|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:58 pm
  This is a PRP between Van (Kurama no Koishi) and Kiran (Kazu-chan).
Setting:
After the recent tragic events, two lone figures meet upon Cherry Tree Hill.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:27 pm
The sun had long since reached its height in the sky high above and started on its slow descent toward nightfall. A crisp chill entered the air as darkness crept closer. But there was still enough light for Lunarians to be out and about before returning home for the evening.
Kiran reached the crest of the tall hill, and there he stood for quiet sometime in silence as he stared at remained of the once ancient tree that stood so proudly upon the hill. On the day of the tragic incident, he had only heard rumors of what took place upon the hill. He thought perhaps that was all they were: rumors. Even when faced with the scene of corpses lined out on the Main Street like unwanted garbage, he hadn't wanted to place that whoever was behind the murders would go so far as to destroy the once beautiful Cherry Tree.
It didn't seem that long ago that he had come running up the hill as he chased after his falcon Aditi. He still remembered the majestic beauty of the tree, and now it was gone. Seeing the scene as it was now was like receiving another blow that knocked the breath out of him, like the shock of hearing that the Emperor was dead. The world seemed a whole lot grimmer after these recent events, despite the long war prior to what happened.
Kiran was used to the gruesome scenes brought on by war, but that was on the battlefield. The murders and the way the corpses had been displayed for all to see hit him in a far different way than walking among the injured and dead after a fight between the Nobles and Legionnaires. His family and friends could have been among those killed and left unceremoniously in the streets or strung up to hang from the tree. He didn't think he would ever be able to forgive anyone that did that to his family and friends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:59 am
Passing Cherry Tree Hill had been a daily routine for Van ever since her days in the Academy. Her mornings began with the brisk run up toward the majestic cherry tree to watch the sunrise before she headed off to school, and she had always done her best to watch the sunset from the same vantage point as far as she could help it. The tree, though it was just a tree, had been a monumental symbol in her life. The woman could always run to it, always trust it to be there... but this time she had made the mistake of believing it to be invincible.
And now it was no more, just like her brother. Nearly every day since her brother’s disappearance, Van had passed the dark nights in the black markets of Lunaria, searching for information, anything that could bring her closer to Thanh Long. In the few days since the destruction of the great cherry tree and the death of the Emperor, the illegal markers seemed darker still, and the nights more sinister as Van was now forced to gaze upon the blackened remains of the tree every time she strode into the villages. The symbol of constancy had become a symbol of death.
Van couldn’t explain why she felt compelled to go to the tree today. Perhaps she had finally come to terms with the fact that many of the things that had been taken from her were never to come back. It could even be that she was a bit too early to the markets—they never opened while it was still light out.
The Fighter gazed solemnly upon the remains of the tree as she approached it, a mournful expression on her face as she thought of all the time she’d spent here. She’d met Jianyu here... and Jun. But before she could wonder how either of them were doing, her attention was drawn to another figure standing just ahead of her. “Kiran? What are you doing here?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:05 pm
Kiran rubbed absently at his throat as he recalled the events of that day. But his thoughts were ripped back to the present as he heard someone approaching, soft footsteps crunching over the grass as the person came up the hill. He threw a glance over his shoulder, ignoring the way his body tensed automatically at the presence of an unknown person nearby. Since that day, he found that he had come more alert to little noises. No more bodies had been discovered, but the people behind those murders were still out there somewhere, possibly hiding in plain sight. Kiran didn't want to be caught off guard if someone tried to attack him.
He blinked in surprise as he turned around fully to stare at Van as she came up the hill toward him. They had seen each not long ago on the Main Street when Hua An, disguising herself as a woman named Soray, approached them, but they hadn't had the opportunity to really speak with each other at that time. But perhaps now, they would have the chance to catch up on things since their time as Academy students.
"I just came up here to see the damage for myself," he explained, gesturing toward the charred remains of the tree, a dark reminder of the terrible scene of death still fresh in many Lunarians's minds. The view from the top of the hill looked strange now without the tall cherry tree standing at the heart upon it. His gaze lingered on the spot where the tree once stood, but he tore his eyes from it to look back over at Van. He offered her a friendly smile, trying to put those memories out of his mind. For too long now, he had been dwelling on what he saw and experienced that day. "What are you doing here?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 5:44 pm
Van hid the surprise in her eyes when Kiran turned around to look at her. She realized now that the two of them hadn't truly talked since before they graduated from the Academy. They had seen each other in passing, of course, at the wedding, and more recently in front of the Ichi-Koi during the peak of the recent chaos... but now that they were up close, she saw that Kiran, too, had truly matured. So the woman inclined her head slightly when he showed her recognition with a smile.
"I just thought I'd stop by as I passed," she said, honestly enough, as she nodded toward the charred remains of the tree. The mournful look returned to her eyes for a moment, and she was quiet, undoubtedly thinking back on the memories she had made here. "I used to come here every day," she continued, shaking her head, "It was my favorite place to be in all of Lunaria. I'm... still trying to wrap my head around the things that happened here."
News of the Emperor's death had shaken everyone it reached, and though she was a Legionnaire and Kiran, a Noble, she wondered if he knew anything about the circumstances of the death. He had, after all, left to go North after they had met up at the Ichi-Koi, whereas Van had stayed behind. In the woman's mind, the death of the Emperor had to have occurred at the hands of the Nobles. Chaos in the Legion would strengthen them, after all. It was also possible that the death had been the result of a coup, but with the loss that had just racked Van's household, such a theory seemed less likely.
Nobody knew what was going on. Van raised her eyes to the other fighter, many questions hidden behind her purple gaze. But she would not interrogate her old classmate. Instead, she simply said, "Funny to think back on the days at the Academy… life seemed much simpler then."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:41 pm
Kiran frowned as his gaze drifted back over to the remains of the cherry tree. "I never came up here much," he admitted, wishing that he had visited this spot more often before the tree was destroyed. "I think I only came up here once." At least, he could only recall one particular time that he stood under the wide reaching branches of the cherry tree.
He turned his gaze back to Van. "My sister used to come here to paint though. I think she's painted the tree at least twenty times." He laughed, but there was a hint of sadness in his expression. His sister would be devastated to hear wanted happened to the tree, if she hadn't heard already. He hadn't been home to visit his family since that day, so he didn't know what they had heard about the murders. His father probably would have heard everything that had happened, but he hoped that his sister had been left out of the loop.
With the way rumors spread, though, Kiran doubted news of the Emperor's death hadn't already reached his sister's ears. His attention returned to Van as thoughts of the Emperor turned in his head. Van hadn't gone with the group that went North to Shinmei Temple. He wondered what rumors she heard about what went on there. Did she blame the Nobles for the death of the Emperor? He see from the point of view of a Legionnaire why blame would be cast upon the Nobles, who after all did oppose the Emperor. But they still didn't know what had even happened to the Emperor's body, let alone who murdered him. The blame could fall to either side, or perhaps to a group that supported neither side. His head still spun with questions about what had really happened to the Emperor.
A smile twitched at his lips at the comment. "I think this is one of those times where I wish I was still back at the Academy." He chuckled lightly as he rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck. "Right now, everything just seems so complicated and messed up. It was easier when everything seemed so much simpler."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:15 am
Van smiled weakly at his words when they both returned their gazes to the dead tree. Whether anyone had had a personal connection to the majestic tree or not, there was no question that all felt its loss. It had once been a monument, something as Lunarian as the citizens themselves. She exhaled quietly, lowering her eyes. The longer she looked upon the charred ruins, the more painful it was. “I guess you never fully realize how much something means until it’s gone,” she said, “Those paintings must have been beautiful.”
It had been one bad omen after another. Her brother’s abduction, the destruction of the Cherry Tree, the Emperor’s death—they were all linked in Van’s mind. She only wished she knew what the signs were pointing to, but she couldn’t begin to tell. All anyone knew was that things were changing in Lunaria, and it was in their best interests to brace themselves for whatever was coming their way.
She tried her best not to begrudge her Noble friends and acquaintances their alliance, but with everything that was happening, it was becoming more and more difficult. Van knew in her mind that Kiran had done nothing wrong to her (aside from that one time, of course), but when chaos abounded and no one knew who to trust, the Nobles seemed like the last people it’d be wise to trust. Even when Soray turned out to be Hua An, the great General of the Legion, Van hadn’t let her guard down for a moment.
Clenching her fists, the Fighter stepped forward toward the tree, away from the other Lunarian so that she wouldn’t be tempted to do anything rash. She reached one trembling hand out as if to touch the remains, but found that she was unable to bring herself to do so. Letting her arm drop uselessly to her side, she sighed. “Truly,” she acknowledged, turning around with a wry smile, “I’d gladly take the troubles of old over this, sticky fingers and all, Kiran.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:48 pm
Kiran nodded absently in response. While he had never spent much time at this location, the cherry tree had always been an important place within Lunaria. He always believed that the tree would stand forever upon the hill, an eternal symbol of their people. It was like losing some personal item and wishing that he had taken the time to appreciate it more before it was gone for good. It was still odd to stare up at the hill and not see the tree. "Oh, yes, quite lovely," he agreed with a proud smile at his sister's talent. "She allowed me to take one and give it to Yue as a wedding gift."
His smile faltered somewhat as he let out a weak, awkward laugh. "I guess even after all this time, some things remain the same." He hadn't changed much in that sense. He still had the habit of picking pockets and money purses or swiping expensive looking jewelry off his fellow Lunarians. Some habits were hard to break, even harder when he wasn't bothering to even try breaking it.
Kiran sighed tiredly as he glanced briefly back at the remains of the trees. "But who would have thought something like this would happen?" he wondered out loud. "The death of the Emperor was bad enough. Did they really have to go on a mass killing, throwing bodies in the street as well? Did they have to destroy such an important landmark?" He gestured with one arm toward the remains of the tree. Grinding his teeth, he closed his hand into a clenched fist. "I wish there was some clue about who was behind all of this."
He shook his head like the simple action could rid him of such depressing thoughts. "But maybe it's best not to dwell on that for too long," he mumbled, reaching up a hand to ruffle his hair. He threw on a friendly smile as he stared back at Van. "What have you been up to since graduating from the Academy?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 10:25 pm
Van had since returned to Kiran’s side (she didn’t seem to be wearing anything obviously expensive, see), unable to stomach being so close to the very dead tree in front of them. She pulled her arms around herself, as if hugging herself, and shivered at his mention of the tragic news. It was funny how everyone talked about these things—they were hushed up, but somehow everyone knew about it because in the end, no one could resist talking about them. “It’s anyone’s guess, really,” she mumbled, her head bowed low, “Trust me, I’ve been trying to find a lead for ages, before all of this even happened.” There was an implied nod to her dealings in the black market as of late.
Glad to change the subject, the fighter’s mood changed visibly when she heard Kiran ask her about what she’d been doing since she’d graduated. Usually, she would have been the one asking that question, but in light of the previous subject, even talking about herself preferable. “Oh, the usual. Training like mad, going on missions, trying to find a place to move into.” She listed them nonchalantly, so that he’d hopefully overlook the fact that these missions were most likely carried out in opposition to his own faction.
The Legionnaire smiled briefly in response to his—smiling was something she was trying to do more of these days, even if she didn’t mean them half the time—and clapped a hand on his back in a friendly gesture. “What about you? You better not have just been sitting on your a** this entire time. I would hate to admit that I lost to someone like that in the past, you know.” Another smile flashed across her face as she joked with him. “Though I’m sure I’d best you now!”
This was her attempt to lighten the mood, one that was probably a little bit overdone. In any case, Van was happy not to be talking about the Cherry Tree, even if they were still standing in front of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:40 am
Kiran gazed at Van as one eyebrow quirked upward in an expression of curiosity. "Before it happened?" he wondered out loud, though he didn't entirely expect an explanation about that comment. He had a habit of poking his nose in where it usually didn't belong or was even wanted. But he was getting better at not prodding a topic when the other party didn't want to answer to his curiosity.
He nodded as the subject changed. He had already spent far too much time thinking about the murders and the death of the Emperor and what was to happen next with this so-called neutral guard. Too many questions circled around his head without answers, and they kept him up many nights since everything happened. "Training, missions, working," Kiran agreed, having also been kept busy with similar activities. "I managed to find a small apartment, pretty cheap." His apartment wasn't anything fancy or very large, but it was comfortable enough for only him. He didn't really need a large space since he didn't have a huge amount of belongings with which to fill the apartment. Much of his time was spent outside of the apartment while he worked or went on missions or did other outdoor activities.
A light chuckle escaped him at her comment. He hadn't stopped training since their first encounter, but he certainly couldn't hold a candle to Hua An when it came to speed. The Legion General had moved to hold captive in the blink of an eye before he could even move an inch. After that event, he now had two people pushing him train harder, especially where speed was concerned, with Huang being the other.
Kiran rubbed at his chin, still remembering the powerful blow that Van had landed in their first fight. "If you've gotten even stronger, you might stand a chance," he said jokingly with a hint of a grin. "But I haven't exactly been sitting around twiddling my thumbs the whole time either." He waved a hand at her with a dismissive air, like he thought she would be no challenge to him. Kiran knew, of course, that he had gotten lucky in their previous fight. If not for that slip, things might have turned out differently and not in his favor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 2:10 am
Van hardly noticed Kiran’s quiet inquiry after she briefly mentioned her independent missions concerning her family affairs, or if she did, she pretended not to hear. Instead, she listened keenly as Kiran responded politely, listing similar jobs and responsibilities. They had all grown up, hadn’t they? Van idly wondered at what had become of the rest of their graduating class. The only one she’d been keeping up with, really, was Sara. The Legionnaire was about to mention this, but her attention was captured by the other fighter’s next words.
“You’re lucky. You’d think it’d be easier finding a decent place to live, with so many people moving in and out of the City.” Another silent nod towards the chaotic state of the land. Many Lunarians had moved out of the Imperial City, out of the country even—it was widely regarded as the safest way to go. It seemed that anything these two could discuss would end up being related to the recent calamities that had befallen Lunaria. But Van pushed on. “Let me know if you come across a place you think a nice Legionnaire girl would like to live, yeah?”
The fighter was hardly nice, and she knew it. It was meant as a tongue-in-cheek statement; she was civil, polite perhaps... in the end, she put her own affairs first. Still, she did half hope that Kiran would give her a holler if he was able to find a decent place for her.
Wrinkling her nose a bit at his next words—she wasn’t exactly used to being joked around with, even if she did it often enough herself—Van decided that she would not decline another spar with this man, just to see where they were now. She wasn’t expecting the opportunity to arise so soon, however, because Kiran’s hand suddenly came flying towards her face.
Now, Van had a particularly bad habit of being quick to throw punches. She had managed to improve on this a bit since her Academy days, forcing herself to ‘talk things out’ before getting into a fist fight, but her reflexes upon perception of being assaulted hadn’t changed. As a fighter, this was more often than not a good reflex to have... but among friends, it sometimes got her into trouble. Jun had been the last to experience this, a title soon to be taken over by Kiran. Before Van even knew what was happening, she had swung at the Noble, hard.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
