◎ Bout 1: Impromptu walkabout [action]

[thunderfists]

[arrival]

[...The TV world was very strange.

Akihiko found himself waking up on the forest floor, stripped of his normal clothes and garbed in ... white pants. Fortunately, his pants, red cape, and boots were nearby, and he found himself a bush to discreetly change in -- just in case Mitsuru or Aigis showed up somewhere close. Calling out for them was out of the question; they were on a mission after all, and he didn't want to cause a ruckus if he didn't have to.

There was a book beside him when he woke up, and he blearily looked it over before snapping it shut and concentrating on the odd feeling of pain and strange sounds around him. No time to read.

The fully-functional wings were a surprise. The talking animals were even more of a surprise. But they were easy enough to dismiss as parts of the TV world, and he pushed them to the back of his mind as he started to explore. Forest, forest, forest... Were those mountains in the distance?

It was like globetrotting all over again. Before heading out, he ripped up the white pants he had woken up in, using the shredded parts to bind the book to his side; unfortunately, his pockets weren't big enough for a book. He also wrapped up his knuckles, since his gloves were missing.

And off he went in search of Mitsuru, Aigis, and Labrys. Never mind that he had no idea what the latter looked like.]

[/arrival]


[For the entire week of September 9 through 15, a young man in odd clothes can be found traveling out in the forests and as far as the foothills due east of the village. He gets his water from the rivers and carries whatever food he comes across (such as apples and mikans) in a shredded white sack that once was a pair of pants. When he's not traveling, he does some shadowboxing in the occasional clearing while it's light out.

Nothing serious, though; he wasn't getting enough protein to repair his muscles if he did any serious training.

The most rigorous of his training he'll allow of himself happens late at night in the forest behind house 21. While he tries to avoid the TV world village and its inhabitants, he can't resist the temptation of an outdoor training space complete with training dummies. He uses his Persona to charge his punches with electricity, leaving marks on the some of the dummies before he heads off again.

He may even be caught napping in a tree once in awhile. Or listening to talking bears from a distance.]

Comments

September 9!

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[Souji always loved afternoons--they were the time he could really get things done, and generally be awake. It was the time of day that he could cover any and all bases he'd left over from the last, and surely have time to spare for whatever else he wanted to do.

It was also a time for him to contemplate what else he needed to do to contribute to Luceti, but that was beyond the point for now. He needed rest from whatever he was doing. Of course, it wouldn't be long before his need for that was stuffed by the sudden glimpse of a gray-haired, shirtless man lying under a tree, fast asleep. Judging from the clothes, he looked like he could've been in an accident of some sort...but there were no bruises anywhere on him.

...Why is he not wearing a shirt in the first place, anyway? He doesn't know. For now, he stares at him from a distance.]

[thunderfists]

[Oh. Someone watching while he's sleeping. What a creeper.

While the weather was not yet the full-strength heat wave that would affect the rest of the week, it was still best to rest in the early afternoon while the sun was at its strongest. He dozes noiselessly, the new wings still uncomfortable with his recent arrival.

One gray eye opens after a few minutes. Gotta keep an eye out for anything strange...]

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[He's not as bad as Igor, at least? Oh, shoot, he woke up. Does he run, though? Not quite--now that he knows he's awake, he approaches what seems to be another new arrival. If he'd had his uniform on, it'd be easier to recognize him as someone from back home, but alas...no shirt. 8|] ...Hello?

[thunderfists]

[Akihiko doesn't quite tense up at the voice, but he is wary that someone's approached him while he's been resting. He presses against the tree, using it for leverage as he climbs to his feet.]

Where did you come from?

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[He points a thumb in the direction he came from. Yup, that'll work as an answer... ...not really. 8|] The village.

You look like you've been through a brawl or two...are you alright?

[emp3thy]

[Minato has a mystery on his hands.

The woods behind the house are technically inside the village and so not part of the area patrolled by Moro, but thick enough to hide questionable things from view. It makes it the perfect place to practice Persona-summoning, and so for a long time, he's used the clearing for such. He even set up a row of dummies to use as target practice. Occasionally these get incinerated, but he tries to keep Agi use to a minimum.

That's why he is so confused to see several of the dummies sporting burnt patches when he visits Tuesday morning. They actually look more like lightning marks than pure fire... but there had been no storm the night before.

He might have dismissed it as a fluke he'd forgotten about, but the next day, there's even more marks. And the next. By Friday Minato is determined to discover who the dummy-mauler is and... well, not bring him to justice, but at least ask him to stop destroying the dummies so quickly. At this rate he's going to have to replace them all.

Friday night he's ready. With a book, a flashlight, and a bag of potato chips and some cans of Mad Bull, he sets out to the clearing to find the culprit.

...By an hour after midnight, he's dozing peacefully against a tree.]

[thunderfists]

[While there was no Dark Hour anymore to keep his endurance up in the middle of the night, Akihiko adjusted to sleeping at odd hours for the most comfortable traveling experience. Suffering from jet lag from his flight from South America to Japan could have been partly to blame as well.

But he still arrives after midnight like clockwork, his hood shrouding his face and making it fairly more difficult to see in the dark. He didn't really need the moonlight right now, though; he was familiar enough with the training dummies and their positioning by now to maneuver around the training area just fine.

Some warmups first. Shadowboxing, controlled breaths. Jabs, short uppercuts, and some weaving as well.

It was a shame he hadn't found any protein drinks or decent alternatives. At this rate, he might have to resort to fishing or something.]

[emp3thy]

[Or you could go into town and visit the grocery store like a normal person, Akihiko, ever think of that?

The shadowboxing isn't enough to wake Minato up. The flashlight is still turned on, forgotten when he fell asleep, but its beam is blocked by his jacket as it rests in his lap. That is, until gravity starts to take over and he begins to slowly slip sideways and down the tree. The small movement causes the light to roll away, suddenly cutting a beam across the clearing.]

[thunderfists]

[Akihiko freezes in the middle of his warmups when he spots a bright ray of light running along the ground and stopped against the base of a tree towards the edge of the training area. His eyes narrow, and he edges towards the light with a frown.

Was this a trap? What would he find at the source of that light? ...Besides what was most likely a flashlight.]

[emp3thy]

[It's a flashlight. And two unopened cans of Mad Bull, a half-open copy of Featherman: From The Ashes, and three-quarters of a bag of chips. Also, a young man in a jacket who is now stretched out on the ground, asleep.]

[dogboy]

[Clearings in the forest are the perfect place to train for Chien and Soren, so they're a little surprised when there's someone in their usual spot Training Tuesday. Not that they'll disturb him, but the two pairs of eyes and inquisitive trill of the Swellow would be enough to catch the guy's attention. It's kind of hypnotizing to watch a boxer.

But hey, it's a kid and a bird that goes up to his waist. What's so dangerous about this? Him and Akihiko even share being shirtless together.]

[thunderfists]

[Going around shirtless is totally okay in Akihiko's book; waking up without a shirt completely supports that style choice, to boot.

The odd trill catches Akihiko's attention, and he looks over to see ... a kid with a bird. He doesn't relax completely, but he doesn't see any reason to present a defensive disposition.]

[dogboy]

[Well, now that they've caught his attention Chien can talk. Yell, that is, since they're across the way.]

Who the hell are you? This is our training spot. [It only sounds angry because he's yelling, but-- okay no he is kind of annoyed. But Chien, not everyone knows that this is your spot.]

[thunderfists]

Yeah? [He doesn't answer the question; there's little point with these TV villagers. But if he's going to be called out on intruding, he better sound apologetic.] Sorry -- I didn't see a name on this spot.

[dogboy]

[Wow you smartass.]

There doesn't have to be! [... but that's true, he guesses.] And I asked you a question, moron, unless you're deaf in one ear.

[It makes you pretty suspicious, and Chien's slipping into a more offensive position with Soren taking off into the sky above. Who was this guy, seriously?]

[theogre]

[Akihiko might notice that there are signs of someone else being out that far, except there's never anyone around. There are fires that have been properly put out, a few trees that look they accidentally received a punch...

Sakura's been coming out far in the forest each day, only to retreat before nightfall. It's all part of her training. Of course, she can't avoid Akihiko forever...but he'll find Sakura training hard. She's attached a tire to a tall tree branch, and she's hitting it with gloves on to exercise her arms. She hardly looks human when she fights, though. Her arms are fast, and the rope threatens to snap with each punch. Good thing she came prepared for that, right?

Clearly, she needs to be interrupted.]

[thunderfists]

[Clearly, she does need to be interrupted. But Akihiko has to observe first; this is the first person who has looking physically formidable, even if those pink wings detracted from the overall imposing figure.

He keeps to the shadows for now, watching from the shade of a tree with his hood in place. Gotta tread lightly.]

Your speed is impressive.

[theogre]

[Akihiko hasn't gone completely unnoticed, but attacking without cause would be inappropriate. That's why she waited for him to make the first move. With one defining kick, she hits the tire so hard that the rope finally snaps; both go flying more than a fair distance away.]

You conceal your movements well.

[thunderfists]

[Punches and kicks. So those leg muscles weren't just for show. He watches the tire go flying, fairly impressed as it goes into the bushes.]

The cape helps. [He plays down his skills, since he didn't think he was particularly ... sneaky.]

Mixed martial arts? That didn't look like any one style I've seen before.

[theogre]

[None of her muscles are for show. Akihiko will learn that eventually. A bodybuilder she isn't!]

It is an interesting choice. [She nods.] I am familiar with many styles, but mixed martial arts is my strongest. You are familiar with it?

[merelychewed]

[Akihiko will soon discover he is not alone out in those there foothills. If he wanders far enough east towards the mountains, he might hear or even smell where Draco is before he actually sees him. There's the metallic smell of blood and fresh meat in the air and a deep, rumbling humming or muttering. Further investigation would reveal a large beast lounging in a small valley between hills, a half-eaten cow keeping him company. Now that the enclosure is refugee free, there was absolutely nothing to keep him from resuming thinning that herd down a bit...

Horns, scales, wings (including a useless feathery pair); it'd be hard to mistake Draco for anything other than a dragon. A dragon enjoying his meal, slowly, picking at it, while humming a tune, something more modern and jazzy that he's picked up from the village since his own arrival.

The hum stops momentarily while he pulls a leg off the cow and sticks it in his toothy maw, though he'll resume humming around that after a moment.]

[thunderfists]

[It's the smell of blood -- unfortunately familiar after dealing with the Dark Hour for so long -- that catches Akihiko's attention, followed closely by the rumbling of something large not far off.

And what does Akihiko do? He approaches the source instead of walking away. Of course.

He crouches down and hides in a bush, peering down into the valley at-- Is that a dragon? His mind temporarily derails at the sight of the large and dangerous creature.]

...Must be from one of those Western medieval shows.

[merelychewed]

[It could very well be Yet Another King Arthur rip-off, Akihiko. It could very well be.

Draco gnaws the meat off the leg, not too unlike how someone smaller might do the same to a chicken leg, but once Aki speaks, he stops mid-chew. His neck straightens up, head swiveling left to right, looking, leg still dangling from his jaws.

Looks like dragons have pretty decent hearing...

Only Draco's not sure. Had he heard something? Why would anyone be out this way? Or was that just the wind?]

[thunderfists]

[There's something fascinating and awe-inspiring about watching a dragon eat.

...But it looks like that whole spectacle's been cut short. Did it actually hear him when he was talking aloud? Wow.

Akihiko stays where he is, silent but watchful. Last thing he'd want to do is find out the hard way that this dragon could breathe fire.]

[merelychewed]

[Draco holds still a short while longer, listening, head turning from side to side slowly. When no other noise or anything stranger reveals itself, he has to write it off as nothing. He snorts and grumbles.]

Hearing things, eh? That's no good...

[His wings shift a bit in a dragon's version of a shrug and he returns to his meal.]