After Hatsu successfully avoided his most recent attack, Death waited a moment for the boy to collect himself. This wasn't a real duel, and Death felt it would be best to start off slow, and give him a chance to get used to his new, albeit temporary, limitations. He briefly considered testing the boy further by using his own abilities and dominance over darkness, but decided a more readable approach would suit his training better; perhaps he would use them if they ever fought like this again, but for now he would keep it simple to give the boy a chance.<br/><br/>Eventually, after he had given sufficient pause, he began walking towards Hatsu again.<br/>"At least you're listening now, but you need to be more offensive," he spoke, a smile forming on his face. "I'm certain you already know the most basic of rules, that you cannot often win a fight without attacking, correct? There are, of course, exceptions.. But I'm sure you realize the futility of passively fighting a<span style="font-style: italic">demon,</span>of all things."<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Internally, Hatsu agreed with what Death was saying. He'd never be able to win a fight against a demon without dealing some damage. The problem was how he was supposed to attack when he couldn't see. <span style="font-style: italic">"Don't be afraid,"</span> Yami said to him. <span style="font-style: italic">"You're usually so creative. Don't let the darkness cloud your mind; it's your greatest asset."</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Be creative, huh?</span> Hatsu thought. With a mental shrug, he decided to do the first thing that came to mind. The boy sent a stream of electricity into the finger guard on his hand and turned it back into his gun. He set it to electric mode, so the wires were attached. He quickly shot three rounds and spun in a circle. His goal was to catch Death with the wires, or at least get a better feel for where he was.</span><br/><br/><br/>Death turned towards the wires as they flew towards him, and smirked. "Good, you're working<span style="font-style: italic">with</span>your weaknesses instead of wasting energy on a stronger attack against an opponent you can't see. You've got a good head, kid." Death rose his arm as he spoke, allowing the wires to wrap around it. They weren't yet charged with electricity, and Death didn't intend to give Hatsu time for that; he quickly stepped back until the wires were pulled taught, and then gave a forceful yank with his arm, using all of the strength his demonic form allowed.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Hatsu let out a slight yell as the sudden pulling on his weapon ripped it from his hands. It was discouraging, but he had more or less found where Death was, based on which way his gun had gone. Another wild idea popped into his head and he saw no harm in trying it. Hatsu let out a wide stream of electricity out in Death's general direction. Hopefully he was still holding that gun; it was an extremely good conductor of electricity and would draw his attack to it with such general aim.</span><br/><br/><br/>The sheer strength behind the pull forced the gun out of Hatsu's hands; not quite the result he had intended, but it would do. Death used the remaining momentum to bring the gun around in a full circle and sent it flying back towards Hatsu; at the same moment, the arc Hatsu shot made contact with him and the wire, sending a wave of electricity through it, back towards the gun. Death's unnatural strength allowed him to hold his position, despite the shock running through his body, but he could certainly feel it; Hatsu would as well, before long, as the wires from the gun were about to wrap themselves back around him. Death wasn't sure how much electricity would harm the boy, given the powers of his demon, but he doubted they made him completely immune to its effects.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Hatsu could see nothing, so he was unaware that his attack was about to be boomeranged back at him. Had he seen his juiced-up gun hurtling back at him, he probably would have dodged it or manipulated it with his telekinesis. This not being the case, the weapon landed right in the middle of his chest. Hatsu felt a jolt thrash through his body, as if he'd been hit with a shock wave rather than electricity. The boy was knocked down and landed on his back with his (now neutrally charged) gun sitting harmlessly on his lap. He wasn't really hurt (thank goodness) but he was surprised. <br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Is that what people feel when I electrocute them?</span> he wondered. <span style="font-style: italic">"No,"</span> Yami responded. <span style="font-style: italic">"You have a slight immunity because of me. It hurts more for them."</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Gee thanks,</span> the boy responded. <span style="font-style: italic">At least I usually only zap demons...</span></span><br/><br/><br/>As the electrical surge passing through Death died down, he couldn't help but smile. The look on Hatsu's face was priceless; it was more than obvious he didn't expect to be hit by his own electricity, but from the looks of it, it didn't particularly hurt him, as Death assumed it wouldn't.<br/><br/>The moment of confusion afforded an opportunity, though, and he took it. He quickly unwrapped the wires stuck around his arm and ran at Hatsu, who was just now recovering and sitting up. It was time to step things up a notch; the real test would be how Hatsu reacted when there was serious threat of injury, and so far the session had been rather lenient. Death altered his course slightly, so that he was running just to the left of the boy, and raised his right hand forward with the intent of grabbing Hatsu by the throat.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">After recovering enough to sit up Hatsu put a hand to his head and ran it through his uneven black hair. <br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Don't stop moving,"</span> Yami warned. <span style="font-style: italic">"He's been easy on you so far; it's only going to get harder. If you keep moving it's less likely you'll be hit."</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Oh, right,</span> Hatsu thought. Just as he moved to stand up he felt something slam against his throat and knock him back. The first thought that came to mind was only to be expected; <span style="font-style: italic">Shit!</span></span><br/><br/><br/>As he made contact, Death's fist clenched tight about Hatsu's throat, lifting him from the ground entirely due to the height difference between the two. He didn't stop for a moment; he continued running straight forward, and pulled his arm back behind him, Hatsu with it. It only took a few strides to reach his destination, which was the wall of one of the few buildings nearby that were still standing. Death's arm shot forward, slamming Hatsu hard into it. Without giving any sort of pause, he started running sideways, dragging Hatsu along its side.<br/><br/>When they reached the end of the building, Death stopped moving. After a moment, he released his grip, letting the boy loose.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Hatsu gasped and coughed as he felt himself make hard contact with something. There wasn't any time for him to react and pain shot through his body as he was dragged, hard, against a wall. The poor boy could only endure it for a moment before he felt himself starting to lose consciousness. He could vaguely hear Yami trying to speak to him, but the words were too distorted and far away to make out. There was an odd moment when he could feel the ground coming at him, rather than the other way around, as he was released.<br/><br/>To Hatsu's surprise he didn't quite lose consciousness after he hit the ground, but he was too out of it even to hear whatever his demon was saying. Pain was good at clouding people's minds.</span><br/><br/><br/>Death's posture returned to normal as he stood over Hatsu, who didn't seem quite unconscious, but certainly not in good shape. "..Hm. Evidently I went a little overboard. My apologies. I am not accustomed to my opponents having such frail constitution." He rose a hand and snapped his finger again, the veil of darkness covering Hatsu's vision lifting instantaneously. He kneeled down next to the boy and gently rested a hand on his shoulder, waiting a moment for Hatsu to collect himself. "Your bruises will heal in time. Meanwhile, pain is a cruel, but talented teacher. Learn to hone your senses if you wish to avoid such agony again in the future."<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Azrael gave a contented sigh and wiped some sweat from his forehead. He'd done what he could here so he'd better go report back. Effortlessly, the demon formed his multi-colored wings again and took off into the air. In moments he'd come to where Lord Death was standing over a fallen Hatsu. He remembered meeting the boy while he was still inhabiting Anaka, but such things were unimportant to him right now. The demon swept down easily and landed flawlessly next to his 'Master'. "I've done all I can," the keeper of souls said. "The rest is for you to do."</span><br/><br/><br/>Death turned to face Azrael as he landed nearby, and nodded at his words. "Very well, then. If you would see to it that this boy makes his way safely to a rest downstairs, I will be on my way." Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and began walking away, in the same direction Azrael had flown from.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Azrael nodded showing that he understood his order. Before carrying it out though he bent down to examine the boy's wounds, curious how badly his master had beaten the boy up.</span>