The Bear That Flew (Open)

[Naomi Rydell]

She flocked away from the masses - outraged and dangerous as they grew more violent day by day. Most of this violence was kept hidden from the open to avoid trouble with the law enforcement, but to those with connections it was as if they were broadcasting it. The most violent anyone could get would be recoiling from the final attack on your Life Points in a round of Duel Monsters, a game of archaic descent. Naomi knew all about the trials and tribulations of life. And she knew the best escape from it for anyone would always be to submerge yourself into your cards and to become one with them.

Then you could release anger without being reprimanded. Then you could do whatever you wanted to do so long as you had the appropriate tools for it. Some wanted to become deities so they chose to seek out the cards rumored as Egyptian Gods, despite them being thought of as a myth to those who thought they retained at least a little bit of their sanity. It was all a getaway. But she wouldn't have it any other way.

It was better than the normal method for getting away. The one she had been subjected to, taking refuge away from the blazing streets of Tokyo Square and possibly out of the path of a few hover cars that buzzed past her, distorting the air with its solar powered energy. The skies were bathed in the varying hues of gray but the large digital screens holstered on the side of the monotonous buildings shed light amongst everyone. "What happened to this place?"

Naomi could do nothing but observe and ask such a question as she watched her home morph into something she didn't want. Some thought it was a war, but she and a select few of the Kuma knew better. This was an invasion.

[purezen]

(*frowns and slips coupon that says, "I.O.U. One Hug"*)

If this was an invasion, then it had a resistance.

That being the streets of Tokyo as of late that seemed to consist of it’s constant roars of change that killed the dying harmony that left only a will in a few. One of those few had made a scene amongst the chaos as his footsteps were silent in the pollution of noise. His eyes that had bore the same sadness day by day for the few remnants of the past fading with each second. It was in those seconds a mind had developed an idea that would place tradition in it’s shadow as well as regard of any sense of common sense and wishful concern.

How terrible this future had become.

The sound of his muted steps and cries had given away to something that approached. The sound of this time period’s ideas. The footsteps became swift lunges that went beyond a sidestep. The posture lowering with a bend of his legs and smooth hands thrusting to the side of his face to cover his ears as the volume had sky rocketed in an instant like an ignited blaze.

VROOOM!!!

It had past, the sound was fading. Lids shut tightly opened to reveal sapphire colored eyes that shifted to the corner to see the retreating figures within the distance riding along side colossal giants that seemed to go neck and neck at each other with limbs and teeth.

”Duelists…”

His gentle voice not use to seeing that sight. Those contraptions were more advanced than to what he was use to. No matter what, he couldn’t get use to the idea of seeing people play a game at such dangerous speeds and find it entertaining to when the last life point reached zero and calamity was to follow. The thought of it kept him kneeling entranced by what had happened. Since when did the game he have respect for, even with his lack of skill, made the young man feel so….discontent?

He stood once more, the relic from the past. His robe decorated with flowers and floral fades of red and green upon white that stuck out from the futuristic clothes of the ghetto. His hands removing completely from his face and under his violet threads of hair to sit at his side as he looked on into the distance up until the low roar of motors was replaced by sirens. It was most likely that the battle was over, or the chaotic battle had caused concerns as it was in public and risked more than the safety of the two combatants. At times like this, if he was alone, he would reach his soul out to his trusted companion in confusion and fear.

Even the resistance itself needed hope.

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[Naomi Rydell]

The sudden emergence of a voice shocked the teen with the sudden realization that someone had been able to sneak up on her using the chaotic surroundings as a means of masking their presence. She quickly turned using the balls of her toes to rotate around and come face to face with him. She knew not of his background as a member of an opposing gang and simply assumed he was unaffiliated. After all, everyone deserved a fresh start. But their was still good reason for Naomi's sudden sense of paranoia.

"Who are you? And what do you want?" She snapped back at him while her hair ruffled across her face with gratitude towards the speeding contraptions flying about. Unlike most, she was the rare type of person who would challenge someone to a duel whenever, wherever, and think nothing of it. Even the type that didn't have the spirits or knowledge to. She did it because she knew that there was no reprimand in it for her. What was the worst that could happen? Her challenge being denied?

But she wouldn't do it now. The gloss of her eyes was an enthralling attraction, captivating those that dare to stare into them with hopes of potential emotions gathering. Like the winds of a hurricane picking up off of the coast. She was now much too concerned about who this was and why they were so... unusually calm. Even someone like Naomi had come across the rumors of those duelists that played with a strange aura about them, leaving everyone they defeated to hunger for another duel to the point of insanity. And for such a modern-day heroine like Naomi - if she even suspected that it was more than just a rumor - the bear would attack, maul, and dismantle.

[purezen]

He jumped in surprise from the sudden crack of a voice. To him, it was like thunder without lightning seeing he was caught off guard. He had to regain his composure as his right foot that reached back had come forward to hide his pants and clothing under the white robe like attire. Most girls made him shy, and maybe nervous in the past. This one wasn’t one of those cases. Her attitude so suddenly seemed less cute and more aggressive. One look at her body and face made sugar seem like a pile of salt with such an attitude.

”It‘s…” his petite voice musing as he reached to his violet hair raking it into place. ”…Xenneth.” He had stood tall with blue eyes sitting upon the girl once more, looking her over a second time. Body language told the story, and eye contact had told emotions. He would try to avoid it, but it didn’t work with this girl. The expression was as if she demanded that he exposed his purpose.

Those eyes…

His thoughts racing from that stare.

No…it was as if she had the “right” with her dangerous glare.

”I‘m sorry if I bothered you, but is something the matter?”

His eyes felt with utmost concern. With contact between the two stares, it was as if care had met resolve. It was a dangerous combination. If he could picture her aura, it would eat away as his tranquil aura that burned away the air with the scent of roses and serene air only found in the garden he was the groundkeeper to. It was one of those days when he stepped out from his sanctuary and into this dangerous world. His sisters would follow and pursue as his guardians, but he would simply lift a hand and forbid, then ask for their trust. He hadn’t heard of any dangers in this world at current, but he knew that this game they played was more than a simple game at times, but a life or death situation.

With him staring for this long at those eyes he felt almost as if she was aware of this dangerous world. He knew the steps of this situation maybe: him being told off followed by his usual apologies, but he couldn’t help but to feel like something was grabbing into his chest telling him that something was wrong. Was there something wrong? Was her aggression misplaced towards he who was just a passerby for a family problem? That would be simple, but the world hadn’t been simple as of late.

It was strange just how strange how these situations fall into the lap of a young old fashioned duelist who stepped outside the safety of his garden.

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[Naomi Rydell]

"... is there something wrong?"

Naomi restated the question so casually asked of her as if she was the type of person to be open to being met when she was trying to gain a level of solitude. She wasn't always as bitchy as she was at the moment but it wasn't that much of a characteristic stretch. There had been a lot of tension gaining on her in the past nine months - long enough to birth a child made of frustration and rage. She looked at the boy with a devastating leer and curled her lips in a snarl, although it hadn't actually been towards him. He was just the only one there to see it. And then she snapped.

"Yeah, there's a lot of things that are wrong! How about the fact that Tokyo has turned into a breeding ground for rather dangerous sessions of Duel Monsters and criminals whose only intent is to outlast everyone else? Three gangs dominate this town. With their large numbers they could single-handedly overrun the threats that turned us into... this. But instead they go against each other like the idiots that we as human-beings are! Assuming you're not one of those senseless soul-duelist things I keep hearing rumors about."

Her outburst was more than enough proof of her allegations. The Harpie of the real world spread her wings and vented all of her pent up frustrations on an innocent bystander that just happened to approach her in her moment of contemplation. She immediately assessed her actions and turned her look of anger to one of regret, embarrassed by her lack of control and forced to hang her head down as her eyes went over the outline of her silhouette on the very rooftop in which she stood. In which they stood.

"Sorry. I'm just a little... cranky." Her apology was sincere but her inability to actually look nice was the big problem. Naomi's nose twitched as she turned around and look right back off of the skyscraper and down onto the mass of people walking the streets with purposes that were far from pure. She wasn't actually interested in them at this point. It was just something to occupy herself with until she could gain enough self-respect to actually look this... Xenneth, into the face again.

[purezen]

She vented to him like a Harpie. It was something he was familiar with. It took no might within him to keep a steady face of concern as she voiced her mind. Hips lips stayed pressed to give his utmost respect as he didn’t bother breathing through them to cut in to her raging voice. Her mind was on the outside complete for him to access those feelings and those emotions. They sounded so familiar; felt so familiar. It was the confusion he felt seconds ago, and those seconds last forever when he asked the same questions she was probably asking.

Why was this happening?

The words all had barraged him rapidly, but he took each one like a bullet. He was shielding something dear, and that thing he was shielding was the truth. As she finished with her rage, she soon had show a lighter side. Even if it was a little, he knew he heard the word “sorry.” It bandaged any wound when that sorrow came from the heart, and because of that, he smiled like the child that would be eased by something as assuring as a cover up for all those words she said.

Rage of a hundred words, all repented by just one from the heart.

”It‘s okay…you‘re upset to see this future; a future where your brethren are separated by title and fight amongst themselves forgetting that we‘re all people.”

Wasn’t he amazing? He could say that honestly, and with a smile that would make one ask how as he looked at her with utmost sympathy. His hand reached out as a gesture, almost in the same offer he would make to any distressed figure. Like his very aura, it had the scent of soil, fresh water, and garden scents. He had leaned his head to the left seeming to comfort himself as if in a way that introduced the writing of a letter.

“Dearly Beloved…”

Those words that would give a reason as well as an understanding as he had looked to the girl’s face that demanded this.

”I have a feeling…” he paused, ”No!” he had bequeathed, taking back the unsure phrase. ”I‘m sure someone understands your feelings.” That smile stretching along his face and those eyes clothing gave away that person who understood her. The hint was strong enough, so he wasted no time as he opened up his eyes to view the young girl who seemed near his age.

In truth, she was far from it, but with his body the way it was, he might as well declared their ages close. The wisdom of an elderly man trapped within a young man was what he was. He understood this conflict better than anyone, but his place was not to voice against this. His role was within the gardens of Yebisu, where he would reside to smile to visitors and remind them of what the world was and what it should be. Maybe she saw this too, except she didn’t need a flower. She voiced it just as she had done now.

…and a strong voice it was that made him admire her strength.

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