Chance Meeting (Adrian)

[Mitsukai]

Another day, another roof top scene.....

This was just one of those weeks that Mitsukai felt like going to the roof for some peace and quiet. Though lately it seemed that whenever the girl tried to find herself peace and quiet up here someone always seemed to interrupt or someone was already up there and SHE was the one technically intruding. Was that necessarily a bad thing? Well at one point it was. That meeting with Farren had not been pleasant, in fact she hated the guidance teacher and both her and her alter ego wanted him dead. But besides that one bastard she had a relatively good time up in this little place she called her sanctuary. It might not be as isolated as it was at her previous schools but it was still a good spot to be, and the view was always good. The view itself was all she really needed to feel relaxed.

Her mind began to drift off as she leaned against the railing watching the people pass by below her. It was so peaceful up here right now that she had to wonder who might be coming up here to join her this time.

[Adrian Kreever]

Ugh, people everywhere. Whatever. Adrian was having another internal dialogue as he trotted up the staircase, but the essence of the problem were the people that seemed to be everywhere. And he didn't want to be around people any more than he had to, people were morons, fools and worse. Being around their idle chatterings regarding unimportant subjects was a torture one had to endure not to stick out, but only to a certain point. Beyond that, well, that was where Adrian was now.

He wanted to breathe, but outside there were even more people wasting their minds and the local oxygen on things like pop-cultural celebrities and the latest fashions. Normally it didn't bother him all that much, he had spent a good few years of his life shaping a shell around him to keep such pointless things from bothering him, but lately all his defensive measures seemed to be failing. The shell was softening, the beast was strangling him and he found the masque cracking in th most dire of situations. He did what he always did in these situations: He sought the high ground.

Pushing open the roof-access door he stepped out into the cool air above and breathed in with relish. Here, above the idle word-spewings of the small-minded, his mind could find rest. He enjoyed standing above others, looking down like a bird of prey at the pickings below, ready to swoop down and... Well, what one did when one had one's claws buried deep in the back of prey. He chuckled, only then becoming aware of another presence. A low growl escaped him, this was last thing he needed, another air-head or bully-boy invading the sacred spot, overlooking all of its likeminded kin below. Then a flair of recognition flashed across his mind, his head tilting to the side, processing the information. "Oh" Was the only sound that left him for several seconds, his thoughts reaching back to the Fight-Club, and his hand reaching to the small of his back, to the ache that was still there. "It's you" He wasn't sure what to say, but he felt the beast slowly moving its weight from his chest, allowing him to breathe. That was always something, he supposed. His anger waned, this one had shown to actually be worth more than her weight in snot, more than could be said about the vast majority of the people at this institution, teachers included. "What, err... What're you doing all the way up here"

[Mitsukai]

A soft growl from behind caught her attention. Well that was fast, very fast. Mitsukai had only just arrived in this spot a few minutes ago and already she was no longer alone. Though in this case it did not seem like this was going to be one of those encounters that went well. She turned around to send a cold glare at the person behind her in challenge to that growl only to find that she had already met this newcomer. He was her second opponent, a man whose name she had not gotten but still remembered fairly well. After all he was a damn good fighter and Mitsukai had come to respect him for that.

"Oh" "It's you" "What, err... What're you doing all the way up here"

Her guard relaxed a little bit, feline eyes losing a bit of their ferocity as he spoke. He seemed a little less hostile now that he recognized her so there was no need to be so guarded.....for now at least.

"Was looking to get some peace and quiet." she answered simply, her gaze falling down to the people below. It was too crowded and too noise today. Everyone going about gossiping and raising hell for others around them it was too much to handle sometimes without getting a massive headache.

"What about you?" she would ask, her golden eyes shifting their gaze back to her former opponent as she waited for a response. They might have fought against each other once but that did not mean she saw him as a threat. To her she wanted to know a little more about this guy, and why not? He was a worthy opponent, if they got to know each other they could spar more often and improve on their skills together like how she and Drea often did. Of course there was no guarantee of that, it all depended on this man's attitude.

[Adrian Kreever]

Peace and quiet, he could relate to that. One's mind was too precious to sully with unimportant matters and worthless thoughts. At least, it was for some, a few. Those NOT spewing aforementioned filth everywhere, and there where few enough of those as it were. She returned his questionat the same time she returned her eyes to him. Those eyes, they were nothing like Adrian had seen anywhere, even if the colour reminded him of his own, when his blood ran hot. It had to be difficult keeping up a facade when people looked directly into your beast when they saw your eyes. Dude! What? You're jumping to conclusions again! Oh, right.

"People are morons" He said, a little surprised that it slipped out so easily. "And they're way too many of them downstairs for my liking. Besides, the view up here's nice." He sat down on one of the benches by the railing. This spot, he pondered, was probably meant for smokers, but it lay at the top of so many steps that no one with smoker's lungs could be bothered. Thankfully. The last thing he wanted was to be breathing nicotine and ashes right now, but he didn't have to. His hand reached into his pocket and withdrew a package of cinnamon-flavored chewing gum, picking out a piece for himself. "Want one?" He offered, reaching out with the package in hand. He smiled apologetically regardless of her response. "I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name" He reached behind him and gently patted the ache in the small of his back. "You did a number on my back, though"

[Mitsukai]

"People are morons"

"Yes most people are morons." she agreed with them, even though things had changed for Mitsukai and she even had some people that she could call her friends that did not mean the world itself had changed. There was too many idiots out there in the world fueled by their own selfish and mundane agendas. All willing to do whatever it took for their own selfish goals with no concern about the others they might heard in that pursuit. Mitsukai dealt with too many of those people in her lifetime to simply forget that now because a few people were kind to her for once.

She watched the boy as he went to lay down on the bench, taking the gum he offered with a quick thank you and plopped it in her mouth. It tasted good.

I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name" "You did a number on my back, though"

"It's Mitsukai, Mitsukai Shinoda." she replied coolly. "And sorry about that, though it was not a real fight I didn't exactly go easy on you." though of course she could have done worse she had not held back as much, but that was what happened when one faced a worth opponent such as this guy. It was easy to get carried away. In a way that could be considered a complement.

"Your pretty good yourself." she said honestly. "I never got your name either, who are you? Are you new around here?" Yeah even though her social skills had improved somewhat Mitsukai was still pretty bad with getting names. Hell it took her a long time to finally learn Ryu's name and he had been her rival ever since he stole her title.

[Adrian Kreever]

Adrian snickered soundlesly for a moment. "Mitsukai" He offered his hand. "I'm Adrian, pleased to meet you. And... thanks" It... was an unusual thing to hear at this school, that had to mean something. "You're not half-bad yourself" He responded, chawing away at his gum. "And yes, I'm very new here. Been here..." He paused to count, looking upwards. "A little more than two weeks now. So yeah, pretty new." He had managed to meet a few interesting people, but also at least three complete and utter jerks for each person worth talking to.

"I take it you've been here a while, then?" An assumption built on her question, judging that since she recognized him as being new, she'd have to know the majority of students here by appearance at least. Or he could of course be wrong. "It's not the worst here, I don't think. There are a lot of thoughtless pricks about, but at least we don't have to deal with all the snobs." He chuckled. "Not that I remember where I was going with that. So, Mitsukai, how do you like it here?" She was strong, and it never hurt to have someone strong around you, not least because, as he'd found, he could learn a lot from sparring. "Met any people who aren't assholes?"

[Mitsukai]

Now she finally had a name to a face. That was good, and her first guess was right as well, he was new to the school. Mitsukai might not be very sociable and know exactly what was going on in this school at any given time but in a way you could always tell if someone had been in this place long enough. This placed changed a person in a way that was hard to describe.

Then he asked her in turn how long she had been in this place. Absentmindedly she began counting off on her fingers as she tried to think back on how long she had been here.

"Almost half a year." she stated. In a way Mitsukai could not help but be surprised. All in the course of less then a year she had already moved out of her relatives place, developed a split personality that was hell bent on killing every living thing in sight, became a pillar, lost her pillarship, regained her pillarship, was beaten to the point of death only to be saved by an unlikely ally and then dragged back to school. That was quite a lot of drama in such a short time. It felt as if all those events were years apart when in reality they happened so quickly. It was amazing how fast things happened in such a place.

"It's not the worst here, I don't think. There are a lot of thoughtless pricks about, but at least we don't have to deal with all the snobs." "Not that I remember where I was going with that. So, Mitsukai, how do you like it here?" "Met any people who aren't assholes?"

"You get used to this kind of place after awhile." she chuckled. "As for who aren't assholes I don't know much people but I do have some people I like or respect."

"Kevala, Drea, and Sara are good people. Though Sara takes some getting used to, she is a bit crazy but she is a good person. Strong fighter too. You might never get to see Drea but she is also pretty good, I have sparred with her a few times and she is definitely a good opponent. As for Kevala she might not look strong but she will surprise you. You are more likely to hear about Kevala and Sara since they are pillars, not to mention well known so you are bound to hear something about them."

"Then there is Matrim the school captain, he is someone that I respect, he is even my personal trainer and one of the strongest in this school. If you ever want to improve your skills he is the man to to turn to, if he sees potential in you he will be more than willing to train you." It was true, within the short period of time she had known Matrim he was growing on her. She quite liked him and did not regret taking up the VC title to learn from him.

"There is also Ryu Hayabusa, though at first he just seems like a violent psychopath if you ever get close to the guy he is really a decent person. Not to mention a good fighter, though he can easily get carried away."

There was a few others that were debatable but those few she did not know so well to confirm this. There was also Gabriel but at the moment she still was not sure what to think about the man. Until she did Mitsukai would not mention him.

"Those are just the few people that I have known since coming here. I don't tend to socialize all that much so I can't speak for the rest of the school."

[Adrian Kreever]

Adrian listened in silence, taking down mental notes of the people she mentioned. By the sound of it, she mainly hung out with some of the stronger people at the school, another good reason to keep her around. One thing better than having someone strong around you was when that same person had strong friends. That would discourage many potential attackers. To Adrian, the world was simple. Aside from his parents, there where two kinds of people in the world, those who could say to his face they were going to kill him and still expecto get it done, and those who couldn't. As long as you did what you could to ensure that most people wouldn't want to kill you, and you took defensive measures against the rest, you should survive another day.

Kevala? That was a mild surprise, though it shouldnt' have been. She was a pillar after all, she had to at least above moderately strong, and thus it made sense that she, not being a complete waste of breath, would know other people who weren't either. Like the one sitting next to him now and telling him of the more powerful people at the school. It was nice to be around a person who wasn't a complete airhead or a mindless thug for a change.

"From what little I've seen, you haven't lost out on much." Adrian responded to her last statement. "But of course" He lifted his hands in a gesture admitting his faulty knowledge. "I might be wrong." He sincerely doubted it though. Anywhere you went these days, people scuttled around like mindless cockroaches, devouring whatever they could, including each other if they got half a chance. But he couldn't let such matters darken his mood now, it would show through his facade. "So, Mitsukai, tell me a little of yourself. What did you do to be kicked out here?" Adrian remembered what he had done, even if it was so many years in the past he was the only one. It had paid off in the end though. After all, he was here, wasn't he?

[Mitsukai]

"So, Mitsukai, tell me a little of yourself. What did you do to be kicked out here?"

"I got into a lot of fights on a daily bases where ever I went." she shrugged. "Most of those fights though I didn't start. I am simply not the type to let others treat me like dirt and not fight back. There was a lot of idiots where ever I went that felt they could bully me because I was quiet and small and when they took it too far I beat them." Though her fights were nothing special her record was nothing to over look. Ever since middle school Mitsukai had turned rather violent and aggressive and who could blame her? She was bullied ever since she could remember. From what she learned in life you either were predator or prey, Mitsukai hated to be the victim so she made herself become the predator. Now even in this place she wasn't picked on so much but she still tried to maintain that status as predator.

"Nothing much really." her eyes fell on his for a moment after she spoke. "What did you do to end up in a place like this?" yeah she went there. He did after all start this so it shouldn't be much of a surprise that she asked him this. Though of course she didn't exactly expect an answer. From all her experience almost everyone in this school had a fucked up past, and some might not want to share with someone they just met. But hey it was worth a shot right?

[Adrian Kreever]

A fighter, hardly surprising but still refreshing, in an odd way. Good to know that at least some people fought back against the brood of man's weakness, rather than bending over and joining them. It also accounted for her ferocity, or some of it at least. The greatest mistake one could make about a person, Adrian had leanred early on, was thinking that you knew everything. As far as he knew, there was no such within the realm of possibility. But once again, I digress.

Again, as was to be expected, she returned the question, and Adrian felt his mind open the much rehearsed 'A little incident in Elementary', but then he shut it down. He could feel the words in his throat, thick, choking. There was no way he could make that sound natural. Lying, he knew, was easiest when you didn't give a toss, about the lie you were telling or the person you were talking to. But this one had earned his respect, she had fought with ferocity and determination, but she had also shown respect and, for lack of a better word, valor. He remembered he surprise he had felt when she had allowed him to stand after her initial assault and, try as he might, he couldn't put it out of his mind. So instead he did something he hated doing. He told the truth. "Back in Elementary the bullies had me in their cross-hairs as well. I don't know if it was my eyes, or the way I dressed or the fact I didn't give too shits about any of them and all their empty bravado, but they didn't like me. They'd try to beat on me, but most of them backed off when they saw that, well, pain never really bothered me. All backed off in the end, except one. Mike, troubled kid." Adrian cleared his throat, this was uncomfortable, but he couldn't throw her some two-cent line, and he couldn't remain quiet. Oh for fuck's sake.

"I wound up in the hospital one day after that boy had given me an especially intensive dose of his attentions." Adrian shrugged, biting down on his lower lip lightly and his eyes sought the view beyond. "To tell you the truth, I was more confused than anything. People in white clothes running about like there was all the haste in the world, trying to talk spirit into me and all that nonsense. Actually, after the first ten minutes I came to find it very amusing." His eyes snapped back from the view to meet with Mitsukai's cat-like orbs. "Then Mother and Father came. I'd never seen them so angry, so hurt, and something just snapped inside me. I got back to school a week or so later, and when I did, I found Mike, and I showed him my displeasure with what he had done. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but make my folks cry and I'll have you suffer." He took a deep breath, slowing down his heart and his mind. He'd never forget that day, Mike laying on the dining-hall floor, his face bashed beyond recognition and gashed by broken crockey, the sugar-cubes greedily soaking up his blood. "That was the only incident, really. But I guess they thought it was serious enough."

He paused to chuckled again, shaking his head at himself. "I'm sorry, you didn't ask for a class-long speech or an essay. I do ramble sometimes. Really, sorry" He took another breath and looked out over the grounds below. He really did enjoy the view, and the thouhgt of all the Mikes that ran around below, just waiting for him to find them, brought a cold smile to his face. But there was a time for that sort of thing.

[Mitsukai]

Mitsukai watched Adrian in silence as he told his story. It looked like he went through all the physical violence at an earlier age then she had. Guess the only reason she didn't get beat up in school at that age much was because Japan was at least a bit different when it came to these things....well depended on the school she supposed. But for kids to be violent enough to send one another to a hospital was sickening. Not like it was all that surprising, not much surprised her when it came to the dark nature of mankind but even then it was still disgusting.

Adrian had been a bit vague on exactly WHAT he had did to the Mike kid but there obviously had to be a reason behind that so she would not press the matter further. Besides that one incident was enough to send him here, that had to mean that what he did as pay back had to be severe. Serves the punk right. she thought bitterly people like that only learn through violence, if Adrian had not done what he did he'd never survive.

Mitsukai would just shake her head at his apology.

"There is no need to apologize to me. Topics like this tend to be pretty long anyway.....that is of course when one side is not being very vague with the answer." Heh didn't Mitsukai knew a lot about being vague, she herself was not much of a fan for recalling past history. In fact the one time she was asked about her past she only gave a brief summary, she even managed to leave out what had happened to make her come to this country. If he asked her about that would she answer honestly? Who knew, not like he would do so this soon anyway.

"Did you ever find out what happened to that kid after you got your revenge?"

[Adrian Kreever]

She waved his apology, people always did. It didn't bother him, it was something he simply said when he had been talking for a long time running. He remembered his father tryingto explain the whole 'manners' thing to him, and though he had not understood it at that time, he had understood that in order to fit in, you needed to at least pretend you understood, hence the apologies.

"No, I don't" He answered honestly, rubbing his upper lip with his hand. "And I'm not going to find out. I don't want to know what might happen if I ran into him again." Mother and Father might be hurt by what I do in the long run, and I can't let that happen. Again, he told the truth. "All I know is that he survived." Because if he hadn't, I'd have been institutionalized. "I try not to think about it." He admitted, he had no further interest in Mike, though he still did wonder from time to time where he was now, what had become of him.

"Look, Mitsu, may I call you Mitsu?" He asked, looking up with a slight smile on his face. "Otherwise it's just a matter of time before I mess up your name, I'm afraid." Japanese wasn't exactly his forte, not that he even knew that her name was indeed from Japan. He knew a tiny bit of chinese, but he could barely introduce himself. "I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone. Nobody here knows, and I doubt that making friends would be easier if people found out." He was in a situation he hated being, he stood without leverage. He'd have to do something about that later. He waited a little, in silence, chewing his gum and cursing himself for letting his guard down. He knew he shouldn't stay, but he didn't feel the need to leave, at least not just yet. He wanted to continue the conversation. "Any plans for what you'll do when you're done with this place?" An odd question, not least considered its timing, but th silence was getting unpleasant. He wanted to talk.

[Mitsukai]

"Look, Mitsu, may I call you Mitsu?" "Otherwise it's just a matter of time before I mess up your name, I'm afraid."

"Sure go ahead, most of the people that know me call me that anyway." she stated, not like she would get offended if he did. She was very used to that nickname by now.

"I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone. Nobody here knows, and I doubt that making friends would be easier if people found out."

Mitsukai snorted at this. Now did she really looked like the type that would blab her mouth and gossip? Gossip was for those snotty little bitches in school that had nothing better to do then to waste their time in making other peoples lives miserable. Mitsukai had more important things to do with her life then to talk about another man's secrets.

"I won't tell a soul what you said to me. Not like I have many people that would be interested in your life that would want to know anyway." she answered truthfully.

"Any plans for what you'll do when you're done with this place?"

She sat there thoughtfully for a moment, she had never really decided what to do with her life after high school. Most thoughts about the future always seemed rather empty. With no real hopes or dreams Mitsukai never looked ahead, her mind was always set to the present. In the end she would just shrug in reply, unable to think of anything.

"I don't know what I would do....I have always been the type of person who focuses on the now rather then later so I have no real goals past high school. Right now all I want to do is become stronger to protect myself and those I care about."

[Adrian Kreever]

She seemed to take that which he requested as a given, and Adrian breathed a soundless sigh of relief. He really didn't want that story getting around, though it was mainly because he feared some might recognize it. He couldn't take that risk.

"Fair enough" He responded to her answer. There was nothing wrong with that, wanting to be stronger than you already were, he knew that feeling, the drive. But he also knew that without a good education and a decent job, he wouldn't be albe to look after Mother and Father when they'd need it. You needed money for that, and if you didn't want the IRF cracking down on you, you needed a good job. Also, he conded to himself, he enjoyed at least some of his studies, and living off of them was not the worst thing he could imagine. The problem would be that he'd have to deal with people all day and every day. He sighed.

"I don't want to seem like some all knowing, better-than-thou prick, but maybe you should think it through. But strength is not a bad goal, not at all." He looked up, catching those peculiar feline eyes of her's. "I'm with you on that one." That was, after all, the reason the two of them had run into each other in the first place. They had both been there in an effort to grow stronger. "I just... I'm afraid that if I focus solely on strength, I'll loose contact with... other things." What. The. FUCK! DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING! Adrian's handn went to his temple, massaging it as though he had a bad head-ache. It wasn't far from the truth. WHAT'RE YOU DOING?! HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT SHE CAN TURN THIS AGAINST YOU, HUH?! THAT SHE CAN HURT MOTHER AND FATHER WHILST YOUR BACK IS TURNED?! I'm just trying to have a conversat- You MORON!

"Let's- Let's talk about something else." His head really was hurting now. Reaching in with his mind and grabbing the voice in a vice-like grip, he flung it into the pit of his bowels, dimming the pain in his head. "So, errh... I actually ran into Kevala, the pillar, on my first day here. She's... not what I expected of a pillar, truthfully. I thought we'd have four big, brawny, bully-boys marching around in funny-looking uniforms. At least, that's something the school could've done worse." Adrian was, of course, unaware that he was talking to one of the school's other pillars. "What're they like, the others? I don't think I've met any of them." And, of course, he was wrong.

[Mitsukai]

"I don't want to seem like some all knowing, better-than-thou prick, but maybe you should think it through. But strength is not a bad goal, not at all."

Mitsukai shrugged, hell he had a point right? It was not like Mitsukai planned to stay in school all her life or even become a lazy bum who mooched off of others all her life and certainly not some housewife completely dependent on her husband for money. It was just that Mitsukai was unsure what she wanted. Ever since her parents died....well she did not have anything to motivate her, especially when she had to deal with constant bullying and abuse afterwards all she ever thought about was living through another day. Things were different now. Maybe she should think about it more.....

"I'll keep that in mind." she said in reply. It was then that she noticed that Adrian didn't seem okay, it was as if his head was hurting him,

"Let's- Let's talk about something else."

Mitsukai's eyebrow raised at this, well something was not quite right about the sudden headache and then the change in topic. Could it be he had some sort of split personality or something like that?

No, it couldn't be. she told herself. Nami normally reacts to the presence to another persona and she is not even budging to this one.

Yes because there is nothing there. As if on Que the darker half replied. He could still be dangerous though....hehe want me to deal with him?

Hell no I don't want him dead. Mitsukai retorted and forced her mind back at his question.

So he already met Kevala huh? No surprises there, Kevala was the friendly type and tended to want to know everyone in the school. It had to be one of the reasons she was selected to be the school newspaper Rep. She fit the job very well.

"What're they like, the others? I don't think I've met any of them."

Again Mitsukai would chuckle at this, a small smile spreading across her delicate features. Little did he know she herself was a pillar. She had never told him of course, not like she was planning to keep it a secret since eventually he would find out; but mainly because he never asked before. Mitsukai never spoke about anything unless asked and this was just one of those things.

"Well the other pillars are not what you'd expect them to be either." she answered truthfully. Just like Adrian before she met Matrim she also thought that the four pillars had to be the most powerful students in the school. Now she realized there was much more to the pillarship than that, depending on who the school captain was of course.

"Matrim is definitely the strongest of the group, he is one of the strongest in the school. Sara is also a very powerful opponent as well though you'll never see them pounding on some poor bastard without good reason. They are a bit....different but they are good people."

"As for Kevala she might not be the strongest but her knack for gathering information and her natural ability to draw others towards her makes her excellent for her position. Her title suits her despite her strength, but even though she is one of the weaker pillars she is not someone who can't fend for herself. Even when she can't do that someone else is always watching over her."

"And the four pillar....the Varsity captain you have already met her." with that her smile would grow a little as she looked at him for his response. "I am not the strongest of the group either but as you already know I am not a push over. Though I might not be the best with people I still do my job well and will not shirk off my duties. When I accepted this job I had only wanted to train but now I am starting to like my job." It was true. She was actually liking being the VC, it had been a surprisingly rewarding experience and she wouldn't give it up for anything. If someone tried to take it from her now she would fight them for it with all her might. No matter how powerful they were she would not back down. And if they took it from her she would comeback stronger then ever to take it back. Just like she had planned with Ryu when he stole her title before. Mitsukai vowed never again to have that happen.