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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Sept 15, 2013 15:32:27 GMT -8
(OOC: Arael/Invite) Theme Song: Heartbeat, HeartbreakIn a park located on the very edge of the border of Dragon Territory and Mt. Olympus, sitting at the top of a bright curved yellow slide, a small infant could be seen laughing happily, while nearby, seated on a bench, a figure was keeping watch, his arms resting on top of his knees. His Qi constantly activated, "looking" up at the heat signature of his baby daughter Kaori with love and affection in his gray pupil-less eyes as she giggled happily at her daddy and slid down the slide, it had been quite a while since he took her to a playground, the last time being when he was re-united with Mitsuki Park. Landing at the bottom of the slide, Kaori would climb down as little legs would take her up to the top level of the smaller wooden playground built specifically for little kids. Just like before, the day guard of the members of The Flame Battalion were not around, but back at The Dragon Fang, as it was a day for Kazuya to spend time with Kaori, and none of them wanted to intrude on it, not to mention they were still within Dragon Territory. This also meant however, that aside from Kaori, Kazuya was the only other person around to protect not only his daughter, but himself as well. |
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Post by Arael Hiroshi on Sept 15, 2013 17:03:39 GMT -8
It was an extremely beautiful and clear day. So Arael decided to do some walking/wandering and explore the border between Mt. Olympus and Dragon territory. She was walking quietly through the woodland border when she heard some giggling through the trees. It was coming from the Dragon side of the border. Ari looked curiously in that direction, and through the trees she could just make out the bright yellow color of a playground slide.
I wonder... She thought to herself. Making up her mind to just see who it was then come right back, she slowly, quietly ghosted through the trees. She made her way closer to the playground without making a noise. Seeing the little girl slide down the playground slide, and then get right back on made Ari grin. She remember being that carefree. Enjoy it while you can, little one. She thought.
Seeing the girl look at something over to one side of the clearing, Ari turned to look, and almost tripped and fell. "Ka..." She whispered, then silenced herself. She looked between the little girl and Kazuya, noting the similarities. She must be his daughter. Ari backed up, meaning to leave the two quietly so as to not intrude, and accidentally stepped directly on a stick. It snapped with a sound loud enough to startle any birds into silence. She froze guiltily, hoping Kazuya hadn't heard, and knowing that he had.
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Sept 15, 2013 17:17:55 GMT -8
Just as Kaori reached the top of the wooden playground, a loud snap issuing from somewhere behind him would reach his ears, as he would turn his head slightly in the direction the sound had come from. Spotting a heat signature visible through the trees clustered together, as the figure the heat signature belonged to had neither charged nor retreated, but froze up instantly, it was not too much cause of alarm for him.
As for Kaori, she had stopped at the loud snap, but seeing her daddy was relaxed, would resume playing and plop herself down at the top of the slide.
"... It is alright to come out, I can see you..."
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Post by Arael Hiroshi on Sept 15, 2013 17:33:57 GMT -8
Ari started a bit when Kazuya spoke, even though she knew he had heard the snap. She started walking slowly towards where he sat. Coming up beside him, she spoke. "Good day Kazuya. I apologize for intruding. I heard your... Daughter, through the trees and was curious."
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Sept 15, 2013 18:41:41 GMT -8
"Ah, Arael, it is nice to see you again."
Rising to his feet and "looking" down and over at her as she stopped beside him, his gray pupil-less eyes focused on her, giving Arael an easygoing smile that would make most girls blush. Sliding down the normal red slide this time, the soft pitter patter of feet would come over to Kazuya, as Kaori would cling to the back of his leg, peeking out from behind at Arael curiously.
"Arael, this is my daughter, Kaori. Kaori, this is Arael Hiroshi."
"Ari... Arael?"
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Post by Arael Hiroshi on Sept 15, 2013 19:14:58 GMT -8
Ari smiled back at Kazuya, and watched as the little girl came over and hid behind him. When Kaz introduced her, Ari knelt down to eye level with Kaori, then spoke. "Hi Kaori. It's nice to meet you! My name is Arael, but you can call me whatever you want." Ari smiled, then looked up at Kazuya and stood up. "She's gorgeous! How old is she?" Ari asked curiously. She had a soft spot for kids of any age.
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Sept 15, 2013 20:04:35 GMT -8
["A... Ari? Hi Ari!"]
Though Kaori continued to cling to her daddy's pant leg, she would come out from behind his leg, one hand slowly reaching out to her, her curiosity overpowering her shyness. Casually folding his arms across his chest, Kazuya would smile slightly down at his baby daughter, before looking back at Arael.
"She is two years old. She will be three next year, on May 30."
"Ari, you pretty! You how old?"
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Post by Arael Hiroshi on Sept 19, 2013 7:49:08 GMT -8
Ari looked down at Kaori. "Why thank you Kaori! You're very pretty too!" She chuckled. "I am sixteen and I'll be seventeen in April."
Ari glanced back up to Kazuya. "So what brings you up here, this close to the border?" She asked curiously.
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Sept 19, 2013 13:33:56 GMT -8
Kaori giggling happily at Arael's compliment back, she would slowly make her way out from behind her daddy's leg and instead stand beside him, still clinging to his pant leg though.
"Kaori wanted to spend some time with me and go to the playground, and aside from this park, the only other one I know of is near the border of Dragon Territory and Neutral Territory. Since the Dragons are allied with The Gods, this one had less chances of Barker's soldiers coming through. Kaori,"
Kazuya would say as he bent down, eye level with his baby daughter,
"Go ahead and play, but be careful, okay?"
"Okay daddy!"
Kaori happily running back towards the playground, Kazuya would slowly straighten up and turn back to Arael.
"How about you? What brings you so far from Raikotsu's mansion?"
He asked while gesturing to the bench behind him, indicating for her to sit beside him, as he sat down while keeping an eye on Kaori.
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Post by Arael Hiroshi on Oct 2, 2013 16:55:34 GMT -8
"Ah, yes. That's smart." Ari replied to his comment about the park. She watched with a slight smile on her face as Kazuya sent Kaori back to the playground. Ari watched her go until Kazuya's voice pulled her out of her own thoughts. Sitting next to him, she replied. "I was exploring the area. Getting to know the place, the terrain, and become more familiar with it. If I'm to help during my time here, I need to know where things are." She hesitated, and looked away. Sighing, she spoke in a much quieter voice than before. "Also... When I'm on the move, I don't think much. And when I don't think I don't remember them."
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Oct 2, 2013 21:12:47 GMT -8
"Good thinking. With all my time spent training my troops and planning strategies, I unintentionally ended up exploring the area and terrain of Dragon Territory."
Hearing Arael hesitate and look away, Kazuya would turn his head slightly to look at her as she sighed and spoke in a much quieter voice, his gray pupil-less eyes filled with concern for her.
"... You don't have to tell me, but who is 'them'? Your family?"
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Post by Arael Hiroshi on Oct 3, 2013 19:06:06 GMT -8
"Yeah. 'They' are my fam... They were my family. They're gone now." She sighed again, and drew her knees up to her chest. "All of them, just gone. One by one they have died, and now I'm the last one. Once I die my family is gone. Wiped away like we weren't even here." A small tear fell from her eye as she relived the memories. Suddenly, she shook her head roughly, ridding herself of the tears. She cleared her throat, and mumbled an apology. "I'm sorry. You probably have heard your fill of stories like mine. Everyone has lost someone. No need to add my story to the list." Ari watched Kaori as she played on the playground. Her obvious joy soothed the pain of remembering away.
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Oct 3, 2013 20:18:18 GMT -8
["Arael."]
If she looked over at him, lifting one hand up, Kazuya would gently wipe her tear away, as he shook his head.
"You have nothing to apologize for. It's true, I've heard plenty of stories of people losing a loved one, enough to write a book... But I've never heard the story of a person losing all of their family."
Giving Arael a small sad smile, he would keep his hand close to her cheek to comfort her, but would pull it away if she wished.
"I lost my mother, when I was six, but I wasn't close to her. I was, and still am, closer to my older sister and father. I... also lost Emily Delos Santos, Kaori's mother. I won't let anyone else close to me die... That includes you Arael. I won't let anything happen to you, not while I am still alive and breathing."
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Post by Arael Hiroshi on Oct 4, 2013 10:41:36 GMT -8
When she heard her name, Ari turned to look at Kazuya. She was surprised when he wiped the tear away from her cheek, but she didn't pull away.
She listened to him as he spoke, but kept her eyes downcast. When Kaz told her about his mother, Ari looked up quickly, but didn't say anything. He contiued, and she was silent until he mentioned losing Kaori's mother. "K-Kaori's mother?" She glanced at the little girl, then looked back. "When... No, you don't have to tell me."
When he spoke of keeping her safe, along with everyone he cared about, Ari looked at him a little quizzically. "You would protect me along with everyone else? I'm curious... Why? Most of the people I've met here probably think I'm a Barker spy. Why do you trust me?"
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Post by Kazuya Hikari on Oct 4, 2013 15:43:36 GMT -8
"... She died about a year ago, but it was not to the bombs. Someone had killed her."
Arael would notice however, there was no bitterness in Kazuya's voice, just sadness. He wanted to find the person that killed Emily, but not to exact revenge, he just wanted to find out why. Why he or she had to kill Emily, that was all.
"Because if you were truly a Barker spy, why would you be out here? What knowledge could you obtain from here that would benefit Barker? Besides, your body temperature has not risen or dropped in the entire time we've been speaking, meaning your heart rate and pulse rate are at normal levels."
And it was true. Because Kazuya's Qi gave him the ability to make out heat signatures, Arael's heat signature had not increased nor decreased, but had stayed at the normal body temperature.
"It's very difficult to detect a lie from the professional criminals out there... Because they can convince themselves that they believe their lie from the bottom of their hearts. But could you work for that man? The man that killed your family, perhaps to get an opportunity to get close enough in order to kill him for revenge? It is much harder than you think to take a life..."
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