunately, this brings into conflict with the Covenant very often, who often act as aggressors. I don’t understand their reasons well, and I don’t enjoy fighting or violence. However, I think it is important to protect the residents of Tokyo from attack. Should humanity act as aggressors, I will step up to defend the youma.” She bows again, “I humbly request that you join our cause.”

She gestures to Lance, “Evans-dono is the lord of this area called Shinjuku. He is a member of the Covenant, but aims to protect all, human and youma, in this region. Even I make attempts to respect his domain. Joining him would be an equally worthy endeavour, should you wish it, Bushi-dono. However, Evans-dono has asked that we leave if you wish to continue any discussion about joining my faction. If you desire it, please follow me, and we may continue to talk on these matters.”

Placing both hands on his knees, he lifted himself from his invisible seat with unease. "Although I am without allegiance, the skies of this land yet darken with hostility. Perhaps it has alread y been decided for me, that I should join your quest; as I have already stepped on the toes of your rival." Bowing from the hip, he complimented Sophia. "Your people are of a Respectful, and Civil nature, Torres-san. If I am to expect this from your colleagues, I am sure to find my place among your ranks."With that, he nodded his head, insisting, "Now, then. Let us leave the place behind us. I wish to forget it, and all ill temper it has brought me. It is best that I discuss myself in secret, any how."

He wasn't sure if Lance so much as cared about him, but the fact that a 'Lord' of such an entire region  was made his rival with not but a single exchange was disturbing. Perhaps once Bushi-dono had his own 'land,' to defend, he might hold enough political power to be listened too...

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

As Sophia placates Lance his frown deepens but he lets out a sigh and looks at the new knight. He seemed to be reflecting a bit, though his attitude still bothered Lance. "Listen I get that you just awakened and everything that is going on it probably confusing for you. I am not trying to cause you problems or abuse my powers, but if I am to protect the people of this area as best I can there are rules I need to follow." He explains looking at the new knight, now that he was relaxing a bit it was easier to see the bags under his eyes. This was not the first instance of a youma violating his territory, though it was certainly the most blatant.

"Talk to the Venus, hear about the situation, then decide what you want to do. If you genuinely wish to try and vanquish me just tell that girl and she can arrange a duel between the two of us that will not put innocents at risk." He explains, this was too complicated.

"Kiddo, do you think you can explain the rules surrounding my territory along with everything else?" He asks as he prepares to walk away, he needed to deal with Aquarius now. "Do not come back here as a knight unless you are specifically helping innocents that are being harmed in the area." He says and with that turns his back and walks away.

"You helped out today, so I'll call us even." He says waving before vanishing into the crowd.