Left nude in the middle of a street and armed with sword and shield only, Kaiserin was facing a formidable opponent. She couldn't sense her yoki but she already had an idea about Ines and her style of combat. The warrior decided to test her out first and started slowly. Staying defensive Kaiserin prepared to block Joanne's incoming charge.

"You know Ines? Tell me where she is and I might be gentle with you." ~Joanne

Unlike Ines, Joanne was a very straightforward fighter. There were no tricks in her downward slash. Suddenly Kaiserin moved her sword to deflect the attack. Joanne's sword didn't budge away from its trajectory and chopped Kaiserin's shield arm away from the shoulder. Tendrils caught the arm in time as Kaiserin asked for a time out.

"Sure... Why not..?" ~Joanne

Joanne waited for Kaiserin to get dressed but she was also ready to attack if she tried anything funny. (end) Kaiserin put on all her clothes and made sure to recover whatever energy she had used in the previous exchange. She would make sure the pouches and poisons were there and secure.

"So you aren't Ines, then if you aren't her, then who are you?" ~Kaiserin

Kaiserin would wait for an answer and prepare herself for an attack. Knowing Joanne was more straightforward, Kaiserin would take her attacks as they come and would block her attacks and counter with a sword slash to the hands.

"I'm Joanne Blanc. Ines is my little sister, well half sister but all the same. I even did most of the raising unlike her mother..." ~Joanne

It looked like Joanne and Ines shared the same father but different mothers. Joanne clearly didn't like Ines' mother, as Kaiserin could read her open feelings rather easily. The only lie she sensed was the raising Ines part but it contained enough truth, just a bit of exaggeration. Once Kaiserin got dressed Joanne attacked with a trust. Kaiserin blocked the attack but was sent flying out of the house back into the street before her desired counter. In the street Joanne charged again but this time the blow was so powerful that it crushed through Kaiserin's shield and slashed her chest. Thankfully the attack was blunted enough. The counter attack came and Kaiserin slashed Joanne's hands. Only problem was she produced a scratch... Seeing this Joanne withdrew her hands away.

"Man, you really fight weird... Need to get used to this sword fighting stuff..." ~Joanne

Kaiserin could tell Joanne didn't know any sword techniques nor had any experience beyond swinging it. But her opponent was more careful now.

"I know right, sword fighting is hard. But you know, I'm not sure about hurting Ines' sister, even if she is kind of an asshole." ~ Kaiserin

Kaiserin would increase her reflexes and strength further and instead of blocking the attacks she would feint (either a dodge or a block) and parry the attack with her shield instead. Once Joanne's sword makes contact Kaiserin would predict how Joanne's body would react and counter with a slash at maximum range. Once Kaiserin counters, she would predict Joanne's next reaction and follow her counter up with another. She would continue this until Kaiserin can't guess the result accurately. Kaiserin would keep her footwork light, and dance around Joanne to reach a suitable position to counter in. If Kaiserin can't feint properly against Joanne, she would change into Castle form.

Joanne made up her mind, and once she made up her mind she could do many things. Her next attack came in fast, in fact so fast. Kaiserin saw a hit fast hit first approach in her which was another thing alien to Ines' style. Kaiserin feinted her defence but got hit before she could shift to the actual defence. Her sword barely deflected Joanne's incredible strength and avoided being cut in the chest again, but lost her leg, which reconnected again thanks to her healing. Kaiserin could guess her moves well but her body was failing to stop them. Seeing that feints weren't working Kaiserin shifted to Castle. Just then someone arrived from the end of the street. It was Wilhelmina dragging a beaten up Larry with her.

"I got the creep. Aren't you done yet?" ~Wilhelmina

"Gimme a minute, I'm just warming up. Alright Joanne, playtime is over. Or maybe just starting. You decide!" ~Kaiserin

Kaiserin would fortify her defences and reflexes fully, using her awakened body to increase her power to match Joanne's. Kaiserin would wait for Joanne's attack and combine fast movements with direct parrying to force Joanne's sword into the ground. Kaiserin would spin around to Joanne's back and counter attack with a barrage of quick attacks, redirecting her Yoki to strength as she does. Kaiserin would judge her ability to parry and block directly, and see if parrying with her shield is more or less effective for counter attacking. Kaiserin's attacks would be aimed at Joanne's hands and the hilt of her sword in an attempt to disarm her.

"Playtime? HAHAHA! You're quite a joker." ~Joanne

Since Kaiserin was in Castle from she could now sense Joanne's yoki. She wasn't releasing it all before but now her yoki increased and increased... until it went way above Kaiserin's full yoki amount. She attacked faster than earlier. Kaiserin parried the weapon but before she could force it down her sword was hit by Joanne's sword. She kept hitting with insane speed and repetition that finally forced Kaiserin into a turtle defence. No matter how she redirected her own yoki Joanne seemed to be superior physically and even when they matched each other Joanne's sheer willpower tipped the scales.

"What are you doing!?! You don't fight like that against someone stronger! Get your act together right now young lady!" ~Wilhelmina

A final blow from Joanne and Kaiserin flew next to Wilhelmina. She crashed on the ground right in front of her. Her mother helped her up then held her sword and shield.

"Keep secondary hand raised, covering your chest with shield. Primary hand at side, relax your weapon. Now focus! Fight smart, calculate every move. With efficiency you can outdo her." ~Wilhelmina

The knight showed her the proper stance briefly. Then Joanne arrived.

"I know... I make it look easy, right?" ~ Kaiserin

Kaiserin got up quickly and memorized Wilhelmina's stance, she gripped her sword and shield and raised her shield up to cover her chest. She kept her weapon relaxed at her side and focused on Joanne. Keeping her body still, she used prediction on herself and Joanne to better calculate all scenarios better. She would use Joanne's speed against her and parry the attack so that Joanne's follow-through and strength put her at a disadvantage after she swings. Kaiserin would keep her movements hidden and make sure Joanne couldn't grasp her movements. Kaiserin would counter attack and specifically attack Joanne's fingers using hyper awareness to better see how she would move and disarm her with a barrage of counter attacks.

The stance was helping. Joanne's powerful strike didn't throw Kaiserin away as she stood her ground this time. Among the barrage of blows Kaiserin waited for the right time as she predicted Joanne's actions a few steps ahead. Slowly Kaiserin began to parry the attacks, but there was still no opening for a counter attack. She hid her moves but Joanne wasn't exactly paying attention. Her attacks were simply wild.

"Bah! You are annoying." ~Joanne

Next next attack lacked the former will behind it. Using this to her advantage Kaiserin parried it in a way that Joanne couldn't withdraw her sword to defend against a counter. Kaiserin slashed her fingers but before she could do it again Joanne's punch exploded in her face breaking both her nose and dislocating her chin.

"Sigh... Troublesome indeed..." ~Joanne

Wilhelmina stood before Kaiserin to protect her while she was out, but no attack came. Joanne picked the two fingers that were cut off and began reattaching them.

"No more wasted movements! Once you counter you must go on. Plan your counter not as seperate attacks, but as a combination. There shouldn't be any intervals allowing opponent to counter your counter. Got it?" ~Wilhelmina

Kaiserin stood up once Joanne was done with her fingers. This time Kaiserin felt Joanne's yoki racing throughout her body, flowing like a mad river. It did seem like Quasi-awakening, but this one could be sensed.

"Owww. I'm trying! And dammit Joanne, you can't hit people in the face. That isn't cool!" ~Kaiserin

Kaiserin stood up and prepared her stance again. She prepared herself for Joanne's wildness and waited for another opportunity to counter attack again after parrying. Once Kaiserin finds the chance to parry, she'll counter with the first attack aimed at Joanne's shoulder, step aside to move into a hard to hit position and follow up with an attack at Joanne's elbow, then wrist then fingers. She would do it quickly and her movements would be used to cut off Joanne's speed and agility.

"Come on, cut me some more! I like it when you get all frisky, Ines is the same way you know." ~Kaiserin

The response was scary, especially since it was done with action. Kaiserin saw Joanne was going to attack but she didn't estimate being cut in half before moving an inch. Her body held together thanks to her incredible regeneration. The next attack Kaiserin was more prepared. Parrying the next few strikes was very difficult and she was being scratched constantly. Finally the opportunity came as Kaiserin counter attacked with a slash to the shoulder. Quickly moving she followed up with a slash at the elbow. But the final strike merely scratched the fingers as the combo ran out of steam. On the bright side Joanne's sword arm was now useless. Kaiserin this time dodged the punch.

Kaiserin would focus her assault on Joanne's disabled arm; she would be aware of attacks coming from it and would use Yoki to force her brain to wake up. Kaiserin would parry Joanne's strikes and block the attack she feels best at countering with. Kaiserin would let Joanne break her arm with the block if she couldn't resist, and would use that chance to counter attack on Joanne's active arm, starting at the elbow with a downward strike and lifting her sword up aiming for the wrist and then bringing it back down again on the wounded area. Kaiserin would regenerate her arm after the attack.

There was nothing to parry. Not much that is... Joanne's off hand was very clumsy and Kaiserin didn't even bother much. The combination began again with an easy counter, but this time someone else parried the attack. Joanne collapsed on the ground exhausted and wounded. Well, Kaiserin might be seeing double after all the fight. Ines was standing guard in front of her sister.

"AUNTIE! What are you doing to my sister!?" ~Ines

"Auntie...? Who is that?" ~Wilhelmina

Clearly Wilhelmina was thinking about strange stuff. Ines wasn't aggressive at all but well... she was demanding an explanation. The girl would fight if needed and should Joanne recover and join her it would be really bad for Kaiserin. (end)

"Hey Ines! The real one, huh? You know your sister is pretty mean, look at my arms and legs, I swear she was treating me like a cut of beef!" said Kaiserin to Ines. Turning to Wilhelmina, Kaiserin said, "This is Ines, she's a friend and err, like a niece but not really a niece? Extended family. Oh Ines, this is my Mum, Wilhelmina. She hates me." ~Kaiserin

"Oh dear! Sis! Why did you cut auntie Kaiserin's dress?" Due to the regeneration there were no visible wounds, hence it looked as if only the clothes were slashed. Joanne was still unconscious. Inés sighed and picked her sister up. "Sigh... I apologize for my sister. I'll see you later auntie." ~Ines

With that Ines disappeared with Joanne into the night. Wilhelmina looked at Kaiserin with suspicion. Curiosity maybe... "So you like to build family ties with everyone you meet. Was this bastard going to be your 'brother'? The Organization really lacks control over their pets." ~Wilhelmina

"Well, actually Ines started the whole auntie thing. She likes family, and I like her so I play along with it. And no, Larry was gonna be my baby-daddy," said Kaiserin jokingly. "But thanks... without your help I would've died or something!" ~Kaiserin

Kaiserin would give Wilhelmina a hug, whether she liked it or not.

"Dammit Kaiserin, behave yourself!" ~Wilhelmina

The knight pushed Kaiserin away right after the hug. It wasn't like she wanted to get rid of her, but more like discipline within family and etiquette. Perhaps it was the first time her mother called her by her name. Then they began hearing people running around and yelling.

"Who died?"

"The guildmaster, Quentin was a yoma!"

"Oh god!"

"He was killed in bed with a huge arrow in his chest."

"Thank goodness!"

"An angel guards us. We won't need to call on the Organization."

"Good thing those silver eyed beasts won't be entering our city."

"Huh, someone did my job for me. Well, that's all fine a good. A dead Yoma is a dead Yoma. How about we get out of her, this place is bumming me out." ~Kaiserin

Kaiserin would change back to beauty and approach Larry. "I could I have been the best sex of your life, but you screwed it up," Kaiserin will whisper, and kick Larry in the balls before leaving. "I wonder who killed the Yoma? Big arrows aren’t exactly a common style." ~Kaiserin

"I don't care. I have seen enough of the Organization's so called covert operations. I'll be on my way now. I'll find you when I need it." ~Wilhelmina

"Oh? I wonder what that means... Oh, bye Mum, see yooooou!" ~Kaiserin

Kaiserin would gather up her things and act like she was never in town. She would set Larry up on the bed in an embarrassing position and leave town before anyone found her. The next day Larry was found dead in his bed, killed by some rapist who had his way with him first.

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"See it was all about a yoma after all. Glaphira handled him quickly after Larry told it all." ~Vespasian

"Organization doesn’t hunt yoma for the heck of it. They didn’t want someone to gain power. Larry wasn’t the one behind this." ~Amaranta

"Yeah the guy is just a puppet. I’ll try to find out who is behind this." ~Vespasian

With that Vespasian exited the clothes shop from the window again. Amaranta sighed heavily; now that the merger threat was over and her brother’s company was safe, she should relocate before the Organization sent a hunting party on her. She’d miss the shop...

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"Seriously I’m done with paying my debts. Can I go now?" ~Joanne

”Well, Larry is still alive. I suppose you technically succeeded in your mission.” ~Victoria

"I don’t care what happens in the rest of your scheme. Larry was stupid, end of story." ~Joanne

”Okay you can leave.” ~Victoria

Joanne secretly left the Demon Works headquarters using one of the many secret passages. Victoria sighed, she needed to report this to Ulrich, even if he already knew what happened. He was just too formal with this stuff. And worse she would be tortured for the failure. At least Eleanor did a good job by impersonating Ines so she was safe from punishment...