◎ 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

[thunderfists]

By the river. [Yeah, that's helpful.] I'm heading over to look at the barrier.

[emp3thy]

[but that could take days....]

Why didn't you use the bed?

[thunderfists]

[How to say this without coming across as too suspicious...]

It's not good to sleep on a full stomach.

[Well, it is true.]

[emp3thy]

[no that just makes it worse.]

Did you sleep at all?

[thunderfists]

Just before sunrise. [It was a small wonder he was awake to talk to Minato now.] I'll get some more sleep in a few hours.

[emp3thy]

[.....................]

Senpai. Are you running away?

[thunderfists]

[It takes a moment for that to register.]

Running away? Huh? [He's not running.]

[emp3thy]

You've been acting strange.

[Don't think he hasn't noticed.]

[thunderfists]

[...Can he get away with acting innocent?]

What are you talking about?

[emp3thy]

You attacked me, first of all.

[no, no he can't.]

[thunderfists]

Was I supposed to act differently? You're ... you, after all. [So articulate.]

[emp3thy]

[um...]

What?

[thunderfists]

[He sighs, tapping at the grass as he continues resting.]

I couldn't just say "Nice to see you again" in that situation.

1/2

[emp3thy]

[there's a long pause.















and then.]

[emp3thy]

[He gives up and starts to laugh.

It's 'laughing' in the loosest sense, of course - there's barely any sound. But his shoulders are shaking and he has a genuine smile, wider than his usual variety.

After the long night, maybe the loop of Akihiko's perfectly nonsensical logic has driven him a little out of it, too.] ...I guess not.

[thunderfists]

[Did Minato just--

...He is. Akihiko isn't sure what to make of this turn of events. On one hand, he doesn't think he said anything funny. On the other, TV Minato is laughing. This should be alarming.

It would be more alarming in person, so the first hand wins out.]

Was it that funny?

[emp3thy]

[Of course you don't think so, Akihiko....

Minato manages to get himself under control again.]

...It's just... nice to see you, too.

[thunderfists]

[Despite the fact that this can't be the real Minato, he feels the need to be apologetic. It's something about the sincerity in his words.]

Sorry. I wasn't expecting any of what happened last night. I guess I reacted badly.

[emp3thy]

Neither was I. [..........] But you still need sleep, senpai.

[thunderfists]

I'm getting enough sleep. [You're so concerned, Minato.] Just at different times of the day.

whoops html

[emp3thy]

[he's concerned about your mental state okay

But he's not going to win this one, is he? Akihiko's a grown man, he can take care of himself... probably.]

There's a giant wolf in the woods, too. Be careful if you see her.

[thunderfists]

...A giant wolf?

[That's definitely not wariness coloring his questioning.]

[emp3thy]

She's only dangerous if you attack. Or cut down a tree.

[please don't fight the wolf, akihiko.]

[thunderfists]

Only dangerous if you attack... How giant is 'giant'? Dragon-sized giant?

[Because if it's only the size of a bear...]

[emp3thy]

[Akihiko why did you pick 'dragon' as your reference]

Maybe elephant size.