A Walk in the Park [ENDED]

Ravyn sighed softly, turning off his iPod so he could hear the sounds of nature, which was a form of music he had learned to appreciate when he'd found himself unwelcome in "polite society" back in the States. Wandering a bit off the path so he wouldn't be in the way of anyone else, he leaned against a treetrunk, his head tilting back until the crown touched the bark. He closed his eyes and took his headphones off. Peace...finally.

He felt his body begin to relax, his mind becoming more open. He heard the sound of water trickling through a stream a little ways away, and he smiled softly. Despite his peaceful mood, or perhaps because of it, his senses were on full alert, and he fully expected to find that he wasn't alone.

Several minutes of this almost serene state passed before he walked over to the nearest bench, sat down and opened his laptop, checking his email.

It wasn't long before he started feeling a familiar sense of unease. A unit...Hell.

{Note: You'll notice in my posts that I don't describe her/his clothing except where it's necessary. If you want to know what he's/she's wearing, go to the most recent post in Kousei Apartments. Today, for example, he looks completely male. Pretty boy/Goth, yes, but male.

~Open to anyone~}

He shoved his hands into his pockets. He'd managed to find himself close to the park, and decided to forgo the whole food scavenging thing. Why waste the energy?

His new cellphone began to whine and whistle and he grit his teeth. He didn't even need to glance at it to know it was work. Again. Couldn't the people there somehow put their above average IQ's together and figure out how to plug a computer in? Oh, and what about shutting them down properly?

Not to mention the one time they had crashed the entire network because someone thought it'd be a smart idea to send a mass email to the entire building. It wouldn't have been such a problem had the email not contained about a million photos. And they could never figure out the programs that he'd spent hours creating...

The wailing stopped, and he made the mistake of letting out a sigh, believing it was over. Needless to day; it began to vibrate and buzz and chirp and chime all over again. He shoved his hand into his pocket and wrenched the thing out, flinging the gadget open. "What." he snarled into the receiver, a scowl marring his smooth features. His hair ruffled slightly in the light breeze, and when it trickled under his collar he shivered lightly, tugging his coat a little tighter.

He glanced around the park, listening to the jabbering moron on the other end. His eyes roved over the park. How did it always look so different only a little while after he'd been here? That didn't even make sense, but something seemed a bit...off.

Ravyn glanced up from checking his email, glancing toward the sacrifice, who seemed to be...irritated, to say the least. Interesting...I guess. Sighing, he closed the email and opened his class site, checking the assignment for the day. Decrypting...interesting... He chuckled and went back over his notes for document encryption, thinking for a moment before opening notepad and starting to code a simple decryption cypher. His fingers flashed over the keys faster than the laptop's screen could display the letters.

A couple minutes into the assignment, his left hand start cramping, and he winced, picking his hands off the keyboard to massage the pained muscle. Damn...Almost forgot why I'm supposed to pace myself. He glanced again at the guy on the phone. Wonder what's got his panties in a twist... A thought suddenly occurred to him that made him chuckle softly. Does he even know I'm here?

He stretched a bit, and his back popped loudly, making him flinch. "Ow..."

His eyes landed on the laptop first, and then glanced up at the boy sitting there. He grunted something into his phone and hung up on the man, striding over to the bench in only two long strides. "Your computer. Let me use it." he snapped, eyes hard.

He'd be able to just zip into the systems at the office and correct the problem in a few minutes here instead of walking another 10 minutes to his apartment to do it. He shoved his cellphone in his pocket, eying the boy, waiting for an answer.

((I over-use commas...))

Ravyn's eyes widened, and he laughed softly. "Don't touch my coding. It's a school assignment." He handed the older man the laptop, looking highly amused. Sitting back, he gave the man a thorough once-over. "Checking your email? or does this have something to do with the phone call that seems to have pissed you off?"

It wasn't that he expected an answer. He just wanted to see if there would be an answer. Definitely interesting...just hope he doesn't close out of my assignment, whatever he's up to... He put his hands behind his head, watching the sacrifice.

[That's fine. Sorry mine's so short. You didn't give me much to work with.]

School assignment. Right. Like he cared.

He sat down one bench over, hunching over the screen and typing away. He ignored the way the younger looked at him. He was used to it after all, looking the way he did...

He scoffed to himself. It wasn't as if he was egotistical or anything, but he knew his gene pool was a good one. "Damn it..." he muttered, brow furrowing even further when he glanced at the mess of 1's and 0's all over the screen. Those idiots has completely screwed the program up!!

He pinched the bridge of his nose, right between his eyes. No one could do anythi8ng right apparently. No wonder humanity was falling to pieces.

This, this was not going to be a simple quick fix. He'd have to go home and completely reboot their system to get anything done. With a grunt, he closed everything except for the....assignment thing. Standing he shoved the laptop back over to the boy. "Your work. It's wrong." he forced out.

Yuudai had always said to at least return any kindness received or some such dribble. Well, the kid had it all wrong and he told him. That should be enough, right?

((I know, sorry >< After work my brain kind of...switches off.))

"A thank you would have been nice." Ravyn sighed, watching the guy. "Who are you, anyway?" He saved the file without looking at the screen, closing the laptop. Someone has an attitude problem... After a moment, he shrugged and stood. He was a few inches shorter than the rude sacrifice, but he carried himself with a confidence and self-awareness that usually commanded respect, regardless of his height or lack thereof.

"I'm Ravyn, Trusted Fighter. I don't take kindly to the fact that you forgot to thank me properly for doing you a favor." He chuckled, putting his laptop back into his messenger bag. "However, I'll forgive you this once. I'm curious to know where my coding was wrong, considering the fact that I was typing whatever came to mind. I'll go back over it later to fix it." What he was more curious about, however, was this odd sacrifice, who apparently was very experienced with computer programming.

"And, if you're thinking you're going to ditch me, I'll warn you now. I don't give up easily, and your knowledge of my favorite subject has caught my interest. Consider yourself stuck with me for the time being." It occurred to him that he was being way too talkative. His fault for telling me my work was wrong. Anyway, sometimes it's more fun to annoy people than be passive. He started to follow the stranger.

A fighter? No wonder the park felt strange. He shoved his hands further into his pockets. Why was it following him???

He tried to ignore him, moving along the walkway and speeding up his steps. His long strides taking him closer to his destination of home. "Aren't fighters supposed to keep on their leashes?" he growled out, the irritation clearly on his face.

We all fighters as annoying as Reiji? He made a noise, dodging a rogue child who darted across the path.

"When I said your work was wrong," he began, praying the thing would lose interest. "I didn't mean for you to follow me." And as if things couldn't get worse, his cell began to wail once again.

Why did everything feel the need to drive him crazy this week?! He just...wanted to lay down and go to sleep or something! He crushed the cellphone in his hand, angrily trying to switch it off.

Ravyn slipped the cell from the sacrifice's hand, switching it off for him, then stepped in front of him and shoved him back a step. His face a mask of serenity, he smiled gently. "A fighter is just another human." The venom dripping from his voice made the gentle smile seem menacing somehow. "You treat us as anything less, and you will get hurt. Now, since I have no interest in making a nuisance of myself, I will tell you clearly. You will answer my questions, or I will continue to annoy you until you lash out at me. Then, I will crush you."

His violet eyes sparked with fury, but he managed to keep his serene expression, the smile somehow seeming natural despite his anger. "As for the intent behind the leash comment...you're assuming I even have a sacrifice." He laughed mirthlessly. "Sacrifices are useless humans. They mean nothing, yet we fighters are forced to protect them, since we're stronger. It's not a system I buy into."

"Now..." He took a step closer, crowding the sacrifice. "My questions were as follows. What is your name, and where was my coding wrong?"

{Yaso made him mad... }

He snatched his phone back, glowering down at him. What the hell? This little...

Yaso scoffed, "A fighter is worthless. They can do nothing without begging for direction. They can't do anything by themselves. They're worthless." he repeated. "I also refuse to answer the questions of a stray mutt." He shoved his hands back into his pockets and moved around him. "Get in my face again, and I'll make you wish you were dead, understood?"

He was seething, his calm and smooth voice seeping poison as he spoke. He didn't need the ability to create spells to lay someone out flat on the concrete.

((Yeah, he's good at that, ))

Ravyn shook slightly, not from fear, but from barely contained rage. "The sacrifice who makes the mistake of trying to order me around will be the sacrifice I kill. I hate being controlled." His body stilled finally, the rage dissipating. "I'm a human being, not a dog. You will treat me as an equal..." He sighed and glanced over his shoulder at the other man. "Even if I have to take your fighter down to get to that point."

Can't do anything by myself? What a load of crap. Here I am, all alone in Tokyo, working on a degree in computer programming on nothing but the money I get from being apartment manager to a bunch of people who think I'm some sort of freak. And this guy thinks the word "fighter" nullifies every single thing I've worked for?! Like Hell! "The only thing I want is knowledge, not direction. I can find my own way. Been doing that for the past five years." He began walking in the opposite direction of the sacrifice, his previous good mood shattered.

[It would be interesting if Ravyn got an internship at Yaso's company Then they'd have to deal with each other a bit more often ]

He scoffed and waved him off like some sort of cockroach. His fighter was indeed a dog, but any well-trained dog could get rid of a mangy little stray. "Good for you." he drawled sarcastically.

This. This was why he hated people.

Oh? You had a tragic past? Oh? You're homeless?

Tough shit. He didn't care. Everyone had problems, everyone had pasts. So. What.

He shrugged further into his coat and kept walking. He'd lost his appetite completely at least. And now he was pissed enough to get a hold of Reiji. Ticked enough to maybe do this whole....unit thing.

((Not really, lol. Yaso doesn't go into the company building all that often... Only the ones who hired him even know what he looks like since he does everything from home, the pissy recluse ))

((But the interns always get the sucky jobs...like phoning the "pissy recluse" to tell him that the servers crashed, lol))

"You know..." He paused, speaking on a hunch. "Just because your life sucks doesn't mean you have to take it out on everyone else. Everyone has at least one day they'd like to erase from their life. It's how you deal with it that matters." He shrugged, turning back around. "And, if you want people to keep from complaining to you, don't give them anything to complain about."

Sighing, he stretched lightly and went back to following the angry sacrifice. It wasn't that he particularly wanted to...well, have anything to do with him, frankly...he just couldn't think of anything better to do in that moment. Speaks to how bored I must be... He smirked, stepping back up beside the man. "And, yes, I'm annoying you on purpose. I think it's horribly amusing that you anger so easily. If it were me, I'd be over it by now. But you...you'll hold a grudge over just about anything, won't you..." It wasn't a question, even if that's how it was phrased. Ravyn was starting to recognize bits of this personality. He was starting to profile the stranger. The more he thought on it...

The more questions he wanted answered.

He felt the tell-tale tingle that his eye was starting to twitch. It only did it when his anger level rose to the breaking point.

He ground his teeth, hangs fisted in his pockets so tightly his knuckles popped like firecrackers. "Listen, mutt I'll give you one second to get away from me before I break your little neck, got it?" he seethed.

This kid... He'd skin him alive in two seconds flat, Yuudai's conscience be damned. In fact, he was almost certain that his twin would encourage him to kill this mange ridden creature at this point!!!

He chewed the inside of his cheek, daring the kid to say something. Just one more thing so he'd have an excuse to pummel him.

((lol))

Ravyn's eyes widened a bit, and he smirked at the other man. "You've killed before? Didn't peg you as the type. Fighting, beating to a pulp, yes. Killing? I would never have guessed..." He took a step back and smiled. "My email is Trusted dot Ravyn at gmail dot com. Contact me sometime, and I'd be glad to help you and your fighter train." He laughed and stretched. "Not that I expect to hear from you. Just thought maybe you could use a friend, since you're bound to get in trouble, that attitude of yours."

Still chuckling, he took out his cell to check the time. "I hate you, for the record. I just feel sorry for your fighter. Vale." He turned and again began to walk away, in a better mood for having won his little game.

{Nyu! Don't kill Ravyn! lol}

He made a noise. "Oh?" he drawled, looking at his back. "You honestly think you'd be able to defeat a unit on auto(that's the term, right?)?" He scoffed. "Big words for a kid that's obviously lacking in some.....places."

This kid, he was bordering on slamming his face into the pavement. If it came down to it, he'd pummel him with his fists and teach the kid what was what. He had very little if any patience for little self-entitled snot-nosed bastard children.

((Bah, Yaso...you're such a bastard -_-; ))

"Not a kid. If looks can be trusted, I'm only a few years younger than you. You're, what, 24?" He turned around, putting his hands behind his head. He smirked at the "lacking" comment. "If you're referring to the male genitals, of course I'm lacking. I'm not male. If you're referring to my chest, I'm wearing bindings. If you're referring to my intelligence...you've seriously misread me." He paused, letting that sink in for a moment before addressing the actual issue. "I never said I'd defeat him in a spell battle. I forfeit every time I get into one. Why? Because I only fight to learn. I can teach you, but I won't battle you. If, however, I were to get into a fistfight with him..."

He shrugged and turned around, leaving the sentence hanging in the air, his unvoiced words a dark threat. He grimaced, putting a finger to his bottom lip, which was beginning to itch. How annoying... His ears laid back in annoyance, then his long, short-furred tail bristled as a sense of dread tore through him. A unit...but the feeling's too powerful...God, please, don't let it be...anyone else, please, just not my sacrifice...

{Yes, that's the term. Bastard? Nah, he has every right to be pissed with Rav. He's toying with Yaso, waiting for him to snap. Oh, and...don't take Ravyn's threats lightly. Let's just say he's very good with self-defense, both the fighting and the legal implications...

Also... INCOMING COMIC RELIEF~! (aka, Damien)}

Following his instincts, Reiji sped down the streets. He still had that uncontrollable feeling that something was wrong, and he had to get to Yaso. Fast.
Thinking to himself I feel like im following my own gps system to him. Laughing a little to himself, he sped up, into a car park that lead into a park. He must be here some where. With another. One like us.Thinking to himself again.

As he got off his bike and took off his helmet. He felt it. The presence of another. A fighter. "Shit" He muttered under his breath. Picking up his pace into a small jog, eyes scaning the surrounding area. Looking for his elusive sacrifice.
Then another thought struck him as he went through the trees zig zagging. What if he doesnt want me there. Or he gets shitty. Fuck it. I heard him calling. So i came. He shrugged.

Then he heard them. Hearing the last part of a sentence. But it wasnt Yaso speaking. Turning a last corner he came to the clearning where they were. And there was his sacrifice. Looking more mad than Reiji had ever seen him look.
Fortunatly Reiji was closer to Yaso than the fighter. So he walked over to him. Waiting for his ear to be chewed off.

Ravyn let out a sigh of relief. A fighter. This I can deal with. He turned around and tilted his head to the side, tail still bristling. "The sacrifice belong to you?" He purposefully made it sound as though the sacrifice were the possession, not the 'master.' "How the Hell do you manage to put up with someone so annoying?" He smirked, trying to look as though he was at ease.

But something wasn't right... He's not the one who's that intense...someone else is coming...damn... He stretched a bit, then bit his lip, flinching as the itch flared to a sharp pain. "Something's way off here..." He shuddered, wrapping his arms around his waist and taking a step away from them. But that made it worse, so he took two steps toward them. Will it away, Morrigan. You've done it before! He couldn't, though. The harder he focused on ridding himself of the stinging sensation, the worse it got. It was starting to give him a headache.

Smirking slightly. Reiji saw what the fighter did. "I belong to him. In other words my body is a vessel which exists only to obey his orders and his alone" Gesturing to Yaso. "Annnd you must have said or done something to piss him off." he said.

Reiji noticed that after the boys little speach his body language changed slightly, he was trying to hard to cover up his emotions and not to mention the boy was distracted, watching the him move away then move closer, Reiji narrowed his eyes for a second. What was he playing at?

Looking over to Yaso, Reiji wanted to see if there was going to be a command or some sort of utterance that would fall from his lips.

Bulky luggage over his back side, pulling him down to his keens. His feet begging him to take a rest, but he would not rest yet, not till he found what he was seeking for.

Just drop off by a tiny yellow taxi, at some random street corner, the young man had no idea where to start. He was new to these surroundings; street signs, languages, dress appearances. All a different experience for him, but who said different was bad?
He was walking around now for about a couple of hours now. Deliberating on what to do, he partly ready to give up. What was he thinking? Going all the way to Japan, did he think he’ll be able to find her that easily? ‘Stupid! What now…maybe I can stil--!’
Stinging pain shot up his body, making him jolt in his place. ‘Wha-t?..’ Jumble up feelings griped him, drawing him towards a park near by. He wasn’t sure on what this feeling was, but something was pulling, no calling him to get over there. Now.
He dash quickly through the park, almost even hit against a baby stroller. ‘What’s up with this?? I don’t get it, was this what those other men meant when they…’
He halted in his tracks. Three individuals came into view, two standing with each other, while the other alone, standing contrary of each other. He glimpse look over to the loner over to the side. For some reason, he felt like he knew the other one…was it.

“...Ravyn??!”

Yaso snorted. At least someone knew their place. He glanced to Reiji, brow furrowed a bit. He parted his lips to snap out a command, to tear this damned fighter to shreds or something, when another voice called out.

Ravyn? Who the hell named their kid Ravyn?

His brow furrowed even further as he eyed the newest arrival. Great. Another one? He shoved his hands into his pockets once again, bunching his shoulders up and shooting a scowl at Reiji as if it were his fault there were so many morons crawling around the city all of a sudden.

What had happened? Everything had been normal and fine before the damned fighter had forced himself on him...

Looking over to the sound of another voice, Reiji saw a male walk up the parks path towards the three males. "Shit another sacrifice" He muttered under his breath. This could get uglier than he had anticipated.

From his height Reiji towered over every one. Looking down at his sacrifice he heard him snort, as he looked at Yaso, he saw the verges of a sentance forming, but got lost as the sacrifice noticed the newest addition.
then he noticed the angry look Yaso gave him. Im going to get it arent i? He thought mentally kicking himself.

If this new sacrifice was the owner of the boy then would it turn out ugly? Reiji knew he could hold his own very well in a spell battle, if one was declared, as mental images flooded him breifly of his father then of Ritsu doing what they bother referred to as "training". But how would he and Yaso be as a unit.

As abruptly as the sensations of pain and dread had come, they vanished when his name was called. His eyes widened in fury, immediately recognizing the voice, despite the five years that seperated him from that painful memory. He opened his mouth, voice low and venomous. "Damien..." He smiled sweetly at the pair in front of him. "Could you hold that thought for a minute? I need to go kick someone's ass..."

He spun on his heel and marched over to Damien, his eyes glinting with anger. "What, so now you're stalking me, Damien?" He shoved the sacrifice back a bit, not even pausing to think that his ex might actually be his sacrifice. The thought would be laughable, when it finally occurred to him. "The flight from the States to Japan is a pretty long one, if you're here for sightseeing. What the HELL do you want, you little brat?" He had been moving too close, and was now practically spitting the words in Damien's face. He shouldn't be showing this side of himself, not in public. He shouldn't be giving the other fighter a key to his rage. But damned if he couldn't help himself. His ex had always been a weak point for him.

"Traitors don't belong with the Trusted. Go home, Damien. And run, before I track you down and strangle you." His voice had dropped to a near-whisper, the effect even more menacing than his wrath.

He gripped his stepping. Feeling those enraged hands pulled back its owner.
‘It’s Ravyn all right….’ He felt something submerge within him quake as old memories rose from there placed graves. He sent them back; he still felt guilty what he did back then, but now there was something he could do about it.
“I haven’t not stalking you…not that much anyways. But that’s far from the point; I’ve been looking for you for a while now.” The actuality that he happen to find him here was still astonishing to him. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you about and…” His ears flatted out, looking back to the pair behind. Both were looking intently back at the two “Maybe this isn’t the best time to talk….”
His head still ache for some sort, the intense aura he felt around him seemed to be the caused of this…abnormal pain. “I think we really…we really need to have talk Ravyn…”