Welcome to Gaia! ::

1st


"Hey! Wait up! Akito!" Akito (See Life's Good pic) looked back a little, at least now stopped. He was on a grass plain, with only trees on the horizon and a dirt trail infront and behind him that seemed to stretch on forever, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The voice that called to him was Yuu Nagamo. (Again, see the pic) She was far off behind him, and running as fast as she could. Akito half wanted to just continue on and see her reaction, but decided to just wait for her.

Once she caught up, he smiled. "Need a break?" Yuu was still panting, but managed to shoot a glare at him, quick soon faded. She just shook her head. "Jerk..." Akito shrugged and just kept walking. Yuu soon followed. They went on for about two hours before passing by a small trail-side Inn, which they spent the night at.

Yuu's hair was up, but even so, she got looks from most every man and boy there. That ended when Akito tapped her butt infront of them. He was hit by her, but the others stopped with the looks, so it was ok. The two eventually headed off to bed on the second story. They were tired, but not the least bit sleepy. They talked back and forth about random things: favorite animals, best spots in the town they came from, etc.

It had been three days since he found her on the side of the road, her body was half broken, but healed very quickly, so much so you would never think that she was beat and abused before hand. Yes... parents before hand... raiders soon after. Her life, as far as Akito could tell, was a spiral of sorrow. The least he could do was to help her get to the sea, her only true goal. He didn't see what was so grand about the giant body of water, but it was what she wanted. How could he have told her no when she gave him the puppy dog eyes, owning nothing but the clothes on her? He couldn't, not unless he sold his soul to the devil, which he thought about the first few hours... she had amnesia, though not completely. She couldn't remember her life prior to her 15th birthday, no matter how hard she tried. She was also secluded from the world by her rich, SoB parents, so the outside world was a complete mystery to her.

The first day, she had to ask Akito about every little thing, from why she should not change infront of him to why men are idiots. (She heard that from a less than pleased wife) Now, instead of a guide, he had to also act as a guardian for her. She'd already came close to being used to rob a man and then was almost taken by a group of four. For some reason, being with her, Akito was about to act and react without much thought, in terms of fighting. It somehow came naturally, in a way.

She finally yawned. It was late, around three in the morning. They said their good nights and he closed his eyes.

2nd


Akito was buying supplies for the road ahead: food, medicine, and Yuu's Melon bread that she loved so much. Both of them were on the ground floor, Yuu being asleep in a chair. She didn't sleep well. The entire night, she was tossing and sweating. She woke up at least three times screaming in pain. She doesn't remember any of it, though. The Innkeeper threatened to kick them out twice, which was ignored.

Akito thanked the Innkeeper, shook Yuu once to wake her, and then they headed out down the road again.

It was a boring trip, down this path, but it was the most direct way to Satsume, a port city. There really wasn't much besides the rabbit that Yuu spotted and chased around for about thirty minutes, finally pouncing it. She now had a new pet... one she didn't know anything about. "What is this?" She rose up the rabbit gently. "A rabbit... or dinner if you prefer." He thought it was funny, but Yuu didn't. She hollered and hit Akito in the head again. "How could you each such a cute animal!?" Aktio rubbed his head. "Hell, the Chinese eat dogs." Yuu blinked three times. "What is a... 'dog'?" Akito sighed. "Never mind.

The next place they reached was a small town called Zuka. Another room was rented, but they arrived ahead of schedule, and there was light till out. They took a tour of the town. There were a lot of people, maybe three hundred, a third of them being children. There were many kids that ran up and down allyways and streets, just playing. A German Shepard ran up to Yuu and barked, which made Yuu scream bloody murder. Akito placed his hand on her shoulder to at least keep her quiet, then glared at the dog. It stopped for a second... the continued at Yuu. Aktio grunted, then smacked the dog. It hit the ground and whimpered. Akito sighed and crouched, rubbing the dog's side. He patted it twice, then the dog jumped up, looking like he wanted to play.

Yuu clenched her fist, then hit Akito again. "BAKA!" "What the hell was that fer?" "How dare you hit a cute animal like that!?" People started to look at them. "Dogs live on a Pack mindset. You show you're the Pack Leader, and they submit. How the hell else was I gonna stop yer screamin'?" Yuu stayed quiet for a second, seeing his point, then it hit her. "Wait... that was a dog....!? AKUMA!" Yuu began to chase him around the town, first just throwing minor things: plates and other dishes with occasional bag of fruit. That quickly grew in dangerousness to large objects: dishwashers, T.V.s, etc. This went on for a good while, until both were completely tired out. Both were laying in the Inn room. "It's your fault.""Huh?""If you stayed still, we wouldn't be this tired...."And I'd be dead.... I rather this."

3rd


"Akito... You awake...?" "Yea...what's up?" It was night... the next night after the previous events. Both were laying beside a campfire on opposite sides. The fire itself was no taller than maybe two feet, compared to the nigh five foot fire Yuu managed to get going with enough wood.

"How far are we... from the sea, I mean." Akito thought for a moment. "Maybe a day... two tops." Yuu sobbed once. Akito sighed and sat up, now facing her. "What's really on yer mind?" Yuu didn't respond right after, hesitant. "I'm... sorry, for dragging you out here, so far from your home." Akito shook his head, then laid back down, having his back to Yuu again. "Don't worry about it. Ain't got anything else to do." Yuu smiled softly, then Akito heard her get up. He figured she was 'attending to Nature's Call', but then suddenly felt something place their hand around his chest. He was panicing on the inside... any chance of him sleeping now was gone. His face was beet-red, like he'd been in a hotspring for six hours or so.

Apparently, Yuu could sense what he was feeling, and tapped him on the back of the head, too tired to hit. "It's cold. That's the only reason." Well that was comforting. He tried his damnest to get at least some sleep, but couldn't. Odd thing was: it wasn't her. It was something else, something he couldn't see, but only sense. An animal maybe? They were in a forest surrounded by darkness, with the only light being a full moon in a clear sky and the fire, but that might attract the beasts to them. Great... now his mind was racing.

"You asleep yet?'
"...No....
"..."
"Need something?"
"Thank you... for everything."

Akito could feel her head snuggle itself into his back. This, for some reason, calmed him. He wasn't as embarrassed as he was before... maybe getting use to the contact.

4th


Akito stood on a cliff, forest behind him a good fifty feet, the vast ocean as far as the eye could see. He pointed at the horizon, and Yuu was amazed. "Wow.... It's... a beautiful sight..." Akito nodded. "Yes, it is." He, though, found himself looking at her. It took about five days, but they finally made it.

He suddenly felt something grab his leg, and suddenly saw Yuu collapse as he was yanked up. He saw a large, black creature, with a white mask. It looked like a mix between the head of a mantis, body of a horse, and rear of a fox. Six tentacles were flailing on it's back. "Such a wonderful smell your soul gives off. It was hard to resist... now I can finally end my hunger!"

It opened it's mouth, and Akito was yanked towards it.

5th


Akito was laying on the ground. He slowly got up. feeling an immense pain all over his body. His head had been hit hard, and blood was now covering his left eye. His left wrist felt like it was broken. None of that mattered to what he was witness to: Yuu, in a black kamono, was jumping back and forth, fighting the creature. He didn't have any idea what to make of it... only to sit and watch. Not like his legs could move, paralyzed with fear and shock.

It knocked her to the ground a good ways away, her sword landing next to Akito, and then faced her, mouth open. A red sphere grew at its mouth. She went wide-eyed; not a good sign. Without any thought at all, Akito ignored the pain and ran to Yuu, picking up the sword along the way. She tried to get up, bur her leg was broken. "Stay back!" Akito managed to jump to her in time, wrapping his free arm around her right before getting hit by a blast of energy. They was shot off the edge, and began to fall.

They both knew what would come next. He was an idiot for grabbing her, he though. Now they were both going to die. There was no way he was going to let this happen. They'd finally finished what they started, he'd finally found someone he could care for. He was not going to let it end this way.

Apparently, the opposite was fated to happen. Her sword began to glow in his hand. Yuu looked at his arm, then at him. "Do you trust me?" Akito was taken back a little, but then nodded. "Shouldn't have to ask." She then grabbed the blade end and stabbed herself with it. She then kissed him as she slowly dissolved.

The black creature was about to walk away when a woosh came from behind him. Akito was glaring at the creature. (See Winged Vengence for apperance). Akito pointed his right hand at the beast, then a drill of wind tore it to bits. Akito landed on the ground, then fell to his knees. He blacked out.