Down an unknown road

[areasontohope]

Who; Nida skyward_eyes & Yuki areasontohope
What; Sword fighting
Where; Near the Gullwings office
When; Mid June?
Warnings; None



There had been an idea in the back of his mind for a month or so, probably for longer if he thought it over. And it really hit home when he saw Mono and thought of his younger cousins Kisa and Momiji. What if somehow they showed up here? It had bugged him and the thought stayed in the back of his mind that he couldn't be a casualty like Jacob had been or even Caelan if some demon should appear again. Of course the more he tumbled it around in his mind, the more he recalled Miss Yuna being out there fighting too that night. And he'd done nothing but stayed in his little apartment, hoping nothing bad happened.

But what if children had gotten hurt? While he certainly wasn't Miss Honda, he was sure she would've been out there too that night, trying to save as many kids as she possibly could while that demon thing roamed the streets. After all, she'd gone after Kyo when he'd transformed into that awful monstrosity after his bracelet had been taken off by Shishou. And while he could fight Kyo all day long and win, that wasn't the point here. Their little petty fights were child's play compared to this place.

He had to be more useful than just growing flowers and medicinal plants.

As he'd accused Kyo, saying 'maybe it's not like a hero's supernatural power' but to 'get a clue and realize that there's only things you can do.' Right. And that included wanting to keep the kids safe. Maybe not for himself, but for adults who couldn't fight at all. Maybe they couldn't protect their kids.

What if he'd been stronger and had been able to protect his friends that night from their cruel fates?

So this made him get dressed and head out to find the one person that knew Jacob too. The man he sought had trained his boyfriend and had always been so proud to display the moves he'd learned. So it couldn't hurt to at least ask. Standing in front of the Red apartment now, he raised his hand to knock on the door. But as he went to do so, a lady came by and told him that Mister Nomura had moved to the Green apartments.

Informing Yuki as to which particular unit Nida was currently occupying, the silver haired man felt his nerves gnawing at his insides. But he couldn't fail people anymore. He couldn't run away like he'd accused Kyo of doing when the orange haired boy had said he had 'failed to protect' Miss Honda. No, he had to do this.

He stood in front of the correct green door and sighed, looking at it with a stern face. He had to do this, so he raised his hand and knocked.

Comments

[skyward_eyes]

Oh, very different. But perhaps Nida, if he gave Yuki a polearm, would give him a Naginata. They were closer to how one trained with a katana, just from further away.

"Indeed. I have a place in the old manor district where I used to train. We should get there after a bit of a walk. Or we could take a run if you are up to it."

Maybe he should just go to the station and check out his bird. But no, he doesn't like that idea at all.

[areasontohope]

He thought a moment about where Jacob had said they trained but he couldn't quite remember the place. So he nodded and looked over at Hibiscus who was still warbling away. "I don't mind running..but I don't know if his legs would make the trip."

It was just so amusing in his mind that this little bird was so content to just keep going without a care in the world. And it put him in mind of when Kisa got to be comforted by Miss Honda and let her mind rest. Yuki had wished he had been the little Tiger then, and now he slightly envied the chocobo chick.

[skyward_eyes]

Kids are kids are kids. And kids like to play. Kids that grow up into big runny birds play by running, of course.

"Then we'll walk if you prefer," Nida answered with a shrug.

[areasontohope]

Yuki shook his head. He didn't mind either way, but he was more worried about the little warbler at the moment. And he couldn't take off running because he wasn't sure exactly where to go.

"I'm not even sure where we're going."

He'd never been there.

[skyward_eyes]

"Huh. I would have thought Jacob would take you to show off what he was learning," Nida admitted. Strange that he hadn't. But he supposed Jacob was rather closeted at the time.

"If you're willing to carry Hibiscus, we could jog."

[areasontohope]

There was a weak smile as Yuki tried to not show the pain he felt at hearing someone else say the other's name. But he nodded to the offer. "Jogging would be fine." And he hoped the silver hair was hiding the misery in his eyes at this point.

[skyward_eyes]

Yeah, Nida got that. He figured he would react the same to the pain he felt over the man he had once loved. He was lucky, though, in that he didn't know the name.

"Alright then," Nida said, coming to a stop and handing over Hibiscus's leash. "Support the bum and wrap arms firmly around the wings so they don't get flailing."

[areasontohope]

Yuki wasn't sure why he was getting chocobo babysitting duty, but he figured it was good training for his own blue chick. So he did as he was instructed and noted wrapping around the wings was a great idea.

So once he did it, he wanted to make sure it met with approval.

"Like this?"

[skyward_eyes]

"Yeah, like that."

Nida had been happy to have someone else take Hibiscus. He had too many scratches that were not from Ignis, after all. And the bird didn't poke or peck at others as much it seemed.

"Alright, come on, Yuki."

With that he set out into an easy jog.

[areasontohope]

Maybe this was part of Nida's training, but as soon as Nida-sensei gave him the nod, he smiled at the chocobo. "At least I'm not racing a stupid cat at school for no reason. So hold on Hibiscus."

And that's when Yuki too set off at an easy jog.

[skyward_eyes]

Sensei. Nida wouldn't know what to do with that term. To be seen in tht sort of way, to be felt to be a wise teacher... Damn he'd not know what to do. He'd just been Instructor Nomura when he was teaching at the Garden.

"Racing a cat?" Nida called back with a laugh.

[areasontohope]

"Someone who tried to be a cool cat." Yuki replied with a smile. More like Kyo was unreasonably hot tempered at times but the orange headed boy did try at times to say he was so cool and all of that. It made him sick.

[skyward_eyes]

Well that really didn't explain anything so he doesn't push.

"Why did you take up a katana anyway?"

[areasontohope]

"It was what Shishou offered to teach us." Yuki replied, making sure he kept a gentle hold of Hibiscus. He was half afraid that the little bird would go whooshing off to who knew where, so he tried to do his best to keep a hold and yet not squish the creature.

For the bird's part, he seemed to be doing just fine really.

[skyward_eyes]

So only done because it was offered. Nida considered that. It was weird for him to consider that someone would learn only for that purpose.

"Well I find learning for the purpose of actually defending yourself a far greater motivator."

Hibiscus warbled then, as if in agreement.

[areasontohope]

Yuki shook his head at both the man and his bird. "We didn't have anything like this place to defend ourselves against." The only 'enemy' for the cursed Sohmas was someone of the opposite gender.

No one messed with an ancient wealthy family.

[skyward_eyes]

Well that's a point.

Nida began to slow down and turned into the wealthier district. This part isn't all in good condition, and Nida is relieved to see that. He's happy. He still has these moments, of missing the people who left.

"A bit further down the street. Come on."

[areasontohope]

Yuki slowed when Nida did and checked on Hibiscus who seemed pretty okay. If a bird could be said to look happy he would've sworn that was the expression the little chick wore. But he wasn't too familiar with them anyhow.

He then turned at the other's instruction and looked around as they jogged past, trying to take in a part of the city he didn't ever come to really. In some nicer parts he imagined the Sohmas could move in.

Not that he wanted any of them here though.

[skyward_eyes]

"Alright," Nida said, coming to a slow stop in front of a very tall, and less than amazingly maintained mansion. Nida pushes the gate open and nods for Yuki to join him.

"If no one has moved things, we're set up in the front right room."

[areasontohope]

Again Yuki checked on Hibiscus who seemed pretty content and held the baby chocobo out to Nida. "Do we want to walk him now?" Sure he'd keep carrying the little bird but maybe it wanted to go out for a walk or something.

Gray eyes inspected the mansion which was pretty massive and he couldn't help but look around at everything.

"You own this place?"

[skyward_eyes]

The chocobo being offered out earned a brief frown from Nida. He winced before taking the bird and it was immediately pecking at his hands. Hibiscus had learned rather quickly that pecking Nida would almost always get the little one put down. Which he did here now and he took the leash instead.

"No, I don't. We just found it."

[areasontohope]

Gray eyes looked at Nida when he said they just found it. But now his eyes were scanning around for trouble. "We're not trespassing or anything are we? That's illegal."

And somehow he's almost reminded of Shigure here when Kyo had gone missing and Yuki had been hunting him down. He'd come across the cursed Dog and wanted to know why he wasn't acting more like their guardian which was what he was supposed to be.

[skyward_eyes]

"There's no one living here, and with how the city is broken, I doubt it. And since I'm a guard, I think I have a bit of leeway."

Once he had the leash in hand Nida moved them to the main door. He pushed the thing open and the place smelled old. Dry. Abandoned.

Once in he immediately turned into the room in the front that he used. The floors were still covered with plush rugs and cushions, and there were hand made wooden staffs piled near the walls.

[areasontohope]

Yuki didn't say anything further but followed inside. His eyes looked at everything they could as they pressed on inside and he figured if anyone would get into trouble, it would be Nida. Somehow not even that thought made him feel any better about being here though he was impressed by the wooden staves even if he tried hard not to notice the smell of the place.

"How long have you been here?"

[skyward_eyes]

"I arrived on the first day the Aspects brought people in," Nida answered, moving to the staves and considering the sizes there. He'd have to cut one down. "I found this not long after, to practice. And then he kept getting hurt, so I dragged him along too."

Saying Jacobs' name was probably not hte best choice.