Melody of Thunder

The flashes of lightning were enough, like a guiding light it lit the path as though it was set for all. The thunder clashing like blades in the sky. Echoing through the trees. In retrospect, a nice run in the storm was a horrid idea. Still, being here now left little option. The forest left little visual aid. Large trees blocks all directions, bushes filled gaps. Along with branches and terrain changes. Winds wailing with rage. The weather was against him. Wet, and angry, the sky let out roars. Blond locks weighted down by sweat and rain.

Adorned in a black keikogi with pink cherry blossom petals on the back. The fabric was large on him. It showed the great difference in his body compared to the clothing. The weight of water causing it sag. Black hakama in the same condition. Tightly holding at his waist and ankles, the legs were loose. Therefore they sagged. The only part of his attire that did not bend to the presence of rain was his katana at his left hip.

Soothing was hardly a word most would use for this weather. As his pace became slow and lazed, the sound of water reminded him of his surroundings. Left foot dropping back, he assumed a ready stance. What few muscles were visible were tense. Though, his very presence held a defensive hostility. Right palm pressed to the wrapped hilt of his katana, body twisted and lowered. "Who's there?" His voice was stern. Eye lids parting to reveal blue hues illuminated by electricity. Lips curling with entertainment. What was the unknown? An enemy? A friend? The thrill was enough. Fingers curling around the hilt tightly, right foot sliding forward.

Eyes locked on the surface of the water. Cautious to draw near, but still curious of what fell. "If you can hear me, please answer." Left hand resting upon the sheath of the sword, thumb pressing to the guard. Adrenaline rushing, heart pounding. Static in the air caused his flesh to tingle, which left hairs standing on the back of his neck.

The storm raged on, showing no signs of releasing it's grasp on the land. Winds howled, thunder crashed, and lightning sent blinding flashes. The brief moments of silence were far from reassuring. No earthly creature would respond to a call. Hardly any other creature would. The blond strands seemed so heavy the styling held no strength. The elements made his hair fall and bow like loyal servants. Though his head did not bow, it rested facing forward, though his back arched and twisted, his torso in a ready stance to draw the hilt and its blade from the sheath. His gaze, was visible, and the electrified orbs gaze hint of killer intent.

Left foot back shoulder width from his right foot, planted firm with toes pointed to the nine o'clock flank. His right foot aimed its toes towards his eleven o'clock flank. Both knees bent slightly to allow spin and reflex. Every muscle within his back and arms were tense. His chest and stomach were not as tight, but still ready.

"You DO speak." His voice was almost a full chuckle as he spoke. Shaking his head, his hand loosened the grip on his hilt. And though the visual stress had diminished, he was still ready to react. "I don't question intelligence, I question willingness is all." His eye lids closed, and his lips curled into a childish smile. Still his legs were planted, ready to move at any moment. His head tilted back, as to draw in the weather. His keikogi jacket looked heavy, and matched in weight. By now his hakama pants had began to cling to his body and bell out around his feet.

This female's comment about being on edge because she had not seen nor met him before, it cause Kouichi to chuckle a bit. His left hand held firm to the sheath, thumb pressed to the guard to unlatch the small securing pin that held the katana in. Still he did not address it. His right hand lifted and scratched at his cheek. "The weather is the answer." He nodded, eyes opening wide once more. Yet they lacked the spark then usual. Locked on a branch just inches put of his reach from a near by tree. "I came because I feel at calm here. Not because of the loom depression, but the feeling of belonging." His lips curled into a childish grin at his own statement, and as if talking to himself. "Geez, when did cryptic become so common. It bores me." His thumb relaxed against the guard, as if resting, and he shrugged.

The thunders hammering continued as they seemed so calmly conversing. The moist and stormy air left dew on almost every thing it touched. His eyes were aimed perfectly. This female of the unknown was still in his view. Beads of water that gathered in his hair and on his flesh beginning to weigh and pour from their resting places. Taking note of his surroundings in immediate view. Nothing in his favor. She most likely saw better than him. It was a lake he knew nothing about. His clothing weighed him down, and his abilities would do more harm then good for him.

His nostrils flared, as he inhaled deeply. His chest lifting slightly. "If you don't mind. If you have any intention of attacking, do it now...." He exhaled, it was as if he was preparing himself. His thumb against the guard once more becoming tense as his eyes aimed down from his tilted back face. His eyes became simple glass cases of pure bolts shooting around. His body began to snap and crackle in the rain. The static reacting in the air as bolts jumped from him slightly, showing no real aim to harm as they sizzled out quickly. His right hand lowered to the hilt of the japanese blade, and grasped firmly. "I'd much rather enjoy this before I return to the school."

His grin began to fade, as every inch of his upper and lower torso tense and twist in preparation to rotate. The tension behind his thumb finally showed fruit. The small latch released, and the guard and sword were free. Still sheathed, his sword already anticipating it's swift use. "I apologize if I seem rash, but I can already see the outcome. And would rather face fate head on if such is the way." His voice held a firm stand of restraint. Though he spoke with emotion, his words held a hesitation to engage. Left wrist shifting a small bit to angle for a much smoother draw. His right wrist reacting in unison to reposition for maximum grip.

"Coming from a dark path... One who fell from the tree tops, none the less." Though by the time his gaze shifted to her, his body was already set into motion. His right foot jerked its toes towards her, the wooden blocks that elevated the wooden bottom hooked on a root. His right hand rotated, bringing the sword along with his left hand with it. As though from the hidden depths of his heart, a killer intent made his form firm. His adrenaline was already pumping. His breathing slowed. His lips curling into a thrilled smirk.

"I hold no grudge to hold against you, nor any ill feeling. Yet since you still refuse to state your intent." Eye lids closing once more, though his eyes still held a shine, and it showed that his lids were not completely closed. Simply lazily covered and hidden. "As you say, I am the one YOU should be cautious of. Yet, would you not agree, I am to be suspicious of you?" The steel blade began to slide from it's resting place. Not completely, simply enough to reduce strain on the arm. His smirk had no intention of hiding his intent to fight. "I apologize, but there is only one way we will know how hostile the other is... Iku ze!"

The steel blade reset to its fully sheathed state. His right foot used all the force he could spare. Launching him into a low stance bull rush, the sparks of his eyes dimmed to nothing to remove a constant visual of his location. The small gap between the two blocks that lifted his sandals, caught the above ground roots perfectly. The instant flashes of lightning periodically seemed enough to calculate his next leap. Though there was a limit. It allowed him to close only half the distance between them. If he got in the water, he was gonna be screwed. Though his advance was halted, he was none the less ready.

The damned roots had to be so limited. His stance looked relaxed, Body straight, legs side by side. His lips in a twisted smirk. Now that the small latch had been undone, his right hand dropped. Left palm resting on the very end of the hilt. He simply stood, staring in this female's direction. As though he had frozen in stone or something. His smirk and eyes when illuminated, seemed to reflect that of a fox mask of Japanese festivals. Awaiting her next move, a pure intent to spill blood filling him. He has complete intentions staying under the cover of the murderous intent.

"Waltzing?" His excited smirk becoming a rather bored confused expression. "Now I have no idea HOW to waltz. In fact...." His right hand lifted straight over his head, all digits save the index clenched in a fist. His index finger was extended also. As though not the trees but the storm. "I was following towards the eye of the storm. Hoping it was within the limit of Caislin's area. If I were to stray too far, I'd turn back." His hand fell back once more, landing upon his left knuckles. His stance seemed only looking more relaxed than violent. "A sudden unexpected splash still stirs up a fight or flight instinct. I'm only human."

Giving himself a scolding seemed like an odd tactic. Even to himself. "But let's call this a draw. If even one of us were serious about this fight. Blood would be shed. No matter who it was." This was a stated as a mere fact. "If you were to use full power, I'd be dead in this water. If you had lunged like a human, my blade would prove to be a threat. Still, we have a good distance between us. Which shows there is no real wish to kill." A thought that could more than likely be false. Still he placed his faith in it. Had he been wrong, he was wide open for an attack.

His head turning away like his attention was stolen. Yet the only thing with enough power and force was the storm itself. Eyes wide open, gazing into the dark, storm oblivion. His mood changing on a whim of the wind. Glued to the unknown above, as he listened to the clashing. Like a child watching envious of his hero, he awaited more. Instruction, praise, acknowledgment, anything in fact. His head dropping to the left as he stared up. Lips falling into a scowl. Not from being upset, but more interrupted. "Ain't gonna catch the eye of the storm now." He huffed out, discouraged by the fact.

"Kouichi Aizawa." He spoke with no real tone. Just simply a voice programmed well. Still, he watched the sky with that blank expression. For a dark path, this female had an odd way about her. "I have no clue who you were raised around, but your understanding of humans seems flawed. It's rather annoying..." His head dropped, lips curling into a smirk. "If you believe you understand us,, then why would would you not strike me down?" A question that seemed far to disconnected to be of human origin. Turning back to her direction, he chuckled. With a rather bored expression, he began to wade into the water. Directed towards the very tree her boots lay near.

This woman had a sense about her that irritated him. "I do not claim to hold an understanding of my kind, but I also understand that we all differ." Once close enough, he drew the sheath and sword from his hip and lofted it to the ground. Her offer was tempting, but he held no trust for her yet. "I don't see any reason to explain my reasons. I don't think a Dark Path could understand." His geta sandals sank below the surface of the water. His hakama pants seemed to expand in weightless expansion. Unsure if he would swim or not. Still aware that she had the advantage. "It is only polite to give your name in return."

Perhaps he lapsed in judgment. His keikogi jacket fell from his shoulders, revealing his thin frame. Long limbs, with a lack of any sign of muscle. Hidden within that body. No scars visible. Yet his body seemed hardened over hard work and discipline. "If you take it with you or not, I'll say this once. As a race, humans lack any honor, loyalty, or faith. It is instilled into us from birth, lessons learned, and experiences. When you bunch us together, you become no better than those of us who hate." Once the jacket was off his upper torso, he used the sleeves to tie it to his waist. Once done, he began to wade deeper into the water. His fox-like expression returned, a smirk and nearly completely closed eyes. Deciding to take her up on the offer to swim.

His mind continued to meditate upon this female. Her reactions, and even words brought a carnal entertainment. "I may be wise, I am still foolish and young." His words came with a human child's smile. Innocent and ignorant. Freezing in place, he watched her sink away. Curious, he continued to keep watch. Kalika Ma, even for here at Caislin, it seemed slightly different. His fox-mask expression returning. There was something in her that seemed to despise him. The very way she seemed on edge provided that insight. It brought a very inhumane cruelty out in him. Like a young mass murderer, he would enjoy tormenting that spite. As long as she allowed at least.

Though he made no haste, he waded further in. This very situation went against all he was ever taught. Those who lived within the dark path were the enemy. It was said they would strike anyone down without a moments notice. Yet he still stood. No blood was shed, nor any harm brought. As a conclusion, he suspected even Dark Path's were individuals also. His pace once more froze in place once the water was at his waist. As though it was all his trust would accept. Perhaps the teachings were wrong, or at least incomplete.

"Do you understand the irony of being lectured by... Well by a Dark Path." With a shrug, a snicker escaped his throat. His fox-like expression twisting into an amused way. There was no sign of which land she originated. This made his curious. Were the Dark Paths in other lands so unique? Perhaps they were used, or enslaved. Ideas swirled, but none settled. None seems to fit her. Not in his view at least.

With a shrug, Kouichi turned around and began towards his katana. "You speak as though I should care." His right hand launched upward in a bored wave. Unsure how to really respond. "I could care less what ya' are. Dark Path, or not. This school is for new beginnings, no?" With no intention of anything more than conversation at this point. Every ripple and disturbance from his motions held order within chaos. "Tell me, Kalika was it?" His back faced her, he licked his lips to moisten them. His knees bending, and his right hand clasping around the sheath of his sword. "You must have met humans who's hearts have fallen to the Dark Path... What does your kind do to them?"

It was a serious question, no matter how foolish he was for asking. His knees straightened and he gazed back over his shoulder at her. Why he asked, or the intention behind his words. None was made clear, as he awaited her answer. He held no intention of knowing her past. Nor did he want her to know his. Her reactions were entertaining though. Between all of the people he met, this school was becoming very interesting and fun. Still, this was a female. Which ignited a rather unexplainable rage. Which settled below the surface and festered. Rotting away at his sane mind-set.

The katana was passed from right to left, and he grasped the hilt in his right palm. Drawing it out enough to gaze at the steel. "What of you, personally. If you met a human who fell to the Dark Path, could you forgive the intrusion, or slay them as a sin?"

Monster roared in the darkness of her mind, muscles seized in a sudden fury and she could barely stop herself from attacking. Nails sliced into the flesh of her palm, blood glittering with darkness as it blended into the water. Insult had been thrown at her, in one fashion or another and she was tired of it. Tired of playing human for creatures she didn’t like, tired of feeling the iron sink into her bones. Exhaustion replaced anger and she nearly sank into the water again.

Mood swings were tiring she finally concluded, they drained too much of her and she had little to spare. The glamour took its toll as well, pulling at her last bit of strength until it was all almost too much. Shaking her head she pulled herself away from the edge of the lake, met only with the back of the boy. Again anger rumbled in her chest but the monster was strangely subdued, as if it too were tired.

Her voice was haunted on some level, its usual charm there with a touch of something else. A blend of excitement and repulsion, “My kind?” Oh such horrors they had wreaked, such beautiful horrors. Chaos had been hers. Destruction at her fingertips. Back then she was glorious, full of life and energy… How she hated peace treaties. This acting nice was killing her in one form or another. Rolling her shoulders she softly sighed, “It depends on how they fell… If they fell, lured by one of ours then their fate was sealed… Nothing could save them. If they burned because of love, well then sometimes rules were broken to keep them but it never worked out.” She knew, she had hunted them herself. She had sought them out, a hellhound at their every turn. Kalika had worn plenty out until they were driven mad, thinking every shadow meant them harm.

She had brought them back, always to where they belonged. Broken or not, she wasn’t the one to issue punishment. Kalika, however, had relished every moment hunting them. Every taste of fear and flash of terror in their eyes. She was a monster by upbringing, hungering only for the most carnal of emotions. Yet the school was forcing another side to be considered and the Unseelie was not at all pleased.

Attention found focus on the way he retreated to his blade, letting the weapon dance back and forth in his hands. “Depends, again, on their path… Sometimes the darkness isn’t as bad as people think. Sometimes its worse.” She should have something along the lines of not bothering if she was left alone but that was false. Kalika had a knack for luring trouble to her like a moth to flame, not that she minded that part. She did however wonder what the boy was getting at. If he had some big bad demons lock inside of him as well. Suddenly, this night wasn’t looking too terrible.

This woman, she held some very foreign ideals. With a smirk, he pushed the blade into its resting place and slid the sheath into its loop at his hip. "Kalika-san..." With a deep breath, he turned to face her. Half closed lids, a stolid expression. "Why would you save a fallen human? When ever their own kind will slay them, does it seem worth it?" His smile returned after the question as though it was all that held it back.

As a human, the lessons learned and those offered were all he could use to learn. His heart was easily swayed and at times made poor choices. "In my land, we execute those who have fallen to the Dark Path. Many of us don't question it. Would you say we are misguided?" His aggressive demeanor seemed to blow away in a wind so subtle it was undetectable. His smiling face was very child like. The very way he presented himself, the world could not effect him. "The teachings say, when one falls to the Dark Path, they give in to the selfishness of any emotion. Is that wrong?"

He was no interrogating her, simply asking to understand. The lids of his eyes opened. Ice blue hues stared at her with the questions still within them. Muscles tense, to the very point that his hands shook. Were the teachings wrong? The consequences too harsh? His question only ignited more anger. Shown by a growl and turning away. This Dark Path continued to confuse him. Leaving silence as his only real expression.

He could state no reply. He simply moved to the tree guarding her belongings, and sat. His back pressed to the trunk. His sword pushing up from it's safe spot and resting against his left shoulder. The hilt a mere two inches from his body. His right hand held the sheath, digits caressing the hilt wraps. "Please don't take offense if I don't relax." His voice was cold, detached from everything. Still a smile stayed, as though mocking any violent feel he got from this woman. She offered him to relax, but his recent ill-mannered actions were still fresh.

"If YOU were to witness a human fall, how would you react? Slay him? Would you try and save him? The possibilities are endless, I bet you would have a field day. Am I wrong, Kalika-san?" His question was much more idle chat at this point. Trying to study this encounter. This Dark Path, she attended the same school as him. Why was unknown. In fact, she sparked intrigue. He questioned everything about the Dark Path, mostly why she hid away. Those reasons were actually quite numbered. Though to Kouichi it didn't matter.

Lips curling into a wicked smirk, his head turned from side to side. Like a suspicious person about to give some information. His short blond hair was so heavy that not even his motion made it move. His eyes opened, yet the blue hues were empty. Perhaps it was the street performer background, but his true self was like a shell of a human. Unsure how to express himself. Like an empty shell waiting for some unknown force. So unsure where to bring their conversation without questioning her too far.

Without skipping a beat, his legs lifted him up, and then sprung his torso. As though he was no more than a mere puppet. Leaving the katana at the tree. "My answer... This lake is calming indeed. Even with the company of a Da..." His words froze and yet his body moved forward to stand beside her. "No, you are not a category... You are a living being. You are Kalika-san." Correcting his words quickly. Voice dark and distant. "Fate has an odd plan for me, allowing me to live after meeting you." He then moved past her just enough to kneel and splash water on his face.

Body relaxing, as though he had become lost in the water. Without the static surrounding him, he was rather frail looking. Unfit to wield a weapon perhaps. Yet his muscle structure was slightly larger than an average lanky guy. His blonde hair out of place, and the blue eyes a rather odd detail. "Kalika-san... I have one last question. Then I'm done..." His gaze locked on the dark image cast as his reflection, the hatred wild and untamed. His mind raced for how to word it, without sounding foolish or cryptic.

He waited for a response. As though knowing his boundaries when it came to speaking. He simply enjoyed the feel of the water as he got lost in the darkness. The cool water felt refreshing. "If not, I wont ask." He finished. Cupping his hands, he lifted water and splashed his face. Still his mind was stuck. If he couldn't smile and joke his way out, all that he knew left him only violence as an option. Yet, here she was. Offering a peaceful moment. It baffled him. His carnal smirk died into a feint smile. "Perhaps I'm more a monster than you...." He whispered, and pulled his keikogi back up onto his body. Then dove in. Everything seemed to wash away. All thought but to swim. Enjoy what time he had of peace. As false as it may truly be.

Surfacing shortly after her disappearing act. His eyes closed as he wiped water from his face. "What made you come interact with humans?" The tone held a different question. Not one he could ask her directly, but simply ask for some insight that may help his own also. Why to interact with other humans. Why people put such hope and care into bonds that break easily. Still, she was not him. Making his way back once more towards the shallow water, he sighed. The blond hair watered down so much in seemed it would make him tumble off balance.

His gave lowered to his right hand, focusing as he watched sparks fly from his own flesh, and small darkening spots of flesh form. As though he was trying to start a dead battery, only small hints of power remained. The chill in the air was bad enough, now the water. He could feel the low voltage left within his body start to die down. He became lazy and depressed. Sitting in the shallow water so it was up to his chest. Still he did not relax, every muscle was ready to react to the fullest extent.

The digits of his hands squirmed in the water as though staying loose. Was it in anticipation of a fight, or just to relax? He traded the sensation of fear, for the calming promise of peace. Splashing the water some as though to discard any reflection cast back at him. As though waving away some invisible annoyance. Tossing away his feelings. Ignoring his heart. "I apologize for my aggression earlier." He called to Kalika. Though from an above view, one might assume he had lost consciousness. Hunched forward and still.