Welcome to Gaia! ::

After a bit more walking, the pair finally reached the Inn, and Ryugi opened the door leading inside. It had been a while since he'd been in Presea. Infact, the last time Ryugi had visited Angara, he'd been too busy to stop by and take a look at the town. Either way, it felt good to be "home" again. As he opened the door, he would see that the lobby of the Inn was pretty much the same as he remembered it, though, the Innkeeper was different. As Maximos entered, he would see a young woman sweeping behind the counter. She had brown hair, and dark red eyes, almost a brick red. As she heard the bell ring, she looked up, and greeted the two new patrons.

Hello and .... Welcome... to... the...

The young woman stopped as her eyes came to rest on Ryugi. They opened wide, not in horror or shock, but joyous recognition. It was clear she was too stunned to speak.

Heh... Nice to see you too, Grace.

Ryugi smiled a bit as the young woman blinked and tried to gather herself, a couple tears forming in her eyes.

Ry-Ryugi?! It-Its you! Its really really you! I...I can't believe it. Vargus said you were dead, and... I...I thought I'd never see you again!

The girl slowly walked towards Ryugi, her face tearing up a bit more before she gave him a big hug. Ryugi smiled and gave her a hug back.



Grace let go of Ryugi and then looked up towards him, before turning around and speaking again, her voice taking on a bit of a strange tone...


Maximos would read a change in her emotions, her calm features suddenly grew angry and frustrated, and Ryugi's kind face immediately turned to one of shock, and he visibly cowered a bit at her, with a goofy look nonetheless.



In a flash the young woman spun around and locked Ryugi into a headlock, and proceeded to give him the biggest noogie he'd gotten in centuries.



As Grace lectured Ryugi, he squirmed and flopped about, helpless to do anything to break out of Grace's grasp, afterall, she was a dragon too, and almost as strong as Ryugi. Maximos would probably be getting quite an interesting look into Ryugi's childhood as he watched the pair. At any rate, she'd soon let him up for air... Wouldn't she?

After a few more grumbles, some "sorry"s from Ryugi, and plenty of guff, Grace let Ryugi go. She left him to recover a bit as she looked over at Maximos, and smiled kindly, nearly as kindly as Maximos often did.

Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't see you there. You blended in to the shadows so well I barely realized you were there at all.

Grace blushed a bit at her mistake and bowed in apology as Ryugi spoke up.

Grace, I'd like you to meet Maximos, one of my most beloved and trusted friends. Maximos, this is Grace, my closest childhood friend.

Grace nodded and shook Maximos' hand before answering, in an equally low voice.

You have no idea.

She chuckled and patted Ryugi on his head.

Hey! I was a good kid growing up...

Ryugi made a silly little pouting face and Grace just grinned, speaking very very quietly. It was the type of quiet that was meant for one person...and perhaps those listening very carefully as well...

...Hot Springs...

Whatever Grace had said had Ryugi's color draining from his face.

Grace... Don't you dare! You know that wasn't my fault!

Strange how the slightly older woman could wield her power over him so easily when prompted. But then again, thats what childhood friends were all about.

Grace stopped chuckling after a bit, and Ryugi seemed to regain some of his composure.

Well, memories aside, I'm sure you two are looking for rooms for the night. I'd be happy to give you a couple. The going rate is thirty a night, but since you guys are friends, I'll give it to you for twenty-five.

Grace smiled and Ryugi spoke.

Sounds good enough. I'll pay for both, of course. Afterall, you ARE a guest of mine Maximos. It would be rude of me NOT to pay for you.

Ryugi would smile and drop several gold coins and some various shiny jewels onto the counter, where Grace would pull them into the safe and hand the both of them their keys.

There you go! Rooms 2A and 2B. They're directly across from one another on the top floor. If you two need anything, don't be afraid to ask.

Grace would smile and see them off to their rooms.

You're welcome Max. Have a good night.

Ryugi would see his friend off, and then gather his own key from Grace. Afterwards, he'd make his way up the stairs to his own room, and make himself at home as well. His weapons, Ragnarok and Sol Blade, were the first articles to be removed from his person. Both were placed against the headboard of the bed within reach if trouble were to arise. His white coat was the next thing to be removed, and was folded and hung neatly over the back of a chair at the table. Next came his black jacket and dragonsteel mail which were placed on the seat of the chair, both folded neatly. His gloves were next, taking up residence on the seat on top of the jacket and mail. His boots were last, and were placed off to the side of the chair, leaving him wearing his white undershirt, black pants, and black socks.

Once settled in, he'd then head to the stove and sink and begin to boil some water for tea. Tea was always soothing and relaxing, and he'd decided to make a cup before looking out his window at the rest of the town going on below him.

Of course, any musical instrument was not something that was generally quiet and kept to oneself. By their nature, instruments were made to be heard, and as Ryugi sat looking out the window, the hauntingly beautiful melody from across the hallway began to flow into his room.

At first, it was soft, gentle, light and had a softer quality about it, the notes flowing smoothly from the strings of the instrument and the emotions from the player. And as it continued, it got stronger as more power came from the notes and the feeling evoked thoughts within Ryugi's mind as the melody swirled around him and the room.

His eyes closed and he sat back in the chair, his mind drifting back into times long past, times of his childhood. He could see his friends, his family, his mother and father calling the boys to dinner, and the both of them running across the fields at full tilt with Vargus and Grace in tow. He flashed back to another time when he had fallen and scraped his knee, and his mother's cool soft touch came down and helped him up. He could smell her perfume, feel her cool touch, and he could hear her soft voice comforting him as she pulled him up and embraced him in a hug.

Another memory came and he saw he and Vargus sitting back to back on a rock, sun going down when they were very young. He felt chilled, but realized it wasn't cold, it was him. He was nervous, afraid, scared of what she would say when he told her... Then, her voice could be heard, and he felt himself warm, and a feeling of joy came over him as he turned to her young blushing face. He looked into her eyes and the two of them drew closer together, until Ryudo crashed through the bushes laughing and teasing, before Grace struck him, and then the two of them laughed.

Then another flash of memory... No, he didn't want to remember this one. There it was, all out in front of him. His town was in flames, people were shouting, people were crying, and there he was, laughing crazily, madly, angrily. And in his arms was Vargus. With a toss, she was on the ground, and he was at her side immediately. She was hurt, crying, but still so sweet and innocent. Her voice was soft, weak, and fading, and then her hand went limp. The pain, the grief, it was all so overbearing. He'd lost everything he held dear. His mother, his father, his love, his home, and the one that had caused it all was his own brother. But he didn't give up, he didn't give in. Through the tears and the pain, the sadness and the grief, he stood up, stood tall, gripped his blade, and forced himself to stand up, get up, and fight to stop this from ever happening to anyone else. He couldn't be mad at his brother, but he would never want anyone to go through such pain again, and even if they did, he'd want to be there to suffer it with them.

With an opening of his eyes, he looked out to the sky, and saw clouds softly drifting through the blue. He stood up and walked to the door of his room, and quietly opened it, the music growing louder as he then leaned up against the wall next to his friend's door, and as the music came to an end, he'd speak.

Never in all my life have I heard something as beautiful as that song... What do you call it?

Not at all. The sun might have gone down, but that doesn't mean we've all gone to sleep.

Ryugi walked his way to the window and looked out on the street. Street lamps lit with torches were beginning to flicker on as people went around their evening life.

ANyway, I didn't know you played an instrument.