We have added a few things to the requirements to power and ability upgrades. Be sure and read the details in the most recent update when you request a new power / upgrade.
Well, its the weekend here at MHS. Wouldn't it be great if all schools started on a Friday for the first day of school. What a way to start off. You get a weekend right after your first day. Well, this is because we are done with the first day of class. How so you ask. As you only went to one class. yes, but I am sure that doing the same thing for each class would get boring. So the one class you experienced is basically how all the classes are going to be.
Teacher posts role. Day gets started, end of class happens, everyone goes to their next class, or home..
Well, ezboard still hasn't confirmed anything on a final date when everything is changed over to Yuku. And we are working on what to do next. We all want user friendliness after everything is changed away from Ezbaord, and we are trying everything we can to ensure that we have just that when we are at a new board hosting site.
We have a guest book. Take a look. If you haven't taken a look yet, be sure and do so. ^_^
Administrator Updates
Itami14's Rants
Okay, we have Gold for 3 months! Thanks for ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS EVERYONE!!!!!! Yay for no more ads!!!! <3
Merciah's Random Banter
Mwahahahaha I hath returned.....
I heard that a few things have slowed down whle others just got loopy. 0.o I'm going to have to look into this....
Oh, And I thought fall was over. Well, it is now. ^_^
Hmmm, Maybe I should leave a random note...
Random note away.......
TROUBLE MAKERS.......
BEWARE!!!!!!!
XTaiX's Pointless Thoughts
Hey everyone, The chat is not gone so dont worry I put a link in the Admin Annoucements and atop of the sidebar so be happy dont worry! ez message me if you want to say anything. Laterz, Tai
DevJackson's Words of Wisdom
Meh, school sucks. Let me know if you need anything done via ezMessage or if I'm in chat, just ask me.
The Wonderful World of CC!
Tis Tai-Erm I mean coolies just giving some change in my message. Btw I love tai teh hardest.=p lol. Need anything then just send my an ezmail or catch me in chat. ^_^
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1684
(1/11/07 2:51 am) Reply
Like No Other (Hellsy)
A search for solitude and peace led to the auditorium. It may not the most scenic places on campus, but it delivered library-level peace and quiet. Amber was sitting along the edge of the stage, today dressed in brighter colors than usual. The jumper skirt she decided to wear was pink with delicate white lace tracing patterns along the neckline, straps, sleeves and in perpendicular directions along the skirt. White thigh high stockings and pink mary jane heels were partially hidden by the soft black mantle resting on her lap. The blouse and even the entire dress was soft to the touch. Pinned to locks of hair were a pair of pink flowers with dangling white ribbons.
"Ow! Should be careful..."
The winged and doll-like girl was adding additional lace-edged bow to the mantle, not immune to the needle's sharp tip pricking her finger. Once in a while, she would alter one of her creations whenever she felt like it; this particular garment she had three weeks to finish. In that time, there had been interruptions of the heavenly sort, not to mention the third floor had become increasingly lively. Surrounded by a quiet atmosphere and no other soul to hear, Amber sung a soft and gentle tune while she worked:
Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in muli eribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tuae, Jesus.
Ave Maria
As usual, Vash was in the rafters, thinking to himself. He enjoyed the darkness it provided while giving a vantage point to watch people below. Today, it was Amber. She had been sitting on the stage, sewing to her heart's content. He smiled to himself as he watched from above, crouched in the cramped space above. She seemed so care free int he tranquil setting. It was a nice change of pace from the secretly distressed girl, always confessing some sort of worry or sin to the dunpeal. Myabe she had finally found peace? He had been gone so long, it was hard to tell.
The song came to him like a charmer's orders from his flute. He was sure she would enjoy his company more if she knew he was there. In light of this, Vash snaked his way through the rafters until he was directly behind the girl. The song had finished (at least the first verse, he wasn't sure how long it was) and he decided giving some warning would be better than just appearing behind her, as he was so used to doing with others.
"Very beautiful..." he commented, his voice echoing around the entire auditorium.
Vash dropped from the rafters after that, almost as if instantly appearing behind the girl with the silence he did it in. It was one of those things he enjoyed doing as a dunpeal, for whatever instinctual reason. He then tok a few steps forwards until he was directly behind the girl. Once more, a warm smile was on his face as he looked uncharacteristically pleased.
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1687
(1/11/07 3:02 pm) Reply
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"Very beautiful..."
The familiar voice drew the nephilim from her meditative state and a blush crossed her cheeks. Had he already been in here and she simply lured him out from the shadows? Her fingertips touched her throat for only a moment before they settled on the mantle across her lap. Rarely did she sing around others, feeling her voice was flawed compared to others on campus.
Beautiful? No...not likely...
Now she could feel his presence right behind her. Usually Amber detested that feeling of being watched. Vash was the only entity that could come from the shadows and not frighten her at all. Looking over her shoulder and up to him, she greeted him with a warm smile.
"Though I would expect no less for you."
"That's sweet of you to say such a thing...come, sit with me." She said and patted next to her.
"It's been too lively on my floor, so I came here for peace and quiet. What have you been up to?"
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)
Vahs smiled, taking the invitation to sit down next to Amber immediately. She was the only one he truly trusted to listen to what he had to say. Other were simply disgusted with his actions, or didn't understand the true severity of his situation. Amber, however, was similar in one respect: she was half of an outsider race, something unnatural to both ways of life. It gave him comfort to think that there were others with the same sort of problems he had. Maybe that was why they were so connected with eachother.
"It's been too lively on my floor, so I came here for peace and quiet. What have you been up to?"
At this, he had to think. Unlike his previous life at MHS, he was not as active this time around. His zeal to destroy the creatures of the underworld had not swindled, he had just become more methodical in his hunts. He also tended to be slightly more social, which gave way to the bi-nightly rounds, rather than his previous schedual of going every single night. He thought on this for a moment before answering her.
"Not much," he stated, "though I have found my regeim to be far less strict than usual. I do not know why, but it seems that people here are far more open to the fact that I am what I am. Has Karrody disappeared?"
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1688
(1/12/07 2:37 pm) Reply
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)
As he talked, Amber stared down at the mantle in silence and for good reason. With all her might she tried to settle the nervousness rising within her. A peculiar topic of conversation rose from the last visit to her mother's house, peculiar enough that Amber re-evaluated herself, her feelings, her situation. He had been the only person to stir such feelings in her and the only person that could relate to her troubles though they weren't exactly alike. Now the question was...what will come of it? Vash mentioned Karrody's name and that brought Amber back to reality.
"Ah, I'm not sure. Personally I haven't seen him in quite a while. It seems Karrody comes and goes as he pleases, like a ghost. He's odd in that way, ne?"
Her cheerfulness settled down and the nephilim again stared down at the mantle in deep thought. Again she faced the nerve-wrecking decision: would it be worth it to go for it or would it backfire? She clasped her hands on her lap and finally stared up at Vash; how pleasing it was to see that rare smile of his that a blush crossed Amber's face.
"Ah...Vash. I wanted to tell you something," After forcing those words, she would bow her head. "But I'm not sure how you will react to it, so forgive me for being nervous. And don't laugh."
The winged girl couldn't look up at him, not just yet...
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"Ah...Vash. I wanted to tell you something," After forcing those words, she would bow her head. "But I'm not sure how you will react to it, so forgive me for being nervous. And don't laugh."
He had to laugh, at least right now. A small chuckle escaped, his pleased look seeming permanent at this point. Unfortunately, it didn't last. His face turned serious quite quickly, the smile fading to convey the tone. It was nothing of the usual brooding look and still held a cheery side ot it, though he was clearly not joking around either. Then again, when did he joke around?
"How fortuitous," he said, "that you have something to share. I was hoping to find you today, as I have a few things to tell you myself."
He paused for a moment, not sure of what to say next. Though they were great friends, some things were just difficult to say. However, he was a slightly mroe curious about how Amber had been acting. She hadn't looked him straight in the eye since he had sat down, which was quite odd. She also seemed very round-about with the way she was speaking. It was very odd, to say the least, especially around himself. A sudden flash of his past came back. He could remember someone else acting the same way. Unfortunately, at the moment, he couldn't pin who or, more importantly, why!
"I suppose you should go first, however, seeing as you began beofre I did."
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1689
(1/13/07 10:48 pm) Reply
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"How fortuitous, that you have something to share. I was hoping to find you today, as I have a few things to tell you myself."
Did he? What could that mean? Amber's curiousity had been piqued for a moment that the nervousness vanished for a brief second. It was just a breath of fresh air, it was still her turn to speak first. The nervousness hung like a dark cloud over her head until she took a another breath. Courage, force, and then suddenly Amber clung to Vash's arm. Even that cheery-cutesy gesture of affection felt different under these circumstances, her hold on his arm was much more tender, gentle than usual.
"I had felt this way for a long time but I thought because of what I am, I was never supposed to know it. When I'm around you, I feel happy, safe and completely free to be myself. You have never looked at me with a judgmental eye whenever I tell you the things I have done...in fact you seem to understand it more than anyone on campus. You even somehow manage to know when I'm hiding my troubles with a smile."
Humans often use the phrase "butterflies in the stomach" in a nervous situation. If that was true then Amber's butterflies were bouncing all over her stomach in crazed somersaults, especially when her ebony eyes gazed up at him. The pink angel of coppery locks had released her on Vash's arm and her hand reached up to brush against his cheek.
"You treated me as if I mattered as a person, not for what I exist to be or what purpose I could serve." The winged girl slowly tipped his hat up to see his eyes. "I'm so grateful for that, more than I could express properly in words. So...if you will allow me to..."
The worries she had were suspended as Amber tilted her head and leaned in to kiss Vash on the lips: one move with an outcome and his reaction laced with uncertainty.
Will I lose my nerve? Will he push me away? Will this all crumble beneath me?
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)
Amber had decided to go first. It was a good thing, in Vash's mind. He wasn't exactly sure what she was going to say, but it gave him some time to sort his own thoughts out. There were so many mixed feelings at the moment and he wasn't sure how to express them. He was usually so open with Amber, yet there were still a few things he had kept hidden. He just wasn't sure how he would break it to her...
"I had felt this way for a long time but I thought because of what I am, I was never supposed to know it. When I'm around you, I feel happy, safe and completely free to be myself. You have never looked at me with a judgmental eye whenever I tell you the things I have done...in fact you seem to understand it more than anyone on campus. You even somehow manage to know when I'm hiding my troubles with a smile."
"Amber...I-"
He was cut off. The girl continued to talk without giving room for Vash to say anything. He wasn't sure where she was going with this exactly. He wasn't sure if it was going to be a good end, either. He knew he had to say something and quickly! Amber was pouring her heart out, however, with no room to get a word in, much less the news he had to break to her.
"You treated me as if I mattered as a person, not for what I exist to be or what purpose I could serve." The winged girl slowly tipped his hat up to see his eyes. "I'm so grateful for that, more than I could express properly in words. So...if you will allow me to..."
"Amber...I..."
It was too late. She had confessed whatever feelings the two had for eachother and he was hopelessly lost in the moment now. He leant in, almost in unison with the nephilim and kissed her gently on the lips. So long had he waited for this moment, it was a miracle it was even happening. The moment seemed to last forever, yet not long enough for the dunpeal before he sat up straight again, looking into the girl's eyes. How could he even tell her after that!
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1693
(1/14/07 2:07 pm) Reply
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)
Amber almost couldn't pull away from the kiss, the feeling was wonderful and like nothing else she had felt in her life! Gentle, a little awkward, but she understood why human girls long for their first kiss: such a pleasent high. She wanted it to last longer than it had, but Vash had something to say. He may have tried to speak before but she couldn't stop herself from saying what she had to. Had Vash gone first, she would've lost her nerve. Amber stared into his eyes, and her hands fell into her lap, her mind and body ready for his reaction and the possible outcome.
"Amber...I'm leaving tomorrow..."
The words both hurt less and more than it should've.
"Eh? Tomorrow?" She repeated, her voice wavering.
Amber slowly bowed her head and allowed the words to sink in. The news really should not have hurt that much, she thought to herself, shouldn't have been so surprised. Just when she had mustered up enough courage to speak up, something happened. Maybe it was all part of the curse or a sick twist of fate. The girl's hands clung tight to the mantle as if the dark fabric was the only thing holding her back from a much needed cry. Just some time ago Vash had vanished without so much as a word or a trace. Amber worried if something had happened on those nightly rounds until he had returned that one wonderful night. Now he was leaving again?
Why? Why now? I don't want him to leave...something will happen to him if-
The girl's grip on the mantle relaxed moments after Vash broke the news. What could possibly be running through his mind right now? How foolish she had been to say what she needed to him, how selfish it was for her not wanting to leave. Foolish, childish nephilim beliving good things could be in her reach. Amber lifted her head finally, a sad smile masking all those thoughts and worries.
"At least I have the courtesy of a fair warning this time, ne?" Amber said, achingly cheerful and those midnight eyes settling on him. "Is it all right if I ask why or where or should I assume that it's something important or dangerous?"
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"At least I have the courtesy of a fair warning this time, ne?" Amber said, achingly cheerful and those midnight eyes settling on him. "Is it all right if I ask why or where or should I assume that it's something important or dangerous?"
Vash could tell the girl was crushed. It almost killed him on the spot to see her like that and know he was the cause of it. He averted his gaze from the girl and stood up, dustsing himself off. He couldn't bear to look at her now, not after seeing that twisted expression of false happiness. It destroyed him inside and he wasn't about to let himself get unfocused from what he needed to do. It was for her, after all...
"Where," he began, straightening his hat, "I do not know. Why, however, is for the reason you just presented. There are simply too many dangers following me to let the people I care be endangered by them..."
He paused for a moment, unsure of what to say next. His planning had flowed so easily in his mind but got caught up in complications when put into practice. Finally, he looked back at the girl once more, the shadows of his hat hiding his expression. It gave him protection, comfort even. Behind the mask the darkness provided he felt stronger, untouchable by any emotion he felt. He was calm and collected behind the veil and he wanted to keep it that way.
"Amber, I care too much to let something happen to you. I risked coming back to see everyone; no, to see you, though it was a mistake I cannot afford to keep unchecked. I wish I could stay, but being around me endangers your life. You are as much a target as I am. He...He will use any advantage he can gain to keep his grasp upon my soul, including yourself."
"God damn it Amber! why do you think I left in the first place!?" He was visibly shaken at this point, turning around to walk across the stage a bit in an attempt to recollect himself. "I left because things were too risky. I could not bare to be your jury and my past the executioner. I could not bare to see anything happen to you..."
He stopped there, unable to continue. His voice had been shakey during the last part of his explination and it was clear he didn't want to continue. He just wanted to leave, like last time. It was so much easier than admitting all of this. He had kept it inside for so long, yet he wished he hadn't let it out. In some tiwsted way, it longed to be the secret never told, never expressed, never to exist but in his own mind. But now...now it was out and he had no clue how he would be able to just leave her like this...
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1700
(1/16/07 12:45 pm) Reply
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"Where, I do not know. Why, however, is for the reason you just presented. There are simply too many dangers following me to let the people I care be endangered by them..."
When he had looked back at the winged girl, tears had already escaped and shattered the brave front she had tried to upkeep. With a hasty move, she wiped the tears from her face on her sleeve and stared up at him again. No matter how much she wanted to see his eyes, his hat would cast the protective shadow over his eyes.
"Amber, I care too much to let something happen to you. I risked coming back to see everyone; no, to see you, though it was a mistake I cannot afford to keep unchecked. I wish I could stay, but being around me endangers your life. You are as much a target as I am. He...He will use any advantage he can gain to keep his grasp upon my soul, including yourself. God damn it Amber! why do you think I left in the first place!?"
She flinched at his las inquiry. Him...that person that tormented him was the reason. One New Years night, she had seen what kind of hold this person had on him and only in the matter of something as simple as "tradition". What Amber had observed frightened her but she had made the concious effort to change that, however dangerous it had been to try. Now because of that same horrible being, Vash had to leave her, leave his friends! She could hear Vash's footsteps crossing the stage away from her and suddenly there was a flash of panic. There had been an instantanous image: an open door, a figure stepping out into the snow and dissolving into the windy winter's night. Dissolving and never to be seen again.
No! No don't leave like that! Don't go away!
The nephilim snapped her head in Vash's direction, finding he was still across the stage; away from her, trying to collect himself. The sight did not ease her pain. By tommorrow he would probably vanish from her life, just as the others had. It was unbearable and tears brimmed in her eyes again, especially after what he said next:
"I left because things were too risky. I could not bare to be your jury and my past the executioner. I could not bare to see anything happen to you..."
Even his voice had started to waver by then. To her, for her...the notion that he had cared so much for her wrenched the nephilim's heart. For the longest time there were voices that whispered to her that the ideas of love, tenderness or kindness towards her race would only be superficial; no one could express genuine care towards such a destructive creature. Now before her, there was a person who contradicted those voices, who could not bear if anything happened to her because of his own past threatening to harm her. The hold that tormentor had on his life must not have been strong enough; Vash had returned to see her again despite what followed him. There was a silence between them before there was a soft rustle of heavy fabric, then footsteps crossing the stage.
"I don't want you to go, Vash." The girl's tearful voice broke the silence. "I understand why you would want to leave. I know you would never want anything happen to me. I never known someone to care that much for a sinful, destructive thing like me. But...never having the pleasure of being with you is much more painful than what any angel, demon or any other being could inflict on me. I just..."
The winged girl reached out to envelop him in a hug, a gentle latching to him as if he would dissolve right in her arms and she was the only force keeping him there. How she wanted for him to look at her, for their eyes to meet even if it was for a moment.
"I wanted to stay by your side. I knew how dangerous it would be from the start and yet still found myself wanting to be near you, always praying for your safe return on those nightly rounds because I started to care about you. But now you- "
The trembling angelic creature gave him a squeeze before releasing him, crossing her arms over her chest. Halfway through her sentence, it had been evident that she had started crying. Soft sobs that echoed across the auditorium. How she hated that hollow, helpless and nameless sensation crying brought and Amber found it difficult to settle herself down.
"Please...I don't want you to vanish too. I love you..."
He froze. Amber did that to him. He made him second guess, reevaluate his decisions, change his perspective in ways he never thought possible. His convictions in life had always been so black and white, yet the girl gave it a new dimension. Things were sos imple back then. nothing was a shade of gray. Would he give her up to go back, though...?
"I don't want you to go, Vash." The girl's tearful voice broke the silence. "I understand why you would want to leave. I know you would never want anything happen to me. I never known someone to care that much for a sinful, destructive thing like me. But...never having the pleasure of being with you is much more painful than what any angel, demon or any other being could inflict on me. I just..."
His stepped forwards once in a futile effort against his own body and the girl's embrace. He couldn't stand being there yet at the same time wanted to be there forever. His disgust came from deep within, that dark side speaking to him once again. It ordered him to go, move on with his life to become a great slayer and a master of war. He knew in his mind that by moving on he would protect Amber from dangers he couldn't expect himself to battle, or successfully defeat without killing himself as well. But his heart, it pleaded for him to stay. It jerked around with his emotions and gave an uneasy pain in his chest that he just wanted to get rid of.
"I wanted to stay by your side. I knew how dangerous it would be from the start and yet still found myself wanting to be near you, always praying for your safe return on those nightly rounds because I started to care about you. But now you- "
Again, he started to faulter. He couldn't hlep it. Was this what he truly wanted, though? Forever worrying about whether or not Amber would be safe around him? She said she wanted it this way, couldn't live without him, but did she really know what she was getting herself into? He couldn't let her do that, he just couldn't. It wouldn't be right. That pain then started to grow. He couldn't explain what it was. Why hadn't his regeneration done anything about it yet?
"Please...I don't want you to vanish too. I love you..."
Then, he broke. Those three little words hit him so hard that his head felt like it was spinning. There was no physical pain on earth that could have prepared him for the angst he felt just then. It tore him apart from the inside, that pain in his chest just bursting forth to consume his entire body. His body shook violently as he tried to contain how much it hurt to feel like he was abandoning her. Couldn't she be rational? Couldn't she see what would happen to her?
"Shut up! Just shut up!" he snapped back, spinning around to face her. "You do not understand what he would do to you. He can twist your very soul, destroy you from the inside and make you a hallow shell. You think you, but you do not! I cannot let you put yourself in harms way like this. I cannot. I will not!"
He could feel the change in his personality as much as his presence must have shown it. His eyes were aglow with rage, his breathing was heavy and his fangs were glistening with his teeth barred. He loomed over the girl like a predator, insane with his dark, animalistic side having fed his worry and doubt to come out with a vengence. He realised exactly what he had done, however it seemed like it was supposed to be. He finally saw what Vlad had seen in him all along. He finally saw the monster that he had become.
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1702
(1/16/07 6:46 pm) Reply
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"Shut up! Just shut up!" he snapped back, spinning around to face her. "You do not understand what he would do to you. He can twist your very soul, destroy you from the inside and make you a hallow shell. You think you, but you do not! I cannot let you put yourself in harms way like this. I cannot. I will not!"
Three little words, one unexpected reaction. Her midnight eyes stared up at him and her body felt frozen in place. It was that part of him she had seen only once before...the change in his voice, the change in his physique was scary; Amber could easily admit that to herself. However there was that lingering faith that refused to be extinguished; Vash would never hurt her intentionally. It may have hurt when he told her of his departure but he only had meant to care for her well being. If he was doing this for her...why would he glare at her now with the crimson glow in his eyes? So intent on pushing her away, keeping her away from the demon that had the stronger hold on him. Her arm moved up to wipe the tears from her cheeks and stared up at him again.
Those red eyes...again.
The winged girl frowned at him, and had it been under any other circumstances or contexts, it would probably be cute. This had probably been the first time she felt any animosity towards him, a feeling she hated and always harbored.
"You really believe that I don't understand? I said it before and I'll say it again; I knew what I was getting into from the start. If I had any doubts about what would possibly happen, I wouldn't have continued to stand by you. I wouldn't have bothered to hope for your safety or care for you existance. I heard his voice only once and that still wasn't enough to keep me from being near you. If something were to happen to me, it would be my own fault for getting involved! I'm not a damsel and had never meant to be protected! I'd rather fight back!"
The lights of the stage amplified the already-heated exchange between the two figures. Amber realized how daunting and tall Vash was as he towered over her, his her body fitting into his shadow. Yet her eyes never broke the stare between them and had only taken one step back to keep herself grounded. In her sleeve, Djibril flashed in simultaneous cold and hot pulses against her wrist, maybe expecting something to happen. Amber's voice calmed, focused on Vash's actions and her own.
"You know what I am. My life was meant to be nothing more than constant turmoil. I was never even supposed to feel the way I do for you or anyone I care about...it will be taken from me. My kind are nothing more than weapons to be discarded or even destroyed after use. In the end, it will not matter what happens to me. That's why would rather feel those wonderful things even if once. I would rather push myself to help someone I care for and deal with whatever comes my way!"
And then she bowed her head waiting for something, anything to happen...
Edited by: sugoi sake at: 1/16/07 8:26 pm
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"You really believe that I don't understand? I said it before and I'll say it again; I knew what I was getting into from the start. If I had any doubts about what would possibly happen, I wouldn't have continued to stand by you. I wouldn't have bothered to hope for your safety or care for you existance. I heard his voice only once and that still wasn't enough to keep me from being near you. If something were to happen to me, it would be my own fault for getting involved! I'm not a damsel and had never meant to be protected! I'd rather fight back!"
It was an obvious answer and Vash almost knew that she would say something to that extent. However, she was right, as usual. As he had said before, the guys around MHS tended to believe they were always knights of some sort. The martyr was a natural role that Vash assumed and would always be prone to taking. He didn't want Amber to be in danger, but he knew she was capable of defending herself. If anything, it was her choice. It frustrated him to even think about it. She was so calm about it and that worried him even more.
"You know what I am. My life was meant to be nothing more than constant turmoil. I was never even supposed to feel the way I do for you or anyone I care about...it will be taken from me. My kind are nothing more than weapons to be discarded or even destroyed after use. In the end, it will not matter what happens to me. That's why would rather feel those wonderful things even if once. I would rather push myself to help someone I care for and deal with whatever comes my way!"
That was something he understood. To be bred as a weapon for no other use than a personal puppet for his master. It was exactly why he was in constant danger. Anything and everything outside of that sphere of hatred needed to be eliminated. This is why he feared for Amber's life. He couldn't bear the thought of that fiend taking her away. She was almost all he had left now. He slowly gained his composure once more, turning about so he didn;t have to face her. It was too difficult if he had to look at her while speaking.
"If you are simply ment to be a weapon, then you would understand. You would know that love, hapiness, any pursuit of normal people is forbidden and destroyed. Amber, I do not wish for you to be killed. I do not wish for you to be killed because of my greed. I am strong, but I am not strong enough to protect you from every evil in this world and that is why I must leave. If I cannot protect you, then I shall not make you a threat to his plans for my future."
His hands clenched into fists to hold himself back from displaying more irrational emotion. He was stronger than this. There was no room to not think things out. Impulse was a grave simply waiting to be dug when it came to Vash's mentality. It ment bringing about the darker side, his instincts. However, he was being overpowered, beginning to lose himself in the fit of emotion that Amber always seemed to bring about. With a brief pause, he recollected his thoughts and then continued.
"And what if you took on these evils? Would getting yourself killed really justify this? Would it mean anything at all if you were to be taken away and ripped apart, piece by bloody piece for the sole purpose of torturing the mind and soul of the one you loved? Think about it Amber! Just think for one moment, does this really make sense? Does it!? We both have our sins to fix and evils to vanquish. Both of us are ment to die, ment to kill and be killed. Why should we both suffer a fate such as this?"
"You, Amber, you are free in my eyes. You have the chance to live a life at least akin to those around here. Heaven is a much less strict mistress than Hell, it seems. I constantly fight, day in and day out, praying to wake up the next day only to fight again. My life is a candle, flickering in the wind. I do not know what the next day will bring, or what it may not as the case may be. You at least have a chance, Amber, and I do not wish to ruin it. Please, Amber," he finally turned around to face her, "you have a chance to live a somewhat normal life. I do not and wish only to hope that you may achieve a goal that is out of my reach. I only want what's best for you, Amber, and clearly I am not. My existance endangers those around me, which is a sin itself to willingly ask people to give up their lives for a brief time with me. I cannot ask you, or accept, such an offer, knowing full well it will come to pass..."
He ended his little speech, a pleading look on the shadowed face of the hunter. He truly felt like he was a death sentence to his friends. Why he had come back despite knowing this was pure greed in his mind. It was a foolish error in which everyone would have been better off without. He swallowed hard, not sure of the responce he would get, but assumed it would only try to contradict his rationality with feelings he didn't want to deal with. They simpyl cluttered up his judgement and would end to disaster, like any other time his emotions drove the darkness.
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1703
(1/17/07 1:30 pm) Reply
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)
Amber had expected something to happen, painful, explosive. He had not lashed out at her or something equivalent. Underneath it all was still heartache that only grew as she listened to him speak, her arms crossing over her chest again to keep herself from falling apart. The emotions inside, some nameless and familiar ones, felt so errant and displaced that it was exhausting. Her eyes had been hot with tears that could not rolling down her cheeks. A weapon that still tried to reach for forbidden concepts as love and happiness, all beyond her reach...what a foolish attempt. The angels would punish her as severely as Hell would, neither had the warmth she sought.
"If you are simply ment to be a weapon, then you would understand. You would know that love, hapiness, any pursuit of normal people is forbidden and destroyed. Amber, I do not wish for you to be killed. I do not wish for you to be killed because of my greed. I am strong, but I am not strong enough to protect you from every evil in this world and that is why I must leave. If I cannot protect you, then I shall not make you a threat to his plans for my future."
Silence from the winged girl. She had not even lifted her head to look at him. How kind of him that he cared enough to even want to protect her. Was she that precious that she needed to be protected? It was a concept she had never been comfortable with and this same concept was driving the one she loved most away. She wanted to speak but her lips simply would not move.
"And what if you took on these evils? Would getting yourself killed really justify this? Would it mean anything at all if you were to be taken away and ripped apart, piece by bloody piece for the sole purpose of torturing the mind and soul of the one you loved? Think about it Amber! Just think for one moment, does this really make sense? Does it!? We both have our sins to fix and evils to vanquish. Both of us are ment to die, ment to kill and be killed. Why should we both suffer a fate such as this?"
Nothing from her except for a soft sobs that had escaped from her frozen lips. Her mind continued on however: It wouldn't justify a thing. If she was the reason for Vash's suffering...she simply couldn't even imagine that. Suffering, suffering...why were they fated to suffer like this? Why can't God, Fate, whatever was pushing this existance be a kinder being who could release them from such suffering? The winged girl found herself listening again, unable to speak.
"You, Amber, you are free in my eyes. You have the chance to live a life at least akin to those around here. Heaven is a much less strict mistress than Hell, it seems. I constantly fight, day in and day out, praying to wake up the next day only to fight again. My life is a candle, flickering in the wind. I do not know what the next day will bring, or what it may not as the case may be. You at least have a chance, Amber, and I do not wish to ruin it. Please, Amber," he finally turned around to face her, "you have a chance to live a somewhat normal life. I do not and wish only to hope that you may achieve a goal that is out of my reach. I only want what's best for you, Amber, and clearly I am not. My existance endangers those around me, which is a sin itself to willingly ask people to give up their lives for a brief time with me. I cannot ask you, or accept, such an offer, knowing full well it will come to pass..."
"Will it?"
Her words were quick, said right after he had finished speaking and just before a veil of silence drew between them again. Around Amber there was sudden a coldness swirling that her breaths could be seen. The hot stage lights above flickered once, twice...she turned away from him, her arms still crossed over her chest and knowing what was sparking up deep inside of her. Then, she spoke:
"Will it really be any different if you were to leave?" There was a significant change in the nephilim's voice; lucid, soft but devoid of the warmth that she usually had. "The shadows have their own way of speaking to those that lie in wait and watching us. The man that binds you seems to be intelligent and calculating...what's there to stop him from killing the ones you hold dear? In my experience those that exist only in darkness care little about boundaries. What would stop him from making the decision to kill me after your departure? And you know my ways, I train alone in a quiet place like the forest where things can lurk and appear from all directions. I fight back with all my might but in the end they torture and kill me. That would be painful, ne? Nothing would've changed."
By the end of her inquiry, the warmth in her voice slowly returned and the cool air around her began to dissapate. The winged girl moved as if to look over her shoulder at him but refrained and continued to stare ahead, not wanting him to see her eyes. Her terrible dark eyes.
"You don't have to answer that...it's only a hypothetical. I know you cannot protect me from everything. My friends and my family cannot protect me from everything. That's why I push myself, train myself to be stronger so that no one has to bear the burden of protecting me. I understand what you'e saying to me...but how can you possibly expect me to accept that your departure is what's best for me?"
She had answered so quickly, it left the dunpeal caught off guard. He had no idea what she might say next, but there was a lingering idea. Then the cold rushed through the room as her tone changed. He didn't directly feel it, he felt very little as someone who was considered half dead in both the literal a figurative sense. It was the sight of his breath and the flickering lights that gave it away. The change, he knew what it ment. Like Vash, Amber had a colder side as well. It was the weapon that was hoped to be honed for a clash between the factions of Heaven and Hell. Now it emerged to give the next part of her side of the story, which gave it a tone that made even Vash feel a chill in his spine.
"Will it really be any different if you were to leave?" There was a significant change in the nephilim's voice; lucid, soft but devoid of the warmth that she usually had. "The shadows have their own way of speaking to those that lie in wait and watching us. The man that binds you seems to be intelligent and calculating...what's there to stop him from killing the ones you hold dear? In my experience those that exist only in darkness care little about boundaries. What would stop him from making the decision to kill me after your departure? And you know my ways, I train alone in a quiet place like the forest where things can lurk and appear from all directions. I fight back with all my might but in the end they torture and kill me. That would be painful, ne? Nothing would've changed."
As the lights flickered back on, the girl seemed to become more agitated by the situation again. The persona she had taken on a few moments before was almost emotionless, calm in every respect in an errie way. It was difficult to shake the nerves of the hunter, but this was one moment he felt slightly vulnerable. That tone was almost programed in his instincts to instill doubt. Maybe it was simply what they were. After all, in all reality, they should be trying to kill the other.
It was the message, however, that shook him the most. He had never thought of it that way before. He believed that Vlad's focus was trained on him that he never imagined that he could have other agendas to bring in those he cared about while he was chasing him down. It gave him a conflicting set of emotions. Was he really right, then? Was it worth leaving all this to have only a chance to save them from the wake of destruction he brought? The Hunter's Guild had already shown him that Vlad's influence stretched far, destroying other things aside from his "dark assassin" as he loved to call the dunpeal. Was Amber just another target no matter what he did?
"You don't have to answer that...it's only a hypothetical question. I know you cannot protect me from everything. My friends and my family cannot protect me from everything. That's why I push myself, train myself to be stronger so that no one has to bear the burden of protecting me. I understand what you'e saying to me...but how can you possibly expect me to accept that your departure is what's best for me?"
Again the dunpeal sunk into a higher degree of guilt. She was right; as much as she couldn't ask him to stay, he couldn't ask her not to follow if she so desired. It was such a difficult situation. On the one hand, if he satyed there was sure to be countless attackers that Amber would get involved with for no reason. On the other hand, he could leave and possibly never see her again, the lack of his presence making her a prime target to flush him out. The decision was tearing him apart, not to mention bringing out the worst in him infront of Amber. He had to do something...
Finally, logic gave into that horrible pain in Vash's chest. He quickly moved up to the girl, his eyes fixated on her. He moved with such speed and grace, he was there in almost seconds. His arms quickly wrapped themselves around the girl, spinning her around while holding her close. Though it was difficult to believe, the dunpeal had acctually hugged someone! The boy almost buried the small girl in his coat as he gently squeezed her for what looked like an eternity.
"Amber..." he whispered, chuckling a little afterwards, "you are such a pain sometimes. Just promise me you'll be alright if I stay...Please promsie me that one thing?"
Edited by: HellsingerAngel at: 1/17/07 10:40 pm
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1709
(1/18/07 4:45 am) Reply
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)
It was uncertain when Amber had returned to her normal state; maybe it had been after she had asked Vash if leaving really was for her well-being. She felt the words escape her lips but something felt odd about how she said it...had she interrupted Vash at some point? She was sure she just had been facing him just a moment before. Could time skips happen in this reality? Later she would not recall what she could have possibly said to convince Vash to stay. Dreams almost always revealed those buried stretches of time later. In any case, Amber found herself turned away from Vash, her dazed dark eyes settling on the mantle across the stage and well aware of the silence behind her. There was no way she could accept him leaving because of that person, because of thing beyond their control!
The anxiety she felt in that silence simply would not settle and with that she would barely turn to see how Vash would answer her. While Amber had expected a reaction, she could've anticipated the reaction she recieved. The gap between them was instantaneous and before she knew it, the winged found herself swept up in his arms. A hug? From Vash? And it had been not just any hug, it spun and enveloped her! She could only remember one other hug from Vash one night on the rooftop of a church, but even that hug had been tame compared to this one. A blush rose in her cheeks, her heart fluttered but it would melt away before she could realize it; she would close her eyes and enjoy the moment of being in his arms. How could she allow herself to forget about a suprising and warm gesture?
"Amber..." he whispered, chuckling a little afterwards, "you are such a pain sometimes. Just promise me you'll be alright if I stay...Please promsie me that one thing?"
Stay? Had he really said that or had Amber passed out from emotional exhaustion and was only dreaming that she heard that. The girl said nothing at first, only because she bit her lip to make sure she was in the waking world. Her bottom lip reddened and warmed with mild pain; nope, completely awake.
"Ah? Am I really a pain?" She said, her soft voice sounding as if she had been asleep. She had heard it before, from her mother, from the Misaki family, from the friendly contacts across the ocean about how stubborn the nephilim could be. Vash saw it first-hand in their arguments just before this moment. Amber giggled it off and she shut her eyes, enjoying being in his embrace. Through the grace of God or whatever was in charge of their fates, it seemed he could stay.
"Of course. I've had angels chase after me down through the forest to rip off my wings and had demons nearly drag me into Hell through the shadows of city streets. Yet I'm alive and well, so I figured I'm doing quite well so far, ne?"
It had meant to be taken light-hearted and yet coming from Amber it sounded as if she was on the verge of falling asleep. All that she had admitted to him had been nothing but truth; only around him she would feel free to be herself, only around him could she feel the safety of being wrapped in his arms. What a blessing it was to feel that comforting sensation, her body pressed against his in a tender hug.
"Just as I have much faith in you and your strength...have a little faith in me."
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"Ah? Am I really a pain?"
A smile creeped across his face when she said that. It wasn't exactly in a joking tone but he caught the idea none the less. The girl was a stubborn one, that was for sure. Unofrtunately, Vash rarely gave any ground unless he truly wanted to. It was sometimes difficult to live with Amber with such a clash of personalities. He was simply thankful that they had common ground about almost everything they believed in or wanted out of life.
"Of course. I've had angels chase after me down through the forest to rip off my wings and had demons nearly drag me into Hell through the shadows of city streets. Yet I'm alive and well, so I figured I'm doing quite well so far, ne?"
It wasn't the most pleasing of scenarios to imagine at the moment, but he supposed there was a point to be made. If what she said was true, which he believed and knew it was, he knew the challenges ahead would be that much easier. It still bothered him, putting the girl through his own trials and he still felt some sort of personal guilt and burden for it. It was simply natural to one so chivalrous as the hunter. In any case, he was glad the girl was safe and in his arms at the moment; that's all that really mattered.
"Just as I have much faith in you and your strength...have a little faith in me."
"It is not a question of faith," he said, "but a dislike for seeing you in danger. Sometimes I am simply too, how would you say, 'old fashioned'?"
At that moment, Vash finally registered how tired Amber seemed to be. She looked and sounded (and felt) like she was going to collapse at any moment. Maybe it was the bliss the situation washed over the two, or possibly an emotionally draining argument, but it would nag at the gentleman-like boy if he didn't ask. Quickly tipping his hat up to get a better look at the nephilim, his expression was one of worry now. He knew Amber had trouble sleeping on the best of occassions and it always plagued him to his very core to know he couldn't do anything about it.
"Do you need to go lie down? You seema little exausted." he questioned, not wanting to push the subject farther than what she wanted to tell him.
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1711
(1/18/07 6:06 pm) Reply
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"It is not a question of faith," he said, "but a dislike for seeing you in danger. Sometimes I am simply too, how would you say, 'old fashioned'?"
"I like that about you." The winged girl purred. As much as she had wanted to simply drift into sleep and recover from the earlier emotional rollercoaster, the moment was too intoxicating to leave just now. She had hugged other friends before and even had hugged Vash before, but it had not felt this blissful. She would prefer to stay in bliss for a while longer but her threshold of sleep deprivation began to overtake her. Vash knew just as well of the lucid nightmares that refused to let her sleep and dream in peace. It was possible the shift to her darker side may have had a hand in her exhaustion.
"Do you need to go lie down? You seem a little exhausted."
"Eh?"
His voice seemed far away for a moment despite how close he held her and Amber had to look up at him. That minimal movement and the bright stage lights above triggered a short dizzy spell and she latched on to him for balance. If anything, that would answer the dunpeal’s question. Amber however shut her eyes and the dizzy spell ceased for the while. Feeling balanced enough to stand without collapsing; she would release him and reply with a light-hearted manner:
“Yeah…I should, ne? I‘m just feeling a little tired. I‘ll just take a short nap and I‘ll be fine again.” Then she poked his arm, the cute pout crossing her face, “You just better still be around when I wake up.”
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"I like that about you."
Now that made Vash smile. There were very few people that enjoyed the hunter's company. It was nice to hear a compliment about his less modern take on the world when so many others detested the fact he was so "out of touch" with the world. Maybe he didn't understand everything America had to offer, but he lived in a much different world than normal people. To hear that this quality was redeamable in her eyes was almost enough to make him melt from a blissful euphoria.
His mind snapped back to reality, however, before he was too wrapped up in his own joy. Amber was still tired and she seemed to be getting worse by the minute. The girl stumbled for a moment, desperately grabbing him for support. With his lightning reflexes he supported the nephilim easily by holding her up in his embrace. He could feel her body press up harder against him, almost limp in a sense. There was a moment of panic in his mind at that moment. What had happened? Was she alright? Did it have something to do with earlier? It faded, however, when Amber gathered her strength back up and looked at him in a reassuring way.
“Yeah…I should, ne? I‘m just feeling a little tired. I‘ll just take a short nap and I‘ll be fine again.” Then she poked his arm, the cute pout crossing her face, “You just better still be around when I wake up.”
"Very well," he said with a laugh, "but for now you must get some rest."
That chivalrous attitude once again came into play as Vash quickly sweeped up Amber into his arms and began to carry her out of the auditorium with ease. Maybe a little cheesy, but then again, the boy was old fashioned. The treck would be simple and he knew Amber would be at least somewhat comfortable. If anything, she'd be off her feet for the time being. As he passed the mantle, the dunpeal quickly scooped it up with his ffot and carefully tossed it up to catch in one of his somewhat occupied hands in one deft motion.
Amber Ramius Gothic Lolita Cutie, Nephilim Kanami Miyamoto "I search for The Truth!"
Posts: 1717
(1/19/07 5:59 pm) Reply
Re: Like No Other (Hellsy)"Very well," he said with a laugh, "but for now you must get some rest."
Contrary to the little pout she gave him, Amber had been worried about just that; with her luck she would wake up and he would be long gone. It had happened before, so what stopped Fate from pulling the same trick on her? His laughter however, eased that anxiety and the little pout turned to a faint smile.
Now all Amber needed to do was to retrive her mantle but Vash's reflexes were faster than her own thoughts; in fact he had literally swept her off her feet and managed to grab the mantle from the stage. It was surprising only for that first moment of realization, forgetting how quick Vash could move. Such an old-fashioned move and yet Amber found herself blushing again. Of course, she had meant exactly what she told him.
"There, ready to go?"
"Ah..yes." Amber replied, recovering from her subtle astonishment and closed her eyes allowing herself to settle into bliss. Even if she were to fall asleep and find herself in the blood red dream world, it still would not break that wonderful sensation. Ah yes, what she had admitted to him today and summoned the courage to do...
"Vash, about earlier..." Amber gently uttered. "I meant every word, every gesture. Okay?"
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