No work, boring day, and collisions! Yay.

[Anonymous]

What had it been, two weeks, four? Ryu had suggest to lie low in Arca - a bustling city in Serendipity. Of course, they had people searching for both their obscure faces, but if they went to a place more laid back, they'd be caught easier. But the urge for trouble was a constant rash on his flesh, making him itch and fidget like a two year old in a candy store. It was hard to keep himself in check, and as the days passed he found it exceedingly harder until the point he had to monitor how much liquor he consumed, simply because of the fact if he got too drunk, he'd go on one hell of a rampage.

Today was like any other previous day - wake up, dress, find a note from Miu, basically saying she was looking for a job or something on the inn room's bedside table. Then get dressed and go out, half-heartedly looking for a job. But he found himself he wanted to get a job just to decrease the amount of energy inside his body. Of course, it really shouldn't be this hard. Finding a laborer who'd do even the lowest jobs was somewhat uncommon, and Ryu was ready to do it...

But at the moment, he had halted his less-than-enthusiastic search for work to sit on a barrel outside a store. He ran a hand over his head, dark eyes glancing around. The people milled around like mindless cattle or pigs, all ready for the slaughter houses' blade. He frowned, and his mind they were nothing... just dirty swine and cows. Then agian, to them he was probably much on the same peg.

Miu worked hard as a barmaid in a tavern. She also cooked during the nights at the inn her and Ryu were staying at. Since the business was surprisingly slow - at least for that particular inn, she found her prescence needless and slipped outside, wandering towards the figure she could identify even in a blizzard. He was perched on a barrel, looking dark and somewhat irritated by the mere passer-bys. She smiled - and faltered as she almost collided with somewhat. Miu took a quick step back and too the side, her dark eyes slightly rounded, showing just how startled she was and how much of her innocence she still retained.

"Ahh... I'm sorry," she said, smiling softly and glancing back to the barrel up ahead.

Ryu wasn't there anymore. Where did he go now? She felt disappointment well inside her. She might not get a chance to talk to him all day - regardless of the fact they shared teh same room. They didn't share the same schedule.

Ryu had disappeared, mingling among the 'inferiorities' of the resembling race and slid towards Miu in an indirect way. The crowd was like a tide - he was pulled and pushed, and it took most of his power not to just curl his shoulders, stick out his hands and break through the barrier people. Feh.


(>>' I'm not really good at opening posts. I hope I created openings for your character? ^^')

[Anonymous]

Arca? He felt himself slightly sick of the sight. THe wall from before were littlered with gaurds as if the place was of big importance. Though once in side the glamour disapeared into muck of flesh bags and boiling pigs. This was too much for one to handle like himself, he was just getting dizzy from being pushed and shoved itno such wreched creatures. He Though kept pushing on, his red eyes glard coldly boring into anyone who made eye contact with him. Which at the time, he had to do almost every second now.

It was too much, they were like flies intrested in the red hair and robes he wore. The horns that gleamed heavily in the sky also had a red tint to them. They were curios of how everything about him glowed red. They swarmed him with their eyes, it was irritating. He even had few who would keep their stare long enough until he was out of sight. A murmering even rose above the streets normal bounds of energy it seemed. This all became silent though as he kept himself away from such bothers. His red eyes kept watchful though, he was searching and searching, someone who had a pure soul.

He felt himself being pulled around here not by the physical shove of the traffic, but of the celestial world. He closed his eyes and let out a whispered sigh, his mouth soon let out a small mist of ice. It hit his face cooling his face off from the heat that surrounded him. His eyes slowly rifted open and he spotee something. A young woman...He felt his eyes drawn towards her as she stood out fromt eh others. He tilted his head slightly as he walked towards her using his horns to make sure no one bumped into him. He lifted his head letting his eyes rest on her as he got close enough to speak to her. He lifted a hand and tugged on her clothing at her elbow.

 He kept his face blank as he spoke in a whispered voice "Excuse me..." He said as he tilted his head to the side "Would you help me with something?" He asked her as he let go of her clothing sure he had her attention.

[Anonymous]

Miu peered through the packed people, but she only saw clothing and flesh and... people. But not the person she was looking for. Her eyes wouldn't rest, scanning the crowds enthusiastically for Ryu. Her eyes crossed over the unique person in the masses - but there were many different people. But everyone seemed attracted to man who was tinted the color red. She studied him, but for only a few moments. He was not her goal, nor did she have any concern with him. She had just returned her eyes to the ground, trying to stay from the thickest masses by seeking shelter by a building. She assumed there was a big sale somewhere - or maybe a show. There couldn't always be this many people on the streets, meandering, right?

"O-oh?" She blinked, stiffening slightly as the sleeve at her elbow was tugged.

She smiled nonetheless when he spoke. He was soft-voiced - definitly different from her dear Ryu. But she tilted her head in curiousity... help? Why her? She didn't fail to notice it was the newcomer. She wondered, vaguely, if he was royalty in some distant land. She also wondered if he knew of her home - of her city.

"Yes, sir. What do you need help with?" She asked, her dark innocent eyes staring out from under dark bangs which she lightly pushed aside.

Ryu watched the confrontation apathetically. She could take care of herself. But still... He shrugged off the thought and studied the interesting man, noticing the four horns, the red tint, the red robes and his dislike for the swarming people around him. He felt just how Ryu felt - and he wondered what he wanted with Miu - then again, one could wonder what HE was doing with MIU. But the kid wouldn't leave him alone.

[Anonymous]

He allowed himself a timid smile as she answered him with great kindness. 'Yes, sir. What do you need help with?' He Lift his hand gently to her warm face then he lowered his gaze into the dark orbs. Pulling the warm face gently he took a step in, his lips pressing gently against hers. He opened his mouth slightly as he called her soul out to him. He lowered his eyelids as he went into a dazed state, a cold wind blurred the image of what was happening to them and the others who continued their lives. He did not want to grab attentions. He brought his left hand behind her back as he felt her body becoming heavy. Finaly the soul was out of her body, he lifted his head back and held her gently making sure she did not collapse.

The soul appeared from her mouth and it was instantly sucked into a pouch of his that held at his waist. His timid smile was gove as he brought down the defense and he let the world see what was of the girl.  He led the girl to a seat next to them and let her sit there, for others to find he cold and lifeless. He then lifted his left hand from her and let it gentlyplace the black bangs away from the pretty face, it was all he could do for her help. He took a step back and turned around casually. He then began to walk back into the crowed but his eyes placed onto another. A man, with eyes that matched coldly with his own. He felt a push on him from this gaze, he turned himself about, not wanting to deal with that now.

 He had after all more souls to collect. He lowered his shoulders a bit as he dodged through the crowed easily, still feeling the eyes of such bugs that flew around him. This place was filled with to many easy dark souls. He did not need such, they weren't even good to eat, but it sustained him for days if he really needed such souls. He put his hand gently on his bag were the soul jumbled inside there. He was feeling hungry...He then shook his head, he was eating to much, if he ate anymore...they would surely have his head.

[Anonymous]

It startled him - what seemingly was a mere harmless kiss turned into something quite suspicious. How could that stupid kid let her guard down so easily? What was he always telling her? What happened? And as soon as the man tainted red - the universal warning color... the color that screamed blood - walked away, he disappeared from his spot within the mobs of people, reappearing beside Miu. He touched her neck with his fingers - what he saw earlier wasn't a trick of the eye. His eyes slowly narrowed, darks slits in his ever-darkening face, his lips pulled tight as he pulled the girl over his shoulder, perhaps even too rough for a dead body.

"Stupid child! You deserved what you got," Ryu snarled beneath his breath, but even as he said those words he was hunting after the man the color of blood, his mind void of thought as memories replied like a video inside his head.

"Oi, I apologize, sir! I - I -.....!!" A small, dark eyed and haired girl squeaked out, a fist enclosing her neck, thrusting her back against the gray stone wall.

"Piece of trash, don't you know it's dangerous to wander around at night?" A younger Ryu said, fist clenching firmly on the girl's neck as she gasped for air - her hands clawing at his own.

"A..a.. I..." She simpered, struggling, her lids growing heavier and her movements sluggish.

Ryu released her neck, letting her fall to the ground with a thump. What the hell was he doing, wasting his time with a piece of shit like that? A mere child! He nudged her into a pile of trash with his foot and leapt to the ledge of the stone wall. He couldn't afford to be caught - it was likely the dead body of the man he had killed would be detected soon.

-----

Not three days later he saw the same little girl, seemingly unfazed by the past death she witnessed - and since no one had even looked for him, as he had heard stories that the only witness was a little girl who refused to speak of it. The child was smarter then he first assumed.. But just in case, perhaps he should rid himself of any unnecessary future problems?

He had entwined his fingers in her hair, pulling her over to alley when he felt something sharp stab into his hand - it stunned him at first, and then the pain welled in his hand. What the hell? And he was going to be nice and give her a quick, painless death! Not anymore, the little ungrateful brat could... He stopped, releasing her. He glanced at his hand and studied it - whatever stabbed him wasn't their anymore. His blood wasn't the only fluid, either... There was... spit? He glanced down at her, crouched on the ground like a little rat. She had no weapons. Fully amused he kicked her in the face, sending her into a wall.

"So, kid, what did you do?" He went to go drag her from her place, but was... spat at?! Except... it wasn't spit, but thousands of tiny needles surging towards his face. He swatted them away with his hand and they fell to the ground, dissolving into puddles of... spit.

"....Well, how interesting," he thought, pulling her up by her hair, holding his hand over her mouth.

"Do you want to live?" Ryu had asked that one question - and she just stared at him, with something back then he couldn't have ever identified. But now, he had come to recognize it has.. admiration. How ironic. Admiration for a convict.

He glanced at the paled, cooled face of Miu. He remembered that day so vivid - and even after he had allowed the child to live, she wouldn't stop following him. When he had asked her to leave - or why she was following, she simply smiled... And never left him alone. Something worse than a leech - a goddamn plague. It just kept after him, until it eventually wore him down. And not everyone could keep up with him, so why could some little girl? He eventually came to understand she was of a strong family, previously demolished by a war, leaving only few who lived... And, even then, they didn't last long. But, the prodigy survived. And the blood of her family was what kept her alive. Ah, yes. Something of us he had finally come across.

Finally he was behind the bastard - the bastard who... what? What did he do? He killed her. He was enfuriated, and every thought that entered his head revolved around a sole idea, hellbent on revenge, and every strand of what had kept him sane, and every strand of remorse and hate and anger, and everything that bound him to his sanity was fraying, strained by the pull of his consuming anger. Who did he think he was to deprive Ryu of a useful tool? Who did he think he was too get to kill so openly, and no one notice, and yet Ryu could not? Who did he think he was too take away the only life Ryu did not?

"Bastard, I'd like to know why you killed my tool, and I'd like to know what you plan on doing for compensation for this," he growled, fangs poking over his lower lip as he grabbed Miu's hair, shaking her serene countenance firmly, emphasizing that SHE was his tool.

And by God's, he kept up, shoving people who carelessly. Did that man not want to draw attention? Well, Ryu was a mastermind at bringing all sorts of unwanted attention to him. And with a dead body slung over his shoulder, he was certain it'd eventually bring more. And if all went according to Ryu's plan, he'd have two dead bodies.

[Anonymous]

He felt the burn of hatred behind him and he turned around his eyes growing cold as he faced the one who poured it. His shoulders straightened, bringing a his eyes into a lazy state as he looked at the man. What was he doing? Following him like that, The girls limped onto his shoulders. A cold air bursted from around him as he felt challenged, he didn't care now, He was now in control. Some of the humans scurried away into the building trying to get away as they felt the chill bring fear into them. All he needed was souls nothing else.

 He then spoke the rest of his sentence in a cold whisper "I will not let anyone get in the way!" THe soul rumbled  in his puch as the body came closer, this little one did want to go back. Why....He looked how rough the man played with her. A toy, as he heard him say. He spoke softly to the little soul, his words showing his thoughts. "He calls you a toy....I bet he hurts you too...If you stay in that body you will feel more pain..." He turned his eyes back onto the man. His words so queit to make sure this one did not hear.

 He took a step inward to him. His eyes closed and he brought his hands up and he got ready. "Do you think you can take this soul back?" He asked as he went into casting form. He lowered his eyes to the ground his whole body began to give off heat of hellish fire. His red eyes went back to the man, making sure to keep track of him. The cold wind disapeared as the road was now filled with alot less meat bags to keep them company, but just enough to do some soul collecting after.

[Anonymous]

Unfortantly, Miu's soul struggled further - what if Ryu got hurt? That man could not possibly know Ryu. And... what did it matter if Miu was hurt? She WAS his tool. She had given herself for that purpose - she had given herself, and devoted herself whole-heartedly to Ryu when she was a child. But now, would she be of any use? She was already beaten... But if she could get back... she could sacrifice her life right...

Of course. She was dead. What could a dead person do?

Ryu pulled the jug of "water" from Miu's hip pouch and tossed the body lightly away from him. His muscles bulged, his eyes widened, the pupils concentrating to a mere pinpoint of black, pupils turning to slits, his fangs elongating as from his core energy emanated, glimmering gold and blue as it reached upwards, shimmering invisibly around him, popping the cork of the jug the liquid flowed outwards, thick and reacting on an instilled spell. Ryu did a simple hand motion and brought his fist into the ground, long cracks reaching up towards him, as the liquid dissipated into the cracks.

"I can," was all Ryu growled out, ripping a gash in his palm as he thrust it outwards, black encryption of symbols flowing outwards from the wound, laced with red as it crawled along his own body, muscles bulging obscenely, as he withdraw his weapon from it's sheath.

In three steps he was in front of the bastard who stole Miu, careful not to step in the carcks. Would he be able to handle both him and Miu's last curse? It swarmed and wriggled on the ground, acidic poison in the shape of groteqesque worms and slugs that propelled alarmingly fast towards him.

"And if I can't, I'm sure this last curse will consume you," Ryu mumbled beneath his breath as he thrust forward with his elongated dagger, the words embedded into the metal flaring as a new length of dagger erected at the former end of the blade, causing it to grow a foot in length as he slashed diagnolly, pursuing fiercly.