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Post by Tegan on Mar 5, 2008 13:43:57 GMT -5
Aset was walking across the Academy Grounds toward the military compound alone one afternoon. It was sunny out, with hardly any clouds. The temperature was comfortable, but then again, only exceedingly cold temperatures ever bothered Aset. She passed students and staff who were out in the wonderful weather, enjoying their Saturday off of work or school. They all seemed so care free. Well, not all of them. She could spot the officers and the really serious soldiers a mile away. Their attitude was different, their body language, how they interacted with others. Luckily NOA had no need for spies because none of these people would pass for anything other than a well trained soldier to a keen eye. Aset knew she could "pass". When she wasn't working, she was a completely different person, she knew that. When she wasn't working, it was as if work didn't exist. But she didn't have the temperament for spy work. There was no honor in it.
Aset rounded a corner to find a small group of students peering over a railing with water balloons behind each of their backs. They were giggling freely. Aset smiled to see such carefree laughter and innocence. Curious to see who was about to get wet, Aset peered over the railing with them, right next to the nearest student. The boy glanced over and his laughter died instantly when he saw who was next to him. Like a domino effect, the children looked over to see Aset and all stopped laughing immediately. They looked positively terrified.
Aset looked down the line of children and smiled. "Are you waiting for someone specific or is anyone fair game?" she asked lightly.
The boy closest to her gulped as Aset held out her hand for a balloon. He handed it over reluctantly, possibly hoping that she hadn't already seen them. Balloon in hand, Aset returned her attention to the blissfully unaware people below them. Seeing one woman come out from beneath the balcony, Aset laughed. "Oh, this is too perfect. Prepare to duck, kiddies," she said as she threw her water balloon on the head of the other NOA general, Ryuichi Tsuyumi. The children just gaped at her until they heard the splat and the decidedly unhappy noise coming from their general that followed it and ducked quickly. Aset just leaned over the rail laughing and waved happily at her Sky Division counterpart.
"Why Ryu, you look positively drenched, darling. Want me to dry you off a bit? What are you doing here anyway? I thought we had equipment check across the grounds in five minutes. I'm on my way there now, care to join me?"
The children were staring up at her, completely dumbfounded. Then, one by one, they started to giggle, then outright laugh.
"Well, this is where we part paths, kiddies. Choose your victims wisely; just because I'm so obviously condoning this behavior doesn’t mean that I'll bail you out if you hit an instructor who finds it less than amusing." With that, Aset gripped the rail and lept over it, landing neatly beside Ryu. She straightened with a flourish and a grin, this day was getting better and better.
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Post by Ginji on Mar 6, 2008 14:38:26 GMT -5
Ryuichi Tsuyumi let a small smile cross her face as she stepped into the sunlight, the warmth always a pleasure after long days within the NOA compound. Pausing a moment outside the shadow of an overhead balcony, the commander of the Sky Division paused to revel in the simple delight.
The reverie was cut short when a small, sudden pressure atop her head burst into a torrent of water. A small, surprised cry left her mouth at the sudden chill trickling down her back and face. Picking the burst pieces of rubber from her hair, Ryu pulled the glasses from her face, gaping up at the waving general of the Earth Division.
Her eyes were wide in unchecked surprise for a moment before her expression lightened into a good-humored grin, easily gathering the water into a liquid sphere. Long hair rippled across her back when Ryu shook her head at Aset's lighthearted greeting, replacing the dried glasses upon her nose.
A faceful of water greeted Aset's cheeky grin when the young woman joined her companion on the ground. Satisfied for the moment with the retribution, Ryu began walking off with a smile on her face, arms lightly crossed.
The laughter of the students atop the balcony was dying down, and though Ryu didn't know how many nor who they were, she sent a small wave or her energy out to any of the remaining water balloons.
The laughing stopped abruptly and resumed after a moment when the balloons burst, the water within writhing spraying over the gathered students before withdrawing into the shape of a bird. Liquid wings sent prisms of color dancing across the balcony before the thing took off and evaporated in a shower of mist.
Silently pleased with the delight of the students, Ryuichi also rather hoped the display of skill would encourage their studies to master their own tohsu. Straightening her crisp white gloves, the general resumed her refined posture and professional bearing. "I was coming to find you, my dear Aset." pausing to wait for the other, Ryu turned slightly towards Aset, eyes bright and with the barest trace of a smile on her face. "I'd be more than happy to play your games with you, but I might suggest we complete our duties first. Inventory to be taken, equipment to be tested, students and soldiers to be given a little extra motivation with some encouragement from their lovely commanding officers."
Ryuichi wasn't completely familiar with Aset Sharai, but wouldn't deny she respected her. Capable beyond all doubt and a tactical mastermind. Though she wouldn't admit it at the moment, Ryu rather enjoyed spending time with the other, content in the company of an equal who was so very different than herself. One always learned something around Aset.
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Post by Tegan on Mar 25, 2008 13:12:00 GMT -5
Aset stood there slightly shocked by Ryu's reaction. Ryu wasn't exactly known for her light heartedness. Aset had half expected the other commander to be furious at her, not that she would have cared much. In fact, such a reaction would have made Ryu Aset's new number one target for such fun. The Tensho's playfulness was quite a pleasant surprise.
Aset wiped some of the water from her face. It felt good since the day was warm, but she couldn't let Ryu have all the Tohsu fun for the morning. She fell in step beside Ryu, the water evaporating off her head in obvious steam.
"Oh, lovely, are we?" Aset tossed her red-blonde hair behind her and flashed Ryu a mischievous grin. "A proposition for you, Ryu. A challenge, actually. I will race you to the compound. Loser takes the defensive position in the war games that are due sometime this week. I personally vote to hold them this afternoon, but only because I'm bored today and was asked to sub for a math class for the rest of the week. What say you, oh all powerful Tensho?"
Aset wasn't sure if she would win. Some of the things she'd seen of and heard about Commander Ryuichi were rather impressive. And one did not become an NOA general without having great ability, skill, power, and talent.
"Let's make it a bit more fun, shall we? I propose that should you accept this challenge, there be no rules to the race. Anything goes."
Given their respective Tohsu, Aset had just damned herself. Fire usually didn't stand up long to water, but Aset had always enjoyed a challenge, and this would certainly be a challenge.
"Come on Commander Ryuichi. Play with me," Aset finished with a light laugh and a devious smile.
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Post by Ginji on Apr 7, 2008 11:07:20 GMT -5
The Chiso’s offer of a ‘friendly’ competition brought another grin to Ryuichi’s face. Trust Aset to turn duties into something infinitely more enjoyable. “A race, hm?” A slender gloved finger tapped her chin in thought, bouncing experimentally on her toes. The thin heels of her boots were noted to be a possible hindrance, but the woman was confident enough in her balance to not worry overly much. After all, she was water- graceful and fluid.
“I do believe I’ll accept your invitation, Commander Aset. What better way to spend such a lovely day than dashing helter-skelter through the compound, doing all that is possible to one-up another?” The smile stretched on her lips as the bluenette plucked her glasses form her nose, depositing them into a pocket of her coat.
Cerulean eyes sparkling with good-humor and a competitive spark, Ryuichi settled a hand on her hip as she settled her gaze on Aset. Her fiery companion was certain to make this interesting. Given the quirks and astounding capabilities of the Chiso, Ryuchi knew this would be an interesting and highly enjoyable experience.
It wasn’t often she was so certain a simple task such as a race would become something to be remembered.
With a small flourish of her hand, Ryuichi drew a finely decorated pistol that was almost always present on her hip, twirling it idly around her fingers as she waved over a passing student. The young boy gaped, looking around in hope that Miss Tsuyumi was beckoning another. Upon realizing it was indeed a call for him, the boy smartly hurried over, raising his arm in a customary salute to the two Officers.
Automatically returning the gesture, Ryuichi flicked some stray hair from her face before replying, her voice light. “At ease, cadet. And stop your worrying, we merely have need of a third party.” Pressing the weapon into the boy’s hands, Ryu moved to stand even with Aset. “I trust you know how to work such a thing. If you’d be so kind as to give your Commanders a countdown and a starting shot for our race, feel free to keep the pistol for yourself. Not the most effective weapon for Atanan deterrence, but rather pretty to look at and effective in a pinch.”
Arcing backwards and stretching her arms above her head, Ryuichi gave Aset another small smirk. “Ready when you are, Aset. And if you win our little race, I’ll take over that math class for you this week, provided you take over my late night bed-check duties this week should I win.”
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Post by Tegan on Apr 29, 2008 19:20:03 GMT -5
"My, my, my, Ryu. Giving away your precious hand gun and participating in a little fun?" Aset put the back of her hand against the shorter woman's forehead. "Are you feeling all right?" She asked feigning a serious tone. "Or, no! I know what it is. You're really a Ryu imposter - though God only knows why anyone would want to pretend to be her – and you just don't quite have the personality down. If that's the case, tell me now. I promise I won't report you." Aset let out a free laugh and jumped away from the other commander a few feet expecting a reaction.
Aset wasn't completely jesting in the meaning behind her playful words. Her impression of her Sky division counterpart was that the woman was rather stiff. Completely unlike Aset in almost all settings. Granted, she didn't know the woman that well, but from what she'd seen so far, she wasn't exactly looking forward to it. Working with her would be fine since no one could argue she was more than competent of a leader. Aset would never admit it, but she was slightly jealous of the woman before her. Ryu had come in from outside of EDEN and had worked her way through the ranks without any advantage whatsoever. Due to her parentage Aset always felt the need to prove herself worthy of her new position as one of two commanding officers. One of her only paranoias was that everyone around her thought she was where she was due only to her parents' positions.
Glancing down, Aset noticed Ryu's heels and thought seriously about the race. Fire against water, she was definitely at something of a disadvantage. The care free Chiso tossed her hair out of her face and allowed a grin to spread again. The Tensho was certainly a powerful woman and a fantastic commander but she was not without weaknesses. Unfortunately, Aset didn't really know the woman's weaknesses yet. She looked forward to finding some of them today.
Math class and bed-check duties? Aset didn't mind the bed-check – she rather enjoyed them, actually - but she was desperate to get rid of the math. There was actually a reason they had stopped giving Aset bed-check duties. Whenever the woman found students up and awake, instead of sending them back to bed, the commander would get a cup of hot cocoa or tea and have a midnight chat with them, inevitably waking up other students. The last time Aset had bed-check duties, she had ended up starting a game of truth or dare with the entire east wing dorm. Aset grinned at the memory, then frowned at the dilemma before her. Either lose on purpose in order to once again be able to do a bed-check and retain the cursed math class, or win and lose both.
Looking the Tensho over again, Aset decided to leave it up to fate. Who knows, maybe she'd lose genuinely. Aset nodded to the still nervous cadet and waited for the shot to start the race, her face calm and, for once, passive.
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Post by Ginji on Apr 30, 2008 22:41:01 GMT -5
Ryuichi's only reply to Aset's jesting was a calm smile. Ensuring she was dead level with her fiery comrade, Ryu nodded the okay to the student, who tentatively raised the gun and fired off a shot.
Without sparing a glance to either side, the Tensho took off running with liquid grace, hair streaming behind her. Truthfully, she was rather looking forward to this race.
Not often she felt she had such a worthy opponent, and she looked forward to the chance to test both her and Aset's abilities.
They were fire and water, commanders of Earth and Sky, one boisterous and exuberant, the other stealthy and introverted. They were the same age, and that was where the similarities seemed to end.
... The same age. A slight misstep at the sudden surge of thoughts sent Ryu hopping slightly to the left before quickly regaining her balance and continuing on. Chances were decent they'd shared some classes or training courses. Yet Ryu knew nothing of Miss Aset Sharai besides the very basics, and that she came from a very impressive ancestry.
That was one thing Ryu certainly didn't envy, and raised her respect for the other quite significantly. The Tensho was quite certain she would be unable to handle the pressure of living up to and surpassing generations of greatness.
The harsh click of her shoes as they crashed down upon rocks peeking through the packed dirt of the NOA grounds brought her back to the task at hand.
She could muse later. Hell, she could probably even just invite Aset to share tea or dinner with her, and they could get to know one another like normal, sane human beings.
Cerulean eyes narrowed in amusement at the thought, crouching lower as she ran. Neither of us seem like the type to do things the easy way.
For now, she was mroe than content to play this game with the Chiso, and enjoy every moment of it.
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Post by Tegan on Jun 10, 2008 14:32:38 GMT -5
Aset heard the gun go off and immediately Ryu sprinted quickly away. Aset wandered aimlessly in the general direction of her destination until she had fifty feet of room in between her and the cadet who started the race for them.
Aset raised a hand to her forehead to shield the sun and she slowly scanned the skies before bringing her gaze back to Ryu just in time to see the commander stumble slightly. Aset grinned with a mixture of excitement and nerves for the trick she was about to attempt. She had only done it once before and it had been in extreme desperation so she wasn't sure how well this would work out for her.
Aset glanced around her to make sure there was plenty of room between her and anyone else before crouching down and concentrating on freeing and controlling her Tohsu. Releasing the controlled and focused energy Aset had built up, she directed the massive fire power toward the ground creating a great amount of thrust and sending her flying almost uncontrollably in the air.
Aset was airborne and she was remaining there, though low to the ground. Ryu still had quite a head start on her so Aset aimed herself at the other commander intending to distract her. Perhaps she'd even fly to the finish line, though that wouldn't be very fun.
Right before she reached the Tensho Aset had a moment of worry, hoping the other woman would react fast enough to avoid getting severely burnt as Aset flew right over her head, then the moment passed and she was right behind the other woman.
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Post by Ginji on Jun 29, 2008 14:52:43 GMT -5
It was an offhanded observation, the lack of the sound of Aset's feet hitting the floor, the rustle of the other officer's clothing that should have been present. Though curious as to why the Chiso apparently had neglected to begin, Ryuichi didn't turn to look.
The waves hit her first. Waves of growing tohsu energy cascading outward from the unmistakable, fiery source of Aset. Next the audible roar of combustion, and finally the heat. Immediately, Ryu dropped low, skidding to a halt and watching through her flying hair as Aset soared by a few inches above her.
Well.... the other woman certainly was creative. And daring. It had to take a remarkable amount of strength and faith in one's kamui for a trick like that.
Ryu watched the other commander for a moment, feeling her own kamui well in eagerness to compete with it's temporary rival. A torrent of liquid energy rippled out from Ryuichi and her kamui, pulling all available water to them. Droplets fell form the air, pulled to condense and gather, the liquid gushing up from the ground and bursting form pipes.
Writhing, it snaked across the grounds in a compact trail after Aset, bursting upwards in powerful, ice-cold jets in an effort to knock her off balance.
Grinning, Ryuichi took off running again, following the unnatural river. With the help of her kamui and the water beneath, her feet slid easily over the surface of the water; hydroplaning as she made an attempt to regain the lead.
[[Shot-in-the-dark post~! Hope you can work with it, Tegan. Was lackign ideas so just kinda winged it. X3;;]]
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Post by Tegan on Jul 29, 2008 16:55:24 GMT -5
Aset hadn't honestly expected her flying fun to last long after she passed Ryu. In fact she had been certain she would end up doused and drenched long before she gained much of a lead and Ryu did not disappoint her. The Tensho's river of Toshu hit her fast and knocked her off balance while extinguishing her fire with no trouble.
As if I needed to be reminded of how severe my disadvantage was, Aset thought to herself as she rolled on the ground and smoothly got back on her feet.
Aset was running in seconds and was almost immediately even with the other Commander. Aset grinned at the woman.
"Just now look what you've done. I'm soaked!" Aset was laughing, as usual, when she noticed the mud puddles Ryu's flying river was creating and she had a wicked idea. Perhaps the woman hadn't minded the water balloon, but she was certain to accept Aset's latest prank without such grace.
In order to avoid any possible forthcoming attack and to gain momentum, Aset branched off away from Ryu, picked up some speed, and ran right back toward her. Hopefully catching the Tensho off guard, Aset slammed her body into Ryu's in an attempt to not only knock her off her water but off her feet entirely and into the massive puddle they were quickly coming upon.
At the last second, Aset pulled herself back so that she too would not fall into the puddle. She let out a whoop of joy as she back flipped away from the fallen commander and took off running again, not bothering to take the time to see if her ploy had been sucessful.
Perhaps Ryu will be so disgusted by the mud that it will take her too long to recover and give chase that I might yet win this, Aset thought with a hopeful grin. She was having a blast. She just hoped the Commander wouldn't take it personally and hold it against her.
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Post by Ginji on Aug 4, 2008 0:16:41 GMT -5
They were racing. So the rapidly approaching Aset raised less worry than it should have. It wasn't until Ryuichi felt her feet forcibly leave the surface of her liquid pathway that she knew she was in trouble for letting her guard down around the Chiso. The animated water rippled and crashed as Ryu lost her focus, sending a a few inches of foaming waves cascading across part of the grounds before sinking into thirsty earth or storm drains.
The freed water beneath the Tensho writhed as her tohsu-waves tried calling it back. Aset's newest stunt was incredibly efficient in it's simplicity. Falling from the height granted solely by one's own stature left very little time for reaction. Especially when the falling was encouraged by a full tackle from an overenthusiastic pryomancer.
The water ceased all unnatural movement and Ryu heard the liquid, bubbling laughter of Shihihoukousen, her kamui, ringing in her ears.
It lasted a fraction of a moment, but left Ryuichi covered in clinging mud created from the rampage of her element. Aset sped off without waiting for a reaction, intelligent enough to know waiting for one could be hazardous and that her chosen tactic was an effective one.
Stunned, Ryu could only sit in the mud, staring down at her usually-pristine uniform through mud-spattered glasses. It wasn't until a few seconds later when the unpleasant sensation of cold mud seeping up her skirt brought her blank mind back into action.
A frown was spared for her sullied gloves, the snow-white fabric utterly destroyed. Something between a pained grimace and angry frown found her features as her hair fell against her back, plastered thick with mud. Even using her influence over water to help wash it out would be tedious if she wanted to avoid damaging her lengthy, much cared for, curtain of hair.
Anger began to set in, water in Ryu's vicinity snapping angrily and hissing into billowing clouds of steam. "Aset..." she muttered darkly, wiping some mud from her face with a semi-clean forearm. The unseemly coat of mud made ignoring her title a bit easier as she kicked off her boots and burst into a a sprint.
Water swirled around her pounding feet as Ryu ran after Aset, the cloud of lighter steam twining into a serpent and shooting past her after the fire-wielder. Ryu understood it was merely a 'friendly' competition, but felt much obliged to at least try to give as good as she received. Fanning it's hood and opening it's gaping, fang-ridden mouth the vapor-cobra took a sinuous dive, intent upon entangling the Chiso's legs long enough to give Ryu a chance to catch up.
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Post by Tegan on Sept 1, 2008 1:08:23 GMT -5
The stairs were coming. Aset had never been very good on stairs and there were a lot of them that she had to run down. Or, of course, she could just jump off the ledge and ignore the stairs…though she could easily break a leg that way. She wondered if Ryu was still in the race. Maybe she wouldn’t have to run down the stairs after all.
Once Aset had decided she had put enough safety distance between her and Ryuichi she turned around and ran backwards, hoping for a glimpse of the hopefully mud-soaked Tensho. Aset found herself to once again be both lucky and unlucky. She got more than a glimpse of Ryu as the woman sprinted toward her, unfortunately that meant she was still in the race. Aset could barely keep herself running straight up she was laughing so hard. She hoped the ever perfect looking Commander Ryuichi wouldn’t notice her mirth but she couldn’t see how the woman could miss it since she was focused entirely on the laughing Chiso.
Distracted by the marvelous view of Ryu and the fact that she could barely keep her eyes open she was laughing that hard, Aset completely missed the water snake as it dove towards her. The snake wrapped itself around Aset’s legs as she turned back around to tackle the stairs. As Fate would have it, Aset did just that; she tackled the stairs head first and all the way down.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
The sky was blurry. Why was the sky blurry? Why was the sky framed in black? More importantly, why was she starring at the sky? And why was it blurry. Aset blinked. The sky was still framed in black. Why? Then she blinked again as she felt a thick liquid drip across her forehead. And through her hair. Why was it blurry? Why was she starring at the sky? That’s a pretty bird, Aset thought as one flew over her. Why was she starring at the blurry sky? She didn’t want to anymore. It frightened her. Made her head ache. She closed her eyes. Or perhaps it was because her head ached that it was blurry and black. Aset wondered why her head was wet.
In the silence that closed eyes…and ringing ears bring, Aset heard and felt her heart beat. It was racing. Why was she starring at the sky?
Wasn’t she supposed to be meeting the new Tensho somewhere? For something? Why was the sky blurry? Aset recalled the water balloons. Is that why her head was wet? Did Ryu throw a water balloon at her head? Why was the sky black? That hardly seems like something the stiff commander would do.
Aset took a deep breath. Pain shot across her ribs and back. Her eyes shot open but she quickly closed them tightly against the blurry, black rimmed sky she wasn’t supposed to be staring at.
But Ryu wasn’t as stiff as she seemed. Aset had learned that today. Though she still hadn’t learned why she was staring at the sky.
Stairs.
Everything ached.
Didn’t she have war games to direct today with the Tensho?
Why was the sky blurry?
Hadn’t she been in the middle of something? Something important? Something fun? Something amusing? Something potentially dangerous? Why did those four things usually coincide to create a painful disaster for Aset?
Why was the sky rimmed with black? Or was it her vision?
Why was…..A race? That would be fun. And amusing. With Commander Ryuichi? That would be important. And probably dangerous.
Aset opened her eyes a bit again and slowly lifted her head a few inches. This time pain shot through her head and down her neck.
Hadn’t she left the water balloons with the students? Hadn’t Ryu popped them all and made a pretty bird with that water? That was a pretty bird, Aset thought again. Then why was her head wet? Aset brought her hand to her head slowly. It fell off of something hard. Stairs? Why was her hand resting on a stair? Why was she staring at the sky? Aset opened her eyes to see her hand.
Could Ryu make red water?
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Post by Ginji on Sept 2, 2008 13:18:37 GMT -5
Ryu froze in utter horror as she saw Aset fall, eyes wide as the water around her fell lifelessly to the ground. It was a game, a race, a friendly competition in the Commander's usually austere, rigidly structured life.... Shihihoukousen yelled, told his mistress to move, to help, to do something, anything but stand and watch in horrid fascination as the lighthearted Chiso tumbled down down down....
And it was her fault. Her snake had grabbed Aset's leg, thrown her off balance to send her toppling in awful imitation of a rag doll down those steps. Even after Aset landed in a graceless, limp heap at the bottom the Tensho stood with wide, unseeing eyes. Aset... she'd hurt Aset, bright, cheerful Aset who never deserved anything more severe than a mild glare..
"Ryuichi!"
Shihihoukousen's mental roar snapped the woman from her daze and the bluenette took off at a run, forsaking those steps to sail over the retaining wall. A sloppy roll as she landed kept her from sharing Aset's pain, hesitating again as she saw Aset dazedly staring up at her own blood-covered hand. With a wince Ryu moved closer, not caring about the bits of drying mud that flaked off her clothing.
"Aset..."
Too quiet, too shaken. Not befitting a commander. Pushing back the nagging voice, Ryuichi knelt beside the redhead with a concerned frown. A minute, featherlight wave of tohsu issued an urgent command for all the water coursing through Aset's veins to what it could to keep from letting anything more spill out the apparent gash in her head. "Can you hear me, Aset? Stay awake, all right?"
Hovering over her comrade, Ryu pulled the walkietalkie at her hip to her mouth, requesting a medic to her location. Immediately. Sighing, she raked her worried blue gaze over Aset. A forced smile twisted her lips, feeling as though she should say something to fill that awful silence she so usually enjoyed.
"I'm sorry, Aset... We'll get you patched up momentarily..." the grin turned a bit more genuine, but remorseful, "I suppose the race will have to wait."
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Post by Tegan on Sept 2, 2008 15:25:46 GMT -5
Aset supposed that Ryu could make red water if she had dye and took the time to do…..it…What the fuck!?, Aset thought suddenly. It’s blood, you vacant moron. Snap out of it. Had Aset thought that? No, no she hadn’t. Aset didn’t swear. Well, at least hardly ever. No, that had been Shula.
The sky began to clear. The black receded. There was no bird any more.
Her heart rate calmed, the ringing in her ears dimmed to be replaced by Shula’s urging, supportive comments. Aset still didn’t understand why Shula sounded so worried. So scared. So angry.
Aset faintly heard a thump from behind her. Above her? It doesn’t matter. Aset didn’t like it much when Shula invaded her thoughts. They often held private, mental discussions, but their thoughts were their own. Why was Shula invading her privacy now?
Aset felt her sigh. You fell, Aset. Wake up. Snap out of it. Focus on something.
That had been a pretty bird.
Anything but that, Aset.
There were footsteps. Aset knew that she should react. What if the footsteps were a threat? Shula said she had fallen. She should defend herself. She didn’t have the energy. She should react. She tried calling fire, but for some reason Shula wouldn’t let her.
Aset was tired. She let her hand drop. Her bloody hand. She closed her eyes again and resigned herself to whatever the footsteps had in store for her.
Stay with me, Aset.
Aset laughed mentally. As if I can leave you? …That was weird. Aset had never regretted the contract she’d made with Shula. She didn’t feel bitter about it. Where had that thought come from?
Don’t worry about it, Aset. You didn’t mean it, I know that.
“Can you hear me, Aset. Stay awake, all right?”
Wha…?
That sounded like Ryuichi, didn’t it? Well she wasn’t a threat. Aset heard Shula laugh briefly at that thought.
"I'm sorry, Aset... We'll get you patched up momentarily..."
Then her voice was muffled. Aset caught the word ‘medic’ and a stressed ‘immediately’.
Aset opened her eyes again, needing to see it to believe it. The Tensho sounded nervous, worried….scared? It was indeed the Commander. All Aset seemed to be able to focus on was blue. Blue eyes, blue hai….blue hair? Not at the moment. It was rather brown at the moment.
“I suppose the race will have to wait.”
That’s right! The race! That’s why Ryu’s ever pristine blue hair was now brown. Now that she thought of it, Aset found herself able to take in more of her counterpart’s appearance. She was absolutely covered in mud.
Aset smiled weakly remembering the feeling of tackling the stiff Air Division Commander into her own mud puddle.
“What are you talking about, Ryu? The race can’t wait. I still have to beat you.”
Aset started to sit up. It was just a fall right? She was a bit dizzy. Lightheaded. She’d been worse before. Much worse. And she’d been worse and continued to fight. This was nothing. Aset could deal with this and continue a race. Not a problem.
Aset glanced to the side and looked at the stairs. Seeing stairs, her glance turned into the best glare she could manage. Aset hated stairs. Had she fallen down them?
No, Aset, you fell down from a completely random location and just happened to land at the bottom of these stairs that have absolutely nothing to do with the gash in your head or the cracks in your ribs…or wrist.
Aset frowned. Your sarcasm, while not unusual, is hardly helpful, Shula. Stay out of my thoughts.
She brought her gaze back to her worried comrade beside her and forced a light smile. “I’m fine, Commander Ryuichi. This is nothing, you should know that.” Ryu should know that, but she was ignoring what she knew at the moment.
She feels guilty.
Get out!
As soon as I know you don’t need my thoughts to temper yours. You have a rather bad concussion, Aset. You’re not thinking straight. You can’t.
So Ryu felt guilty, huh? Well that sucks. Now she’ll really ruin my fun. Aset knew she probably wouldn’t get away with it, but she started trying to stand puting a hand on Ryu’s shoulder both for support and in an attempt to keep the Tensho from interfering, though she knew that wouldn’t work. She was on her knees before she felt the rush. Sitting back down abruptly, Aset narrowly avoided passing out.
I am not helpless, She thought furiously. I can do this!
No you can’t, Shula taunted.
Ignoring her sardonic Kamui, Aset tried to stand again, knowing full well that Ryu would stop her. Ryu would insist she wait for the medic to come and carry her away on a stretcher.
The only time I’m ever on a stretcher is when I’m not conscious enough to protest, Aset thought darkly.
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Post by Ginji on Sept 4, 2008 10:56:31 GMT -5
Ryu watched the vague emotions flit across Aset's face as she conversed with her kamui, knowing had Aset not tumbled down stairs moments prior there would have been no indication of the exchange at all.
Shula's trying to talk sense into her.
Shihihoukousen's voice was unexpectedly bright, the kamui apparently finding amusement at the idea of anyone, let alone Shula, trying to talk logic into Aset.
The worry lessened momentarily when Aset sat up and commented on finishing the race, the show of that former spark a comfort. That was bit more like the true Chiso. It crashed back down again, though, when Aset tried to stand. A hand was firmly on Ryuichi's unwavering shoulder as the redhead tried to force herself up, quickly finding herself reunited with the ground.
Persistent and stubborn even through the fog that had to be hazing her mind, Aset tried again to stand. "Aset," Ryu began, frowning in thinly veiled worry and irritation. The 'strong suggestion' to remain seated was stolen from her throat, feeling a wave of her kamui's influence quieting his Tensho.
The fleeting rasp of cool scales sliding across the back of her neck alerted Ryuichi to just how close Shihihoukousen had pulled himself to their plane.
She won't listen. In her situation neither would you. Make her see sense and rest a moment, get bandaged. But don't treat her like a fledgling student-cadet.
Her eyes hardened slightly, annoyed with her kamui but unable to find any logical argument against him. Reaching out she put a hand on Aset's forearm, hoping it would keep her still for a moment so Ryu could suppress that nagging panic.
She's prideful as you are. As you've both right to be. So stop your brooding and-
You've made you point, Houkou. She snapped, irritable in the aftermath of a botched plan and lost argument. Tucking a mud-encrusted lock of hair behind her ear, Ryuichi Tsuyumi reluctantly rose to her feet, turning to grab Aset's arm again in a mute offer to help her stand.
"All right, up. You can't seen to stay grounded anyways and the elevation might help that bleeding skull of yours." With the practiced ease and care of one used to moving casualties Ryu pulled Aset to her feet, staying farenough away to preserve some pride but within easy reach should Aset need assistant remaining stable.
"We're done racing for today, Aset. Though I won't insist you be carried immediately to the infirmary so long as you let the medic look you over."
Again, that trickling laugh of her kamui echoed in her ears.
See, that wasn't so terribly hard, was it?
Shut up, Houkou. was her only retort, lifting a hand to wave over the approaching medics. Hopefully Aset was feeling at least a bit cooperative.
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Post by Tegan on Sept 4, 2008 12:57:22 GMT -5
Once again Commander Ryuichi surprised the hell out of Aset, she had forgotten how many times in this single day that made….along with a great many other things, she had no doubt. Instead of making her lay down, instead of restraining her, Ryu was instead offering Aset a hand up. Aset was shocked frozen. Of all the things she was sure Ryu had probably done that day, this was by far the most surprising….probably. She wasn’t actually sure since she still didn’t even remember falling. For a few moments Aset was just sitting on the ground staring at Ryu’s outstretched hand.
Not wanting to seem rude, Aset grabbed onto Ryu’s hand. Of course, she also needed the help though would never admit it. With the Tensho’s generous and surprising assistance Aset was soon on her feet, though her eyes were shut tight in an attempt to pretend the black splotches in her vision indicating lack of blood and impending loss of consciousness didn’t exist and with both hands holding Ryu’s one arm in a death grip. But she was standing.
Thinking herself a coward, Aset opened her eyes and swayed a bit, having to take a step back to try and maintain some semblance of balance. There were three medics standing by respectfully. Two were carrying a stretcher but that wasn’t the only reason Aset frowned. Yes, all members of NOA should show their commanders respect but had she and Ryu been anyone else they would have shoved their way through and gotten to the patient immediately. Erring on the side of caution, respect-wise, was probably safe for the medics when it comes to NOA’s two brand new commanders, but it wasn’t a safe practice to get into for the injured commander in question.
Irritable, for obvious reasons, Aset snapped at the medics, “What are you waiting for? I haven’t got all day and Ryu informs me I am to be examined or some such. You may as well leave that stretcher right there, I won’t be needing it. And in the future, don’t wait for permission to examine and injured soldier, officer or student, no matter who they are.”
As the medics set the stretcher down and approached, Aset leaned against the retaining wall for support, slowly gave Ryu her arm back and offered her a genuine smile of gratitude. Aset kept her eyes closed in sheer annoyance as the medics examined and bandaged her and told her what Shula already had, opening her eyes only on command to learn again that she had a concussion. Unsurprising.
The medics had Aset sit on the stairs to stitch up her head which was not bleeding nearly as copiously as it should have been, a fact the medics puzzled over for a moment. Aset felt vaguely like a lab rat with the three medics all poking and prodding her and was reminded briefly of NOA’s beginning and the methods then used to unite Kamui with soldier. She suppressed a shudder and sent a silent prayer of gratitude that they had found another way.
While one of them was splinting her fractured arm and wrist Aset glanced over at the other Commander who was standing somewhat awkwardly off to the side. She seemed a bit at a loss of what to do now that the medics had arrived and taken command of the injured Chiso. She also seemed completely unaware of the fact that she was still covered in mud. Wait….Ryu….was covered in mud. Aset found herself now staring at the ever perfect Commander in disbelief for a moment only vaguely remembering that she was responsible for Ryu’s current state of appearance. Suddenly Aset wondered what the medics were thinking at that moment with one Commander severely injured and the other covered in dry mud and she burst out laughing then wondered what they’d think about the injured Commander laughing and she laughed harder.
It was just too funny. She had shoved Ryuichi Tsuyumi into a mud puddle of her own making and then had tripped and fallen down the stairs! Aset was practically doubled over laughing, clutching her side and ignoring her protesting, cracked ribs all while trying to keep her one arm still. The medic stitching her head had given up entirely and decided to wait until she was finished laughing and still again. He’d be waiting a long time.
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