Character: Arian Kamaria
The sun was beginning to drop out of view as radiant shades of red and orange engulfed the sky. The breeze blew slightly, carrying the sea's mist within it. The dunes and various foliage cast a strange shadow against the sun's orange glow. Down the beach, a cliff side towered above the ocean, bringing the delicate beach landscape to a halt. The waves crashed against the cliff's base creating the distinct white noise of the waves. A lone figure stood on the tip of the cliff against the horizon. His silhouette almost dancing as he practiced his martial arts. Water flowed in rhythm with his movements as he shifted his weight into various stances.
"Hm...You don't see many people out here often..."
These words echoed playfully from a female voice behind the male. Silvery-white hair blew gently around her pale features and deep violet eyes which were fixed curiously upon the martial artist. Her clothing was obviously foreign, as it was almost silky and very colorful compared to something a native would wear near the water. The layered robes trailed around her feet, untied to reveal a lace-up top and black pants. They contrasted slightly, as they were rolled up at the knees in a tomboyish fashion.
"You seem skilled in what you do..." She mused, a slight accent on her voice. "I have attempted it a bit as well...Although in not the same way as you, I believe..." She added softly, seeming not to mind if she as being heeded or not.
"Hm...You don't see many people out here often..."
These words echoed playfully from a female voice behind the male. Silvery-white hair blew gently around her pale features and deep violet eyes which were fixed curiously upon the martial artist. Her clothing was obviously foreign, as it was almost silky and very colorful compared to something a native would wear near the water. The layered robes trailed around her feet, untied to reveal a lace-up top and black pants. They contrasted slightly, as they were rolled up at the knees in a tomboyish fashion.
"You seem skilled in what you do..." She mused, a slight accent on her voice. "I have attempted it a bit as well...Although in not the same way as you, I believe..." She added softly, seeming not to mind if she as being heeded or not.
Taiga scanned over the sea in pleasure.
He was enjoying himself.
He rarely got away from the others, so he felt that it was nice change.
The wind blew his black hair accross his handsome almost beautiful features and he brushed it away.
His sharp eyes caught a small silluette in the distance, far out on the sea. Knowing he could see it without doing so, he started up the cliff that he knew was there. Maybe he could see whatever it was better.
Taiga didn't look up until he was at the top, caught up in his own world, wondering what to do next.
It seemed that someone was already there.
Ari turned around to see not one but two people.
"Thank you, I've had many tedious hours of practice...its nice to know its apparent to someone other than myself." Ari commented as he looked the girl over. It was obvious that she didn't come to this area often by the look of her clothes.
"First time at the beach...um...what is your name?"
The young woman gave another strange smile as she too noticed the second arrival. However, she seemed rather unconcerned.
"My name is Takumi...Might I ask yours?" She inquired politely, giving a slight tilt of her head. Her strange amethyst eyes glittered in the dying sun. "And I have been to the ocean before...But as a child."
"Ah...I understand how hard it can be to master an art...Forgive me if I impose, but may I ask what the name of that technique was?" She took a nonchalant step forward, silken robes sweeping about her.
"My name is..." Ari started. He manipulated the water in front of him forming the letters A, R, and I in a row.
"It's my own style of martial art I came up with to maximize my abilities." Ari said. Had this person questioning him been a guy he would not be so quick to converse, but he saw no harm in talking to her.
"As a child huh? That is much too long...the ocean is such a wondrous place. It's limitless grace and fury creates a perfect balance."
Taiga instinctively wanted to run.
He was not too good with people. Above that, the appearance of the other two startled him.
I guess I'm the one who appeared, he mused silently, and calmed himself.
Deciding that the other man's question was directed at the woman, he stayed silent and mentally went over his choices. He could leave, ignore them, talk..... Taiga didn't want to do the last one most of all. He wasn't afraid, it just wasn't what he wanted.
He listened to the conversation, feeling slightly guilty of eavesdropping.
From what they were saying, it seemed they had just met.
The man who called himself Ari had used water, Taiga noted.
Even to him, it was obvious the woman had come from somewhere else, at least she was not from this area.
As she stepped foward toward Ari, Taiga took a step back.
As he did so, the red reflection caught his eye, and he turned to look at the endless sea. Whatever he had spotted before was now gone.
Takumi stayed still once again, glancing slightly at Taiga. Suddenly a strange fluttering noise emanated from nearby. A small bat-like creature seemed to appear behind the silent man.
"Oh...My messenger has arrived...Nice water trick as well." Whirling around, she carelessly approached Taiga, flashing one of those mysterious and dangerous smiles. The unique animal teetered to her to perch on a finger. Its one large eye glittered eerily in the red light as it peered at itr master.
Taiga did his best not to take yet another step back as Takumi apprached him. He gritted his teeth. He wanted to whirl around and look at whatever was behind him, but that would make him turn his back to the woman so he stayed still stared silently at the other. And 'looked'.
It was a batlike creature. As it flew past him and landed on Takumi's finger, his eyes, which had turned from dark brown to silver, returned to their norma color.
A messenger?
Taiga felt himself tense up and carefully made himself relax.
"What it is?"
He had not meant to say anything, but pure curiousity seemed to have pushed him. He grimaced mentally. Oh well.
"It's one of my creations...My...'Child', in a sense." Takumi responded calmly, giving the animal a slight smile before glancing back at Taiga and then turning back to Ari.
"Your own creation, neh? Hm...I understand that as well..." She smirked mischeviously, pulling a long scroll from under the belt of her pants. Unrolling it further, she used the brush in her fingers to effortlessly draw several characters upon the paper.
"Geijutsu." She commanded simply, the simple foreign word causing a flare of smoke to emerge from the parchment, enveloping the young woman completely. When the smog had cleared. a large dragon was curled about her, its moth-like wings resting comfortably on the ground at her feet. The bat-like creature had vanished.
"This...Is what I create."
"very intresting..." Ari said walking slowly toward Takumi.
"Takumi was it...how about a quick duel? My water against your...um...creations."
Then he looked past Takumi to the other person.
"How about you?"
"Of course...But don't think that my art is the only thing I use to fight..." Takumi gave a slight nod and brandished a deep bow, silver pigtails spilling over her face. "It will be an honor to find an interesting opponent..."
She glanced over her shouder at Taiga, the eyes of her dragon folowing and watching him, almost expectantly.
"I take it you will be content watching?"
Taiga was silent for a while then nodded.
"I'd like to join in but three is a big pain, in my opinion, so I'll stay out." He spoke in a soft tone. There was a slight accent to his speech as if he was not used to speaking the language.
"Of course, if you're sure you can take two people, I'm fine with that." Taiga added, not really meaning to insult anyone. He could tell well enough that both were strong. This may turn exciting, dualing or watching, he thought to himself.
"And don't assume water is all I use." Ari said with a smirk.
"So shall we begin?" he said taking a few steps back and getting into a fighting stance.
"If you wish..." She nodded slightly at the second male and took a few steps back as well, amethyst eyes not leaving Ari.
"And of course I am..." She smiled in a sweet way...Or was it? Behind that look was a subtle ruthlessness that the young woman had obviously learned to conceal well.
"Please, do your best, neh?..." Takumi blinked innocently, twirling the long brush iddaly in her pale fingers while stroking her strange "pet".
Ari quickly formed the water into twin whips, one for each hand, and began to lash them out at Takumi. Ari never once moved from his position, but simply shifted his weight into various stances and attacks in order to aim the whips. As he did this, Ari gathered a pool of water around him to use.
Shedding her outer robes easily. Takumi instantly seemed to vanish, dodging the whips while making sure to keep her paper dry. In a moment, she was behind Ari, still staying behind the water.
"Touch of Death...Primary stage." She murmured, suddenly using her speed to burst forward and touch Ari between he shoulder blades with a single finger. If it worked correctly, it would have sent a tingly feeling up his back as a stun.
She moved back once more, smirking slightly.
Taiga nodded in reply to Takumi.
"My name is Taiga Hoshikawa." he politely, at last, but he doubted either was listening. Ari was already attacking.
He just managed to catch Takumi 'vanish' and was impressed at her speed. He was still able to see her move, but all the same it was fast, very fast. A small smile crossed his lips.
Taiga, who had been right behind Takumi, lightly jumped forward instead of back, just barely missing the well controlled whip. It was better to go forward than back, if the other used weapons that would change length at will.
He saw where she had touched Ari and how the magic flowed. Taiga also noted that Takumi took care to keep her scroll dry.
He liked Ari's style of fighting. It was almost unpredictable. So, that had been what they were talking about.
"Oto no hayasa wo himeshi mono yo. Ware no gohu ni chikara wo ataeyo."
Taiga murmured softly. Something near his waist gave off a soft glow. It seemed he would need it.
Takumi had lowered her defense for a second, obviously satisfied with her work so far. Taiga's eyes didn't miss it.
Slivers of ice mixed in with water hurtled at her back as fast as she herself had moved. He doubted it would hit her at that speed, but it was test. Nor did he think that they would hit Ari, but even if they did, they most likely wouldn't damage him too much. After all, it was his specialty.
He, too, scattered water around him and let it swirl around him.
Takumi smirked slightly as she felt Taiga watching her. Hmph...He's very observant... She mused to herself, watching the young man from the corners of her eyes. There seems to be something special about his eyes, however...So troublesome...I suppose it really is good that I plan ahead...
The rush of ice and water mingled and slashed through the woman. However, instead of bleeding, her body whittled into a torn piece of parchment, fluttering slowly to the wet ground. A decoy. Somehow...She had made a decoy.
"That was clever...Watching from the sidelines...Only to attempt an attack while both opponents are distracted..." Her accented voice was suddenly behind Taiga...That ruthless glint once again in her eyes as she stood, untouched, on another unfurled scroll.
"However, I am resourceful as well...I don't limit myself to creating only creatures, you see. An artist must be well-versed in all forms of life and any objects otherwise needed. Men are always such cheats..."
Taiga felt no surprise when the scroll drifted to the ground, nor when she appeared behind him. That was geijyutsuka.
"You were distracted, maybe, but he wasn't." Taiga gestured to Ari. "Even if he was, he'd know what was coming." He knew that, and he also knew that Takumi would if she had any kind of association with elemental users.
"In my opinion, the people running around with decoys can be considered cheats as well." He said, seeming almost carelessly.
He carefully inspected the flow of magic behind him.
Just as he had thought.
"Where are you from?" He asked casually. He didn't make plans with talking, he was just interested in her culture.
"Mizu no ryuu, hyou no ryuu, ware ni chikara wo ataetamae." He added very softly.
A dragon of water and a dragon of ice burst out of nowhere.
The water hurtled toward Takumi at a fearful speed.
He didn't think it would effect their talk.
"It isn't cheating...It's being prepared. Now...If I had made a copy of you instead of fighting myself...That, I would agree, is cheating. I just happen to plan ahead for every situation." Takumi said calmly, glancing over her shoulder at the dragon. A wave of one pale hand sent her butterfly-like dragon into a clash with Taiga's own creatures...It seemed almost independant, not really needing her commands. She glanced up at their battle, seemingly rather tired of this whole ordeal already.
"Hm? Where I used to live, or where I am descended from? Because the latter...Is the only one that I really appreciate." She murmured, twirling a strand of silver hair through her fingers. "It's a rather old lineage...From before the Old World was destroyed. Only a few people still know of it...And even less give it the honor it deserves..." She had suddenly become very calm and apathetic, her eyes watching the water nearby without a glimmer of real interest.
A small layer of ice blocked the touch just in time before quickly melting away. Ari faked, dropping to a knee before turning his water into a thick mist. The area began to chill as the three started to see their breath in the air before them. The cold mist loomed for awhile before quickly condensating on the ground at the feet of the other two, freezing instantly, in an attempt to bind them to the earth. As that was going on, Ari began to form thousands of nearly invisible ice needles around him in preparation for his next attack.
Taiga, too, glanced up, his silver eyes following the battle above.
He smiled grimly.
"Sorry, that's not your opponent." He informed Takumi's dragon. "You can't beat it; it's only made of water."
He twirled something between his fingers, and in a burst of water, a large hawk appeared before him. It looked like a hawk, only it was white with silver lining on its wings. It landed on his arm, whereas Taiga gently shook it off toward the dragon. It screeched, sounding like a high pitched note on a flute and took off toward the much larger dragon. They would have fun. Never judge by size.
The Chinese dragon which had been facing the other had disappeared only to appear again at Taiga's side.
He looked down and wasn't too surprised to see himself half plastered to the ground. He felt needles being shaped, sharp and just waiting to cut.
It seemed he had been right and the man called Ari had not been distracted.
He sighed softly. The night added to the chill Ari was making. Soon, he would feel cold. Then he would have to do something.
"The Old World?" Taiga asked curiously inspecting his surroundings.
He vaguely wondered if there would be a winner to this duel. He supposed the others thought there would be. Too bad they if they took him to easily.
Takumi glanced at both of the men warily, and then flipped her scroll up towards her, that brush once again brandished. In a quick sweep of her arm, she had drawn three more strange characters upon the paper.
"Geijutsu." In another whiff of smoke, three strange apparitions appeared...Stranger than the bat-like "messenger". These seemed like masked spirits, each slightly different than the previous. One had its small, clawed hands covering its eyes, bandages securing them tightly. The second had its hands over its mouth, revealing its large and staring white eyes...And the third had the side of its head covered, where its ears should have been. The creations seemed to understand their master's intent, each instantly turning to face an oppressor...One facing Taiga, one towards Ari, and a final one peering up at the fighting dragons and approaching hawk.
"This will be fun..." A small smirk once more reappeared on her lips, silver hair floating about the woman's face.
"And yes...Must I repeat myself constantly for men?"
Taiga stared at the apparitions. He especially did not like the look of the one with it's eyes covered, but none of it showed on his face.
"Well, actually, you don't always have to if you improve your grammar so that no questions arise." He replied dryly. As far as he could see, she hated men so much that everything about them was bad. Not that he would say they weren't.
The white hawk screamed, and the high pitched note echoed all around.
Taiga sighed softly and took slim piece of paper from a small pouch attached to his waist. He began saying something quietly and as the paper floated to up in the air, he drew certain symbols with his finger. Light followed his finger, only to disappear.
The slip of paper burst into water, and vanished.
Nothing happened.
Then a pain hit him as if someone had thrown it from behind.
Gritting his teeth, he felt the ice that had come up to his knee on the right leg burst as he struggled slightly against it. It disappeared as fast as it had came.
He realized that the ice had kept his leg quite warm and felt the cold seep in through his pants.
Something warm dropped on his fingers of his left hand.
He looked at his hand and found a black star on his wrist was dripping black liquid, blacker than the darkness around them. It didn't smell, it was just there.
Taiga carefully put his finger in it. It did not hurt.
Gingerly, he licked his finger.
It was a well known sharp taste. His blood.
So, that was how much time he had.
"Humans in general are cheats." Taiga commented casually.
"Not just men."
Ari rose from his kneeling position as he shot off several of the ice needles at his opponents.He looked to the sky and noticed the moon, full, beginning to rise. With a smirk he shot several more as he executed multiple back handsprings, stopping at the edge of the cliff.
"The wrath of the sea is under my command. Such a terribly powerful weapon for one man to hold..." Ari said nonchalantly, looking to the moon on the horizon behind him.
A wave of sea water rose behind him, blocking his view. He turned back to his opponents and began his shifting stances. Gusts of ocean spray engulfed the area as the wild ocean waves seemed to resist control. Streams of water came forth from the wall, thrashing about as if they were ribbons in a windstorm. Suddenly they twisted together forming multiple limbs. They trusted toward Ari's opponents, attempting to grab and smash them.
Something clinked as the ice needles approached Taiga.
His eyes didn't miss the almost invisible particles even with there speed.
He dodged the limbs easily. This was mostly because they were made of water.
"Well, then, don't hold it by yourself and share with us, here." He suggested to Ari, although he believed Takumi would think differently. Or maybe disgust toward men was directed only at Taiga himself. That would make him laugh. How many times had he been told he looked like a girl, he couldn't count.
A wave crashed over Taiga and he disappeared, only to appear behind Ari and kick him. He was satisfied to feel his foot hit the other's shoulder and not ice.
Only now he was soaking, cold and to add one of the ice needles caught his cheek, which was bleeding.
He immediately crouched into a fighting pose.
He didn't especially like fighting with magic. This was much better.