The 1st Night

[Zeke Omoihake]

(Okay so this is really more of a post to bring a little development to Zeke, and Donovan. If Kouji intends to stay with us after the meeting, he's more than welcome to post as well.)

The first night on Crepusculum found Zeke in a cave as the only shelter nearby. After his time in the game, the thought of actually going to sleep filled him with unease, half expecting to be attacked as he closed his eyes. Only the thought that he had Donovan to protect him brought ease to his mind. As he tried to toss and turn amoungst the rocky ground trying to find a comfortable position to sleep, his mind couldn't seem to relax. He sat up, looking down at his body. Every time he did, he half hoped he'd see his hands, staring back at him.

And here I thought I had only one more day to go. Zeke couldn't look away, his eyes welling up with tears as he saw only the bare floor below him. There was no spin he could think up, no sunny side to this. Even the prospect of seeing a whole new world only served as a single point of light as he saw the pitch black night surround him. It isn't fair. It just isn't fair! I was so close! His mind screamed. The tears streamed down, splashing softly on his jeans.

Zeke suddenly felt the soft nudge of his brush tap against his shoulder. The brush seemed to move by Zeke's sheer force of will as the tip started floating slowly near his left shoulder. Picking up speed it flowed downwards, splashing the magic ink into a pattern he could only barely make out. With the same grace it moved up to his right shoulder and moved down, each stroke identical to what it'd done to the left. When it was done Zeke felt the flow of his psyche fill his mind, and seeing what he'd created, his tears slowed as he concentrated on the two painted arms, letting each one spring to life.

He could almost feel the fingers flex as he moved them with his mind. In the moment he had them, Zeke's mind filled with a million things he wanted to do. To paint, to grab, to hold, each action seeming like a dream to him. Yet the taxing strain on his mind and his thoughts being preoccupied let his creations exist for only a few seconds before dissipating into the darkness.

[Donovan Siroaki]

It was relieving to Donovan to be able to willing go to sleep for once after seven day of blacking out. It was just to bad that sleep was impossible at this point and time. Though they were in a different world, Donovan realized that nothing has really changed, in all reality, their sleep schedual was the only thing they had gained control over with their crossing into the portal. There was still a mission to do and, in all honesty, still only a limited amount of time to do it. I guess the Game Masters thought it might be cruel to paste the timer to the end of the world on our hands. Funny how even the executioner can show kindness at times. He grinned and chuckled softly as he slid a cigarette into his mouth.

The cave he and Zeke had situated themselves was cold, damp and unprotected. Knowing this, Donovan decided to spend his time watching for danger and contemplating their situation instead of sleeping. Sitting on the cold ground at the precipice of the cave's opening, he tried to sort out how it was that they could get back to Shibuya, and their lives. Though intent on trying to create a plan of attack, he unwilling wandered into thoughts of his old life and his brow furrowed at the recollection of that hollow and menial existence that he had once held in such high regard. What good was it to him now? Money counted for nothing here. He scoffed at his own human folly, wishing he could have done things differently. But such thoughts were a waste of time. There was no muligans in real life, no second chance.

Looking back into the cave, his thoughts turned to Zeke. This was never really about getting my life back. I squandered it on trivial frivolities, but Zeke, he has something to live for. Having spent the first days of their death together, Donovan and Zeke had familiarized each other with their respective lives, and deaths. Donovan had sealed his fate with his over-confidence, but Zeke was robbed at a moments notice of everything he worked for; and Donovan was determined to give it back to him.

[Zeke Omoihake]

Having lost his concentration on the arms, Zeke's mind opened again to the outside world. The whole event had left him feeling self aware, and fearing someone had seen his breakdown, tried to collect himself. He looked briefly out towards the opening of the cave and saw Donovan calmly staring into the open field. Zeke tried to wipe the tears away as best he could on the loose cloth that hung around his shoulders. No time to cry. Donovan already thinks he needs to protect me all the time, I can't have him thinking I'm weak on the inside as well. After all, he's going through the same thing as I am and yet all he's concerned about it watching to make sure we're both safe. Feeling a bit ashamed at his selfishness, Zeke closed his eyes and tried to think about something else, yet this thoughts didn't stray far.

The time he had spent with Donovan, dashing through the frantic streets of Shibuya fighting for their lives had brought him closer to card fighter than with any of his friends he'd known through high school and college. At first he thought it was because of the life threating situations they confronted, but when he got to know Donovan better he realized they both had been lost in life when they died. They had fell short of what they wanted in the world, but age and cruel circumstances had left Donovan barely able to trust another person, much less have anyone waiting for him in the real world. For every blow that Don had saved him from, Zeke tried to be there to protect Don from himself. He wanted to show that life was worth living and that people were worth trusting.

Zeke settled down and closed his eyes. His mind no longer flickered with unease, but instead felt sturdy with purpose and resolve. Once again his brush responded to his thoughts, floating close by and once again painting the previous forms. Its task done, Zeke let the brush slip silently into the holster, letting his mind only focus on the arms that came to life at his sides. Zeke had been too used to the frantic pace of combat, and the strain on his mind seemed to always flair when he created anything he had to move. But for some reason the arms at his side felt... almost natural. He still needed to focus constantly on their existence, but the relaxed state he was in kept the tension to a minimum.

With the arms swaying slowly at his side, Zeke got on his feet and moved towards Donovan. Placing one hand on his shoulder he said, "You need rest Don. Let me take watch for a while." He couldn't help but grin in anticipation of Donovan's response when he saw the obviously false limbs.

[Donovan Siroaki]

Donovan was agitated now from the thoughts of his life now only seven days past. Trying to take in the cool breeze that swept across the desolate plains, he heard Zeke approach from behind and felt him set something on his back. He turned around looking at Zeke and talked in a joking tone, hoping he wouldn't notice his anger.

"Thanks, but I don't think I can sleep. I'm too used to the Game doing it for me."

It was then that Donovan fully realized the sensation on his shoulder. It had a definitive shape to it, almost like a...hand? Donovan spring up from his seat and turned with a gleeful look on his face. Turning all the way around, he grabbed Zeke's shoulders.

"You got your arms...back." His heart sank a little when he saw the inky apparitions that sprang from Zeke's shoulders, but noticing the glee that Zeke was trying to hold back, Donovan kept on grinning and asking Zeke about his new appendages.

Sensing that neither of them would be able to get any sleep, Donovan put his arm around Zeke and asked him, "so what do you say we gives our Psyches a little work-out? We've got a big job ahead of us and I don't think we're quite up to the task with our powers being at the level their at."

[Kouji - Hikari no Shiro Okami]

Kouji lay semi-comfortably on the floor of the cave, watching his new traveling companions.

Their abilities were amazing, he couldn't help but think as he saw the artist paint arms for himself, and he thought back to earlier, the battle he'd witnessed. Who were they? They were from Shibuya, he knew that, but what had happened to them? All these thoughts and more crossed his mind, and, unbidden, thoughts of his own past surfaced.

A flower shop, on a busy city street. He'd walked inside, determined to buy some flowers for his stepmom. He'd had a fight with his dad, needed to think. Wanted to do something nice. His cell beeped at him, and he flipped it open. A strange symbol sat in place of his background; it faded into a single sentence.

Would you like to learn your destiny? Y/N

He'd been a kid at the time, only eleven. He thought, just maybe, it would give him a chance to prove himself.

As he watched the other two, he suppressed a laugh at how wrong he was.

[Zeke Omoihake]

Zeke couldn't help put chuckle a little upon Donovan's reaction. "Yeah, aren't they cool? Now that we aren't busy always fighting I can actually relax and hold these things together." He said bringing his hand up towards his face, his mind calmly letting his fingers clutch and release the air in a meditative like exercise.

"You're right though, it sounds like these Sumata are a lot stronger than the Noise we've dealt with. I guess a little training wouldn't hurt at all. Although..." He paused for a second looking at Donovan, "it's going to be kinda weird fighting you, even if it's only sparring of course. Oh wait." His eyes lit up for a second as he headed back into the cave. His sudden shift in attention let the arms fade back into nothingness.

"Kouji! Hey Kouji!" He shouted as he ran towards the teen, oblivious to whether or not he was asleep. "Hey Kouji, you feel like doing some sparring with us? I'll bet you know all kinds of great attacks and stuff if you got here before us right?" He said with his happy go lucky grin on his face. Zeke had been so happy to have another person to join them, especially one that knew so much about the mission they had to do. Zeke was embarrased that in most cases with the cryptic messages that gave them their mission it was usually Donovan that would decypher them and get both of them on the right track.

[Kouji - Hikari no Shiro Okami]

Kouji opened one eye. "Sure, I'll spar with you guys," he said, getting up. "I don't really know a lot of 'cool attacks,'" he warned them, stretching out. "I've been spending most of the time I've been here searching for my own powers." He finished stetching and stood up. "Still, you all have some pretty odd powers and it would be good practice to fight you."

[Donovan Siroaki]

Donovan didn't like the idea of training with the raven-haired youth. Ever the misanthrope, he still had no reason to trust Kouji and saw nothing good coming from showing him what he and Zeke could do. But regardless, Donovan and Zeke needed to train and should the boy volunteer, there was nothing he could do to dissuade him.

"Alright, fine. I would prefer it be just Zeke and I, but i guess i can stand to have you practice with us. But I still got my eye on you kid, so don't think about trying anything funny."

Turning around, he ventured several meters away from the cave and waited for the other two to join him.

[Kouji - Hikari no Shiro Okami]

Kouji smirked, following. His staff came out of his 'holster' with a smooth motion. He'd probalby have preferred swords, but the staff had been free and he was well-accustomed to it's use. It also lulled several of his enemies into believing him harmless, placing him at an advantage.

[Zeke Omoihake]

Zeke came out of the lip of the cave, watching Donovan and Kouji take positions on the empty field. Only the stoked fire near the entrance and the moon gave any real light, leaving everyone looking slightly consumed by the shadows. Strolling forward he took his stance and looked serously at the other two for only a moment before his eyes glazed over and he paused in thought.

"So, like... how are we going to do this? I mean, two against one? Free for all? Ugh, I didn't think this out at all." Zeke scrunched his brow in frustration, trying to think of a solution. "Oh I know, let's just trade off okay? You know, like we do one on one and just switch out after a minute or so kay?" Zeke smiled confindently at his answer.

[Kouji - Hikari no Shiro Okami]

"That works," Kouji said. "Who wants to go first?"

[Donovan Siroaki]

Donovan sighed at the situation, not so much cause of Zeke's question, but rather at the fact that things would have worked out just fine had Zeke just left Kouji in the cave.

"I was aiming at going a round with Zeke, but I would rather watch Zeke and provide some insight into his style." Turning to Zeke before he took the comment the wrong way he stated, "I don't mean anything by it Zeke, I'm just curious to see how you do things, you know, with us never having been able to see one another fight. So how bout you two start things off?"

Donovan was trying to seem pleasant, but this was all really part of a plan. He still didn't trust Kouji, and getting some insight into what he could do would be a good advantage on him should he decide to try anything. He did feel bad about using Zeke as a means of having things work out this way, but it was what made the most sense, to him anyway.

[Zeke Omoihake]

"Hey, sorry there Don." Zeke smiled weakly, letting a small heh escape his lips. "But okay, I'm good to go. How about you Kouji?" Zeke was excited at the prospect of battling the new friend he'd made. Now that he'd had the chance to just lay back and sort things out in his head, he'd had the chance to envision a couple of new attacks. He was curious to see if they'd work at all.

Zeke took a quick bow before adopting his stance opposite Kouji, leaving everything looking friendly and warm save for the brush lingering in the air right infront of him. "Whenever you're ready 'kay?"

[Kouji - Hikari no Shiro Okami]

Kouji smiled.

He watched Donovan out of the corner of his eye - it was always good to make sure any hostiles were in sight at all times. If Donovan decided to try something, Kouji would know. He bowed to Zeke, a customary gesture of respect before a friendly match, and ran forward, swinging his staff as he did so. It was meant to catch the mentalist off-guard - to test his reflexes as well as his readiness and combat style.

[Donovan Siroaki]

As the battle between Kouji and Zeke started, Donovan seruptitiously snuck his player pin from his pocket into his hand. Hoping that it would still work in this new world he concentrated on Kouji in hope he could sense his surface thoughs and get a better idea of what his intentions were now that his attention was focused elsewhere.