Shattering Humanity-Chapter 317: A Takamagahara Instant Classic: Itsuka’s At Bat
"Love is the firstborn, loftier than the Gods, the Fathers and men. You, O Love, are the eldest of all, altogether mighty. To you we pay homage!
Greater than the breadth of Earth and Heaven or of Waters and Fire, you, O Love, are the eldest of all, altogether mighty. To you we pay homage!
Greater than the quarters and directions, the expanses and vistas of the sky, you, O Love, are the eldest of all, altogether mighty. To you we pay homage!
Greater than all things moving and inert, than the Ocean, O Passion, you, O Love, are the eldest of all, altogether mighty. To you we pay homage!
Beyond the reach of Wind or Fire, the Sun or the Moon, you, O Love, are the eldest of all, altogether mighty. To you we pay homage." - Vedas Hymn 9 Part 2
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[MamMon’s Forest]
As the rest of the group exits the forest, MamMon’s ears twitch and she quickly makes her way over towards General Nephilim who is admiring the reunion between Esau and Isfet.
MamMon DæMon: "We must hurry back to Erebus City, General.
I have a sneaky suspicion that we will be having company, both good and bad, arriving there pretty soon."
The General gets a surprised look at first but suddenly nods in approval.
He looks over at the group and at Tristan.
Nephilim: "Young Tristan..."
Tristan and Stephanie look over at the General.
Nephilim: "If you wouldn’t mind accompanying Mr. Esau for the night I should be able to find a suitable space for everyone by tomorrow."
The respectful General puts a hand of his heart.
Nephilim: "You have my words as a man."
Esau looks over at General Nephilim, but he then looks back. Staring into the darkness of the Seior made woods, Garmr’s yellow eyes can be seen from the shadows. Peering out at the group.
Esau thinks for a moment, looks at the elated Isfet, and takes a deep sigh.
Esau: "There will be no need for that, at least, for me."
Everyone, especially a disbelieving Isfet, looks up at the tallest, most toughest looking one of them all.
Isfet: "E-Esau, but why?!"
Esau: "There’s no room for me in a modern civilization anymore.
I can’t go back to pretending life is okay, when she still breathes.
Until I kill Laban, I can’t go back to that lifestyle."
He begins to walk away, back towards MamMon’s Forest, but is stopped by a small hand that grabs his wrist.
Isfet: "Esau..."
The rest of the group stays quiet. MamMon has her stunning blue eyes closed, a slight smirk on her face.
Esau: "Go back with them Isfet.
Once I complete the mission, then we can try to live on, but until then..."
Isfet’s small grip releases his large wrist, and the mountain of a man walks back towards the forest, but not with one slight half smile back for the teary symbiote eyed younger sister in law.
Esau: "...I love you, Izzy.
I’m happy to know at least you are safe again."
[Outside Erebus City]
Standing outside of the refurbished city is MamMon, Nephilim, Tristan, Stephanie, Bethany, Isfet, and Icythis.
Thanks to the effects of the errupted StealthSeiõrStar, the entire city behind the Erinyes group is disguised as a huge, empty field.
Isfet is remembering the premature departure from her big brother in law. A sad look on her cute face while she looks at the slightly SeiõrSnow dusted ground.
Standing next to her is Icythis, and like always, the tall physically chisled woman is smoking a cigarette.
She exhales a puff of smoke and holds out the fag within Isfet’s sight.
The kind gesture snaps Isfet out of her funk and she half smiles with a nod as she handles the exchange.
Isfet: "Thank you..."
The one eyed woman takes a drag while Icythis takes out her pack. She removes one of the last three cigarettes from the small box.
Icythis: "So that was your brother?"
Isfet nods her head with the cig in between her lips, adding a brightness to the lit cherry on the end.
Isfet(exhales): "He’s my brother in law, but I really do love him like a brother.
He met my sister almost 13 years ago and married her 10 years ago.
Because of my disability before acquiring this Eyelien, he would help my biological sister take care of me."
Icythis peeks inside to stare at the other two cigs left.
Icythis: "Damn, I only got two left, and I didn’t bring an extra pack with me..."
She stares over at MamMon, but Isfet pulls her pack out of her pocket.
Isfet: "Don’t worry..."
She trades the pack of two in Ichythis’ hand with hers. The two beautiful woman smile at each other as Isfet hands back the lit cigarette.
Behind them, Bethany is with Squad 1 but admiring the bonding between the two newcomers. The insatiably lustful woman has heart eyes while watching.
Bethany: "Awwww!
Isn’t it so sweet Stephyyy!"
Closing her lime green eyes, the young woman surprisingly gifted at Seiõr, softly chuckles.
Stephanie: "Yes it’s nice how they have become so close, so quickly."
A few steps away, Tristan is with MamMon and Nephilim.
Tristan: "General, why are we waiting outside the city?"
Instead of the General answering the curious young g soldier’s question, there is the sound of an explosion in the distance.
MamMon DæMon: "Hmph.
I don’t think perfect timing is the proper term for this one."
...
[Faithful Friends Firehouse Field]
The Izanami catcher/captain looks over at Shelly.
Saku: "You got ten warm up pitches."
Shelly gives the competitor and nod of approval.
The Izanami captain EyeEngages with his vice-captain and Itsuka blushes. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
Saku: "Alright.
Now that she’s got off speed pitches you can’t just swing crazily at her throws.
You’re gunna have to wait on them."
*POP*
Itsuka: "But how will I be able to tell if she’s throwing a fastball or a curve though?"
Saku: "That’s the danger of her now, you won’t be able to tell except on her release."
*POP*
Their eyes disengage and Itsuka’s beautiful face lights up, knowing the man she highly respects but especially loves has a way for her to counter Shelly’s off speed pitches.
Itsuka: "...’Her release’?"
Saku(nods): "Yea.
If you can notice her spin her wrist right before she is about to release the ball, that means she’s trying to throw a curve."
Itsuka nods while watching Shelly practice throw her curveball.
The purple eye of the gorgeous light skinned young woman grows wider as she notices exactly what Saku had explained.
From Itsuka’s perspective, Shelly’s wrist noticably twists during her next pitch and the ball sinks/curves. So much so, it skips across the dirt, hitting Scylia between the legs, but luckily with not too much damage.
Saku shivers also noticing where the pitch in the dirt has hit the catcher.
He looks back at his vice-captain with a twinkle in his human green eye.
Saku: "Just sit back and wait for the pitch to come to you, hopefully she’ll leave a hanger and you can send it yard."
He pats her on the head at Itsuka’s eyes fill with tears, but they quickly dry up as she gives him a nod of determination.
In the dugout, Laban sucks her teeth at the adorable sight.
Laban DaeMon: "Tsk.
Stupid Amazonian."
*POP*
Shelly: "Okay!
I think I got the hang of it."
Katsu comes running in from the center field and uses his hand to motion Scylia to come to the mound as well, which she does.
With the three of them huddled, Katsu explains to them signalling.
Katsu: "Okay, Big Sis, now that Shelly has another pitch available, you’ll need to know what type of throw it will be so you can follow it.
Dom can still steal the bases if the pitch gets by you."
Scylia(nods): "So how do I do that?"
The team captain puts a hand on (asuddenly blushing due to contact) Shelly’s shoulder.
Katsu: "Without the other team seeing, hold up one finger for fastball and two fingers for a curveball before every pitch.
Shelly will either shake her head no or nod yes.
Easy enough, right?"
He looks back and forth between the two women and he pats both of them on the back simultaneously.
Katsu: "Alright!
Let’s play some ball!"
As he sprints back to the outfield, and as Scylia jogs back to behind the plate, both of the two vice captains nod at each other.
Shelly: "Good luck, Big Sis."
A smiling Itsuka, batting righty, steps into the batter’s box.
Itsuka: "I hope you know, I need to get my home run on you, since you got one on me already."
From the outfield, Katsu can once again be heard cheering on his purpose/teammate.
Katsu: "Come on Shelly!
You got this!
Don’t just stick to the curveballs!
Remember to use your arsenal!"
Squatting behind the plate, Scylia holds up one finger, and Shelly nods with half her face covered. She winds-up and delivers a speeding 100+mph fastball that *POPS* the glove right behind a swinging Itsuka.
Itsuka(thinking): *Holy shit! She really does throw insanely fast!"
A bead of sweat drips past her tattooed temple, but her beautiful face gets angry and she steps back into the batter’s box.
She gets in her stance, and always exposed, her 6 pack abdominals tighten up.
At the mound Shelly shakes her head no, then nods yes. Taking a moment longer than usual, Itsuka has a feeling.
Itsuka(thinking): *Here it comes!
The off speed curveball!*
Once again Shelly’s arm cocks back and delivers a speeding fastball right past another swinging Itsuka.
In disbelief, Itsuka take a step back.
Itsuka(thinking): *She’s gunna strike me out...
I’m gunna fail Saku...*
From the dugout...
Saku: "Come one Itsuka!"
The blushing young woman looks back and sees Saku hoisting himself over the dugout fence to shout his support for her.
Saku: "You’re behind in the count.
Remember what I just told you!"
Itsuka’s pity washes away and she steps back to the plate ready for the payoff pitch.
Itsuka(thinking): *I have to hit it ...
I have to hit it ...*
Shelly immediately nods her head and delivers the pitch. Just like before, Itsuka notices the twisting release of the ball.
Shelly(thinking): *No it slipped again!*
However this time, instead of it heading for Itsuka, the slow pitch hangs in the air and with her 7th and 8th abdominals exposed, Itsuka twists her torso and rockets the baseball to opposite center/right field.
The ’everyfielder’ Katsu sprints over and reaches the warning track. The athletic young man leaps at the yellow wall but just out of reach of his glove the ball sails over and out of the park for a home run!
{Izanagi:3 Izanami:2}
