Red Sword

[Hitoshi Akanoken]

Hitoshi Akanoken walked into the Academy of Magic, not knowing what to expect. He had heard that this school would be the perfect place to strengthen his mind, a necessary thing for his aspirings. He trained hard, day and night, aspiring to become like powerful warriors from an oriental kingdom, those who could take on ten of that kingdom's knights by themselves. After training his body almost exclusively for twelve years of his life, he turned now to train his mind, so he might balance his energies in his body. He walked into the academy, hoping for some wise magi to teach him magic, as he had never taken the time to even learn a single spell before. He walked about, looking lost, and out of place.

He had never been in any sort of academy before. The closest he had come was training he had received from the elder of his village, once a famous knight in that oriental land. The only other training he had received was from his father, a warrior like that he aspired to become. His father, however, had died from a viral disease, and had left him before his seventh birthday. He had began his training as a warrior on his second birthday, but had never taken it seriously until his father's death. He learned how to use a sword, among many other things, and could not help but feel sadness every time he thought of his dream, for it's creation was tied with his own father's death.

He slowly seated himself on the floor, his knees bent, and his back against the wall. Though he was young, and he was travel worn, weary, and lonely. He wore tattered clothes, a green kimono, with the eri shorn off, showing the darker green juban beneath. Both the kimono and juban hung half off of his right side, his sarashi showing, covering most of his chest. He wore hakama, loose fitting with large cuts evident down his right leg, the edges a deep crimson color, contrasting the true color of the hakama. His eyes were a dark color, almost black, and his long black hair, down to his shoulders, came closer together at one point down the length, almost as if it was tied up most of the time.

As he sat back, he felt his eyelids grow heavy, as he hadn't rested since he was chased by bandits a week ago. He soon drifted off into a light sleep, though he tried his hardest not to. He felt safe here, and rightly so he hoped, his last concious thought, as even the occasional explosion could not dissuade his tired body from it's course of action.

[Ailena]

The young woman had taken to studying quite earnestly for the past month. She read every book of magic that she could find. Hoping, yearning, to prove to herself that she had made the right choice in coming to Avaren, to study magic. Perhaps that was why she had hardly left the Academy. The small rooms, with dusty tomes holding secrets that only mages were allowed to unearth had become her home. And Ailena had never expected to find another in such a place.

It was late, or late enough that the young woman carried a candle in her had as she walked about, closing doors to the empty rooms. She did not want the cold of the night to penetrate further into the building then need be. Her long blue dress pulled gently behind her as it caught on the stone floor beneath her feet. Her pale skin looked almost white in the candle light that gently reflected in her blue eyes. Rounding a familiar corner, the girl came to a sudden halt. Before her sat a man leaning against the wall, darkness enveloping him.

Stepping closer, the girl's eyebrows rose in confusion and surprise for she never expected to see anyone in that corridor before. Stepping closer, she noticed how tattered his garb was, and it looked rather travel worn. His eyes were closed, but she wasn't sure if he was unconscious or not. His dark hair covered most of his face but she saw nothing familiar about him. Lowering the books she held in her hand, and setting the candle on top of them, Ailena sat down next to him on the cold floor.

Her dark hair fell down before her face as she leaned closer to him, seeing that his breath was coming regularly and steadily. That calmed her down somewhat as she reached over and placed her hand on his left shoulder, the more or less clothed one.

"Sir?" she asked, her voice slowly echoing down the corridor. "My lord?" she repeated to no veil. Letting out a frustrated sigh, she shook his shoulder first gently, then with a little more force. Still nothing. Fatigue had it's own ways of holding people in sleep, she figured, and decided to disturb him no further.

Then, not knowing what came over her, she reached out a small pale hand and pulled a few of his strands aside from his face. It might as well have been curiosity that drove her, or the need to prove to herself that the man before her was no threat. When the light fell on his worn face, she was surprised to find that the man was quite young, around her age. And looking past the dirt that clung to his hair and face, he did not look injured or hurt in any way. That also lent it's relief to the confused mage sitting over him.

Looking over him once more, she figured she could leave him for a few moments and find him suitable clothes, and perhaps some hot water. But, deciding that letting him awake in complete darkness would do him little good either. After all, should he awake and go in search of someone, it would take her hours to find him.

"I guess I shall wait until you awake, mysterious stranger," she whispered to the darkness around them growing larger with each flicker of the candle.

[Saphira Siparti of Elvinoire]

Down the corridor something black and sleek flew, its wings outstretched, eyes flickering. A black phoenix. Its silvery talons sank soundlessly a little way into the strange man's fabric. Its head cocked, eyes glittering with intelligence that seemed.....abnormal for such a bird.
Flick.
The pouch (ooc: is that ok?) was flicked open and the sharp beak darted in. Then the bird flew sharply into the air, in its beak was...

[Hitoshi Akanoken]

OOC: Getting into the pouch wouldn't do you much... Hitoshi is out of money from travels...

BIC: Hitoshi slowly awoke to find a young woman beside him. As soon as he had his wits about him, he realized that this was not someone he knew. He quickly jumped to his feet, whirling about, reaching to his back and drawing an almost unnoticably curved sword from its sheath. He quickly pointed the sword at the woman, and said, "Who are you!?" He looked at the young woman intently, his eyes meeting hers. As he stared deeply into her eyes, he realized that she wasn't a threat, and brought his sword down to his side.

"I sorry. I not know who you are. Kimi surprise me. I not know what to think, see shoujo are beside me. I see you bishoujo, though. You know mahou?" He completely ignored the bird, as it had darted into the air too quickly to be noticed by the fatigued Hitoshi. "Oh, I Sorry! I forget to introduce boku! Boku wa Hitoshi Akanoken, jyuu-shi year old! And who are kimi? I from Nippon, not speak eigo good. Kimi wa kawaii." Hitoshi sheathed his sword, and sat back down next to Ailena, relaxing after his surprise.

"It first time I talk to hito in long time. I gomen ne sai for earlier. I not have money, but at least kimi wa friend, ne?" His smile was bright, conrasting his dark hair, and even his eyes almost seemed to be shining.

OOC: By the way, a list of the words used in this post that people may not understand:

Kimi - you
Shoujo - girl
Bishoujo - beautiful girl
Mahou - magic
Boku - I
Boku wa... - I am...
Jyuu-shi - fourteen
Nippon - Japan
eigo - english (language)
Kimi wa kawaii - You're cute
hito - person
gomen ne sai - I'm sorry
Kimi wa - You are
ne? - eh?

[Ailena]

(ooc: thanks for the translation, but I wouldn't mind suffering like Ailena will/is/did, by trying to figure them out. I figure the words are real, aren't they?)

bic:

She had looked away after a minute, hearing a sound down the hallway. The sudden appearance of the bird disturbed her, but not as much as seeing a sword pointed at her throat as she turned back in the direction of the man.

Gasping, Ailena leaned backwards, falling hard against the floor. "Please, stop," she gasped out just as he demanded her name. "I'm no threat, unlike you," she replied him, refusing to give her name. Suddenly, she feared that her assumptions were wrong, that the man was a threat, perhaps a personal threat to her. She had forgotten about the man, the man who once was her owner and who was the kind of man who would send out mercenaries for the likes of her.

But hearing him apologize, she calmed down enough not to run away. But the more he spoke, the more confused she became. His english was not only broken, but intermixed with so many foreign words that Ailena was not sure what to think. Still words like Hitoshi Akanoken, Nippon and phrases like it first time I talk in long time and I not have money, stuck in her mind. Seeing that she was no longer threatened, she came to lean forward by him once more, still wary of him nonetheless, but his shining eyes were a welcoming site.

Upon hearing the word friend, she decided to speak, "You're safe here, Sir Akanoken, and you do not need money to be here. The weapon," she nodded towards his side, "you also need not use in the Academy." Now she stopped for she was unsure of how much english of hers he would understand. The longer she looked at him, the more she found that he was no threat, nor as old as he looked. A mere child.

Standing up, she extended a hand to him, her sleeve riding up to show the visible scars on her pale hands. "Let me help you." Why she said this, she did not know, but would not take her words back.

[Saphira Siparti of Elvinoire]

(ooc:...ok. I wasn't meaning money. Something mageish....magical artefact. I didn't want to state it becuase..well. Its supposed to be yours, and...I just thought it might add something to the role play thats all. But if you dont want to I'll exit shall I?)

[Hitoshi Akanoken]

OOC: Hitoshi wouldn't have anything magical, never having one to begin with, and never having used a spell before, so you wouldn't even find anything of that nature. While I agree it would spice up the post, it would be horribly out of the plan I had for him... The only thing that you would find of any value would be his katana, and I don't think a bird could carry a sword. As for Ailena, yes, the words are real. They're Nippon-go. Err... Japanese... I'm not entirely sure if my grammar is correct for them, but I suppose improper grammar suits him. BTW, sorry for the LOOOONG explanation, but I liked the Japanese way of representing foreign characters in anime. No matter what nationality, to make them look foreign, they throw random english words into their speach. Now, obviously, since we already speak english, I threw in Japanese words to make him sound Japanese... Oh, and Hitoshi sheathed the sword. It is on his back, not at his side. Not to be picky, tho. Oh, yeah, and his child-like behavior is because of his not being around anyone else for a long time. Though he is jyuu-shi, fourteen, he usually acts a little younger due to being lonely.

BIC: "I know I not need weapon, I just surprised," Hitoshi said, slightly embarrassed with his rash action. He justified it in his mind, however, by telling himself that he had been half asleep, and fully asleep just a few seconds before. He looked at the scars an Ailena's arm and immediately wondered what had caused them. "Kimi... daijoubu? Ah, sorry, is 'you okay?' in english... why you have so many kizuato-tachi? Is 'scars' in english. I go- sorry for not speak well. You nice. Who do that to ki- you? You not want to say? Go- I sorry for ask. Perhaps you tell me you name? I like to be good to- friend, but I tomoda- friendless... Ki- you be boku's friend, err, I's friend. I not talk to in... en... eny won... enywon in long time. I not speak en... gu... rish... engrish well." He repeated some of the things he had said earlier, trying his best not to throw in japanese words, as the woman he was talking to did not seem to understand him fully. "I from Jap... Jap... Japan. I happy to meet you... um..."

[Ailena]

Looking at her outstretched hand, the scars, Ailena hastily drew it away. Perhaps Hitoshi did not want her help, or perhaps he did not accept help offered by the girl. In either case, she figured she'd think twice before being so forward again.

'Ah, sorry, is 'you okay?' in english... why you have so many kizuato-tachi? Is 'scars' in english,' she heard him say.

"Do not apologize," she told him softly, her smile waning, "for I'm sure that in a short time your speech will be good enough to match that of anyone in Avaren." Avoiding his question did not seem to work so well for he apologized for asking anyway.

Getting to her feet, she looked down on the boy with a gentle gaze. Apparently he still did not forget that she had not given him a name. Figuring that her enemies would not send people from Japan after her, she relented.

"My name is Ailena and I live in the Academy in which I'm currently training to be a mage," she told him, her blue eyes flickered to the candle that was close to burning out. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Hitoshi. Now, if you'd like, I can show you to a room where you can spend the night, and perhaps you'd like something to eat?"

[Hitoshi Akanoken]

Hitoshi smiled. "Is okay. You nice hi- person, Ailena-san, err, Miss Ailena. I not much hungry now, but have own goha- rice, anyway. Is nice to see such pretty face at academy. Was happy to meet you. My skill not very good with magic, but am okay fighter. I look for academy because I hear that it good place to learn magic. Not know much, but I hope Amaterasu watch over you. I be glad to have room to spend night. Am very tired." He stood back up, this time clapping his hands twice, and bowing before her to show his gratitude. He had not spent an earnest night of sleep since he had left his country. He looked at his attire, suddenly reminded of its tattered state, "Ah! Ailena-san know good tailor? Father's kimono is not in good condition... I need repair..." His face suddenly turned from its usual joy, to sad reflection, as he thought of his father, and the last few days of his life.

His eyes glazed over as he decided what he was going to do next, to fulfill his father's wish. He thought to himself, If only my father had lived longer. What would he have taught me? I must learn magic, or I will never become better. He stared at Ailena, but with his eyes as they were, it was almost as if he was looking through her, or so it would seem to anyone watching. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a mirror, which he closed his eyes as he held up. He said, in his native tongue, "Amaterasu, please watch over my father's spirit. Watch over Miss Ailena as well. May your guidance and protection be with them always." Hitoshi then realized that Ailena was still there, and said, blushing, "Was nothing. Is mirror." He looked at her, and smiled again, his smile this time just as fake as those before it, the smile of a man who is very pleased, yet can never be happy anymore...


OOC: Well, anyways, a small fact. Mirrors are used in shinto shrines to represent the sun goddess, Amaterasu.

Titles that Hitoshi uses are slightly different than english titles. It is actually quite odd for japanese to say a name with affixing a suffix, like -sensei, -san, -chan, -kun, -sama, and so on.

[Ailena]

ooc: The Japanese titles is something I am familiar with, so you need not worry about that. As for Ailena, well that is another story.

bic:

The young woman nodded at his wish to seek teaching in the art of magic, for that was something everyone in the academy had in common. As Hitoshi stood up, Ailena's blue eyes watched him intently, noting his unusual garb. In some aspects, it seemed to be much more presentable then that of some of the other men she had seen around the city. She told him that she knew of a few tailors, but for the present she could give him a replacement. However, as he voiced his desire for a change in clothing, Ailena noticed his expression change.

Such changes she had seen often, in her own bedroom mirror. It was that of deep sorrow, of loss and despair. However hers was also mixed with anger and hate for herself, while his was not. His feelings were pure in their meaning, hers were more complicated then she could even begin to explain. It took a hurt soul to see one, especially when many did not look at each others' souls in the first place.

She was about to begin walking when she heard that Hitoshi was not following. Turning her head and pulling aside her dark hair, Ailena watched him take out a mirror and raising it above his head while performed a sort of prayer. In her childhood, Ailena remembered having a nurse maid who had been deeply devoted to a pagan religion which carried no name. The young woman had often caught the other praying, and asked for an explanation of the rites, fascinated by the new culture. This time those same blue eyes watched the boy intently, smiling softly once he was done and explained himself.

"The rooms are this way," she told him, nodding her head in the direction. She caught the smile, the smile that had difficulty covering up the pain his eyes let her see a moment before. "You know, sir," she told him softly, keeping her eyes averted from his face, "you need not hide your emotions from me. A false smile is as much a lie as anything you may say. I know pain and loss and all that follows that union. People suffer for different reasons, but that does not change what we feel. That always stays the same."

Once she finished, she finally brought her blue eyes to meet the boy's own dark ones. Hers reflected the candlelight by way of tears, but only for the reason that they had looked into the past for a moment as she spoke. Ailena had seen her mother, her servants, her friends and heard the stranger's voice echoing in her head, telling her of all their fates. And in her heart, the young girl knew that those horrible fates were her own doing.

Tears pooled in her eyes, but once she blinked, they were gone. Whether they ran down her cheeks or not, the darkness around them would not tell. Still, the young woman let out a quiet, shaking breath before turning right at another corner which lead to both the supply room and the bedrooms.

[Hitoshi Akanoken]

"I still happy, just was trying not to think about pa... pa... How that word end? I like being around you. Is like have friend already. I thank you for help me. Ailena-san is nice person." Hitoshi followed Ailena, wondering, trying to think of anything that could trouble her that much. He thought of many things, but not as many as was possible, he was sure. He wondered if she would ever be able to tell anyone. "My father was strong man. Katana and kimono were his. I... I only roku when he get sick. I train for becoming warrior like father. Able to beat jyuu samurai! I wanted learn magic, because not able to find anyone teach ancient arts. Closest could find was engrish mahou. Maybe we learn together? Be nice to have friend."

Hitoshi looked about as they turned the corner, and saw many doors lining the way down the hall, as before, but he heard loud noises coming from behind some of the doors. He quickly realized that those noises were snoring people. "Hope I not snore like that," He joked, hoping to turn the conversation from its earlier course...

[Ailena]

When Hitoshi mentioned that he thought of Ailena as a friend, the girl was slightly taken aback by his open show of acceptance. She had not allowed herself close contact with many people in the city, and hardly knew anyone to call a friend, a true one. Smiling softly at the boy, she nodded her head and smiled softly in response.

"I think learning together would be a wonderful thing. Your english would surely improve and maybe you could teach me a few words in Japanese. That is what friends would do, is it not? Help one another? I've been long wanting in a friend."

Ailena lead him to the end of the corridor and pushed open the door to the supply room. Despite the darkness inside, the young woman picked her way carefully to the center of the room where she knew a table stood. Feeling for the familiar metal, Ailena pulled a lantern towards herself and lit it with the candle, allowing more light into the room.

"One day, we'll be able to create our own light, and not worry for such things as lanterns," she told Hitoshi as she turned around with the metal contraption now in her hand. The far side of the room was covered with shelves with stacks of dark cloth and other items in large piles. Another side had a cupboard, water tubs, chairs, boxes lined the floor as did other bulkier items obscured by the dark.

The dark haired girl walked over to the shelves and pulled down a dark robe, a white over-shirt, a tunic, and some pants from various shelves. "I'm not sure how these will lay on you, but I'm sure we could come back in the morning, when there is more light," she told him as she walked back and handed over the clothes.

"However, I'm sure you would care for a bath along with the clean clothes. The bathing-room is just across the hall, the last door on the opposite side. The water inside the baths is kept hot by spells, and there are soap and towels on the right from the entrance. Light will turn on as you come in, so I'll keep the lantern with me if you don't' mind. For, no matter what you say, I'll have some tea and bread and cheese waiting for you on your return. Then I'll show you to a free room with a bed so you can rest, for I believe the floor was not exactly comfortable."

[Hitoshi Akanoken]

Hitoshi smiled softly, and responded, "Cha? Is 'tea', but sound good. Not have dango?" Hitoshi wondered if anyone around even knew what dango were. Hitoshi walked out of the room, and immediately went to the bathing-room, taking the clothes he had been given with him. Not having had a person stop to talk to him, let alone be his friend, in a long time, he was happy to be called thus. He walked into the bathing-room, and the light came on, just as Ailena had instructed. He laid his new clothes upon a small sink-edge. He began to disrobe, and placed his kimono neatly on the side of the bath, jumping in quickly.

A half hour later, he had completed his own bath, and proceeded to dress. He had put on the pants, as well as the robe, on, and had walked out of the bath, his hair still dripping, and slightly wet. He stayed near the door, hoping that Ailena would find him shortly, looking around the corridor.

[Ailena]

"Yes, chai," Ailena responded, remembering that a servant of hers once called tea that. Smiling softly, she went about getting a kettle to boil and cutting the bread. It felt nice to be able to do something remotely exciting, for her days before at the Academy were quite boring. The arrival of this foreign stranger had turned out for the better for the both of them, it seemed. This realization surprised Ailena somewhat, for she had not thought of herself so prone to trusting anyone. Placing faith in her feelings, she let such thoughts slide and got back to her work.

Placing the bread, cheese, and now the steaming cups of tea onto the table, the dark haired girl turned her mind to wonder on what had happened to Hitoshi. Surely his bath couldn't have taken that long. Looking out of the doorway, the darkness beyond was impenetrable, for Ailena had lit many more lanterns and candles in the store room making the darkness outside seem even worse. Still, being sure that she knew her way around well enough in the dark, Ailena walked out to look for the Japanese boy.

"Hitoshi?" the dark haired girl whispered softly into the darkness, not walking over to cross to the bath-room door until her eyes got used to the dark. Turning her head despite that disability, Ailena tried to catch any sign of him in the hallway. It was unlikely he had gotten lost, but not unheard of. Not seeing anything, but also not hearing anything from the bath-rooms, she voiced another question into the darkness, "Is everything alright?"

[Hitoshi Akanoken]

Hitoshi was almost startled to hear Ailena's voice, as he had been concentrating on other thoughts. When he returned to reality, from his journey in space, he replied, "Sorry, was not paying much attention. Was in thought." He walked toward the light in the store-room. His eyes, having adjusted to the dark, while he looked around the hall, strained and narrowed as he entered the room. His eyes being naturally thin, it almost looked as if they were closed. "Ah, is bright," he said, walking in slowly, so as not to run into anything. "It smell good," he said, turning to Ailena, "I sure it going to taste good, too."

He looked strangely at the chair for a few seconds, until he remembered that people here sat on them, he had seen a few back home. He then looked toward Ailena, and bowed, "Arigatou. Thank you for food and tea." He then seated himself, folding his legs at the knee, and sitting atop his own feet. He then clapped twice, and said, "Arigatou gozaimasu." with his eyes shut. He stayed that way for a moment, then opened his eyes with a soft look...