[OPEN] I detest weaknesses

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Who: Miyako Hotsuin (capitalbackup) and you!
When: Backdated to March 14th, 13th Hour.
Where: Sagittarius district.
Summary: After being caught off guard by a monster, Miyako awakened her Persona.
Warnings: Fighting monsters and usual Hotsuin issues.

Miyako Hotsuin disliked weakness. By extension of that, she also dislike—no, hate being weak.

But for all of her skills with the sword, as well as her control over her spiritual and magical powers, she’s becoming more and more aware of her weaknesses. She knew and acknowledged her poor social skills and tact. Miyako was also aware that she’s not a very likeable person to some people. She acknowledged and accepted those.

What she did acknowledge and believe in was her own strength. When it comes to the skill with a sword, Miyako’s vastly superior to Yamato. It’s both a fact and something she secretly take pride in. It’s one of the reasons why, without the shackles of pretending to be her brother, she can easily stay at the top in a meritocracy. Losing to anyone shouldn’t be an option to her.

But she lost not only once, but twice.

Miyako had mostly calmed down since her loss against Hibiki Kuze’s group. When she can calmly (in other word, not being angry again at Yamato and Alcor) analyse that battle, she could see how they won. She could see, but it didn’t meant she have to like it. It’s only what happened afterwards that soured her feelings about her defeat.

But she had calm down and forced herself to ignore it. It’s not normal or healthy, but she don’t want to dwell on it too much.

All was well, even after Yamato’s return from a tower and she left him alone. He didn’t want to talk about it, she will leave it be.

It’s when she lost the duel against Mordred Pendragon that something in her snapped. Fortunately, she didn’t lash out to Mordred immediately after she lost. But it didn’t change the fact that in a duel with swords, without the help of any magic or her demons, fighting with just their skills, she lost.

She lost.

With the skills she took pride in, the same skills that made her stand on her own from Yamato’s shadow, she...lost. It’s more than enough for her to continue her nightly training, but her approach was more agitated and almost reckless. Several times, she forced herself to calm down and remember the discipline in the way of the sword.

Tonight, she’s going out again to train. So she can be strong enough to defeat Mordred Pendragon and avenge her loss. So she can be worthy again to uphold her ideal. So she can stop feeling so utterly pathetic about herself...!

[SAGITTARIUS DISTRICT]
Tonight was just another night of training. Go to Sagittarius, defeat whatever monsters in her way and return back to her apartment in Pisces. If she’s forced to, she would summon her demons as support. But Miyako would try to fight as long as she can without her demons, as a personal test towards herself.

The night went well. After a single trip, she was heading back when she noticed her movement’s growing slower. What the--?

That’s when a large skeletonal monster came out of the shadows and struck her with its bony limbs. Because of the Slow spell it cast on her earlier, Miyako’s reaction was slower than normal and was unable to dodge.

“Ghk--!”

The blow knocked her back a fair distance and her body fell to the ground from the hit. Unfortunately, her katana was also knocked out of her hand. When Miyako no longer feel the familiar weight and the handle’s shape in her hand, she started...panicking and forced herself up, reaching for her phone quickly. As she did, the monster moved very quickly after her. No, she can’t summon in time at this rate--! A lapse in judgement, not being good enough, not being strong enough and now she’s going to die…?!

No!

“Get away!” A single word came to her mind, whispered by a voice she didn’t recognise. But instinctively knew was her ally. “Chamunda!”

Her Persona materialised in front of her, and then Miyako just knew what it—she can use. A Persona that primarily provide support, but it’s not entirely defenceless. The goddess raised her arms and took the brunt of the Abaddon’s tackle, protecting Miyako and giving her a moment to move away. At this close distance, there’s no way the Abaddon can avoid her Magna spell, which was enough to distract it.

With the fighting and noises going on, it’s bound to catch someone’s attention and lead them to see a girl forcing herself to stand and a woman—her Persona—summoned out. Oh, and a large skeletonal monster staring down at them.

Lend a hand?

Comments

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"Yes, they're ready.

Miyako flipped her phone open, accessing her the summoning program by trained reflexes. Soon enough, she summoned the only demons in her stock. Tyrant Mara and Megami Norn, the same demons she chose to fight by her side before coming to Hinoto-Ri.

The Abaddon was watching them, hurt but angry. It really didn't like Cerberus because of the flames.

[drakenguard]

Well, it seemed that the monster was extremely weak against fire, but Yamato had no Fire spells equipped, and neither did his demons. He summoned Arioch and Remiel anyway, the two demons flanking him as Yamato... considered. He disliked using his Persona, if only because he didn't fully understand the phenomenon, but Kali had Fire spells...

Feh.

"Kali!" Yamato barked, and the Persona appeared in a flurry of energy, the multi-armed women flicking a wrist and casting Agilao at the demon. As Abaddon shied away with a shriek, Cerberus charged forwards once more.

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When Cerberus attacked, Abaddon attempted to counter the demon with a strong hit. However, realising the monster's weakness, Miyako briefly paused before she swallowed her pride.

"Chamunda!"

The goddess boosted Mara's power with a Tarukaja, allowing the green demon to cast an empowered Maragidyne at Abaddon. Fortunately, Miyako knew Cerberus would remain unharmed by the flames, so there's no worries of hurting the beast from being, literally, in the line of fire.

The same cannot be said for the Abaddon, before it cried out and try to cast Stop.

[drakenguard]

Abaddon was suddenly barraged with powerful Almighty spells, Remiel casting Holy Dance in an attempt to keep it off balance - and therefore to interrupt its spell casting. Cerberus prowled around the monster, staying away from the blasts of energy before lunging again, hooking its claws into its back before spewing out a slew of flames directly onto it. The Abaddon screamed and thrashed about, trying to toss the Cerberus off.

"It's almost defeated!" Yamato barked, "Let us focus our strength now!" Combined attack Y/Y?

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Y, definitely 【Y】.

"Let's end this!"

The flames of Maragidyne was joined with Norn's powerful Force Dance, burning and cutting the Abaddon's skeletal body. Immediately afterwards, Miyako cast a spell, causing large icebergs appeared and smashed down on it from above.

[drakenguard]

As Miyako combo'd Force Dance and Maragidyne, Cerberus leapt from the back of Abbadon to avoid the worst of the cutting winds, leaving the stumbling monster open for one last blow.

As the icebergs crashed down, Yamato topped it off with Megidoloan, the ball of Almighty energy erupting with an earth shaking boom, sending shards of ice skittering across the floor. The air was hazy with steam and dust, an eerie quiet falling from the aftermath, and when the haze cleared...

The monster was soundly defeated.

Yamato instantly recalled his two demons, reaching a hand out as Cerberus bounded over to his side to rub the beasts's muzzle. "It's been a while since we've fought together..."

Well, for him.

[capitalbackup]

"...Yes, it has been a while."

Although she's been in Hinoto-Ri for a shorter time than Yamato, it has been a little over a month since her arrival. That much time since she arrived after that battle.

Miyako recalled her demons, before gazing up at her Persona with a small frown. A moment later, Chamunda disappeared and returned back into her subconscious.

[drakenguard]

For the first time in a long while, Yamato felt a bit...awkward in his sister's presence. They were one soul in two bodies, and it usually wasn't hard for Yamato to guess her mood and where to lead conversation - or whether they should even talk at all. But he realised he had been acting a bit... immature and irrational, and so self-absorbed that he only realised recently that Miyako was actually suffering from... something.

"How have you been?"

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For a moment, she felt awkward and almost hesitant around her brother. Whenever they talk, there's no reason to hide from each other. However, ever since she lost that duel, Miyako's been too disgusted and ashamed of herself to bring it up to him.

A part of her realised he would notice something, and so she answered.

"I've been...preoccupied."

[drakenguard]

"That much is obvious," Yamato said, the corner of his mouth tilting upwards slightly. "May I ask what about?"

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There's a few things she could answer with, but Miyako picked the simplest one of them all. Simple and the most recent.

"About my loss." Those unsettling feelings? They're a little stronger now, as she answer as calmly as she can. "I lost a duel to a swordsman."

...Yeah, that.

[drakenguard]

"That must've been a powerful swordsman, if they won against you," Yamato commented, pressing a hand against his mouth thoughtfully - unknowing of how much it resembled a certain other, white-haired man. "Are you sulking over losing?"

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She noticed how much it resembled a certain other, white-haired man. Who she don't want to think about right now - even if, no matter what, he's still a part of her life.

"Sulking?"

Logically, she realised she was sulking and Yamato would pick up on it. But emotionally? Miyako didn't want to admit to doing something as petty as sulking.

"I'm not."

There were other reasons!

...But yes, she was sulking.

[drakenguard]

Yamato lowered his hand, giving Miyako a long, flat look.

"You are, Miyako. I'm not blind."

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Miyako crossed her arms, her left hand lightly gripping a part of her sleeve. She can hide, but Yamato would see through her lies.

"...Maybe I am sulking a little."

[drakenguard]

"A little, mm?" Yamato raised an eyebrow. This didn't feel like 'a little' sulking, but at least he got her to admit it. He settled a hand on his hip, looking down with a brief sigh. A loss was a loss - and perhaps Yamato had mellowed out considerably to think this, but it was hardly something to get upset about. Someone that powerful... it was to be celebrated. Miyako was not a weakling, after all.

"Miyako, you realise that this is an opportunity, correct? You now have an obstacle to overcome, and strengthen yourself against. This is something to be happy over, not upset."

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"I know." She realised that already and asked Mordred to be her sparring partner. Logically, as long she keep training and improving herself, she would overcome the the older swordsman's skill with the blade.

But what's logical wasn't always aligned with how she feels. It's why she was initially reluctant to explain herself.

"It's why I'm training tonight." Unfortunately, tonight's training did not go as planned. And by the end of it? She awakened to a support Persona and Yamato came to her aid.

[drakenguard]

"I see..." Yamato turned to survey the area where Abaddon had been a few minutes earlier, before turning to his sister once more. "Do you require company for the rest of your training session? It is dangerous to train alone here."

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If it was anyone else, Miyako would declined their offer. Her demons would cover for her, now that she's aware of high dangerous some of the monsters were. And she can revise her training regime to account for the new information.

"I don't mind at all." But she would grant a rare exception for Yamato. "Just take care to avoid movement inhibiting spells."

She didn't like that Slow spell earlier as a fighter.