Life as normal?

[Tifa Mysteria]

[Free and open to all!]

A gentle 'thud thudd thud' sounded as Tifa made her way across the kitchen. She was leaning heavily on a crutch, her left leg still bandaged from the incident in Radical City. Luckily for her a military convoy had passed into town following their encounter with Slick and she had been taken to a field hospital before being transferred to Station Square and a real hospital.

She'd spent a week there, resting and recovering from her ordeal. Martin had been worried sick, his face compltely white when he had visited her for the first time. He was still concerned even now, the fox incredibly on edge. Tifa couldn't blame him, he relied on her for support and was a very fragile thing. Still, despite his past and the horrors he had been through he had a heart of gold.

Right now he was out shopping for her, Tifa still too slow and unsteady on her feet for a big adventure. She was glad to be home though although it would be a while before she could open her business again. Luckily she had a little saved up, enough to survive on for a few months until she was well enough to open her salon again.

She crossed the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a carton of orange before plucking a glass from the sink and heading back the way she'd came.

[Tifa Mysteria]

Tifa made her way back to the front room. Her place was a modest abode, a small kitchen, a front room looking over the main street, a single bedroom with a pair of single beds pushed together, and below her shop and business. Tifa was content, it was more than she had ever had on Mianol...there she had simply had one room with a bed in one corner and her equipment.

In a way she missed that life, it may have been a little slow, but it had been pleasant. Working slowly on her alchemy skills and watching the life of the great city of Stileen pass by. It was now two years, two full years...at least it was on this world. By Stileen reckoning it was now four and a half years since she had vanished. She wondered how her family was taking her absence, were they still grieving? Had they given up hope of ever seeing her again or not?

The canine gave a small sigh as she lowered herself into a chair and sat back. Her leg ached already but her mind wasn't on the pain. She had little time to dwell on her thoughts though as the door gave a click, Martin was home.

[Kazuki Kajimoto]

"Heeeeeeeeey~! I've never been around here before!!" said Kazuki, her usual piercing and cheerful voice startling the individuals around her on the street outside, causing them to shoot dismayed stares in her direction. Why wouldn't they be? She was jumping from one spot to the next with increasing curiosity and interest, stopping to read a sign, look inside a window, and scare the occasional child.

Three months since she had left her home, in a risky and definitely unplanned determination to cure her mother's mental madness. A goal that she guiltily put on hold for a bit, as she had no real leads concerning the illness, much less a medicine- or, preferably, a magic- that would cure it. And to think, by now, Asuka's condition had probably worsened.

Those months resulted in just about nothing, a fact Kazuki wanted to disregard. Not at all what she expected, nobody seemed to have any interest in helping somebody that was by all means insane. Sleeping outside every night was actually a little more pleasant than she thought it would be- but lonely.

Something a lot more important to her had occurred than a few curable bullet wounds. Two weeks since she had been shot- But that part was already out of her mind, anyways. Healing was tricky, however- Trying to recover one's self is a pain when the same is coursing through one's body. Ironically enough, a healer might have a few roadblocks to healing... the healer. The logistics of the whole ordeal made Kazuki's mind hurt, and besides, in the end, she had done it. She just needed a little push in the right- and conscious- direction, which she had, once he had stopped crying long enough to bandage her gunshots.

But that was the whole highlight of the trip! Forgetting the failed objective and mis-happenings was easy when considering what, or who, she had found. And it was him, alright. Just thinking of it gave her a fluffy feeling inside.

"Aji... We've got so much to catch up on... But I shouldn't rush him."

As much as she repeated the phrase in her mind, the sillier it sounded. Why not catch up on old times? It had been six years, that's enough to warrant a conversation! But, she couldn't bring herself to nag him. After all, she probably did enough of that in the last week she spent at his place.

And that was an experience in itself! Nothing like rooming with an old friend. He had said it was fine that she stay awhile, but Kazuki still felt a little imposing on his privacy. Especially since the two had somehow wound up sharing a bed.

"Mama would be furious. Even though we haven't done anything..." Kazuki giggled to herself. Thinking of how bashful he was to the idea was just plain cute. "All boys are cute when they act like they don't want you near them." she chuckled. On a genuine note, he seemed nice and gentlemanly, so she was pretty sure he wouldn't try anything funny anyways. Or, she'd zap him right away.

And another topic she was a bit keen on keeping silent: her mother. So far, her new-yet-old friend had yet to ask anything about her mother, which was a good thing; Kazuki didn't feel like outright lying to him on the first few weeks they were reunited. Good friends don't lie.

"He'll find out about her sooner or later..."

First, however, came business! Kazuki wasted no time in slyly asking him about his girl-relations, hastily scolding him for slacking off on his magic, steadily reminding him of the old days, scolding him some more, casually prodding him about his eating habits, sternly warning him about thieving, and... scolding him even more. She felt the scolding was much needed- A gift like theirs shouldn't be taken for granted and tossed aside as if it meant nothing! And when your family has dedicated their lives and professions to such an ability, you felt strongly on matters. So when Ajiryn uneasily announced that he had no elemental-ability whatsoever, Kazuki was mortified.

And made him unwillingly agree to let her tutor him from then on.

But not today- Today was too nice of a day. One perfect to drag him around and run around the endless blocks of the city. What other excuse was better than this to spend some more time with him? Preoccupied with a candy display proclaiming "50% OFF! WEEKENDS AND TUESDAYS!!", she hadn't noticed that he lagged behind several yards.

"Oh, Aaaaaaaaaajiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, we just HAVE to check this- Erm, Aji?" She looked about the crowd for any sign of the boy. "Oops..." Her plans to locate him where interrupted by light chirping of a bird resting on what looked like a fruit stand. Smiling and skipping towards it, Kazuki decided to get a closer look. She placed one foot on the stand, and heaved herself high enough to grab hold of the stand's frame. Climbing on top, she giggled at the bird's song, only looking up once it had abruptly flew away. Feeling a lurch in the stand, she looked down to see the ground moving to the left at an increasing speed.

The cart had wheels, and she had momentarily forgotten that this block was on a slope. And it didn't seem any passersby wanted to attempt to stop the giant-now-mobile stand.

Already speeding towards the next block, she zipped around a weary Ajiryn, shouting "IKNOWWHATTHISLOOKSLIKEANDIDIDN'TDOIT."

"Stupid bird stupid bird stupid bird stupid bird... Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I can't stop this!!!!"

[Tifa Mysteria]

Tifa waited for a moment before a blue coloured fox wandered into the room. He was simply dressed for the most part, a plain shirt and black trousers, but it was a selection of red bands wrapped around his head and tail that made him stand out. Tifa knew the reason for them of course, they weren't just decoration, although the young fox got very upset whenever it was brought up so Tifa simply didn't mention it.

He stopped by the door and dropped the bags he was carrying, looking across at an empty chair across the room and then at Tifa. A concerned look spread across his face yet he didn't say anything. Tifa gave a small sigh as she saw the look, this was a usual reaction from Martin.

"M...I got up to get a drink and sat right back down again, I just felt like a change in scenery, sitting in one chair all day isn't very interesting."

"But..." The Fox trailed off, falling silent as he contemplated his words, "...ok."

Martin's behaviour was always a little...strange. His past had made a very unique individual, one that to some people might turn them into raging murderers. In M's case it had swung him completely the opposite way, he was timid, shy, nervous and on the whole not very sociable. He was improving slowly though, Tifa's careful guiding hand encouraging and supporting him.

As such he was highly protective of her and tended to get worried about her even if she coughed. It had been quite a scene when Martin had found out about Tifa's adventures in Radical City two weeks ago. The colour was only just starting to return to his cheeks and for almost a full week he had been unable to eat or sleep.

Tifa knew he cared, right now the pair of them were the only family either of them had. Neither would likely see anyone they had known before again but maybe this was part of the reason why their relationship worked so well. It wasn't exactly a traditional boy meets girl deal, for a start M was nowhere mentally capable to deal with such a relationship and Tifa wasn't one to push herself on anyone. Still, there was a bond between them, a common knowledge that whatever happened neither would leave the other alone...a fact reinforced by the pair of matching, yet simple, rings that they both wore.

[Decoe and Bocoe]

[NOTES: If I did anything wrong please tell me. I’m trying to at least write it in a certain way that might be confusing as I’m trying to make it look as though he’s a robot. I’m aware that what the two of them are wearing but it will be temporary as for now it’s supposed to be cover for the two of them. I’ll also note that they came to Station Square from Capital city. They were turned on by some pieces of rumble after they’re case’s lid was taken off. The reason why I say this now is because they will not be able to exactly tell this as they have no clue to where they are or what happened. ]

‘Do-not- get in trouble.’


For some strange reason, the words seemed to echo in his head. Decoe blinked as he looked up at the long wooden fence with a chain-linked fence in front of it.


But….what was trouble, exactly?


After all, trouble meant a lot of things. As a noun he knew it could mean 1. Condition of distress 2.somebody or something upsetting 3. Source of difficulty etc, etc, etc and as a verb it meant 1. Worry or upset somebody 2. Physically affect somebody 3. Impose on somebody etc,etc,etc.

But, what was a condition of distress exactly? And how did one worry or upset somebody….Exactly?

He, surely, didn’t have a clue. Granted he knew that Bocoe was once ‘in trouble’ whenever he broke that vase once. Accidently. He almost forgot about that. Technically, by what the professor told him, Bocoe Accidently broke the vase which in turn didn’t really mean he was in trouble at all due to the fact that it was an accident. As in, 1. Crash. Or was it, 2. mishap?


He shook his head lightly. He was getting off the point.


Either way, his curiosity was getting to him as he wanted to know what was behind the wall that stood before him. But would he get ‘in trouble’ for going over it? He looked right than the left. He didn’t see any sign that said it wasn’t. He grabbed the rim of the fedora hat and pushed it down, and begun rolling up the sleeves of the brown trench coat. He stopped a short second as he did his right arm and looked at him arms which were all completely bandaged up. In fact, he was practically wrapped from head to toe, though it was more like ‘from the mouth and to the end of his legs before going to his feet’. Well, and also he wasn’t completely wrapped around his frame, as it was already covered by his-


He shook his head lightly once more. He was getting away from the point again.


Once his sleeves where completely rolled up, he took the end of the coat and managed to lightly wrapped it around his waist which exposed a pair of dress pants ( that were slightly dirty and ripped, much like the trench coat). Once that was finished, he began to scale the chain fence than with little ease. He almost slipped twice as his figures, which grabbed spaces in the chain-linked fence, had slowly slid off as he had paused to look down. But he managed to make it all the way up without falling back down to the ground. He grabbed the wood part of the fence as he crouched down to stay balanced on the top part of the fence. The building in front of him half-ly blocked the view of the street near-by. Sure it was only one floor, but it managed to block the view of the nearest sidewalk. He could see the one past it though.

People walked to and fro. Some carrying bags, others which a cell phone to their ears carrying suitcases, mothers, kids, adults, overall a Varity of people. He sighed slightly at the sight as he wished he could walk out there…instead of grimy dark alleys. He let his right hand go to rest on his knee and hold up his head , if it was for the fact the minuet he did so his balance automatically flew out the window. He frantically tried to grab the fence with his right hand as began to fall forward, but to no avail as his left hand slipped and he landed, face first, with a ‘thud’ to the slightly unkempt grass-y ground before him.

He shifted slowly, beginning to raise his head, which was smacked to the ground again when a passer-by cat came along, using his head a stepping stone to the nearest garbage can. He paused before he slowly got back onto his feet, dusting himself off and undoing his rolled sleeves and striating out the ends of his trench coat. He looked to his right to see an innocent looking white cat with grey marks looking straight at him, giving him an innocent ‘meow’.

He looked dully at the cat, not averting his eyes as he reached down for his hat which had flew just a few inches away from him, dusting it off and placing it squarely back on his head. He turned away as soon as it was placed on his head a looked around his surroundings.

The place wasn’t completely unkempt, at least and was a pleasant reprieve for him from the roaming of dark alleys. The grass was slightly down (except for the edge of the fence) and there wasn’t a bunch of litter scattered around the place. It could look nicer, but it wasn’t like he could do anything about it. Not only was it just the fact that he didn’t ‘own’ it, but also he didn’t have much knowledge about vegetation of any sorts.

But his attention soon turned as he looked at a glass window that was on the building. It intrigued him, as he remembered seeing a similar substance that he looked through when he was on Space Colony ARK. It was clear, yet reflective as he looked at the black abyss with small sparkling lights and a sphere of green, blue, and white.

Earth….that’s what it was called, was it? Is that where they are now?
He shook the thought out of his head as he became curious of the window. He had remembered when he had begun to panic as the professor explained what the substance (and the definition in his head appeared) of what it was. He re-assured him that the particular glass in front of him was ‘unbreakable’. So, was the glass in the windowsill unbreakable too?

He looked around on the ground and found a small pebble. He picked it up, examined it, and decided it was good enough. Sure, he could go up and tap the glass himself, but he didn’t want to chance a close encounter with someone. He put his arm back a little and threw it lightly.

Lightly in –his- terms. In other people’s terms, it was more –hard-.

He cringed as the sound of breaking glass was in the air, his teeth gritted and his eyes closed tightly at the sound. He slowly opened one eye to the sight before him.


“Oh….no.”


He began to panic. He wasn’t completely sure, but it seemed like he had now just gotten into ‘trouble’. He practically scrambled as he quickly ran over to the broken window. He poked his head through ( his head hovering over a sink) seeing that most of the glass had gown inside, and the pebble in which he had thrown was on the kitchen floor.

Now most people, if they had committed the act even ‘accidently’ would have run away with their tail between their legs. But Decoe was not most people. He wasn’t even a person of all. So the first thing that came into his mind to do was to –get the pebble-. Now why the pebble had any importance is beyond most, but Decoe was panicking and didn’t know much about how actual people, or even how the world, worked.

He began to climb through the window, moving his feet onto the windowsill putting him into a crouch-like position. He could have easily moved through the window, into the kitchen, grabbed the pebble and then move back to the outside and run if it was not for one small thing. As he began to move his left foot, the bandaged that was tightly wrapped around was loosened by the previous fall, and laid gently on an upturned nail sticking through the woodwork. As he moved his left foot quickly, the bandaged snagged on the nail which caused him to lose balance and in turn, the events lead him to fall on the floor with a hard ‘thud’. Of course, his bandaged from the other side had hit a bit of a snag as well, as it was tight from the snag of the nail to his leg.

He laid out on a strange, sprawled like position with his legs resting against the counter below the sink, and his chest was completely flat on the floor. His head staid straight too, and his arms were out in front of him and his hat lay only a few inches away.


This was –not- Decoe’s day…..

[Tifa Mysteria]

Matrin was on his feet a second after the first smash, the blue fox going stiff at the sound. His fur bristled as he stepped in front of Tifa, who had looked up from her seat. The fox glared at the door, a low growl forming in his throat. It was quite a sudden change.

"M, calm down!" said Tifa quickly, noticing the sudden change in the fox's attitude. She reached out a hand, managing to catch M's arm. The contact made the fox jump but he calmed as he looked back. His earlier demenour returned as he looked back at the door.

"I'll come with you," said Tifa, using her other hand to lift herself up slightly. M immediately turned round and used both of his to help her to her feet. Even as they moved towards the door he was stood in front of her though.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" said Tifa, her voice firm but not threatening. A moment later M pushed the door open. "What in the..."

[Decoe and Bocoe]

Uh-oh.

Decoe stayed completely still as heard the first voice. It seemed as though his body( and processors), simply dared not to move as he realized that he wasn’t the only one in the room. Exactly why Bocoe had warned him to stay away from people he didn’t know, but for some reason the thought of the people in the room seemed to scare him witless.

What was he to do? He couldn’t stay still forever. But no matter how hard he tried to at least say something his processors refused him so.


Or was it just him?

[Tifa Mysteria]

Tifa and M stared at the heap in the middle of the room in shock for a moment. They had been expecting to find a burgalar or perhaps some punk kids throwing bricks...not someone who looked like they had just escaped from an intensive care unit. M's earlier braveness had faded by now, his fur bristled once again, the young fox seeming to go into some kind of fit. He started shaking, his fur sticking straight up. His eyes were wide, his jaw clamped tight shut. Tifa noticed his reaction, quickly using one of her arms to spin him round and pull him into a tight hug. The blue fox started to whimper, clinging to Tifa hard as he looked back at Decoe with fearful eyes.

Tifa took the inititive, raising one of her arms and pointing at the new arrival whilst her other held M. The necklace fixed round her neck start to emit a very faint glow, the magical energy seemingly rousing her spirit companion from his slumbers. It was only a moment later that the wind spirit shot into the room, spun round a few times and stopped dead in the air between Tifa and Decoe.

"Who are you?!" demanded Tifa, "What are you doing in my apartment?!"

[Decoe and Bocoe]

He hesitated mostly out of fear before he was at least able to lift his hands in defense. His hands shook slightly as though they were weak to the point that they would probably fall back to the ground and his shoulder grew tense. He tried to open his mouth once, failing, and tried again.

“I-I-I’-m-m-D-d-D-d-E-e-E-c-C-c-O-o-O-e-E-e,” he sputtered out slowly ,” A-a-nd I w-w-w-as t-t-t-tr-ryi-i-ng t-t-o ge-t-t-t tha-t-t-t-t peb-b-b-ble t-hat I a-a-a-accidently th-th-threw in y-y-y-y-your window, -m-m-m-m-ma’-m.”


[just in case you can’t read, this is what he’s saying. “I’m Decoe,” “And I was trying to get that pebble that I accidently threw in your window, ma’m.” ]

[Tifa Mysteria]

Tifa was taken aback for a moment, not only because it took her a while to actually translate what the new arrival was saying but also because the response didn't make much sense. She lowered her arm slightly but still kept her gaze locked on him.

"Accidently threw? Either you threw it or you didn't, what is accidental about that? I'm on the first floor here!"

Tifa was completely defudled. Even so her initital shock was wearing off and her usual calm caring manner was starting to return. The bandages caught her eye, the spaniel raising a curious expression as she continued to look at him. "You injured?"