It Begins and Ends With A Breath [Invite]

[Levi Kayamei]

Levi's agner at himself suddenly turned outwards as David berated him. He had to let some of it out, he would go mad if he didn't. His eyes glowed and his muscles tensed as he gritted his teeth, "Look! I made a bad call!I...." As quickly as he had lashed out, Levi's eyes suddenly fell as his aura calmed to a simmer, his muscles still tense as he shook his head, "No....I made the worst call......I failed to assess the situation...and might as well have gotten Kiyr killed...." Levi turned back towards the stairs, "Look...I can't use these emotions fighting you...it's not your fault....I need to find Todd....." Levi emotions were in flux as his face contorted in anger, "and...chss.... GODDAMMIT!!! I WANNA FIND MASON AND TEAR HIS HEAD OFF!!" Levi's wall felt the bulk of his rage as his fist impaled it cracking the drywall and causing it to crumble, leaving the boards behind it surprisingly intact.

Breathing heavily, Levi fell backwards onto his bottom and buried his face in his hands as he tried to settle his mind. Anger did not suit him, but that was only part of the reason he could not regain his composure. He had never wanted to take the life on an individual like he wanted to take Mason's life at that moment. His frustration over the fact that he was powerless to do anything about it, plus the idea that he could have done something to save Kyrie and didn't was driving him mad. His mind raced over the scenario, as he tried to make other choices in the simulation, wishing he could really go back and fix his mistake.


Levi eyes opened as another realization set in, I was scared.....regardless of whether or not he had known, the decision he made, his focus on Todd and NOT the man molesting Kyrie was based completely in fear. "Goooodammit...." Levi was spiraling, his mind turning in on itself as David kicked down the door of ignorance and opened him up to a world of introversion.

This was the first time ina very long time Levi had caused someone he cared about to die, not to mention who that someone was. Though Kyrie still breathed, Levi's guilt was the same.

[David B.]

David turned away from Levi, fists clenched as he stared out the front door, the ACTUAL DOOR laying in the middle of Levi's living room, having been torn off when he had rushed from the room. He would need to fix that later. He let his hands relax as he spoke.

"I don't know you very well, Levi. We've met only once or twice. But I get the feeling you're a generally good guy, so I'll only say this once: Your job is to save lives. By beating barker, by growing stronger- by helping any way you can. But if you ever put anyone's life in jeopardy simply because you assume you can handle it alone- and allow what happened to Kiyr just happen- I'll tear your head off myself."

He would walk outside, needing some fresh air at this point to avoid twisting Levi's head to the point that he would have to walk backward for the rest of his life.

In the end- he was angry at Levi, but he was angrier at himself. He had not been able to prevent what happened from happening, and compounding his feelings was his lack of ability to reason- He had gotten maybe an hour or two of sleep after using one of his most draining abilities, and his body felt sluggish, yet wound from adrenaline.

He would probably apologize to Levi later for threatening his life.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Flinch.

It was drawn more by the tones than the actual words. Meaning and realization of what they were saying came after. From the hole she could peek out from her arm, she saw the goings-on, and it made her clench her eyes shut, tightly. Not here, not now, not after...

The blonde lowered her head back between her knees with a shuddered breath, trying not to give in to the urge to flee. Instinctively, she knew she was safe with David and Levi, though she couldn't handle being near enough to be touched. And David...

...well, David was reacting as she knew he would. As she had seen before.

And part of her knew, and that same part? Wanted Mason to die--which was something of a surreal experience for her. But. She didn't want David to go, and certainly didn't want to be anywhere near him. Which created a problem. Mason could teleport, blink, phase in and out, whatever one wanted to term it as.

Outside of this plane, she was exposed and all-too vulnerable.

'...but why did he not just take me..?'

Aside from the Storm Dragon's wrath exploding upon them, it seemed, tactically, like a stupid choice. Or so she might have thought if logic kicked in. Both David and Levi were injured, why not bait them further? Perhaps he could only teleport with one extra passenger.

For the second time within the space of a few hours, Kyrie was in shock. Not physical, this time, but psychological. When the shadows shifted and David started to walk away, Kyrie's head jerked up. They were splitting? Separating? She was going outside?

With a stricken expression, eyes wide, she nearly dislodged herself from the shadow to go inside, shut herself in the bathroom or something. Certainly, at least go get the dagger she had placed in the room David had been in. But that meant--the sensation of a phantom hand slid across her body, and that was what made her decision for her. Exposure wasn't something she could deal with at the moment. Her breath hitched and Kyrie remained where she was.

[Levi Kayamei]

It had been about twenty minutes and Levi had placed his elbows on his knees and placed his hands behind his head as he stared at the floor, completely inside his own head until a few moments ago. His mind had settled for the most part, leaving a general sadness in his heart with a bit of the burning passion for revenge there. I can't do anything about these feelings sitting here..... "Okay....enough...." Levi stood up as he exhaled some of the stress away, noting where Kyrie and David had moved to. His "sensor" was refocusing as Ki signatures reappeared one by one and his mental state was continuing to improve. He held out his hand, allowing the sunlight to continue to heal his hand, which had stopped hurting for the most part, having regained some motor function, though wounds remained where the spikes had pierced his hand. His smile hadn't returned, but his resolve was returning as he closed his eyes, scanning for the two powers that fled. First thing is first......find Todd or Mason...

[David B.]

David left Levi where he was, heading back to the location where everything went down. Looking around for a few moments, he would frown, crouching where the man who teleported had vanished. There, in his wake, was some charred cement, like a fire had been burning there for a while. He touched it, and smiled.

He knew with this ability, every time the guy poofed, he was hurting himself. So at least he felt some semblance of satisfaction knowing the guy was feeling the burn, so to speak. He would talk lightly, knowing Kiyr could hear and may respond.

"People like this...they have no rhyme or reason. They only care about hurting. Causing pain. I hope whoever has the unfortunate air to meet them understands that what they do, they do to change them and turn them against their friends."

He would stand, sticking his hands in his pockets, as he looked up at the sky.

LEVI:

Levi would sense nothing- these men now being far out of range. However, he would sense the man who had gotten away, now at the Peace Cafe, chatting with other Dragons.

It would seem he resumed his role as a civilian.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie ducked her head as David made his way back to where Levi had fought Todd and where Mason-- She drew her legs in further, almost curling in on herself if she could. She tried to focus on David, instead, but she only caught the smile before she had to look away, choking back a sound of distress.

As "safe" as she was in his presence - which could be negated by Todd, who could throw her from the shadows - she also felt vulnerable and perturbed. Her skin crawled until he stood up and she released a quick sigh. Not completely relief. Once again, the tone came first, and the words, after. Kyrie frowned and curled her arm further around herself.

"They succeeded."

There was nothing more she could even venture to say without her voice breaking. It had only been a hoarse whisper as it was. Her fingers brushed against her scalp, the motion was supposed to be soothing, but she hardly felt it, too aware of everything else, and nothing else.

[Levi Kayamei]

Levi opened his eyes, the smile far from his face as his emotions were still reeling, though it was not obvious to an onlooker now. He was somewhat disappointed that they had fled beyond his range, but he was certainly glad they weren't causing anymore trouble...for now. He hadn't hoped to pursue them anyway, given David's current condition, his eyes scanning the Storm Dragon's weakened Qi signature. Given David's condition, it was impressive that he had managed to stop Mason and Levi had to admire the man, even after their small bout before.

Levi walked outside, stopping next to David, though keeping a respectful distance in case his temper was still flaring. He spoke softly as he looked at Kyrie through silver eyes, "Don't give up on who you are....." Short and simple, words that he hoped would help a little bit and that suited Levi too. With that, Levi slowly turned to leave and spoke as he walked back down the stairs, "..I...we need you...I'll be back soon..." She needed to be alone and his senses wouldn't leave her for a moment, plus David wasn't going to leave her alone and the spy they had lost needed to be dealt with.

His eyes narrowed, No more fear....

Levi eyes shifted to David for a moment before he began to walk towards the Peace Café, "The man we met before? He's at the peace café right now. I'm going to see if I can learn anything from him.....besides, we can't let him live to pursue his other targets." Levi leaned forward to take off at full speed as he increased his pace, "I'm keeping my "eyes" on the whole region, if something happens, I should know...but spike your Qi anyways." Levi took off, hopping up the first building he could, making a bee-line for the man posing as a Dragon at the café. He spoke back, knowing David would still hear, "Thanks David....."

[David B.]

He looked down at the shadow Kiyrs voice came from.

"Only if you let them hurt you, change you, have they succeeded. Don't get me wrong-you have every right to feel violated. But change it to anger, indignity, and hatred for those who did it. Don't let it warp you against those who care."

Levi began speaking before flying up to the roof, indicating that the man they chased before was waiting.

David would draw his sword in one smooth motion and, without turning in Levi's direction, would throw the Sword of Storms easily upward, where the blade would stick into the jagged rock beneath the light wielder. He would not look up as he spoke.

"Finish it. I'll be wanting the sword back when your done."

OOC:

Sword of Storms: +50% Str, +10% wis

This blade is white, a tempered wood and steel forged in the Sky at subfreezing temperatures, using high velocity wind and compression techniques. It's blade is sharp as humanely possible, never dulls, and is in the shape of a standard Katana.

SPOILER: Click to show

[Kyrie Blaze]

The blonde stared "down" at her feet, which was actually "up" towards David and Levi. They darkened, and she held her silence for several long moments.

"Mm." It was acknowledgement as much as it was her need to not be impolite, but it would have to do. She could listen to the words, but heeding and putting them to use in practice wasn't going to happen instantaneously.

Would it be the same when the truth came out; it was her fault, more than Levi's, she should have fought sooner, so many other things on top of that? The blonde cloaked within the shadows didn't know. It took a while, until Levi climbed to the top of the building, for them to turn back down to watch, the words finally sinking in. The withdrawal and throw of the sword caused her eyes to flicker back to David in alarm before she breathed inwards...and relaxed to her position before he'd done so.

Kyrie slowly inched her head between her knees again, not daring to try to close her eyes for longer than a blink. Something finally clicked further in to place, but it probably wasn't what either probably hoped; she couldn't watch as Levi left to the Peace Café to deal with another spy.

Kyrie tightened her arms around herself and murmured: "S-Should you not go with..?"

It was David's choice, after all. The blonde didn't know which she preferred, either. She'd been through too much to be able to think it out and piece it together, at the moment.

"...je veux ma famille--non, je ne veux pas--! What...what would they even think of me?" She hadn't felt so desolate in a long time. Would they turn away? Or would she get the embraces she needed more than anything? For a few long moments with those thoughts, she forgot to breathe until her body remembered the basic function, creating small gasps until she was...a little more on track.

[Levi Kayamei]

Levi stopped and eyed the sword for moment, straightening up and admiring it. An avid sword enthusiast and user himself, Levi gawked at the pristine blade for a few moments before pulling it swiftly out of the concrete. How?... The level of craftsmanship was remarkable, no, it was inhuman. Levi began to sweat as he moved the hilt in his hand, testing the balance and weight: all perfect. He looked at David with a nod, "Let's hope I don't need this....either way, you'll have it back. Thank you." Levi glanced at David's shadow, "Take care." With that, he took off, hopping onto the first building he reached and screaming towards the peace café.

OOC: I'm out, starting new thread in Dragon territory.

[David B.]

David gave a nod to Levi as he dashed away, turning his eyes back to where Kiyr was. He would sit, cross legged, and shrug.

"Don't think so. Something tells me this is Levi's fight, and I want to see how he handles it."

He would listen to her doubt herself and those she cares for, frowning. That particular line of thought was not unexpected, but illogical for him. He knew she would have those thoughts, so he tried his best to reason- he wouldn't baby her. Not because she didn't deserve it, but because he understood the situation, and wanted to ooze strength for the young Barrial.

"Je pense qu'ils seraient damner ceux qui l'ont fait, et la colère de ventilation, de malice et de vengeance, tout en vous rassurant pour ce que vous aviez à passer. Leur point de vue sur vous serait absolument inchangé. Ce que je sais."

He tilted his head a little to the left.

"Ils demanderaient pourquoi vous pensez que si faibles d'entre eux comme pour insinuer qu'ils se sentiraient ou penser à vous tout différent, et probablement vous frapper derrière la tête pour permettre que la peur d'entrer dans votre esprit. J'ai presque envie de le faire moi-même."

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie hadn't thought she had spoken aloud--so when David began to respond, she jerked. She must have said it. Either that or David was capable of telepathy, which was something he neglected to mention. But being that the blonde wasn't sure which way was right-side-up at the moment, it was entirely plausible she just hasn't realized she had spoken.

What he said made sense, and she may have responded if not for the latter most statement. If David had intended to provoke a response, the young woman did the opposite: instead she gently shut her mouth and resumed her pensive silence. He would hit her? Of course, she realized he probably didn't mean maliciously. Maybe. He was right about her family, though.

But what did it matter? They were still dead.

Immediately there was shame at the bitter feeling. Of course it mattered. She still held them close with all of the love she had for them, and they would be hurt if they knew. They were still present in spirit, alive in her heart. Nothing would change that.

Her fingers stroked through her hair, and there was an unconscious interest in worrying her bottom lip as she finally began to flick her eyes about. Watching, and vigilant...but more than she normally was.