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Natsuo Orako

Summer Son of the Sun and Moon

0 · 1,738 views · located in Higashi-Naruse, Akita

a character in “Akita's Seasons”, as played by Zodia195

Description

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ā€Mess with me or my family and youā€™ll regret it.ā€
Tik Tok Rok by Verse City




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| Full Name |
Pheobus Ferrence

| Season |
Summer


| Nicknames and Aliases |
Natsuo Kuki Orako

| Gender |
Male

| Age |
Appears to be 20 but claims to be 19

| Birthday |
August 5th

| Sexual Orientation |
Straight

| Scent |
Sea breeze

| Accent |
Has none, but developed a Japanese accent.

| Nationality |
Has none but is pretending to be of Japanese and Scottish decent

| Romantic Interest |
Azusa Yamanouchi

| Ethnicity |
Appears to be of Japanese decent

| Social Class |
Upper Class

| Occupation |
Works in a Restaurant as a waiter and does do delivery.

| Place of Residence |
Shared Home
Shared Home Bedroom
Private Home
Private Home Bedroom

| Oddities |
No Sense of Tact- Natsuo is pretty blunt and will tell you exactly what he thinks, whether you want to hear it or not. This will often get him in odds with others.

Always armed with a weapon, normally his kendo sword. He doesnā€™t trust any of the mortals of this world and to help ensure the safety of himself, and especially his younger sister, heā€™ll always be armed. He even sleeps with his sword right next to him.

Nosy- Natsuo has no problems interfering in peopleā€™s business. Itā€™s one of the ways he tries to adapt to Earth. In reality he just finds mortals and their ways odd and is too curious for his own good. He also doesnā€™t understand personal space too and will get up in your face.




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| Hair Color |
Black

| Hair Style |
Straight, usually pulled back in a low pony tail.

| Hair Length |
At full length, reaches to lower back

| Skin Tone |
Pale

| Complexion |
Flawless

| Eye Color |
Dark grey

| Height
6ā€™1ā€

| Weight |
175 lbs

| Body Type/Build |
Slim, but toned and muscled- he does have an 8 pack

| Tattoos |
None

| Piercings |
None

| Birthmarks/Scars |
Birthmark of an oak tree on his upper back- people think itā€™s a tattoo though.




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| Season |
Summer

| Pet |
Bird- Natsuo owns several crows that he uses many purposes from communicating to spying on others. Their names are Shadow, Gust, and Aeolus.

| Enhancement |
Increased Sight- Natsuo has always had eagle eye vision and takes pride in it. He can see up to 500 feet away, but can only see that far for so long before getting a headache. Heā€™s also developed ā€˜X-Rayā€™ vision. This technique though he only uses when he has too, or looking for his siblings. Once though he accidentally used it when looking for his parents and needless to say to this day he claims he was ā€œscarred for lifeā€ since his parents were intimate at the time. He also has night vision.

| Music Type |
Wind Instruments- Natsuo is both proficient in brass and woodwinds. His favorite instruments are the trumpet and saxophone. It did take him awhile to learn how to play though so his rooms became sound proof since he use to play out of tune a lot.

| Compatible People |
Aggressive People- Almost in the same vein as his sister Kazumi, needs someone who can stand up to him. He is extremely picky and critical of people in general and it takes a lot to impress him. He does get a charge out of someone who has the same intellect as him who can match his sharp tongue.

| Abilities Gifted by the Season |

Wind Gusts- In order to help nature flourish, Natsuo uses the air to spread seeds and pollinate flora to help things grow. However, he can create strong wind gusts and if in a desert area, he will cause a sandstorm.

Flight- Natsuo can fly due to his wind ability, but since coming to Earth, he can only fly at night.

Heat- Summer is gets hot and Natsuo loves the hot weather. If he wanted to, he could cause things to scorch, but doesnā€™t because he knows that would make things unbearable.

Enhancement- While Natuso only has power over the air, he can enhance the other elements, like whenever itā€™s raining he can use this ability to make it rain more. This also is connected to when things grow. All of this is used to help prepare for the harvest. Summer is the time of plenty, so Natsuo uses this to his advantage. He has to be careful in using this ability because it can weaken him since it takes his own mental strength to do so.





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| Personality |
~Headstrong, Direct, Honorable, Impatient, Protective, Intelligent~

Natsuo is all about extremes. Heā€™s the most volatile out of the siblings and is always butting heads with his older sister Kazumi. He actually gets a kick of getting under her skin. He can be this way with others because he is curious on how people will react when he gets in their face. However heā€™ll never intentionally harm people either due to his fatherā€™s influence, whom he looks up to the most. He will do his utmost best to protect those he loves and hates failing. He actually feels guilty over what happened to his younger sister and this has caused him to be more involved with her personal matters. Heā€™ll actually be wary of ANY guy his sisters interact with.

Due to how he was raised, Natsuo does have a bit of an ego on him and thinks he can do anything he puts his mind too. He has the tenacity to back it up too. This also includes his intellect. Natsuo is an avid reader and soaks up knowledge like a sponge. But due to his lack of experience interacting with humanity, he is not the best of catching social cues and is still learning how to communicate with them. He always seems to have a permanent frown on, when it reality heā€™s good at masking his feelings, at times. When does smile though, he becomes a total ā€˜lady killerā€™. Heā€™s not the most perceptive and a man of action. Heā€™s the type of person to ā€œAct first, ask questions laterā€.

| Morals |
Natsuo has a strict moral code and believes in doing things honorably. He would never go behind someoneā€™s back to get what he wants. He canā€™t stand liars.

| Likes |
Warm summer days
Birds
Kendo (or any kind of sword play)
His family
Being right
Swimming
Reading
Spicy Food

| Dislikes |
Men around his sisters
Cold Weather
Seeing those he loves getting hurt
Liars
Waiting
Cold Food

| Talents |
Sword fighting
Anything athletic, particularly swimming
Book smarts
His magic abilities
Increased Sight

| Flaws |
Getting Under peopleā€™s skins
Impulsive
Not Able to Read a Room correctly
Overprotective (especially of his sisters)
Saying things at the top of his head

| Weaknesses |
His siblings
Chocolate (Heā€™s a chocoholic)
Extreme Cold Weather
Birds (especially baby birds)

| Hobbies |
Practicing his swordplay.
Reading
Spending time with his birds
Doing anything outside, this includes athletics




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| History |
Natsuo is the 2nd eldest out of his siblings. Heā€™s also the tallest out of them too. He was a rambunctious child, having gotten his fatherā€™s energy. Him and Kazumi constantly butted heads a lot. Much like his siblings, he did believe he and his family were the only beings in the universe and this added to his ego. He learned at an early age though to always respect people, especially his parents. Heā€™s taken his role in protecting his sisters seriously and in doing so worked on different types of fighting abilities in order to do so. His preference is sword play from fencing to kendo.

As he grew older and gain the responsibility to watch over the season of Summer, he created the summer in how he wanted to be. Loving the world his parents created, he wanted people to enjoy the riches they were surrounded in and so created warm and sunny days for the people to enjoy. He also makes sure crops grow due to his enhancement skills in preparation for the Fall and Winter seasons.

When his younger sister originally went to Earth with their parents, Natsuo didnā€™t go simply because he didnā€™t see the need to. However he does regret not going because he might have been able to protect his sister that way.

Out of the 4 Natsuo was the most vehement about not going to Earth, but even he couldnā€™t deny his curiosity of the planet and all the changes it went through. And this time he will make sure that his sister is safe.

| Other |

None

| Face Claim |
Kuroh from K

So begins...

Natsuo Orako's Story

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Velonix Orako Character Portrait: Reiya Himura Character Portrait: Kazumi Orako Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako Character Portrait: Nixon Sparx Character Portrait: Azusa Yamanouchi
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ā€It's okay to feel weak sometimes. It's okay to be afraid.
The important thing is that we face our fears.
That's...that's what makes us strong.ā€





From the beginning of time, humans have worshipped some form of a deity. Where they got the ideology that another, more powerful being existed, over watching them and judging their every movement, their every decision - their every thought - is beyond the understanding of modern day scientists. All that is known is that they have worshipped some sort of ethereal being since the beginning of their existence.

Jesus. Allah. Moses. Zeus. God.

Those are but a few of the many, many deities and omnipotent beings that the humans have ā€˜thoughtā€™ of as their creators. Obviously, none of them came close to the truth - the truth that the Sun and the Moon, two ā€˜planetsā€™, as they were deemed by humans, were the actual creators of all living creatures - but that was partially the doing of said deities. Ever since the humans began to wonder how they came to be, how they were created, or in general questions anything related to such a subject, the Sun and the Moon have ventured to Earth to regularly spin stories, and spread them across the world in an attempt to slow the discovery of their being. Once their children were born, however, they put far more effort into keeping their existence hidden, into preventing them and their children from being discovered. Any human that came close to the truth was promptly dealt with, usually by the Senior Star given her memory suppression capabilities, and so far so their web of lies and legends has held up.

The lies were put into place to not only protect the Sun and Moon, and not only their children, either, but also the human beings themselves. If they were to discover the true origin of their beginnings, there is no telling what the outcome could be. What could become of the children and their parents is unknown, seeing as the two deities never once claimed to be omnipotent, and they have lived in slight fear of their existence becoming known one day.

They donā€™t, of course, plan to hide themselves forever. Simply until they deem the humans to be capable of accepting their existences without any repercussions; and so far, they have yet to prove themselves worthy to know the truth.

The main cause of war in human society stems from religious views. The main cause of disputes between people is caused by their differences in beliefs.

Many, many issues in human society, both currently and throughout the past, can be traced back to religious differences. The Crusades are a prime example of holy wars, during which time countless lives were lost.

The witch trials across Europe and early America are another example of the religious influence that causes mass genocides to take place. World War II, in which Adolf Hitler attempted to wipe out all of those belonging to the Jewish faith.

To sum everything up, human beings as a whole are not ready to accept the truth. They are close - God, they are so very close - to being able to hear the real truth and accept it without negative consequences or outcomes.

But they arenā€™t quite there yet; and so the Sun and the Moon are not ready to take the chances of revealing their existence to any human being, out of fear of them spreading the knowledge their being to other humans throughout the world. And so we hide.

We always hide.


Velonix glanced up from the blank, old book that she had been writing in. It had been given to her by the owner of the bookshop that she had just recently been given a job at, as a welcoming present. She had seen it through the window when she had been walking by, and it had prompted her to enter the store, almost as though it were calling for her. When the owner, Mr. Zwemmer, saw her inside and staring at it, he had removed it from its case and allowed her to look more closely at it. While she was studying it, they began a conversation, and one thing led to another, and she ended up with her first real job in the human world. After her third of fourth shift, during which times she would stare at the ancient book, Mr. Zwemmer finally caved and gave her it as a gift, much to her happiness. She had promised vehemently to care for it as though it were a living creature, and he laughed in response, knowing that she would.

Setting down the quill - yes, she still wrote with a quill and ink, deal with it - she put the stopper into her ink bottle and pushed back her chair, rising from her seat. She placed the book and writing utensils behind the main counter before turning to go through the boxes of new books that had arrived that morning.

She could still remember the day that her siblings pushed her into returning to Earth, which was only two weeks prior to the present day. The idea had been hers - a decision that still surprised her, even though she was the one who came up with it.




~ā€™.ā€™~Two Weeks Prior~ā€™.ā€™~


Soft whispers slithered beneath the door that led to the library. They could only be heard if one were to be standing directly outside of the door, and it was almost necessary to press oneā€™s ear to said door in order to actually understand what was being said.

Not that there was anyone to listen to the discussion. Sun and Moon were currently overwatching the Earth, as they did at that exact time each and every new day, and The Senior Star Astra was currently assisting them in their Earthly decisions. The Junior Star Vyasa was at her side, attempting to intake any new knowledge to be gained from the actions that his more powerful Godly comrades were performing.

Now who, one may wonder, was making such noise in the library?

There could only be one group of culprits behind it; the four children of the Sun and the Moon.

The very embodiment of the Seasons themselves.

Beyond the large, oaken door, the children of the Gods sat on the comfortable furniture within. The two eldest were on one couch, while the two youngest had taken seats on the armchairs on either side of the larger furniture. Harmony had taken the liberty to start a fire in the massively beautiful fireplace that adorned the equally gorgeous library, which was quadruple the size of the area that they were currently nestled in, and she folded her legs beneath her bottom on the chair, tucking her skirt underneath her shins in an ever-present drive at modesty. A mug of her ever-present hot chocolate, decorated with whipped cream, marshmallows, and sprinkles of cinnamon, was clasped firmly between her oddly cold palms, which were damp with a nervous sweat. The same wetness was sprinkled across her hairline, both along her forehead and the nape of her neck, and a small tremble of anxiety resided in her hands. In addition, she was doing her bad habit of bouncing slightly as she sat, constantly shifting her weight in an obvious attempt to get comfortable, despite it being a futile effort.

After several moments of silence had ticked by, Harmony obviously too nervous to start the discussion of why she had asked her siblings to join her in the library, her sister spoke.

ā€Har, I understand that youā€™re nervous, but you should know by now that thereā€™s no need for you to feel that way around us. Whateverā€™s bothering you - whateverā€™s weighing on your mind - just speak.ā€ Her voice was gentle, almost a coo, in an obvious attempt to draw her shy younger sister slightly more out of her shell.

In response, Harmony fidgeted a bit more for a moment longer, before forcing herself to settle and heaving a sigh. After a long sip of her delicious cocoa, she lowered her feet to the floor and leaned forward, setting the mug on the coffee table before her. She dropped her hands to her knees, drew in a long breath in preparation, and in one long heave, blurted out what she had rehearsed at least thirty-two times in her mind.

ā€I ā€¦ I want to go and visit Earth!ā€

Almost instantly the girl squeezed her eyes shut, her shoulders hunching in readiness for her siblings expected outbursts of rejection at her wish. When nothing was immediately said, she slowly allowed herself to pry open one eye, and then another when she noticed the blank stares of surprise from her brothers and sister. Squirming a bit under their piercing gazes - they all had equally beautiful eyes in her mind, and ones that could unsettle even the most rigid of people - she gnawed on her lower lip, looking down at her hands on her legs. Her fingers were curled inwards, digging into the flesh of her knees, and she was bouncing her one foot anxiously.

A few more beats of silence passed before anyone spoke, and it was one word.

ā€No.ā€

Harmonyā€™s head snapped up, her heart stopping for a brief moment before skipping a beat and regaining its regular pattern. Her eyes met her older brotherā€™s gaze, which was dark and stern, unrelenting in its own way.

ā€But, Phoebus, at least let me explain wh-ā€

ā€No. Absolutely not. This shouldnā€™t even be up for discussion, Harmonix,ā€ he interrupted, not even allowing her to finish her sentence. Her eyes welled up with tears in immediate response, and she lowered her head once more, her action holding all of the defeat she felt. She had known it was a long shot from the beginning, getting her siblings on board with her idea, but to be shot down so quickly and so assuredly definitely stung.

A soft scoff was heard from the girl that sat beside Phoebus. Her cotton candy hair was illuminated in the glow of the fire, and an eye roll could be seen.

ā€Oh, come on, Phoebus. At least let her explain why she wants to visit Earth. You canā€™t just shoot down what she says without allowing her to tell us why she would want to do it. Harmony very rarely speaks her mind about issues that she knows are controversial, so you can at least respect her courage to do so right now, given the subject.ā€

Harmony glanced up slightly, looking at her sister through her lashes, her gaze holding the gratitude she felt towards the older girl. Aurora definitely wasnā€™t wrong, though; very rarely would Harmony bring up a subject or idea that she knew would cause an argument or negativity of any sort, so when she did, it was usually for a good reason.

Turning her gaze to her older brother, she allowed her eyes to take on a puppy-dog look, and she jutted out her lower lip. This was her signature expression - something that she reserved only for times that she really wanted something - and her older brother instantly melted like butter.

Quickly averting his own eyes from hers, he looked away, his pale cheeks taking on a soft flush.

ā€By the stars above, Har - not the eyes,ā€ he groaned. He flicked a glance at the girl, only to find that she was still holding the same expression, and slapping his hand over his eyes, he slowly dragged it down his face, before heaving a loud sigh.

ā€Fine, Iā€™ll at least listen to this insane idea that youā€™ve come up with,ā€ he muttered.

Instantly Harmony brightened, her puppy dog look diminishing, and she leaned forward, her previous nervousness replaced with obvious excitement. A twinkle shone in her eye, and she had a gentle smile on her lips. She still did, however, speak with hesitancy, a slight stutter taking away some of the confidence she felt.

ā€I ā€¦ Iā€™m hoping that if I were to go to Earth ā€¦ That it could maybe help me come to terms with everything thatā€™s happened since ā€¦ Since the incident,ā€ she finished, her voice ending almost in a murmur. What little courage she felt when she began speaking had quickly faded as she finished, and she felt her shoulders slightly slump with dejection. She picked at her fingernails, suddenly extremely fascinated with her hands.

ā€I know that ā€¦ I know that Iā€™ve caused a lot of unnecessary trouble and problems over the years, ever since that day when we were children ā€¦ And I know that because of what happened, Iā€™ve changed a lot as a person ...ā€ She trailed off for a moment, having to pause to garner a bit of bravery. Turning her face back upwards, she met each one of her siblings gazes before continuing.

ā€Iā€™ve been keeping it hidden as much as possible, but recently ā€¦ Recently, what Astra did to help me contain the Phoenix ā€¦ The walls that she built to help seal my two separate minds, or identities, or whatever you want to call them ā€¦ I can feel them beginning to crumble,ā€ she said softly, her shoulders once more slumped, but this time instead of the cause being defeat, it was more so worry. She pressed her lips together for a moment before continuing.

ā€I ā€¦ Iā€™m really scared,ā€ she whispered, tears prickling at her eyes. ā€Iā€™m scared of what will happen if those walls disappear completely, and the Phoenix is allowed out and into the physical world once more. I donā€™t expect any of you to understand ā€¦ Youā€™ve never had anything like this happen before ā€¦ But I ...ā€ Drawing in a shaky breath, she felt a ball of anxiety curl in her chest. ā€I can hear her ā€¦ I can hear her voice, in the very back of my mind, hiding behind those walls. She keeps telling me to do things ā€¦ Things that I know I shouldnā€™t do, but things that I really want to do. So far Iā€™ve been able to ignore her and push down my urge to do what she says, but ā€¦ But Iā€™m afraid of what might happen if I canā€™t get a handle on her.ā€

There was a lapse in words being said, before Phoebus once more spoke, his voice slightly heavy, given the equal weight of the current conversation.

ā€And how do we know that it isnā€™t Phoenixā€™s idea for us to go to Earth? How do we know that this is actually your own idea, Harmonix?ā€

Harmony hesitated before slowly responding.

ā€I just ā€¦ It might be hard for me to resist the temptation that she gives me to do certain things, and I may not have been able to discern my thoughts and her thoughts before Astra helped me, but ā€¦ Right now, I can tell which thoughts are mine and which are hers. I donā€™t really know how to explain how I can, but ā€¦ But I can. And on that, youā€™ll just have to trust me, Phoebus.ā€


Another moment of silence ticked by - there seemed to be a lot of those during this discussion, Harmony idly thought - before anyone responded to her words.

ā€I think ā€¦ That if you think that itā€™s a good idea, and if you think that it really will help you, Sundown ā€¦ That we should do it.ā€

Harmony turned her gaze to her younger brother, her lower lip trembling slightly. She had known before even asking for her siblings to meet her that out of all of them, Ellyion was most likely to support what she thought was best, and he had definitely proved her correct in that assumption.

Turning back to her older siblings, she looked at them with her wide, umber eyes, which spoke volumes over her expectation for an answer. Aurora was studying her nails, and while filing at the tip of one of her index fingers, she shrugged and spoke.

ā€I think that if you think that it can help you, and that you can handle it, we should at least give it a shot. Who knows? Maybe itā€™ll prove beneficial for all of us. Wouldnā€™t you agree, Phoebus?ā€ she dragged out, purposely doing so in order to annoy him.

The boy in question narrowed his eyes slightly at his older sister, a soft growl of sorts escaping his lips, before he turned to Harmony, his gaze a smidge less stern than it was before. After several calculated moments, during which time she could practically see the gears turning in her older brotherā€™s head, he spoke.

ā€Seeing as Iā€™m clearly outnumbered, Iā€™ll have to say yes. What kind of brother would I be to just let all of you run rampant down on Earth? Someone has to be down there to corral you,ā€ he sighed, rubbing his temples.

Harmony immediately brightened, her skin taking on a slightly golden glow, and she was across the gap between them in seconds, her arms thrown around her older brotherā€™s neck.

ā€Thank you, Phoebus ā€¦ You ā€¦ You have no idea what this means to me,ā€ she whispered into his neck, her tears soaking into his long hair.





Slamming her forehead dramatically onto the counter that held the register and basic supplies for the bookstore, Velonix let out an equally dramatic sound that could only be described as a mix between a sigh and a whining wail. Turning her head slightly, she looked forlornly out the window, inhaling the scent of the book directly before her face.

The sun was shining brightly through the clear window, giving the interior of the building an ethereal glow. Dust mites danced in the sunā€™s rays, and for a moment, she felt an unwanted sadness in her chest.

Somewhere, far up in the sky and even further beyond that, her parents were looking down at the world below. She could picture her mother, wringing her hands and a worried crease between her brows, and her father, pacing with long strides across the hall that enclosed the enormous, hologram-like image that showed them the entirety of the planet. It was used to view in on any place at any time, past, present, or future, and to interact with said reality. There were many of times that her parents had altered the past in order to benefit the future - they went back and prevented world-wide catastrophes.

Why, then, did they allow certain events to occur? Why did they allow countless lives to be lost to the hands of evil humans who wished nothing but death upon the masses?

It was all for a better goal.

To think that they enjoyed watching the humans suffer - you couldnā€™t be further from the truth. Countless times had Velonix ventured into the great hall, as a young child and beyond, to find her mother weeping over the hologram of the beautiful planet. She had seen unimaginable things in that hologram, and heard screams that still echoed in her ears to this very day. As soon as her parents spotted her they would shoo her away fairly quickly, of course, but that didnā€™t stop her from seeing things.

People being torn limb-from-limb by ancient Roman Gladiators.

Children being burned alive alongside their parents during the European Witch Trials.

Animals being killed by toxic chemicals sprayed down upon the humans by large flying machines from above.

Tears pricked at her eyes at the memories, and she squeezed the large umber orbs shut in an attempt to stem their flow, and to shield herself from the visuals flashing before her eyes.

Closing them only prevented herself from seeing, however. It didnā€™t slow what she could hear, not by a long shot; and the screams continued to echo inside of her mind.

Making a fist, she struck herself repeatedly on the side of the hide, rather aggressively if anyone were to look upon her action.

ā€œStop ... Stop it, please ...ā€ she whispered, her lips a slight grimace.

After a few moments, the screams slowly faded and she had managed to qualm her rapid breathing, having only just then realized how quickly she was panting. She remained like that, bent over with her hand resting on the counter, for who knew how long, and only rose when the alarm to the door made its soft sounds, the pre-recorded melody of Fur Elise announcing the arrival of a newcomer.

Smiling at the person who had ventured inside, she stretched out her arms, her elbows crackling at the motion.

ā€œWelcome back, Mr. Zwemmer! Did you have a pleasant afternoon?ā€

The elderly man gave her a kind yet beaming grin in return, making his face slowly into the business, his cane that was honestly just used for sure - he really didnā€™t even use it, the trickster that he was - clacking away with each step.

ā€œAh, Velonix - always a warm and joyous face to see. I enjoy being able to leave my store, knowing itā€™s in good hands, and also being able to return to it, knowing that Iā€™ll be able to see your cute face when I come back,ā€ he chuckled. Velonix instantly turned beat red, lifting her hands and waving them sporadically before her.

ā€œOh, Mr. Zwemmer, youā€™re too kind!ā€ she laughed, her embarrassment evident in her flushed face.

Chuckling once more, he approached the counter that she stood behind, lifting his cane and gently resting it on top of her head.

ā€œNow that Iā€™m here, you get on outside and enjoy the sunshine. Youā€™re young and deserve to enjoy your youth; not spend it cooped up inside of a bookstore all day.ā€

Velonix gave the man a reassuring smile, clapping her hands together in front of her. ā€œOh, I really donā€™t mind, Mr. Zwemmer! I love being surrounded by the books, so itā€™s no hassle for me at all!ā€

Rolling his eyes in a very young action, he made his way behind the counter, nudging her with his cane.

ā€œGo on, shoo - I can handle it for the rest of the day on my own. Go outside and enjoy yourself! Make some friends!ā€

She barely had enough time to snag her book and writing supplies before the old man had hustled her out from behind the counter. She wasnā€™t worried about anyone reading it - if anything they would assume that it was nothing but a fiction novel she was working on - but she felt almost as though she were missing a part of her when it wasnā€™t within her reach.

Stumbling to the door - he accidently tripped her a bit with his cane - she spun back around and waved to the man. ā€œIā€™ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Zwemmer! Make sure to tell Ms. Ponsi that I said hello!ā€

She was, of course, referring to his beautiful, snow-white Persian kitten. He had adopted her shortly after his beautiful wife had passed, which wasnā€™t long before Velonix arrived on Earth, and the kitty was the apple of his eye. Although he and his wife had loved each other endlessly, they had never had children - something to do with Mrs. Zwemmer being unable to conceive - but had had countless pets over the years. After their last one died, with Mrs. Zwemmerā€™s ailing health, they decided not to adopt another animal for fear that they wouldnā€™t have time to care for it. After his wife passed, however, he was recommended by his doctors to adopt an animal to help with the grief, and not too long afterwards did he hire Velonix, so that he could have more time to spend with his precious pet.

Velonix shook the thoughts from her head. Of course, she wasnā€™t meant to know all of these things. It wasnā€™t as though Mr. Zwemmer had told her all of this. But then again, that was one of her specialties - knowing too much about the humans that she came into contact with. Itā€™s why she tried very hard not to come into physical contact with a human; she had enough difficulty with her own memories, she didnā€™t need any added into the mess that was her brain.

Once outside, she tilted her head back and closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling the crisp, Autumn-like air. It wasnā€™t too cold, but neither was it unreasonably hot in this part of town. It was a happy middle ground, much to her delight, as her season normally was, and she was enjoying the beautiful weather - not that she couldnā€™t control it or anything. She giggled at the thought, opening her eyes and gazing up at the sky, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand.

If only her parents could see her now - unafraid of the human world and its inhabitants. When she arrived on Earth with her siblings, she spent the first couple of days hiding in her bedroom, absolutely petrified to leave the house. However, after some gentle coaxing from her little brother, Ellyion, she managed to bring herself to step outside - and my, oh my, was she glad that she did so. The beauty that the Earth held was shameful to miss out on! She had forgotten over the years how gorgeous the nature was, and how bewitching the scenes that played before her eyes were. Obviously she was in town, currently, but even where there was a heavy lack of nature was she mesmerized. The shops, the people - everything was so fascinating to her, and she hadnā€™t even begun to explore this one little town, let alone the entire planet! Who knew what else was out there for her to discover? Her siblings and she had done their fair share of studying of the planet and its inhabitants over the hundreds of years that they had been alive, but nothing even came close in comparison to actually seeing it in person.

She had forgotten the beauty that the Earth held, and how kind the humans could actually be. What she once viewed as a dark and frightening place, she now saw as a light and gorgeous environment. The creatures that she once saw as vile and terrifying beings, were in actuality extremely caring individuals, rich with their own histories and memories, their own personalities.

She was a fool to ever believe that such an alluring and prepossessing place could be scary, and she was giddy with her newfound knowledge.

*Continued In CutupxKuraRavengade Collaboration Piece*

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Character Portrait: Kazumi Orako Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako
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Kazumi was always a morning person. She spent the early morning hours gardening and talking to the animals that lived on their property. One perk of being who she was, was having unlimited funds to buy not one but two places in the town of Akira. Whenever Kazumi was off from work, she enjoyed staying in the shared home of her siblings. Kazumi was an extrovert and didn't like being alone for long. So even if her brother Natsuo was a pain or even those rare times when her youngest siblings got under her nerves, she would rather be around them than not. Of course at the moment she was surrounded by animals. She loved creatures of all kind. So much so that she could never eat an animal. It was insulting to eat something you could talk to. One nice thing about Japan was they prepared many of their meals more natural. There wasn't much of that processed food she found more in the west, especially the USA. When scouting out a place to stay on Earth, Kazumi had been dumbstruck by how Americans and other Western countries grew their fare with their fertilizers and other means to 'enhance' their food products. It really churned her stomach.

Not wanting to think about such thoughts, Kazumi looked at the some of the crops she had gathered. The garden here was mostly vegetables with some fruit. She mostly grew stuff her siblings would eat and made sure the certain the right kind of goods were planted for the kind of soil found here. Two common foods that were grown were eggplant and cabbage. While Kazumi couldn't cook for the the life of her, she always made different types of cold salads for her youngest sibling, Ryou, who couldn't even eat warm food.

After gardening, Kazumi took a shower and go dressed for the day. After that she started going over the things she wanted to do that day in the huge kitchen. During this time her other sister woke and said she was going out on her own to the bookstore she got a job at and to distract Pheobus too. The siblings were getting better at calling each other by their aliases, but were still comfortable calling each other by their birth names and mostly did that in private. Kazumi wasn't looking forward to waking up her brother. He loved sleeping in during the summers. But a small part of Kazumi loved getting the upper hand on him too. She would still be cautious though. Natsuo was known to be a light sleeper and got up in an instant. Unfortunately, Kazumi wouldn't be able to get her chance as her younger brother appeared in the kitchen, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"Well look who decided to wake up." Kazumi smiled sweetly, knowing it would irritate Natsuo.

Natsuo scowled and ignored his sister as he got a cup out and had a glass of water. He than went about making his own breakfast, which was always hot and sometimes spicy. He always had a bowl of rice. They had a rice cooker in the house and he loved the food. Kazumi already knew he was planning on taking the rice cooker back with them when they went back home. Thinking about their parents caused Kazumi to worry. She could imagine that they were worried and probably frantic in finding them. At least they left a note saying they were going to Earth. Kazumi wouldn't be surprised if Astra and Nixon were already on Earth looking for them. Nixon was like and adoptive brother for them while Astra was more like a 2nd parent, even though Kazumi felt ambivalent towards the Senior Star.

"What's with the frown, Aurora? Did someone wake up too early for once?" asked Natsuo.

Kazumi turned sharply and saw his smirk.

"For your information, it's never too early to get up. And unlike you, I appreciate how gorgeous the sunrise is since father made it so."

"True, but I take full advantage of father's splendor by having as much sun as possible. Speaking of which after I eat my breakfast, I plan on getting out and seeing where my other sister went off too since she's not in her room."

Remembering that Velonix wanted her to distract Natsuo, Kazumi called out to Natsuo before he could take off.

"Actually Pheobus, I was going to go out myself and need to run a few errands. You could help me with them."

Natsuo frowned,"What kind of 'errands'?"

With her sweetest smile in place, Kazumi answered him.

"Shopping."

"OH NO! I don't think so!"

"Awwww, but than who will protect me than?"

"Aren't Dawn and Eos qualified enough? They're pretty much glued to your side most of the time." Natsuo said, pointing to the two dogs nearby.

Both Dawn and Eos look up at the siblings when they heard their names and Eos asked Kazumi what was up. Kazumi told them not to worry.

"Dawn and Eos are wonderful protection, but you'd be on the icing on the cake brother. Besides, I plan on getting a lot of stuff and I could really use your help."

Natsuo grumbled and agreed. After he finished eating, he finished getting ready and the two ended up Natsuo's Acura ILX heading for the places on Kazumi's list.

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Character Portrait: Velonix Orako Character Portrait: Kazumi Orako Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako
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~'.'~'.'~'.'~'.'~'.'~Alegria from Cirque du Soleil ~'.'~'.'~'.'~'.'~'.'~Fireflies~'.'~'.'~'.'~'.'~'.'~
"I love~'.'~'.'~'.'~'.'~'.'~"Individually, we are one drop,
new beginnings~'.'~'.'~'.'~but together ā€¦ together
that my season brings."~'.'.'~we are an entire ocean."


"What is it with you and HATS!? I think you almost bought out the store!" grumbled Natsuo as he carried 5 large bags worth of hats into the house and he and his siblings were sharing.

"Well for one, they help protect my flawless complexion and two, if you didn't make it sunny most of the time, I wouldn't have so many hats. At least in my season we don't have to worry about it. Besides, it's not like those weight a lot and YOU'RE the one who insisted on carrying those bags, being the noble person you are." smiled Kazumi, carrying a small bag, followed by her two constant companions, the Shiba Inu Dawn, and the Akita, Eos.

"Well, I wouldn't have come in the first place if you hadn't insisted on me coming to begin with!" snapped the tall dark haired man.

"Didn't you say earlier that you wanted to get out though? I simply provided the opportunity," Kazumi smiled sweetly, knowing she got him there.

Natsuo just groaned as he went to put Kazumi's things in her room.

That's when Kazumi's cell phone went off.

Seeing who it was, Kazumi answered it right away. Her smile quickly left her face when she heard her sister's voice. For once her tone sounded serious.

"Stay where you are. I'll be right there." she said.

She rushed to where Natsuo is.

"I have to go back out. I'll be right back okay?" she said and vanished, not giving her brother time to respond.

"Dawn and Eos, find Harmony." Kazumi told the two as they got into her Lexus RX convertible.

She knew her sister was going to be in the Autumn part of town, but didn't know where exactly. In fact, her main reason for going out was to get Natsuo off Velonix's back. Once they got to the area, Kazumi slowed down, the dogs were able to pick up her sister's scent in no time. Picking up her sister's energy signature, a technique Kazumi developed so she could find her siblings if they were nearby, the pink haired woman parked and looked for her on foot. It wasn't long before they found her.

As she watched his retreating figure, Velonix clutched the package and money in her hands. She slowly looked down, untied the top of the small pouch-like container, and blinked at the delicious goodies encased within it. She flicked her gaze back upwards, but at that point Takeo was gone from sight.

Would she ever see him again?

Maybe. But the likelihood of that happening was very slim.

"Harmony!" Kazumi called out, not caring if they were out in public for once.

Velonix jerked her head to the side, her eyes instantly keying in on her sister's quickly approaching figure, and immediately she felt tears well up again. By that time, the fire was nothing more than embers, but the smoke from it had definitely garnered the attention of passerby's and business owners who were on either side of the alleyway. Velonix's lower lip trembled, and she sniffed extremely unattractively.

"A-Aurora!"

Before her sister had even reached her, Velonix threw herself into the older girlā€™s arms, careful not to spill the baked goodies everywhere, yet still openly distraught.

"I-I don't know what happened ... I just ... It happened .. I can't remember what happened ... Just that I was angry one moment, and then the next a dumpster was on fire ..."

Kazumi didn't say a word, just let her sister cry her heart out. This was the reason why she and her brothers were protective of their sister. She had always been the most sensitive of them all and what happened to her years ago changed her. It really hurt Kazumi to see her sister like this.

"Sshhh, I know you didn't mean to. You're always so careful not lose your temper. I mean, look at me, when I get mad, I cause a hurricane to appear. And let's not forget our dear brother, Pheobus. He got so upset once, he caused a tornado so big it was off the charts! It's a good thing neither of us have the power of fire or thereā€™d be conflagrations left and right. Was the fire taken care of?" Kazumi told her sister and she hugged her and smoothed out her hair with one of her hands.

Velonix sniffled, and for a moment remained silent. Finally, she pulled back and rubbed at her wet cheeks and eyes, obviously trying extremely hard to compose herself once more. After a deep, shuddering inhale and exhale, she turned her gaze towards the alleyway. Smoke was still trickling out of the end of it, albeit very slowly, but there could be sirens heard screaming in the distance. A sense of unease settled deep within her. Granted, this was the first hiccup that sheā€™d had since arriving on Earth, but in her mind, one hiccup was one too many. There was no excuse for her to lose her temper so much so that it could cause her to momentarily ā€˜black outā€™.

It was also the first time that she had decided to venture out of the house on her own. Normally, she had her two ever present Savannah cats strutting alongside her. Today, however, she had decided to take advantage of the calmness that had seemed to settle upon the town, and told Mio and Dusk to stay home.

That was clearly a huge mistake.

Turning her gaze back to her sister, she lowered it so that she was staring at their feet, idly noticing the immense differences in their styles just by their shoes.

Drawing in another deep breath, she puffed it out, plastered a smile on her lips, and turned her face back towards her sister.

ā€œThe fire is out; just some embers smoldering in the bottom of the dumpster. We should probably leave though, donā€™t you think?ā€ she asked, clapping her hands together before her, book tucked under her arm and package held precariously dangling from her fingers. When she noticed that she was still holding the goodies, she quickly lowered her hands and hid them behind her back, dancing a few steps away from her sister - and away from the alleyway.

ā€œLetā€™s go home?ā€ she suggested, pointedly looking over her sisterā€™s shoulder at the gathering crowd near the alley and the large, wailing red truck that had just turned the corner.

ā€œOh my yes, we better. Before a brother of ours appears. I did leave in a hurry.ā€ laughed Kazumi.

Eos and Dawn rub up against Velonix in comfort before each dog stood on each side of the sisters, Eos next to Velonix and Dawn next to Kazumi. Velonix took comfort in their presence, a small urge of longing for her own companions, Mio and Dusk, washing through her body. The feeling disappeared instantly, however, as they came back into the street and a familiar voice called out to them.

ā€œI thought you two were up to something. I canā€™t leave either of you alone for a moment.ā€ grumbled Natsuo, who is leaning against the wall of the building.

Velonix jumped, startled by her brotherā€™s appearance. It unnerved her immensely knowing that she had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she had failed to sense his presence, and she felt a small grimacing scowl turn up one corner of her mouth.

ā€œActually you donā€™t need to watch us 24/7 brother. Howā€™d you feel if Astra watched you 24/7? Howā€™d you find us so fast anyway?ā€ Kazumi asked, ignoring Natsuo.

ā€œMy crows, who else? I ordered Gust to follow you since heā€™s the fastest flyer of them and I used my enhancement skills to help him fly faster. Than I merely flew here myself.ā€ Natsuo said smugly.

ā€œAND RISK GETTING CAUGHT? Are you NUTS?!ā€

Velonix winced at her sisterā€™s outburst, having never been too keen on yelling or loud noises. She did, however, agree with Kazumi; her brother was insane to do such a thing on Earth. Flying men definitely didn't go unnoticed to humans.

ā€œItā€™s cloudy today and I flew too fast for anyone to spot me,ā€ Natsuo replied before turning to his younger sister. She felt her shoulders tense up slightly in preparation for the lecture that was undoubtedly coming.

ā€œVelonix, in all seriousness though, donā€™t scare me like that again. Iā€™ll work on being overbearing if you can promise me to at least let me know where youā€™re going. You can expect to have one of my crows to follow you too, if only for my own piece of mind. Letā€™s go ladies.ā€

Natsuo immediately waited next to Kazumiā€™s car and opened the door for Velonix, who, with a slight slump in her shoulders, moved towards the vehicle. She paused only once she reached it, her hand stopping on top of the car door. Her eyes met her older brotherā€™s, an odd intensity in her gaze, which was something extremely uncharacteristic of her.

ā€œI'm not a child, Phoebus,ā€ she said softly. Her tone was difficult to read, even for herself, and she turned her face towards the interior of the car.

This caught Natsuo a bit off guard and he didnā€™t say anything.

ā€œ... I just wish that you'd start viewing me as the adult that I've become.ā€

With that murmured phrase weighing heavily in the air between them, Velonix ducked into the car, Eos happily following her in the action. She slid across the seat to make room, stopping only once she reached the other side of it, and propped her elbow on the door. Rolling the window down, she dropped her chin into the palm of her hand, her gaze focused rather forlornly out the now open square.

She wasn't a child, and she hated it that her siblings viewed her as one just because of her quiet and gentle disposition, paired with her childhood trauma.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she drew in a ragged breath.

Shut. Up. Phoenix.

Prying her eyelids open once more, she gnawed on her lower lip, her worry etched across her features.

After Kazumi got in the driverā€™s seat, Natsuo got in after seeing the girls and dogs in play. The car drives off as they siblings head home.

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After Natsuo and his sisters got home, he went about doing his own business. Seeing how upset Velonix was with him really didn't sit well with him. His whole life he had been told by their father to watch over his sisters. Natsuo took that responsibility very seriously. Maybe that was it? He took it so seriously that he was holding on too tightly. He wondered if he would have been as as protective of Velonix now if she had never been hurt the last time she was here. The answer was an immediate no. He was protective of Kazumi too, but still allowed her to do things on her own. He didn't do that with Velonix. He was so worried about his younger sister getting hurt that he was always checking up on her. Sighing, Natsuo decided to do something to calm down. Getting dressed into clothing more suitable for training, something he saw others do when they did kendo, he went outside to his own person training area. Taking his bamboo kendo blade he spent a good hour practicing with it.

Feeling better, Natsuo went back inside to clean up again. What should he do now? He hadn't been out to eat for awhile. Plus he had yet to explore the whole area of Akita where his season reigned. Akita was a good place to walk through also. Decision made, the young man grabbed his kendo blade, shades, wallet, and a bottled of water, he wrote a quick note saying he was going out but be back by that evening. Walking back outside and putting on his shoes, Natsuo takes a deep breath and randomly heads north.

One of the perks of being in charge of summer was that Natsuo never had to worry about getting hot in warm weather. He did his best to make summer comfortable for mortals, but it was hard considering everyone had different tolerances to heat. Due his own high tolerance to heat, Natsuo didn't sweat as much. He still brought the water because he genuinely enjoyed drinking it. Natsuo looked up and noticed one his crow Shadow following him. While all three of his crows, Shadow, Gust, and Aeolus were black, each had subtle physical differences and their crowing was slightly different too.

After walking for almost 30 minutes, Natsuo came upon a shrine. Having seen one in pictures, Natsuo had never actually been inside of one. Having nothing better to do, he walked onto the grounds and looked around.

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Azusa's morning began like it usual for her summer routine: she woke up very early, prepared the ablution fountain in the North Shrine and the rest of the four Cardinal Shrines that were under her care; yes, the locals themselves kept the shrines quite clean but she still had to do the finishing touches. After finishing all that she returned to her de facto residence of the season: the North Shrine and practiced with her bow. In part it was to not get rusty for competitive reason and it was also a habit, but mostly it was for the New Year where she'd have to fire a blunt salt-laden arrow through the ring atop the same shrines under her care. This was mostly a her thing since custom only required shooting it over the shrine - but family records indicate that the rings were originally for that purpose and ignored later on for sake of making it simpler. Still for the sake of a more authentic and better experience she saw no reason to settle for the easy standard when the higher one might pull in more guests.

Usually, she'd be free for the day so such practice could go uninterrupted...today proved to be different. She had only managed to run through the steps for the kagura to celebrate the North Shrine - a product of the sixth century which blended Shinto and Buddhism. The steps themselves weren't complex, nor was the tempo excessive because from a Buddhist perspective the North was the domain of Fukūjōju Nyorai - Amoghasiddi Buddha if one wanted to use the more international name. His season was autumn so the movements were meant to remind one of falling leaves and symbolize a bountiful harvest. From the Shinto aspect: it was to Genbu - the Black Tortoise...Xuanwu if one wanted to be more international. As such the shrine had plenty of shell motifs around it and as Genbu symbolized Winter, the dance shifted from the flurry of autumn in the cool stillness of winter in hopes of keeping the season gentler. To be honest of the four shrines this was the easiest to do since there was little movement to arrest before the shot and after firing one arrow which entered the ring too low for her liking the sound of footsteps alerted her to people approaching the otherwise empty shrine. Since her parents had to tend to various smaller shrines and other properties in the area still - it wasn't them and given her brother wasn't even in town it had to be a guest.Since she was the only person there, naturally it fell on her to be the greeter and the young woman promptly knocked her other arrows further from the path before hastening towards the entrance bow in hand. From a lay viewpoint she was conspicuously off center of the path, hugging the edge of it to her right.

The trip wasn't long - only a couple dozen paces but her eyes seemed to play a trick on her in regards to the young man in question. Normally at that distance he should be immediately visible but she could have sworn it took a little more than an instant for him to come into focus. Then came the person: apparently Japanese but not a face she was familiar with - out of town in other words; the person was tall, nearly a foot taller than herself if she had to guess which made her wonder if he was a Half (half Japanese); then at his side was...a hilt which immediately made her think of a thug since no else in their right mind would carry a shinai or bokken around in public. Certainly a dedicated practitioner might, but she hardly considered someone that dedicated could be considered in their right mind. However the most important detail was the fact this guy had dry hands...something she knew would occur with guests but angered her all the same since it'd add to her work load. Despite this, she politely bowed in greetings with a professional tone.

"Welcome to the Akita North Shrine, dedicated towards the Guardian Spirit Genbu and Fukūjōju Nyorai. Are you here to worship or for a tour? In either case, the ablution fountain is discreetly tucked behind the torii gate out front with another set just behind you outside the main gate. While it's a bit old-fashioned, given we're a rather old and traditional shrine I'll have to trouble you to use it and wash your hands to maintain the purity of the grounds and will be happy to provide assistance if you require it." She slightly tightened her grip on her bow while mentioning the washing of hands, but managed to keep the condescension from her voice while offering assistance. After all there was a genuine technique and etiquette to it that essentially no one actually followed aside from keeping the basin water pure by using the ladle and not getting water back into the basin.

"Of course if you're just lost and are in need of directions I'll happily assist with that too along with any other questions you may have."

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Natsuo was walking along when he spotted a figure in the distance. Having enhanced eye sight really came in handy at times. He used it to his advantage numerous times and allowed him to see a possible threat if need be. By the looks of her, she worked here. What was the term mortals used for ones who worked here and dressed like she did? Oh yes, shrine maidens. By the looks of it, she was very young, around the age Harmony was claiming to be. Natsuo and his siblings hand all decided on what ages they would be 'pretending' to be and all came to the conclusion of being in their late teens to early 20's.

It looked like she was about to use a bow and arrow for something. Natsuo wasn't sure but he was indeed curious. As he approached her, it wasn't long before she spotted him. When he was close enough to her, she greeted him formally with the air of politeness. However, there was a distinct bites to her words, especially about the part of him making use of their fountain. With those words, Natsuo smirked. So he was expected to wash his hands there huh? It was obvious that this shrine was of great importance to this young woman and it was than he remembered what these shrines were used for. Places of worship. It was pretty laughable how ignorant mortals were. There were no other beings or 'deities' other than him, his siblings, and his parents. Well, he guessed the stars could be considered beings since they were also immortal. Natsuo briefly wondered how this girl would react if she knew the truth? Probably go nuts. The summer being though had no intention of revealing himself to her though. It was too dangerous to do so.

"So you want me to wash my hands again, even though I washed them before leaving home? Okay, sure thing sweetheart. Just so you know though, I am not lost and I am definitely not here to worship. I was merely enjoying the place. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll leave you to your duties." Natsuo said in his regal voice.

Even though he had been practicing his Japanese dialect, it would be pretty obvious he wasn't from here. At times he tried mixing it up with a Scottish dialect, but it would come out weird. With a nod to the shrine maiden, he turned around to go wash his hands, even though he didn't see the point of it.

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At the man's response of having to wash his hands outside of his home Azusa found herself inwardly screaming at the ignorance of the Half. Was he so dim that the notion of spiritual cleanliness was lost to him, or was he just incapable of understanding symbolism? After all, there's no way he could have come here for something like a tour given the town wasn't exactly a tourist trap or convenient major city like Kyoto. However the rapidly developed emotion and its target froze dead as he kept talking...did he just call her sweetheart? Who the hell did this punk think he was - this was real life, not some anime where a relatively attractive guy could just strut around with girls clinging to him like some vine to a rock. However she was at work and couldn't afford to act in a manner unbecoming of her job at the time. The fact he turned to leave made things a bit easier though he hadn't denied the possibility of his seeking a tour.

" Then dear foreign guest, I'll also remind you that the washing process also requires you rinse your mouth for adequate spiritual purity. In fact, the proper order is: left hand, right hand, cup water into your left hand to rinse your mouth, and then clean the handle. I'll happily show you around after that."

She couldn't place the accent - a more wild version of the Americans you occasionally see on TV or sporadically as guests in this rural area. However she still stabbed the word 'foreign' to remind the punk that he wasn't behaving as a proper Japanese person despite being Half. For that matter she didn't even bother to keep her tone from the pleasantly icy professional.

" Another bit of shrine trivia: only the gods are supposed to walk down the center of the path, but absolutely no one bothers to make people keep to the sides anymore." Despite her dismissive attitude, she still had to purify the shrine where he walked...and the North Shrine uniform just so happened to be convenient enough to carry cleansing salt. When one included the fact that the grounds of this particular shrine was essentially void of plants along the path she had no reason to not follow the man and scatter the cleansing salt while uttering the proper prayers under her breath. Still, she wasn't sure if the lack of tourists at this point was a good thing or not; on one hand more guests meant more people to potentially taint the ground while on the other hand more shrine maidens could be employed to ensure proper protocol was followed to minimize such troubles. Given that she was using a simple practice bow instead of the ceremonial relic, Azusa could simply lay the bow down and properly use both hands.

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" Then dear foreign guest, I'll also remind you that the washing process also requires you rinse your mouth for adequate spiritual purity. In fact, the proper order is: left hand, right hand, cup water into your left hand to rinse your mouth, and then clean the handle. I'll happily show you around after that."

Those words caused Natsuo to stop and turn around. She certainly liked having the last word didn't see? Was she actually insulting his intelligence? The idea was laughable. If there was one thing Natsuo prided himself in, it was his vast knowledge in many areas, from the all of the stars in their galaxy to even obscure old languages mortals didn't use anymore. Natsuo resisted the urge to laugh, until her next words made him loose it.

" Another bit of shrine trivia: only the gods are supposed to walk down the center of the path, but absolutely no one bothers to make people keep to the sides anymore."

The sheer ridiculousness of her statement caught Natsuo off guard so much that he burst out in laughter. He couldn't recall anyone making him so laugh so hard before. He kept his laughter up to the fountain and washed his hands. Not wanting his hands to stay wet, he used a little air trick to dry his hands off. He returned to the shrine maiden, purposely walking through the center, since he figured he was a god and was following the rules. Striding up, he got right in her face and towered over her.

"There my hands are all nice and clean. Any other things I need to know mother?" he asked with a silly grin on his face.

He wanted to see how far he could push her since he was in the mood. This was the kind of thing he needed at the moment. He already knew he would never intentionally hurt the girl though. His father raised him better than that that all females were to be respected, until they did something to lose that respect.

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The young man's laughter throughout the affair made Azusa feel marginally better. Sure on one hand, it could be interpreted that he was laughing at her the entire trip to the fountain - though she stopped at the gate and turned to leave since he wasn't her problem anymore. However, she was of the school of thought that laughter was more likely a form of coping than of ridicule and while yes her 'last word' was petty and small it was also out of left field from a layman's perspective...in short, she won. The fact he returned into the grounds - notably straight up the middle really on served to prove her point since his defiance was in direct opposition to a matter so trivial even a tiny community like Akita ignored. After all if he was resorting to such a blatant show of defiance, did that not mean he'd forfeit the actual point of the argument? Sure the jab of calling her mother was a jab at her acting old and bossy from his view...but he's allowed to have his (wrong)opinion in modern Japan. Still the part she didn't appreciate was his direct use of physical size to tower over her as if it yielded some gravitas so his stance.

"Your manners are terrible and were this the South or West Shrine I'd take you over my knee since Hōshō Nyorai and Suzaku would appreciate my efforts to clear your bad attitude while Amida Nyorai and Byakko would accept my penance for our shortsightedness." Azusa took a defiant stance of her own in response to the Half's attempt to play the bully while noting in both cases the shrines involved the summer... it must be something about the domain or heat that bridges no short comings. Having finished her two cents, Azusa once more offered a polite bow to her 'guest' after backing up a bit.

" Unfortunately, I really do have duties at the other three shrines to attend and can't afford to play anymore. But feel free to return tomorrow and this Azusa Yamanouchi will entertain you again." After backing up quickly for a few more steps like a servant, Azusa straightened back to her unimpressive full height and turned to retrieve her bow and arrows before hustling back into the building. She'd retrieve the arrow in the inner court at day's end, but if she wanted to properly handle her duties practice would have to be cut short.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Kazumi Orako Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako Character Portrait: Azusa Yamanouchi Character Portrait: Ryou Orako 2
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Kazumi's Code-#FF1493
Natsuo's Code-#0000CD


For the first time in Natsuo's life, he was dumbstruck. His smirk quickly turned into an open mouth and it looked like his eyes would pop out of his head. Turn him over her knee? Did she mean to 'spank' him? In all of his years of life, he never been spanked. Oh sure, he'd been punished, but never like that. And this young lady just threaten to do that to him. He didn't know what to think or say. He barely registered her next words before she left him to do her other duties. He stood there for a good two minutes before shaking his head and leaving the grounds.

Shadow flew and landed on his shoulder, being concerned for his master. Natsuo found his smile.

"I am all right Shadow. Never met a human with a tongue so sharp, that's all. I just may check out a few of these other shrines at some other point. This mortal has me intrigue and definitely won't keep me bored. Funny, I never got her name. Will have to remember that next time. Now what shall we do now? There's plenty of time to kill."

~Maybe get something for Harmony? Get into her good graces?~ Shadow suggested.

Even though Natsuo couldn't communicate to all animals like Kazumi could still speak to birds.

"Good idea Shadow. I know where to go too." Natsuo agreed.

Knowing his sister's love of sweets, Natsuo went to a confectionery shop in the Summer section of the city that he came across. Wanting to make it up to Velonix, he ended up getting a big bag of different types of sweets, from chocolate bon bons to the Japanese sweet, wagashi, making the workers of the store's day.

The sun was just going down when Natsuo returned to their place of residence. He saw his sisters' notes and decided to not worry about them. Much like Kazumi, his thoughts went to his brother, Ryou. He hadn't seen him all day. If something was wrong though, Natsuo was sure his brother would contact him. Deciding to let the matter drop for now, Natsuo placed the sweets in the fridge to keep them cool. He would present them to his sister in person when he got the chance. He decided to eat something for now. He only made enough for himself and ate. It was really strange for him to eat by himself and a bit unnerving. Deciding to read up on the local 'religion' he just experienced, Natsuo went to the library of the house. He got so caught up in reading that he lost track of time. It was dark when he came back into the living room and saw Velonix lying on the couch along with her cats. As carefully as he could, he took off her shoes and placed a blanket on top. As he did that, he saw Kazumi come through the door with Eos and Dawn. Natsuo quickly puts a finger to his lips for her stay silent. Kazumi nods and they exit the room into the kitchen where Kazumi placed her flowers in vases.

"She must of had a busy afternoon." whispers Kazumi.

"I just hope she's feeling better. I was reading and just came in here. How are you?" Natsuo asks.

"Better myself. Have you heard from Ryou?"

"Afraid not. I'll text him really quick. Cells phones are actually pretty handing here."

After saying that, he sent a text to Ryou.

~Hey just wondering where you were. You coming here or to your private home. Talk to you soon.~

"Well, I am going to my room. Night, Pheobus." Kazumi says before leaving.

"Night, Aurora."

With that, the two older siblings went to their rooms for the rest of the night.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Reiya Himura Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako Character Portrait: Ryou Orako 2
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#, as written by CutUp
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Ryou's days on earth have been usually rather uneventful. His days he would spend quietly observing humans from afar, watching as they went about their daily lives. To him their lives were infinitely more interesting than his own. Sure, most would argue that being a literal God would be far more interesting than being some ordinary human, but to him the uniqueness of humanity was the most interesting thing in existence. They lived such short lives, but yet they manage to accomplish such amazing feats in such a short time. Art, music, culture, and all of it was so unique just like they were.

For Ryou the best way to spend his time on Earth was by playing his music out on the street, and today was no different for him. For today he was playing his favorite, his acoustic guitar. He would rotate the instrument that he played, between his guitar, harp, and violin. He plucked at the strings, letting out a sort of soft, dreamy folk melody. As people passed by some would drop some change in his guitar case, and others would stop and simply listen. He gave all that dropped money in his case a polite nod. Though it wasn't that he needed their money, or really even wanted it. But it seemed impolite to not accept it.

His eyes were focused on the people passing by, not even paying attention to the strings of his guitar. He often enjoyed making up various stories for them as he wondered what it was they were going to. What were their lives like? So many different people, so many different lives.

After several hours of playing music Ryou decided it was time for a break. "Wow you're really good!" As soon as he stopped he was approached by several people, all looking to praise him for his musical prowess. His normally pale features began to turn slightly pink, praise was not something that he felt he deserved. "Oh no! I-I'm not that good....but...um thank you, but I must be going now." He gave an overly formal bow to his 'fans', and quickly gathered up his things, and left as fast as he could. Once he was away from them he let out a loud sigh. As much as he enjoyed observing humans he had difficulty interacting with them.

After some time of aimlessly walking around he was struck by a sudden wave of intense fear, causing him to stop in his tracks, and drop his guitar case. He felt a sharp pain on his side, causing him to immediately double over in pain. What was happening? Something wasn't right, but it wasn't with him. "Yuo." He muttered to himself. It had to be. He grabbed his guitar, and sniffed the air. He knew her scent down pat, and could track her easily with his incredible sense of smell.

He ran through the streets, stopping periodically to sniff the air. He was in a state of complete panic, something almost never seen from the normally cool, and calm season, which caused him to lose focus, and get distracted by the various smells of the town, and soon he was completely lost. His fear began to overtake him, he stopped in his tracks, paralyzed. His mind raced with various worse case scenarios, as he could only imagine what was happening to her. And yet he was too scared to even move.

'Why am I so useless?'

He clinched his fists tightly, with tears threatening to come out. And then a sudden feeling of ease began to swell up inside him, causing him to relax a little. Ryou let out a relieved sigh. He didn't know how, or why, but he just knew that she was safe for the moment. He inhaled deeply, and exhaled in a rhythmic fashion to calm himself down so he could think clearly, and focus on finding Yuo. Once he regained his composure he managed to catch her scent. "I'm coming Yuo."

Once he regained his focus it was a simple thing to track down Yuo. Her scent led him to a park, and then eventually a veterinary clinic. He let out a relieved sigh, he was sure that she was in good hands now.




Collab between me and Kura Ravengade
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"He who sows~'.'~'.'~'.'~'.'~'.'~ā€A smooth sea
kindness will reap~'.'~'.'~'.'~never makes
the reward of friendship."~'.'~'.'~'.'~for a skillful sailor."




Jerking her head up, Reiya turned her gaze in the direction of the entrance as the door opened. A snow white head peeked inside, followed by the tall, willowy frame of a boy who looked to be about her age carrying a guitar case. His pretty eyes quickly scanned the room before landing on her and then keying in on the box. In an instant he was across the room and standing directly before her, his much larger frame intimidating.

Reika narrowed her gaze, curling further in on the box, almost as though to protect it from him.

Too close. He's way too close.

A look of alarm crossed the beautiful boyā€™s features, and he came even more uncomfortably close to her, leaning in so that he could see into the box. His unusually cool breath brushed her cheek, ruffling her messy hair and soothing the lacerations that marred her skin.

ā€œPlease, tell me that she is going to be okay.ā€

Turning her head slightly, she was met with those gold orbs directly before hers. He was so close that their noses bumped, and the proximity caused her breath to hitch. It was hard to not stop breathing when a guy who resembled one of the Grecian Gods stood that close to a girl.

Jesus, had the guy not heard of personal space?

Pulling away slightly, she gripped the box tighter.

ā€œSheā€™ll be fine. Sheā€™s just resting right now, no thanks to you,ā€ she snapped, uncharacteristically off-putting. She didnā€™t know why she was acting so protectively aggressive, but she wasnā€™t about to let someone she didnā€™t know just intrude on the small creature that had entrusted her with its life. ā€œShe had a deep wound on her side, but I managed to cleanse and mend it just in time to save her. Sheā€™ll live, but sheā€™s going to be sore for a while, and itā€™ll be a bit of a trek along the road to recovery,ā€ she responded, the only reason her doing so stemming from the clear concern on the boys face. No one could fake that type of worry, and she took solace in the fact that he honestly did seem to care about the small creatureā€™s life.

Not that she trusted him, though. She didnā€™t trust anyone; not anymore.

He let out a relieved sigh, and looked down at his companion ā€œThat is a relief. See, I told you that you shouldn't go wandering around by yourself.ā€ Ryou reached out his hand, and gently caressed the side of the mouseā€™s head. ā€œI was so scared.ā€

Ryou looked up at the girl with a large, and bright smile across his face. ā€œI am so terribly sorry for troubling you. I am in your debt for the care you've shown Yuo.ā€ Ryou stepped back and gave her a deep bow. ā€œAh! Where are my manners? My name is Ryou Orako. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.ā€

Why is he talking like that?

ā€œI must repay you for your kindnessā€¦.but...umā€¦..what would be appropriate compensation?ā€ Ryou tapped his index finger on his chin as he wondered how he could repay her for her kindness. ā€œOh! Please forgive me, I have not asked for thy name! Please tell me your name so I may thank you properly.ā€ He asked with a warm smile, and genuine interest.

Reika sat there for a moment, staring up at him unblinkingly with very little to no emotion on her face. Finally, after what seemed like forever, a crease appeared between her brows.

ā€œYou're weird and you talk funny. Why would I tell a creep like you my name?ā€

ā€Reika! Don't talk to a guest that way! It's rude!ā€ a young male voice exclaimed. Through a doorway that clearly led to the back of the clinic appeared Dr. Rhynes, a brief look of annoyance flashing across his face. When he turned his gaze on Ryou, he offered him a kind smile. ā€You must be the owner of this cute little tyke - and by that I mean the mouse, not the human popcorn sitting in front of you.

ā€œHuman popcorn!ā€ Reika stammered, her voice impediment showing her shock and offense. Ryou looked at the man, and then back to the girl with a puzzled look, wondering how she was human popcorn.

Harvey waved her off with an eye roll. ā€Reika, I love you to pieces, but sometimes your social skills could really use some improvement. You're like a cat; you bristle whenever something's unfamiliar to you or you feel even remotely insulted.ā€ As if on cue, Reika visibly bristled, her face turning red. Harvey, however, continued on without a halt.

ā€Don't worry about the medical expenses. As childish and annoying as she seems, the girl in front of you - who, by the way, is Reika Himura - is a pretty good person, and a damn good veterinarian. She already covered the costs and since she was the working surgeon, there was no session fee itself.ā€

ā€œHey! Don't just be giving out my name to random strangers! For all you know this guy could be some kind of pervert!ā€ She cried, setting the box on the seat beside her and shooting to her feet. She threw her finger in the boyā€™s direction, her eyes narrowed. ā€œThat's it, isn't it! You're just some kind of creepy pervert and that's why you want my name! So you can stalk me, find out where I live, and sit in my bushes while you watch me change!ā€ She shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself, and looked at him with over exaggerated horror. ā€œYou creep!ā€

Ryou blinked several times, confused at her words. Did he do something wrong? Did he insult her in some way? Humans were so strange. ā€œApologizes, I have offended you in some way. Tā€™was not my intentions. I merely wished to thank you properly for taking care of Yuo.ā€ Ryou stated with a smile. [color=#46BAF5][b]ā€œSo, thank you Miss Himura for the care you've shown Yuo. I am forever in your debt.ā€

ā€œHowever, I must insist on compensating you in some way.ā€ Ryou rummaged around in his pocket for a moment, and then pulled out a large wad of bills. ā€œWould this be adequate enough? I can get more if you wish.ā€

A look of cautiousness entered Reikaā€™s features, her expression showing her distrust in the boy. Turning away from him, she huffed slightly, unnaturally riled. She plucked up the box that contained the mouse that she now knew was named Yuo. Without facing him, she responded.

ā€œI don't need your money. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much.ā€

Finally, she turned, holding the box out to him. Once he held the box, she crossed her arms, her oversized sleeves dangling around her wrists. Blowing a few bangs out of her eyes, she studied him.

ā€œYou said Orako?ā€ she questioned, obviously not budging from her stance. After what seemed like ages, she relaxed her shoulders, letting out a sigh. She rubbed at the bridge of her nose, the events of the day taking their toll on her tired brain.

ā€œYou must be one of those new kids that moved to town,ā€ she assumed, using the word kids in a way that came off as slightly condescending, but in actuality wasn't in the least. She puffed out a sigh, holding her hand in his direction. ā€œLike my nice boss over there said, my name's Reika. Reika Himura. And you don't need to pay me for it; I'm well enough off that I don't need any money.ā€ Despite what she said, she very clearly gauged the wad in his hand for a moment, before returning her gaze to his and crossing her arms once more. ā€œIf you really want to ā€˜pay me backā€™, put that money towards something that needs it. There are an orphanage and an animal shelter that are nearby that could use that money far more than I ever could.ā€

Reika looked over at Harvey, her eyes suddenly hollow and frightening. An evil glint even flashed in one.

ā€œOh, Harvey ā€¦ā€ She sang out. The man's eyes widened, and he let out an awkward laugh, scratching at the back of his head.

ā€Haha, well would you look at the time! I'd better get to ā€¦ Uh ā€¦ Checking on the raccoons!ā€ and with that, he fled to the back of the building, proverbial tail between his legs. Reika sighed once more, returning her attention to Ryou.

ā€œIf you ever come here again, don't take anything that nut tries to tell you seriously. He's far too nosy for his own good.ā€ She reached out and grabbed her backpack, releasing a shrill whistle as she did so. Immediately Hope and Clarity perked up from where they were sleeping behind the counter, their ears twitching. She let out another, sharper whistle, and instantly the foxes darted over the counter and up her body, curling around her neck and resting on either one of her shoulders. Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she idly reached up and slipped them each a piece of cracker, to which they devoured almost instantaneously. Reika cast a glance over her shoulder at Ryou, pausing at the door.

ā€œAnyway, it was nice meeting you, Ryou.ā€

With that, she slipped through the door and out into the chilly air. A brisk breeze wrapped around her, and she found herself hugging her elbows closer to her body, a shiver shuddering throughout her.

Why was it so cold?

Ryou gripped the edges of the box tightly, staring at his injured familiar, who was resting inside. He couldn't help but blame himself. His siblings were all so close to their familiars, at times not even being away from their sides, but yet he always allowed Yuo to roam as she saw fit. Pheobus would have never allowed something like this to happen to his companions.

He took in a deep breath, and exhaled a chilling breeze. Ryou took off his jacket and used it to cover the box, and protect Yuo from the cold air. As he stepped through the door he watched as Reika walked away. He still hadn't been able to give her a proper reward.

ā€œMiss Himura wait!ā€ He called out to her as he came towards her. ā€œHere, please take it.ā€ He placed the wad of bills in her hand. ā€œIf you don't want it, then you can give it the orphanage or animal shelter yourself. But I cannot allow your kindness to go unrewarded.ā€

ā€œWell, I shouldn't take anymore of your time.ā€ Ryou said as he turned around and began to walk away. ā€œIt was a pleasure meeting you Miss Himura. I hope that we may meet again...but hopefully on better circumstances. Have a pleasant evening.ā€

Reika held the money in her hand, an expression that was mixed with both annoyance and confusion crossing her features.

ā€œWhat a pushy guy,ā€ she muttered, staring at his retreating back. After a few moments, she shoved the money into her bag, stifling a sigh. She cast a curious look to her little foxes. ā€œWhy would he want to meet me again, anyway? I was rude towards him, and while I know that it's a defense mechanism of my own creation, he doesn't know that. So why?ā€ She focused her gaze once more on Ryouā€™s back, who at this point was a small figure in the distance.

She had heard from her friends and cousin that the new family that had moved to town was weird, but something was definitely off about that boy. It wasn't just the way that he spoke (his dialect and accent were definitely ones belonging to that of a foreigner, and yet he spoke flawless Japanese), nor was it the way that he threw around his money so flamboyantly. His gentlemanly air was definitely rare to find in a male, especially a teenager, but that wasn't it either.

No, it was something that she couldn't quite put her finger on; almost a sense or a feeling that he gave her. And no, it wasn't because he was cute, even if that was an undeniable fact. He was also too kind, and what she could only name as stoic in the air that he held about himself.

Good.

Reika narrowed her eyes slightly, tapping her chin in thought. The word definitely suited him. He was good, almost too good, in both his presence and his personality. Was it a front for something far darker hidden beneath him? Or was he genuinely just a good person? Whichever one it was, only one fact rang true.

There was something very off about him.

And she intended to find out what that was.

After parting ways with Reika, Ryou peaked underneath his jacket to check on Yuo. 'Let's get you home. I was so scared that I was going to lose you. If I did I don't know what I would have done." His voice was soft and soothing. ~I'm fine.....a little sore, but I'm fine. I had the situation perfectly under control before she arrived.~ Ryou stifled a chuckle, well at least she was acting like herself. "I never doubted it."

~Filthy mongrel fox, thinking that it could snack on me! The gall!~ Before she could continue they were soon interrupted by the sound of him receiving a text from one of his siblings. Ryou slipped the box underneath his arm, and pulled out his cellphone. It wasn't his favorite way to communicate, but there was no denying the convenience of it, even if he didn't understand half of it's functions.

~Hey just wondering where you were. You coming here or to your private home. Talk to you soon.~

~Sorry, had an emergency. It seems as though a fox tried to make a snack out of Yuo. But don't worry she's fine. She was found by a very nice human who took her to the animal clinic. I will head to my private home. Good night, I will see you tomorrow.~

Once the reply was sent he put his phone back, and headed home. "Let's get you home, and get some rest." He said with a cheerful smile.

~I suppose that would do. That small, and bespectacled human was rather odd. As far as humans go, she wasn't so bad, despite the fleabags that she keeps company with.~

"Yeah, I thought so too. Minus the fleabag part. She was nice, though odd. I wonder if we'll see her again?"

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Velonix Orako Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako Character Portrait: Ryou Orako 2 Character Portrait: Aurora Orako
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ā€I've spent so long trying to fit in ...
Trying to be someone that I wasn't ...
That I don't even know who I am anymore.
And that scares me more than anything else possibly could.ā€





ā€Ha! Look at the giant orange, thinking she can actually climb a tree! Fat oranges are too heavy to climb trees!ā€

ā€œIf you just come down on, we wonā€™t beat you up too hard, you fat, ugly orange!ā€

ā€œWhat a silly fat orange! Careful, the tree might break under all of your fatness!ā€

A string of low snickers spread throughout the boys, who stood down below in a circle around the base of the large oak tree. High above them perched a little girl, who looked no more than seven or eight years old, who clung to the truck of the tree, tears streaming down her rosy cheeks.

ā€œGo away! Leave me alone! My Mama and Papa are going to be really mad at you!ā€ she cried, her voice a slight wail.

More snickers made their ways up to her ears, and one of the boys in particular stepped forward, hands shoved into his pockets. He looked up at her with a dark glint in his eyes, his lips a sneer.

ā€œWhy donā€™t you use your ā€˜magic powersā€™ to beat us all up, fatty!ā€ he called, ending on a chortle. The little girl sniffed loudly, more tears streaming down her cheeks, and she curled her fingers into the bark of the tree, looking down at her legs through the stream of warm liquid.

ā€œStop it! Why are you being so mean to me? I th-th-thought you were my friend!ā€ she sobbed.

The boys lips twisted into an even uglier smile, and he turned towards the group of boys, laughing loudly.

ā€œHear that guys? She actually thought I was her friend!ā€ After a solid minute or so of laughter, he turned back to face her, the darkness in her aura causing her blood to run cold. ā€œAs if I would ever actually want to be friends with a fat, ugly orange like you! Youā€™re even shaped like an orange - fat and round!ā€ Casting a glance over his shoulder at his friends, he jerked his head. ā€œCā€™mon, letā€™s throw stuff at her until she has to come down!ā€

Chatters of agreement rang out, and within moments there was an arch of rocks and tree branches thrown up at the child. A chorus of thwacks echoed off of the tree and the following thud of them making contact with the ground pushed her to grip even more tightly at the trunk. When none of the first wave hit her, the boys rushed to gather their rocks once more, starting the attack anew. She gently pried open her eyes to watch for any rocks that may actually hit her - and at the exact moment that one appeared directly in her line of vision.

She swung her hand quickly in an attempt to block it in some way, not even necessarily with her powers, but just block it, but it was too late.

A splitting pain splintered throughout her head, tracing back to the center of her forehead. Black stars speckled her vision, her fingers slowly lost their grips on the tree trunk, and a second later she felt her body pitch forward and off of the tree. The boys yelled out in a mixture of surprise and alarm, but she very dimly heard it, her half-closed eyes focusing on the ground that was currently flying at her face.





Harmonix shot up, her hand thrown out as though to catch herself, and in the process she threw the blanket on top of her to the side. Mio and Dusk jolted off of her body in surprise, maneuvering easily onto the back of the couch near her head. Her breathing was immensely deep, her chest heaving, and when she placed her hand over her heart, she could feel it thundering powerfully.

Why? Why were the dreams coming more and more frequently?

Casting a glance around the living room, she slowly drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped one arm around it. The hand attached to her other arm pressed against one side of her face as she blinked away what was left of her sleepy state, attempting to gather her wits.

Was it because she had made the decision to come back to Earth?

No. That couldnā€™t have been it. She had been experiencing them since before she ever even thought of the idea to run away, so to think it was the fault of being on the planet itself wasnā€™t logical.

Puffing out a breath, she swung her legs over the side of the couch and rose, stretching as she did so and appearing very similar to the animals that followed her everywhere. Once done, she scratched her forearm, making her way out of the room and towards the stairs, her destination very clearly her bedroom. A quick look at the grandfather clock in the hallway told her it was just barely past sunrise, along with the light streaming in through every window that she passed. When she finally reached her room, she quickly crossed it and into her enormous walk-in closet, obviously intent on dressing herself from the coming day.

Her sense of fashion had always been a bit odd, at least by the standards of the current human industry. It was without a doubt that she would be looked at with weird expressions should she wear anything remotely close to what she and her siblings normally wore when living with their parents, but the fact of the matter was that she couldnā€™t care less. Sheā€™d rather wear something that she loved and feel confident, than attempt to fit into societyā€™s standards and wear something dull and uncomfortable. This explained the outfit that she finally decided upon; a beautiful brown and white dressed, embroidered with gold sinews, and adorned with a brown leather pouch that was attached to two straps that attached to the hips of the dress. It was definitely extravagant, and as she tugged it on, she gave herself a soft smile in the mirror.

If she were to look at herself from a humanā€™s perspective, she would look as though she were dressed for one of those conventions that humans dressed so beautifully at, or for their celebrated holiday by the name of ā€˜Halloweenā€™.

Harmonix couldnā€™t muster any care for that, though, but instead performed a small twirl in front of her large mirror, the skirt flitting up and around her waist. She blushed slightly, smoothing the material back down and making a mental note to watch out for any stray breezes.

Tying a bow made of matching material into her hair to hold half of it back from her face, she slipped on a pair of brown leather boots that ended at her knees. She gave in and twirled once more, stifling a soft giggle.

You look so pretty, Harmony!

The girl in question turned her gaze downward, beaming at Dusk, who had slipped into the closet to admire her mistressā€™s outfit choice. Picking her up, Harmony cradled the beautiful cat in her arms, who purred in delight at the affection. It was easy to make her way downstairs while carrying the animal, for she did it often enough to not have to worry about falling.

As she made her way into the kitchen, she paused. The lack of sound throughout the house betrayed the fact that her siblings were still fast asleep. She squinted slightly at the sunlight streaming through the windows and glinting off of the beautiful counters, making her way towards the fridge and allowing Dusk to hop from her arms as she did so.

ā€œMight as well start breakfast, donā€™t you agree?ā€ she asked, rifling through the fridge and pulling out a horde of ingredients as she did so. By the time that she had finished pulling everything out, there was a vast array of items covering the counter top that she used for all of her ā€˜prep workā€™. Harmony snagged one of the many alligator clips that were magnetically attached to the fridge, quickly drew her beautiful locks back into it, and tossed a pretty orange apron over her head, expertly tying it into an intricate bow at her lower back. Immediately she went into motion, her body easily following the rhythmic actions that it had become oh so accustomed to over her years of cooking with her mother.

The saying goes that one should whistle while they work, but in Harmonyā€™s mind, thatā€™s drawing oneself short of their vast capabilities. Why not expand oneā€™s horizons and evolve into the level of singing? Whistling showed restraint, which one should not have when doing anything musically inclined.

Music was freedom.

This was her reasoning for why she shouldnā€™t be ashamed for her vocalization of My Most Precious Treaure; and besides, her voice was her gift. While her siblings were more physically instrumentally inclined, she was gifted in a more inward way - with her vocal chords. Of course, she knew how to play piano, as did all of her siblings, and she had taught herself guitar, but that was the extent of her playing talents. Ryou was the one skilled in the art of string instruments, and while she adored music, she had learned all that she figured she needed to know instrument-wise in order to flawlessly conduct and write music.

The singing made the time practically fly by. In fact, when she next looked up, while she was setting the table for everyone and had already finished the cooking, an hour had already passed. It was the normal time for anyone in their house to rise, and so she sped up her movements, quickly settling the dishes for each of her siblings in their respective spots.

For Phoebus, she had cooked spicy chorizo sausage with potatoes and eggs in a wrap, ensuring that his food with too spicy for her to consider edibles, and so hot that it would burn the tongue to the touch; however, for Aurora, she had prepared a delicious broccoli, cheddar, and spinach frittata, ever careful not to include any type of meat in her food. For Ellyion she placed a plate with three deviled eggs and two large blueberry crepes with powdered sugar and whipped cream before his seat. And for herself? Dark chocolate waffles with ganache, strawberries, powdered sugar, whipped cream, and twinberry syrup coating it.

Footsteps tapped in the hallway just outside the door, so twirling around, Harmony beamed in the direction of whoever was entering the kitchen, wooden spoon held up in greeting. Flour and powdered sugar was dusted across her apron, and a bit of it had formed a line across her cheek without her knowledge, but even if she knew it was there she wouldnā€™t care. As always, she was forcing herself not to be bothered by anything - forcing herself to push an outward facade of joy and happiness when around others. It grew tiring, but what was even more exhausting than that was dealing with the worry and pity that came along with showing her true emotions.

Besides, if one forces the appearance of everything being okay, and of being in an elated mood, wouldnā€™t that just force the facade to become a reality?

She didnā€™t know for sure, but that was her reasoning.

ā€œGood morning!ā€ she sang out.

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Character Portrait: Velonix Orako Character Portrait: Kazumi Orako Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako
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Kazumi's Code- #FF1493
Natsuo's Code- #0000CD


It was rare for Kazumi to not rise in time to do her sunrise dancing, but due to her creative juices into making a flower necklace for her sister, that's exactly what happened. Originally she had tried going to sleep, but kept tossing and turning and finally gave up. She decided to go back downstairs around midnight to see her sister still asleep. She carefully took the flowers out of their vase and went back up to her room. She had ordered the dogs to stay put for once. It was nearly 2 am when she finished the necklace and placed it on a rack she made for her flower necklace. She sprayed them with water before finally collapsing on her bed. She woke up when she felt Dawn waking her up by licking her face. On the rare chance she didn't wake up at her normal time, she instructed the dogs to wake her up an hour after sunrise. Opening her eyes she looked to see the sun shining through her curtains.

"Well there goes my morning exercise. We'll just do a sunset dance than." she said to the dogs as she got up.

Getting, up and knowing she was going to be working today as well, Kazumi dressed in one of her many sun dresses. Over it she had a pink shawl on. Taking the flower necklace of fall flowers that were yellow, orange, and pink, Kazumi left her room with the dogs following.

As soon as she entered the room, she heard her sister say good morning, as if she didn't have a care in the world. Kazumi smiled. She understood that her sister was only pretending that everything was okay. She wasn't going to bring up yesterday unless her sister did.

"Good morning Harmony." she said before seeing that her sister made them all breakfast.

It was a good thing that Natsuo and Velonix knew how to cook because Kazumi was a disaster in the kitchen. First time she tried doing it, she took out the whole kitchen and part of the room next door. She herself was black from head to toe, along with her mother and Astra. She had only been 13 at the time. Her father had gotten a hoot out of that as well as others. The memory was a good one, although embarrassing.

Bringing her mind back to present, Kazumi saw that Velonix was done.

"Before we set the table, I need to do something really quick. Here sweetie. I hope you like it."

With that she placed the flower necklace around her sister's neck before adding, "Love you sugar."

Giving her sister a hug, she went to helping her set the table. It wasn't long until Natsuo came down. He always had an alarm clock. He always trained before eating breakfast, so when he came down, he was in his training gear. He had no work today, but tomorrow he would. He had already gotten his brother's text when he woke up. He could have easily gone outside without anyone noticing, but hearing noise in the kitchen, he saw both of his sisters up.

"Good morning. I'll be doing my training really quick so, Harmony if you could keep my plate in the microwave, that be great. Oh, Ellyion is at his private house too. Who's turn is it to send him his breakfast?"

"It's your turn brother dear. Or do you want to go Harmony?" Kazumi answered as she started to eat her breakfast with some hot tea.

"Lovely, oh well. Oh Harmony, I really wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I promise I will work on my behavior. To make it up to you for now, I got your this." Natsuo said before getting all of the sweets he bought out of the fridge.

"Hehehe, that's sweet of you Phoebus."

Natsuo smiled before turning to Velonix to see her reaction.

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Character Portrait: Velonix Orako Character Portrait: Reiya Himura Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako Character Portrait: Ryou Orako 2 Character Portrait: Aurora Orako
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ā€One day or day one. You decide.ā€



Velonix felt tears well up in her large eyes as her sister placed the pretty flowers around her neck. Biting her lower lip in an effort to keep it from trembling, she threw her arms around the other girl in a tight embrace. "I love it," she said quietly. It was clear that Aurora was trying to make her feel better, but instead of the action being irritating, it made her spirits lift a bit.

She took a step back, her hand swiping at her wet eyes, and fixated a more genuine smile on Phoebus as he entered the room. A nod of understanding in response, she made quick work of wrapping his food and placing it in the microwave to be reheated later. She also boxed up Ellyion's food, taking special care with the cute white laced bow that she wrapped around the box.

When she stepped away from the counter, a package of sweets were thrust near her face, catching her slightly off guard. She smiled, however, through the surprise and accepted the goodies, going on her toes to peck Phoebus lightly on his warm cheek.

"I cannot wait to eat them! I'll take them with me to work and share them with Mr. Zwemmer!" she exclaimed excitedly, accepting the peace offering with glee. Slipping the package into her bag, she quickly boxed up her own breakfast, having only just noticed the time. "Speaking of, I really need to get going to work. Don't worry about dropping off Lio's food - his little home isn't too far from the bookstore, so I can do it!" She slipped the cute little blue and white box into her bag atop the package of sweets given to her by her elder brother. The two boxes rested beside her large book with its matching ink bottle and quill alongside it. Her wallet lay atop that, alongside some music sheets that she planned to transpose from their current Bb Clarinet status and instead into their Eb Clarinet counterpart. Working at a bookstore was fun, but definitely not eventful. It was a fairly busy shop, due to it being only one of two bookstores in the entire town, but it really didn't see a lot of outstanding action.

With that, she lifted her apron above her head, dropped it onto its peg beside the door, tugged on a gray colored sweater and then flattened it out over her skirt. With a quick wave over her shoulder and a mental word with Dusk and Mio, who scampered down the stairs to meet her, she took off out of the kitchen, quickly slipped her brown boots onto her tiny feet, and was out the door in a matter of moments. As she walked outside, she drew on her ever present brown leather gloves, enjoying the warmth of the sun shining above her. Instead of taking her flashy - she cringed at the thought - car into work with her, she opted to walk, having planned out enough time for her to walk to Lio's private home and then to her work with a leisurely pace in between.

Her movements faltered a bit, however, as she passed by a specific diner that she had been at the night before. As she proceeded by the windows, she couldnā€™t help her straying gaze. It looked through them, ignoring the slight glare that the morning sunlight made on the panes, and almost instantly locked in on the orange mess of hair that belonged to a certain busboy who was employed there. His back was to her, so she took a moment to pause and look in at him. Dusk and Mio propped themselves up on the outside ledge of the windows, craning their heads to look at Takeo too, obviously curious as to what had gotten their mistress so distracted.

Despite the distance and the separation of windows between them, Velonix was able to make out the slight outlines of muscles underneath his shirt. Her siblings and herself all had enhanced physical abilities, of course - their strength and speed were above that of a humanā€™s, and their stamina and agility were on par with those. Their hearing, sight, taste, smell, and sense of touch were above that of a humanā€™s, also, although her brothers definitely surpassed her by far in her sight and sense of smell, and if her own were phenomenal, she could only imagine how incredible her brotherā€™s were.

She would definitely be lying if she said that the sight of his lined muscles - he had a leaner physique, giving his muscles more definition - didnā€™t stir something deep inside of her. The sensation of her cheeks growing warm caused her to slap her free hand over one, her eyes growing wide as her breathing hitched slightly. His aura was a perfect match, with its mesmerizing swirls of blue, orange, brown, red, and black. It was one of the most colorful of auras that she had ever seen attached to a single human being, and it had caught her eye instantly. She may be a goddess, but she was far from blind, and to her, the young man standing a mere fifteen feet away was extremely, extremely attractive, in both appearance and aura.

Takeo moved slightly, his motions that of someone lifting an object, and when he turned he was holding a tub filled with dirty dishes, his attention focused over his shoulder as he shouted something indiscernible undoubtedly to Ruri or Yousuke. In that moment, it was almost as though time froze for her. Her heart stopped in her chest and her breath went with it. He looked so ungodly familiar that it almost hurt, and she felt a feeling in her chest that she couldnā€™t quite place a name on. Was it longing? She couldnā€™t ever remember feeling the emotion, but it was something that seemed familiar, almost as though she had felt it before, even though she knew that her parents had ensured that she had never wanted for anything growing up.

When she looked up from where her gaze was focused on the center of his abdomen, it was to meet his intensely focused hazel eyes. The darkness in them caused a small well of anxiety to twirl in her stomach, and she quickly looked away. After standing there for a moment longer, she bit her lower lip, fighting off the well of tears that threatened to overflow, and turned away.

Writerā€™s Note: This post ends rather abruptly and awkwardly because it will be continued in the next post, which will be a slight collaboration between Cutup and myself involving the characters Reiya, Ryou, and Velonix.

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Character Portrait: Kazumi Orako Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako
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Kazumi's Code- #FF1493
Natsuo's Code- #0000CD


Both Kazumi and Natsuo were happy with the response Velonix gave their gifts. Seeing their sister in such better spirits tended to create a domino effect, so much so that the two older seasons didn't even tease each other for once. Kazumi was never one to rush eating so she took her time eating the delicious meal Velonix prepared. Both she and Natsuo managed to say bye to their sister as she left to give Ryou his breakfast.

Once her sister was gone Kazumi turned to Natsuo quickly, "I guess you'll handle the next delivery the next time our brother doesn't show up. Or do you want me to?"

Before Natsuo headed out the door, he turn to the eldest. He thought about his answer for a few minutes before replying.

"If he doesn't show up tomorrow, I'll take it to him since I have the afternoon shift tomorrow. I haven't seen him in a few days either. If there is one thing I don't like about being me, it's my low tolerance for cold weather."

Kazumi smiled sympathetically. Even though she could tolerate cold weather better than Natsuo, she still preferred warmer weather. Velonix was slightly more tolerant to colder weather than her too. Still the sisters saw Ryou more than Natsuo. Natsuo loved Ryou, it was just a shame that due to their seasons, they couldn't see each other as much as they would like. It was easier for Natsuo to go into colder areas than for Ryou to go into warmer areas. At least in colder weather, one could bundle up more, whereas in hot weather you could only wear so much clothing and the seasons could only regulate their body temperatures to an extent outside of their comfort areas. Ryou could withstand below zero levels, but hated hot weather.

"Well I am going to train. You going to work today right?" Natsuo asked.

"Mmmhmmm, I'll probably be gone by the time you get back from training. I really enjoy working the morning shifts. I'll see you this evening, but I'll let you know if something comes up."

Natsuo would have left, but a sudden thought came to him.

"How much longer do you think it'll be before they find us?"

Kazumi sat up at that and answered in a serious tone, "Not much longer I believe. That's what my gut has told me. This world is very technologically advanced. Due to this town having all four seasons here, it wouldn't surprise me if word got out already of the circumstances. Both Astra and Nixon take their duties seriously and Nixon is pretty much obsessed with Harmony. We're going to have to come up with a plan with how to deal with them because you know they're going to demand we return home immediately."

Natsuo nodded, fully agreeing.

"We're going to have to talk to Harmony about this. Since it was her decision to come here in the first place, I've always felt it should be her decision on when we leave. When do you think we should bring this up?"

"Tomorrow. Today we'll give her a day off since she's in a good mood. We'll need Elyion home too. He's better at keeping her calm than the two of us put together." Kazumi laughed.

Natsuo smiled too.

"I am going to train now. Have a nice day and be safe." he said before leaving.

Kazumi finished her breakfast and cleaned up after herself. She than finished getting ready by brushing her teeth, putting her hair in a low ponytail, and applying on a little make up. Being who she was, she really didn't need to put any make up on, but she enjoyed putting on a little mascara and lipstick. Her skin was immaculate so she didn't need any of that facial stuff. Calling on Eos and Dawn, she left and headed to work.

She always got there early to help Fudo set up for the store to open. She put the vests on the dogs and with her own spare key to the work place, she went inside. She just got that key this week too. Fudo was apprehensive about giving her one, but seeing how natural and responsible she was with working at the place, he gave her a key, on the condition that she didn't arrive before him. It was something she was fine with. She removes her shawl and goes to where the employee's room area. It was small, but head enough room for some lockers and a small fridge for food. Kazumi always ate out so she never used it. She had her own locker and in it she had her work apron and name tag. The apron was to prevent dirt from getting on her outfit. Removing her shawl, she grabbed the apron, placed the shawl there, and put the apron on. The name tag was already pinned on the apron. Heading to the Greenhouse that was attached to the store, Kazumi walked in to see Kudo checking on some of their stock.

"Good morning Fudo." Kazumi said.

"Morning, Kazumi. Give me a hand with these dahlias okay?" he asked.


"Yes sir!" Kazumi replied before going to help him.

Eos and Dawn made sure to stay in a corner out of the way as they watched Kazumi work. Soon it was time to open up the store and Kazumi made sure to clean her hands before doing that. She was at the register when with the dogs behind her when the store bell chimed, signally someone coming in. Knowing Emiko wouldn't show up until after lunch, Kazumi put on her brightest small and turned to the door.


"Welcome to Sachi's. Is there anything I can help you with?"

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Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako Character Portrait: Azusa Yamanouchi
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Natsuo's Code- #0000CD


Natsuo made sure to get a good work out in. When he went back inside, sure enough, Kazumi was gone. It always felt weird to be alone in an empty house. Pushing down the unnerving feeling, Natsuo went to take a shower and get dressed for the day. Before eating himself, he refilled the various bird eaters around the place. That was one chore he took up since he was a bird person. Besides some of the bird feeders were too high for the others to reach. With that done, he finally reheated his breakfast and got himself some hot tea. He loved his sister's cooking. Normally she did breakfast and he did dinner. Already he was thinking of what to make everyone. It was interesting how none of them ate the same thing with Aurora being a veggie eater, he loving his spice, Harmony with her sweet tooth, and Ellyion eating cold food. Sometimes they were eat similar things like Aurora and Ellyion would eat salads at times. He really missed them being all together though. Maybe they could eat out together tonight? Or sometime soon. Knowing his sister was working now, he decided he would wait.

Finishing breakfast, he decided to get out and find one of the shrines. That one mortal caught his interest and he was genuinely curious about these 'shrines'. Maybe he should research them first. So he took 30 minutes to check online about the shrines. The internet was a pretty interesting thing humans came up with. He learned how to navigate it in no time. He found out that the most likely shrine that young woman would be at was the Western one. Seeing how close it was, he decided to walk. Decision made, he quickly finished getting ready and headed out.

After a ten minute walk he finally made it to the shrine. This was was different from the last one, but he could see the similarities. Immediately seeing the fountain, he decided to obey the rules for once and washed his hands and let them dry naturally. He walked around, but not finding that shrine maiden. It be a darn shame if by some chance he missed her. Sitting at one of the benches, he looked out, watching the birds fly around, one of them being Aeolus this time, who actually flew right onto his shoulder.

~Are you actually waiting for someone, Master Pheobus?~
the bird asked.

He was actually the most curious and loquacious of his bird friends.

~Believe it or not I am. But if she doesn't show up in ten more minutes, I'll just have to leave. Seeing how I don't have anything else to do at the moment, I am willing to be patient for a time.~ Natsuo replied back telepathically.

The bird shook his head and took off, leaving Natsuo alone.

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Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako Character Portrait: Azusa Yamanouchi
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When Azusa finally arrived at the West Shrine winded from her mad dash, she opted for a breather - and used a bit more water than she normally would to get rid of some perspiration. Still as she ascended the stairs her mind was on getting things ready for her cousin until a certain someone finally came into view within the shrine itself. What was that Half doing here? Certainly she said she'd school him today at either here or the South Shrine but it wasn't like she thought he'd actually take her up on it! Was he some kind of weirdo with a fetish or just a stalker? Still aside from the shock on her face no words left her mouth, after all the fact he guessed right on a 50-50 could mean anything...right?

" I see you found your way to the West Shrine today." The teenager strained out the sentence since there was no way to get deeper into the shrine without attracting any attention. If such was the case she may as well just get the whole thing over with.

" I don't suppose you're here for a tour?" As a cautionary measure, Azusa had made no move to advance closer than necessary. After all, she wasn't an idiot - with such a height difference his stride was much long than hers and the potential need to run that much harder. Of course if she did have to run and could get away, the police would definitely take her side over that of a foreign Half Japanese. Still, negative considerations aside, the young lady wasn't about to visibly give so much as a millimeter of ground on her own turf. It was definitely beginning to look like the start of a rough day.

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Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako Character Portrait: Azusa Yamanouchi
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Natsuo's Code- #0000CD


Natsuo had seen her coming from a good distance. By the the time she reached him, he had his lazy smile in place. He could tell she wasn't happy to see him, but it he didn't mind. At least she hadn't ignored him. If there was one thing he and Aurora shared in common is that they were both extroverts and really didn't like being ignored. He remembered how jealous Aurora use to get when they were kids when he get more attention from their parents than her, or at least that's how she perceived it. But Natsuo knew he got more attention for his trouble making abilities. Looking at this shrine maiden, he could already see some similarities to her and Aurora.

~I better hope these two will never get together or I'll really be in for it.~ he thought to himself.

After the young lady asked her question about a tour, Natuso stood up and approached her, but didn't crowd her for once. He could feel her uneasiness underneath her hard shell.

"I will admit, these shrines intrigued me since I never seen anything like them, but I'll be honest and say I find you to be more interesting. I am in a good mood at the moment so I won't pester you too much because I know you have a job to do. If you want to show me around, I am game. By the way, my name is Natuo Orako." he said, introducing himself.

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Character Portrait: Natsuo Orako Character Portrait: Azusa Yamanouchi
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The halfā€™s...Natsuoā€™s change in demeanor from the previous day was suspicious from Azusaā€™s standpoint. Certainly it was possible that he could have spent some time on the internet looking up various shrine details and that of etiquette as a whole. But implementing and remembering everything overnight was an entirely different thing entirely; sure he could have known all this and just been utterly obtuse the day before as an act though that just made his motive all the more suspect. Still since heā€™d given his name properly, sheā€™d properly give her own this time.

ā€œAzusa Yamanouchi, and if you donā€™t mind it being overly brief I can certainly give a tour before my cousin arrives.ā€ She squeezed out a proper formal introduction before advancing past her guest (stalker). At any rate the pointed detail of family arriving should keep things tame enough. The ever rhythmic pattern to her gait unperturbed as she continued speaking.

ā€ Given the time of year, this Western Shrine is the main one for the season but as we near Autumn the focus will instead shift towards the Southern Shrine. This shrine being dedicated to Byakko and the Buddha Amida as you can tell is designed with the respectives themes of the tiger and that transition from a gentle Spring to a fiery Summer. Meanwhile the South Shrine uses the theme of the bird Suzaku to capture that Summer to Autumn transition in all its colors and shades.ā€ Despite her head being oriented so she could speak towards a guest while leading the way as it shouldā€¦ Azusa honestly neglected to actually check if she was being followed since she honestly just wanted to politely finish.

However that didnā€™t stop her steps from quickly cross the distance towards the main building of the shrine. As wish papers came into view that dangled along the rails and various tree branch she spoke again ā€ Given the time of year, itā€™s not uncommon for students to wish for good grades or summer romances here. Of course other wishes are also made, but forgive me for not wanting to indulge in rumours and gossip if I can. All Iā€™ll comment is that Iā€™m just a caretaker - a janitor for the enshrined - issues of wishes and policies should be directed toward the divinity in charge.ā€ Of course she knew the joke was a weak one, but she felt no reason to truly be formal at the momentā€¦ something was just to inexplicably comfortable despite the situation. She quickly forced herself back into a more businesslike level of seriousness before speaking again.

ā€ Atop the stairs are the large cords for shrine bells. Customarily those are rung two to three times. Inside the doors, which Iā€™ll be unlocking is the interior of the shrine with the altar - mind the railings do in fact mean ā€˜donā€™t touchā€™. The door at the back is the Inner Sanctum, even Iā€™m not allowed in there so naturally I canā€™t unlock it.ā€ She rose her voice as she rushed up the stairs to act upon her statement. Finally, she had to presence of mind to address Natsuo.

ā€Anything more detailed or specific youā€™d like to hear?ā€