Welcome to Gaia! ::

Koichi stopped humming for a few moments, looking down at Kana. Gently, he pulled her to him a little more, as though trying to comfort her and give her courage to say what she was going to [i didn't move the hand, did i?] However, after he realized she'd completely trailed off and had no intention, any moment, anyway, to tell him what it was she wanted, he gave another soft, short chuckle before starting to hum lightly again, looking foward. Kitty... there's so much... he thought; however, he -like Kana- trailed off in thought, and wasn't able to finish thinking to himself.

Kana felt herself being pulled a bit closer to him, and her face flushed a bit darker red, though she didn't object. She hoped he wouldn't realize that... she actually enjoyed sitting here like this. It'd be better if she could just manage to choke out a few small words, but she was having trouble. She gripped his shirt a little harder, ears perking again as she listened to his humming resume. She'd heard the chuckle too, and wasn't sure what it was about, though she didn't care enough to ask. She was much too distracted. If she repeated it enough in her head, would it finally make it out of her mouth? Maybe slip out without her realizing it until it was already done? ....was that even possible? She sighed quietly, tail flicking along with his humming again as she did, in fact, start repeating to herself. Koichi, I love you. She just wished she could say it as easily as she thought it.

Koichi continued to hum, acting as though he hadn't noticed her grip on his shirt tighten. He felt as though something inside him was thrashing about, wanting so much to make her is. Sadly, she doesn't feel the same for you, that voice, for which had remained quiet for so long, said in a mocking, evil tone. Koichi looked down at Kana biting a lip though continuing to hum, before looking back up at the sky; he was right, of course, the voice was. There wasn't much he could do; even if he played his violin, he couldn't assure that she'd fall in love with him; it was a hopless cause.
He couldn't help but be reminded of Kaze and Kazan; they, too, liked each other. However, unlike Kana and he, they weren't allowed to love. It was for this that he clutched the bar with the opposite hand to which Kana leaned on, asthough to not draw her attention. Were they to end up like the two of them? But with the choice of such?

[so pesimistic o.o and HOMG, i spelled that wrong XD]

Koichi blinked a few times, hearing a faint ringing from when she'd thought to herself; it reached him, but he didn't get it completely- it was more of small mumbles, and the bell was informing him of it. He looked down suddenly, though, feeling her arm wrap around him. His eyes widened for a moment as he found himself shocked for a moment.
"Kana," he said softly, letting his hand flow up and down her arm lightly for a couple of seconds, "what's wrong?" His tone was full of concern as he looked down at the girl in his arms; he wanted to hold her close as something more than a sister. "Did I... upset you somehow?" he asked softly, hoping it wasn't so; however, it was a possibility, and if he had, he knew he'd be kicking himself later.

Coming from the northern courtyard, this place was more...quieter? It seemed like people were more off in pairs than anything. Yoshikuni Asuka didn't mind the mild tranquility. "I can train here. Just as long as there are no people in the way. I wouldn't want anyone to get their heads sliced off." She said, no malice in her voice.

Finding a quiet spot, with people far enough away, she removed her long katana from her obi. Imagining her enemy, she began a series of thrusts and shielding with her sword. She wasn't moving fast, and moved gracefully. To the observer, it would seem more like she was dancing, not training.

Sliding her katana back into her obi, she took a deep breath. Back to the Courtyard girl. Then after that, perhaps the hotsprings.

He stood up.

A young boy was lethargically lying around on top of plastic man-made childrens mountain, which was at least 7 feet, his baby blue eyes scanning his horizon. Scratching his head quizically, Oliver wondered how the hell he ended up sleeping here at the playground. Recollecting memories seemed distant to him, he doesn't remember falling asleep outside nor walking over here. All he remembered was a surprise birthday bash that Butch threw for him...

Butch.

"Dammit! Urgh, that idiot set me up! Must of been knocked unconcious, and I guess that bash was a big fat lie." Oliver growled in disgust as he slapped himself light across his forehead, like he was some kind of large idiot. Oliver wasn't like that cute kid that followed his big sister around, nope, he isn't fifteen years old anymore. In fact, he is sixteen but acts like he is an adult. He outgrew his loli-shota clothes that Ai use to make for him, he now wears the official male uniform for Ria. He still has his trademark messy black hair, but his eyes are more cat-like than large and cute. Overall, he looked like a gorgeous model in some vogue magazine. Even his fanclub has tripled over time, not doubled, tripled. So everyday he gets at least two hundred fan letters, but everyone knows that he doesn't read all of them.

"Well, at least the stars are out! Such a clear day!" he said to himself as placed a large hand over his eyes and glanced up at the clear night. There was even a full moon. Jumping off the uncomfortable plastic mountain, Oliver lazily walked over to the swings, like he did a year ago, and sat his tush in an empty one.

"Wee! Just like the old days!" he cried out happily as a large crooked smile took over his facial features and his legs kicking back and forth as he swung higher to the sky. The only thing that hasn't changed over time was his charm, he always had his playful charm.

"I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts.. !" Oliver sang through the night, in fact that was the very song he sung at the beach event several years ago when Ai was a freshman at Ria. Such good times should not be forgotten, and secretly he does miss the good old days, when everyone was here with him, and laughing. But ever since Joy's disappearance, everyone has gone there separate ways, and it saddens him. Feena has gone god knows where, claiming that her time with her siblings is up. She probably serves somewhere.. Tiff and Kiyowa went somewhere, but Oliver has a hint that Tiff went off searching for Ky. Kurai has been doing his godly priest duties, and Oliver finds church very boring so he never really chats with Kurai. Joy disappeared without a trace, he remember's Ai's sad frown when she last mentioned Joy's name. His sister Ai left a month ago after finally finishing her swordsmanship class after many hours studying with her tutor's Tiff and Kurai. She went to some city a few hours away to record songs for her CD. Her dreams are starting to come true. Oh yes, there was that one girl, Makie was her name! I haven't seen her around. Oliver thought sadly, he was really fond of hanging out with Makie. She may be naive and shy, but Oliver thought she had a great sense of humor and had hidden strength that only he can see.

As he thought of all the wonderful events and times with his friends, his thrusts against the air softened as his swing lost motivation to go any higher into the sky. After several lost attempts of swinging his legs, Oliver stopped swinging all together. His eyebrows furrowed sorrowfully as his blue eyes stared down at the grassy ground. Some birthday, he thought.

why does everyone have to be gone? he thought. Oliver hates thinking negatively, but lately he has been. He may have a fanclub and jealous Butch, but he wishes to hang out more with his friends, especially with Makie. Sighing lightly against the soft wind, Oliver jumped out of the swing and started to head out until he heard some soft painful cries.

Focusing on the area where the noise can be heard, he noticed it was coming from a small wooden house right nearby the swingset. Then all of a sudden a blurry thing quickly dashed out of the building.

"Hey wh-" but he was cutt short when he saw the thing suddenly sprawl across the ground from a merely tripping on a skinny stick.

Makie.

"Eh-Makie! Are you alright?!" he cried with worry as he ran to his friends side. He placed one tender hand on her shoulder to keep her steady in case if she suddenly fell again.

"You know you should watch where you're going! Especially in the night! The boogie man could pop right out and eat you alive!" he said as he mimicked or made a scary face to terrify Makie. "Common! Lets get you back on your two feet!" he said as he lightly chuckled at the sight of a messy Makie who had dirt all over her face. Oliver stood up as he let gestured Makie to take his hand so he could help her get up from the grassy/dirty ground.

(LOL. Oliver making scary faces.)

Oliver lightly chuckled when he watched Makie's face change to the color of a tomato, was she sick? Sometimes he wonder's if Makie is allergic to him, whenever she is around him her face tends to change to the color red frequently. Then she studdered, which never surprises him, she always studders, even around Ai. Sometimes Oliver wonders what causes her to studder so much, not like he hates it, he actually finds it quite cute.

"Haha! Really? Well you should be careful of that Butch. He likes to go after growing girls like you! Ai even told me that he was hitting on Tiff one time at the Mall!" he said with light laughter and stretched his back a bit.

"Yeah, actually this is the first time I've been here for a while! I remember being here a couple of years ago when it opened, you were there too! I remember quite well" he ranted as he stroked his chin softly, as if he was cunningly thinking about a plan, like those old school detectives in those mystery books.

"Huh? The swings? I was just there, but I will go on them again just to hang out with you!" he exclaimed happily as he clasped his hands together in pure joy; his smile wide with growing excitement. Though he had a hint that Makie didn't quite finish her sentence, but he had a hint she almost said Joy's name.

Oliver doesn't quite hate Joy, but he doesn't enjoy her presence anymore like in the old days. He hasn't gotten over the fact that she hurt Ai and he doesn't know if he'll over get over that. Oliver never really makes enemies, but when someone or a friend does crosses a path to destruction and hurts his friends, let's just say its not a pretty sight.

"Okay Let's ra-" but before he could finish his sentence, he heard Makie say the exact thing he was about to say and dashed quickly towards the swings.

"Not in my life time, you wont!" he mumbled to himself as he started to quickly run to the swings. Being a growing male, his strides are technically longer than Makie, so it didn't actually take him long to reach the swings.

"D-Did I w-win?"

Oliver stuck out his tongue at her when she said this in a cocky manner; "Na-uh! But you were pretty close!" he said with a playful laugh and he started to lightly swing his long legs in the air; his messy black hair blowing softly into the warm night wind.

"But Makie, you are quick on your feet! I am not surprised since you're really good at gymnastics!" he exclaimed in a happy manner. Makie may not know it
but Oliver has been going to her gymnastic trials and events and Oliver has to admit that she's pretty talented at the sport! While swinging through the air, he looked to his side quietly towards Makie. She has grown from a little shy girl to almost a woman now, and quite attractive too.

Gah! What am I thinking?! She's my friend! he mentally thought as he looked back straight towards the courtyard and lightly slapped his forehead in confusion.