Amor (Siegfried and Arti)

[Siegfried]

“Ah, Valentine’s day,” mused Hibiki Kougenin, better known as the former fifth fist of Ragnarok, Siegfried, a name which he chose to keep, upon waking up that morning, the 14th of February. Though he was alone for the day, he still enjoyed hearing the melodies of the happy couples, and hoped to finish his Sonata “Amor sempiternus” this year. The weather was perfect as he donned his typical red outfit and hat, taking a quill and his unfinished melody out with him as he headed down the streets of central Tokyo, humming softly to himself as he gazed around at the happy couples holding hands. The melodies of love were strong today and a smile donned his face as he strode to a bench in a small local park to compose his thoughts, and his melodies.

As he read over his notes from last years, he frowned as he played the melody in his head. Something was not right with it. “Hmm, should I raise it a measure or two? La, la la..?” he mused softly, then gazed up as he heard a young couple laughing at something the other had said, the laugh was soft, gentle, and flowed easily, sounding like “Ha, hahaha.” “La, lalala?” he questioned himself, then suddenly proclaimed, “Oh!” raising his quill, and wrote the symbol 6/8 on top of his music, replacing the 4/4 that had been there previously. Love was not constrained by slow timing, and he had changed the tempo to explore the freedom and passion involved in love. “La, lalala~.”

At that moment, he noticed a new melody enter the small park. A sad melody, amongst all the happier ones. He glanced around, his smile now being replaced with a look of concern, however he could not locate the source of the melody that had disturbed the harmony of his work. Sighing, his muse fading, he closed his eyes and laid back slightly, gazing up at a bird in the sky, hoping that inspiration would find him once more.

[Artemis]

The days have been going by rather slowly as of late; she was lost within herself - lonely in every aspect that could be made with it. She missed her lover who had left her for another woman; the one she believed to be her soulmate. She lived far away from her mother who only wished to control her, she didn't have a friend in the world and now she had the new decease that was spreading around; people feared her. Was she to become like the undead? She wasn't sure, all that she knew was that it wasn't really contagious even if people panicked that it was. Today was Valentine's Day, couples were laughing and walking among one another, having a good time as they flirted and went on with their dates. Artemis envied them, almost to a degree that she wished that she could become one of them, then again it was a pathetic thing to want.

With that white medical mask slapped against her mouth and tied about the back of her head she sighed and headed straight for the park. She had grown tired of the stares she had gotten from people and rude comments; she was also on the run from Hunters who had been stalking her for some time now. In a way, she wished to be alone and yet at the same time she didn't - how confusing. The wind shifted and a few white tresses of her hair flew out of her face and danced along her cheek, brushing back behind her shoulder as she inhaled and took in a breath of air. She loved nature and she was able to barely smell the flowers through her mask, it made her day feel a bit better because of this.

Sadly, that peaceful time wasn't to last as she felt a hand coiling about her wrist, rather tightly. Wincing as she felt her bone start to shake under the pressure she turned to face the tall and muscular hunter, whom had a large grin plastered onto his face. He seemed proud of his catch, he must have grown tired of playing cat and mouse with Artemis all this time. "Now, it's time to bring you back to the camp!" She felt her nose wrinkle a bit in disgust, the things that they did there was simply awful, especially to do to sick people. Artemis had picked a poor time to go out without her bow and arrow as protection - then again that'd be useless at such close range. Reaching into her pocket with her free hand she attempted to grasp onto her knife, only to be slammed up against the tree as she grunted, an eye squinting shut as she felt his breath trickling down her neck. "Don't try and fight back, it'll just waste time."

[Siegfried]

Opening his eyes at the presence of yet another disturbing melody, his concern was replaced with a distasteful look, a composed anger of sorts, as he turned to look at the scene that so many were consciously ignoring. When he had left Japan to train his fighting style there were no such things as Hunters, and he did not believe they were any different from those he had dealt with in the past, Ragnarok and Yomi, and he doubted they were incomparable in any way. Mostly thugs and bandits, out for personal gain, led by smart and strong individuals. In Ragnarok, he had been one of those leaders, and though he was out for his own gain, it was a noble cause, the fight for perfect melodies.

“This may be none of my business” he said in a soft, slightly arrogant voice, a slight sing-song in there too. “However, you are ruining the harmony I am searching for..” at this, his eyes and voice became more serious. “I will have to ask you to leave this park.”

“Tch, are you insane or something? You do know what I am right?” the Hunter asked Sieg arrogantly, not releasing his grip any on the girl. Without smiling or looking any differently, his eyes and posture very serious, he replied: “Yes. A jerk.”

At this, the Hunter decided to teach Sieg a lesson, and releasing the girl, threw a heavy punch in Sieg’s direction. In terms of strength, the Hunter had a clear advantage, however he wasn’t counting on Siegfried’s fighting ability. As the punch should have connected, the Hunter blinked as he felt a fist connect with his own jawline instead.

Spitting out blood, the Hunter backed off. “Looks like we have a new target too. I’ll be seeing you in the camp soon I’m sure!!” he called out, walking away. Sieg was sure he’d be back however it was none of his concern for now. His foul melody was gone, and the sounds of his cowardice would make a new melody for him some day.

Turning to Artemis, he grabbed her wrist examining it. “It isn’t broken,” he informed her, “however, the sad melody surrounding you suggests the same might not be said of your heart.” With that, he tipped his hat, and waited to make sure she was ok, attempting a smile, despite his displeasure that his melody had been tainted by that encounter.

[Artemis]

A sudden voice had caught her attention, blinking her eyes as she noticed a person somewhat near them; he was defending her? Nobody would ever do something for one with such an illness. She had spent her days all alone for a few years now, she wasn't used to someone doing something so nice for her. The grasp onto her wrist and his weight left from her body, making her breathe in deeply from finally being able to get air. As a thrust of a fist was aimed toward the other albino, Artemis let out a soft yelp, hands cupping over her mouth-mask, finding concern for a Hunter attempting a strike at him - she knew how much their fists could hurt a person. Instantly that punch was turned against him, making her cerulean hues blink rapidly, having missed the part where it had turned around at him and when this other had moved at all.

It seemed that him standing up for her, had possibly put him in danger too. With this thought she frowned softly, not liking that she had done something for someone as nice as him. A blush soon cascaded across her cheeks as he took hold of her wrist, thankfully it was semi-hidden from view; she hadn't been used to touches from a kind person in so long. "A-ah hai..." When he released her hand she held them against her own chest, bowing slightly before him for gratitude. Her hands lifted, unhooking the strands of her mask as she removed it from her face, letting out a soft noise as she shook a few strands of hair out of her face.

"Thank you so much for saving me, you don't find many people like yourself nowadays I'm afraid." A gentle smile spread over her lips, even though he could sense her sadness, it wasn't as if her curving lips were an exact lie. "I'm just... sorry that you're now mixed up with the Hunters." She felt a small twinge at her heart, and his comment repeated back into her mind, making her gnaw softly upon her own lower lip. Even if it was a sad thing to think about, he had a way to make it sound rather... sweet, was that weird? Probably.

[Siegfried]

“The Hunters, is that what they are called? I’d prefer they target me than innocent young girls such as yourself,” he commented with a smile on his face, as he fell to sit at the tree, hoping a new angle would allow him to absorb the vibrance of the day better.

“Besides, that one had no fighting experience. Brawlers can be difficult opponents if they are geniuses, but that one was all brawn and no brain.” He touched his ribs as he remembered his encounter with Berserker, a member of his former group Ragnarok, and remembered how he had been annihilated by him, despite his suicide attack attempt.

Returning his mind to the present, he pulled out a flask of water that he had stored in his jacket pocket. While some may have considered the fortune of that to be quite lucky, it was no more random than the time he had entered his enemies HQ with three cats in his pockets.

Offering it to her, he asked “You might be thirsty after that ordeal, would you care for a drink?” and left the decision up to her, while he crossed off a bar on his melody, trying to compose his thoughts once more, so that he could compose his symphony. “La, lalala~” he hummed as he thought, quite content to let the girl stay around him, despite the sorrowful melody she bore.

[Artemis]

He seemed like a sort of gentleman, one who enjoyed helping out people in need; then again she could be reading him all wrong. Something about his presence was rather comfortable, not awkward or saddening. Curling her digits around the random flask of water he had pulled out she'd offer a smile in return, "thank you". Slipping down to settle beside the other albino she tipped her head back and took a few soft gulps of water, humming contently at the cool sensation it had caused her throat. Pulling back, making sure not to drink too much of it and she settled it between them. It was true enough that she must have held a depressed aura around her, always thinking about Kwon - how things had turned out rather made her in such a slump. They were engaged to be married, living together and he had saved her from her controlling mother, even traveled with her to see her sister in this part of Japan. Now, she was left alone; and yet now all she thought about was the person sitting beside her. His singing had her rather comfortable as her head tipped back against the tree. "You know... I'm pretty good at singing as well. Perhaps I could help?"

Turning her head, she faced him briefly; offering her help to him even if he hadn't truly needed it. But she knew how it was sometimes, hard to find a certain way of going about a song, notes - and getting into slumps. "I may be good at singing, but that's only because of my mother, I love to dance more... but, both have a flow to them that seem to compliment one another." Truly, she wasn't sure why she was randomly saying such things, yet she didn't care either. If things spewed out she'd let them, so long as it wasn't bothering him, that's all that mattered to her at this point. Her mother had forced her into singing, when really she enjoyed ballet; but singing still came naturally to her and she enjoyed it; so long as it wasn't professional.