Battle of The Bands Arc

[Anonymous]

Olguin yelped as he was pulled down on top of Yui, and finally let himself shiver for another reason besides the cold or his own emotional turmoil.

Bad thoughts!

Scurrying off her body, he hung his head when he heard the soft melody of the flute.

He HAD been wondering where Shair-sensei had been off to lately, but he was never as glad to hear that flute as he was now.

"Um...gomen Yui-chan." He blurted, as he started getting to his feet.

[Asrana]

Yui stood as he did, still blushing slightly, "I-it's alright, Olguin-kun..."

She blinked at the sad melody of a flute, it must've been nearby... "What a beautiful song..."

[Anonymous]

Olguin's senses extended to their limits as he absently nodded.

"He's back. How ironic." He muttered as he brushed soot off his pant legs.

He extended his hand to Yui, smiling warmly at her.

"C'mon, time for you to head off. I have one last bit of business to deal with."

[Asrana]

Yui blinked and took his hand, smiling back slightly, "Um..." She blinked again at the sudden change.

"Are you alright, Olguin-kun?" Her voice was filled with concern, a hint of deeper emotions creeping through.

[Anonymous]

Olguin flinched as he pulled her up, wanting to turn away from her kindness. She had helped him, and he wasn't about to heap more of his troubles on her.

"I'm alright." Hurriedly turning away from her, he starting heading out of the ruins of his bedroom.

[Asrana]

Yui watched his back, quietly whispering, "I...I'm so sorry I failed..."

Slumping slightly onto the cold wood, she struggled to keep the grief from breaking her. She'd tried, but was it hard enough? Obviously not.

But could she try again? Would it work? What would he think?

So many questions...

"...olguin..." She breathed out his name, wishing he would understand, wishing to help him, wishing so much it hurt.

[Anonymous]

"Please Yui-chan, go home. I'll be back, I promise."

Olguin hurried his pace, not wanting to look at Yui's expression. Nothing good would come about it, he kept telling himself.

Especially if she saw his own expression.

[Asrana]

Yui's whisper was almost inaudible, but it managed to reach Olguin's ears, a soft silvery shimmer of sound rippling through the air. "As you wish, cousin..."

Her head was hung low as she left, barely managing to control herself while she walked away, tears already welling in her eyes.

[Anonymous]

Olguin stopped in his tracks, but didn't turn towards his cousin as she started leaving.

"Yui-chan...? Words can't describe how much I appreciate what you did for me. And when I'm done here, I'll go back to the others...and you. I swear."

[Asrana]

Yui shivered almost imperceptibly, "Thank you, Olguin-kun...I'll be waiting..."

And with that, she began walking out. Her tears were still held back, but the emotions behind them shifted, lightening her dark mood a little.

"I promise that I'll be waiting for you..." Her whisper was nearly silent as she reached the stairs, a hand twitching towards Olguin as the other reached for the railing.

[Anonymous]

Olguin's expression lightened somewhat for a moment, before it quickly steeled itself.

Shair was going to talk.

Now.

With that thought in mind he continued walking down the hallway. A brief flicker of amethyst light dully glowed behind his brown eyes before dying.

***

He slowly slid the window open, and took a deep breath of the fresh night air.

Moments later, a dark blur leapt out of the second story window, lightly landing on the moist grass below, before bouncing off the ground and rocketing towards Shair.

Olguin's boots made a hollow echoing sound as he landed on the roof of the dojo, before sliding into the correct position for his battle stance.

"Hello...Wiseman."

[Dracos]

"Hello student.", Shair stood up, his flute disappearing into a blue sleeve.  Turning his blue eyes drilled into Olguin intently.  "I see that you've taken the first step...survival."

Fearless Leader

[Anonymous]

"So much for this first step." Olguin bitterly said, "It took the utter annihilation of a city in order for me to increase in skill."

"And where did you vanish off to? If anything, I would've thought you...knew about this." His eyes narrowed, matching Shair's stare evenly.

[Dracos]

"I battled against the fiend behind the mask.  In mockery he had chosen the name Dark Wiseman.  He is a powerful opponent.  Whatever you do, do not fight him.  He is far beyond your capabilities."

muttered low... "And perhaps...beyond my own..."


"heh...heh...heh...  Did you really think that would kill me?  This is but a doll...  to be disgarded as necessary."  The glowing spirit laughed, it's body torn and cut.  It's mask shattered revealing a wrinkled and old face.

"It matters not.  I will hunt you down until you are destroyed."  Shair stood resolute...  his own wounds of no concern.  Victory or death.  That was the path of a weaponsmaster.  There could be no other option.

"I'll see you in hell...  traveler of the worlds..."  the fiend vanished even as the glowing blade passed through his form.

Shair shook his head, clearing the memory.  "But, you did well.  Surviving what happened.  It was a tragedy, but...  learning from tragedy...gives one the strength to survive what will come."

Fearless Leader

[Anonymous]

"Wait...that thing that was fighting in the tournament? Did it say anything about why it was there?" Olguin tightly asked, hands trembling as it gripped the air before him.

"Or for that matter, what the hell was that thing attacking London?"