'Where is this? This darkness swallowing me whole.' Turning, he saw a trickle of light. Running towards it, Ryuuji could see the light grow brighter, the warmth being sent throughout his body. Breaking through the darkness, he found himself inside a park. Time seemed to stand still as he noticed the pathway he was standing upon, as trees lined the sides. He continued to take in his surroundings and the peace it gave him, until his eyes caught the sight of a woman on a bench. Sitting there, it looked as though she was staring out at nothing. Ryuuji stared for a moment, noticing a familiar symbol on her forehead, but also started to notice that there was no one else around. He slowly approached her, staring down at her. Slowly, he reached out his hand towards her shoulder. Setting his hand on her left shoulder, he felt a serene warmth.
Opening his eyes, he looked around his small bedroom. His queen size bed had several pillows littering the space, while his comforter was hanging mostly off the side. Groggily, he stood up and walked into the bathroom. Turning on the sink, he wet his hands before running them over his face. His silver blue eyes blinking a few times as his hands moved through his black hair. Staring into his reflection, he began wondering why he continued to have that dream. It had been a whole week of seeing that woman, the stare in her grey eyes that seemed so cold and distant. Going back to his bedroom, he noticed it was almost 9 in the morning already. He went ahead and started getting dressed. He put on his black dress slacks, a white button down shirt, and picked up his black leather jacket. In the living room, which was combined with the kitchen and entry way, he found his duffle bag and a long cloth covered box meant to hold long weapons. He picked up each, slipping on his black and white walking shoes, and was out the door to begin the day. After locking his door, he headed to the staircase to head towards his motorcycle. As he was walking, he noticed another one of the tenants of the apartment building.
"Good morning Sahashi-kun. How are you today? How is the studying coming along?"
Minato Sahashi paused for a moment and looked back. "Hello Izanagi-san. I'm doing fine. I'm just heading to cram-school. Hopefully this time I'll pass."
Walking next to the young ronin, Ryuuji smiled at him. "I'm sure you'll do fine. I have every bit of faith that you'll do it this time."
"Thanks. I sure do hope so. I know my mother is really worried about me, having left home to try and go to Tokyo U."
"Well, all mothers worry about their sons. It's only natural."
They reached the bottom floor and split off, waving each other off as Ryuuji strapped his bag to the back of his motorcycle and slipped straps from his long case onto his back. He started up his bike and headed off to work. It normally took him about half an hour for Ryuuji to reach the Kendo studio where he taught students in sword play. He had been doing this job for a few years and loved to teach. Although, just teaching wasn't able to sustain his living, so he also would privately teach around the city. He had been proud of the few students who had the drive to try and be the best in their respective schools, or were entering tournaments. It seemed many were often driven to be popular, or were trying to impress someone. It was a sincerely sweet thing, and though he could understand the motivation, it was something that he lacked. Although, it was something he was familiar with, his last few efforts had fizzled out with less than desirable results. Many times during his drives to work, he would often think of that one love. The love that would drive him to be beyond happy, to be totally content with the entirety of reality, just by being with that one person. He knew it may have seemed silly, but once a dreamer, always a dreamer.
Kicking out the kickstand, he entered the studio and went to the locker room to change for class. For the next 4 hours, he was teaching classes and practicing. Normally for the time he was there, he would be left alone to run the studio. It seemed at though it would be another unventful day, until he saw an odd thing he wasn't quite sure about. He walked to the window and could have swore he saw three women leaping off the roof tops leading away from the studio. Thinking it was just a figment of his imagination, he went ahead and continued to clean up the studio before the next person came in.
He went ahead and strapped his duffle bag back onto his bike and strapped his long case onto his back. It had been yet another day, but it was alrigh considering it could be worse. In fact, he thought back to the many times he had to deal with troublesome children who believed that a sword was meant to oppress the weak. It was those days he felt sad about the youth growing up in these times. He sighed away his thoughts and started driving back towards his house. Stopped at a stret light, he looked to his left and noticed a park he drove by everyday. But somehow, when looking at the park, he felt as though he recognized the area with its concrete pathways surrounded by trees. With nothing really waiting for him at home, he went ahead and parked next to the sidewalk. Removing his helmet, he set it down on the bike and moved the long case from his back and carried it over his right shoulder. Given that the box was about 4 feet long, it still wasn't too long for his 6 foot frame to carry over his shoulder. Walking through the pair gave him a sense of peace as he continued going deeper inside. It wasn't until a few yards deeper into the park that he realized where he was. Stopping in his tracks, he slowly turned in a circle to observe that he was indeed in the spot he had continued to dream about. Odd as it was, he anxiously started looking for the bench where the woman he dreamed about was supposed to be. And, as he expected there she was. Staring at her, he moved forward towards her. It was almost surreal to think that his dreams had moved him to be here, at this place, where he would finally meet this person he almost felt as though he was fated to see. At this point, he was standing right in frot of her. Her gaze had not shifted, but slowly he moved his hand to her shoulder and let it rest upon her. She turned her head to see his hand, and then looked up to see him staring at her.
"Do I know you?" Her dull tone seemed to ring in his head as he looked to his hand, realizing he had no idea what to do after. He removed his hand, bowing to her. "I'm sorry. I realize this must be quite strange, but I...well...I'm not sure how to put this."
He went ahead and laid his case against the bench and sat next to her, but still giving her enough space so it would not seem as though he was trying something with ill intent. "You see, the thing is that I've had a dream for the last week. In this dream, I'm here, with you sitting in that exact position. So, when I saw you, I thought that I had to speak to you." Rubbing the back of his head, "weird, right? I'm sorry if I startled you or offended you, but I felt that this was something I was meant to do."
She was looking at him with that cold gaze, staring without any emotion showing whatsoever. Ryuuji could feel sweat start to fall from his brow as he contemplated just how awkward it was of him to approach someone without any prior knowledge, let alone touching her and trying to start a conversation. "Well, my name is Ryuuji Izanagi." He held out his his hand, hoping she might reach out and shake his.
"Sekirei number 7, Akitsu." She offered out her hand to shake his. Smiling, he gently grasped her hand and shook. He could feel the heat in his body grow, looking into her eyes. Akitsu, on the other hand, was feeling warm herself. She could see the genuine nature in his eyes, and somehow was comforted. Her body seemed to be heating up as well. She turned her head to look away as she felt and tinge of red spread into her cheeks. Ryuuji went ahead and let go of her hand, standing up and taking off his jacket. "I apologize for not noticing sooner, but you seem to be missing some clothes." He went ahead and put his jacket around her shoulders, making sure she wasn't so exposed. Ryuuji then sat back down next to her and started looking at the clouds. "I hope this isn't too forward of me, but are you okay? You look a bit sad about something."
Akitsu looked at him solemnly. "I am a discarded tool. A failure."
He looked at her confused unsure of what she meant. "I'm sorry, but how so? I mean, you're a beautiful woman, not some tool. And, failure is only a step before success, that's all."
She turned to stare at the ground in front of her. "Its not like that though. I am unable to be winged. To a Sekirei, that is failure."
Looking at her gently, "what is a Sekirei? I know you said something about that earlier, but what exactly is a Sekirei? You look like a normal person to me."
"She is a tool to be used to fight." A small boy spoke from a few feet off, accompanied by a taller gentleman next to him. Both turned their heads to look at them.
Ryuuji pushed off the bench and stood in front of Akitsu. "I'm sorry, I don't believe I know you, and nor do I think anyone is a tool, in any respect."
"Well I am Hayato Mikogami, and she is a Sekirei. If you do not know what that is, then you need not worry. Now step aside. I am here to claim her."
"I cannot do that. I may not know what a Sekirei is, nor do I care. But, I will not allow anyone to just 'claim' someone. She has the right to be with whoever she wishes."
"I see. I think you are just here to claim her for yourself, aren't you?" He started to chuckle a bit, smiling at him now. Ryuuji ground his teeth a bit and looked back at Akitsu.
Kneeling in front of her, he looked into her eyes. "Look, I don't know anything about you. About you being a Sekirei, or whether you have to fight or not, or whatever. But, like I said before, I had a dream. And, well, I believe that I was meant to find you. Whatever that might mean to you, if you want, I would like you to come with me. If at any time, you want to leave, you're free to go. I'll take you anywhere you want. But right now, I need to know, what do you want?"
Akitsu stared into his silver blue eyes, seeing his genuine concern. Through her head, her thoughts continued to weigh her options. She could still feel that loneliness weighing down upon her, but being so close to him right now, she could feel his warmth. Slowly, she drew her hand upon his cheek. Her heartbeat started to race, as she leaned forward and softly pressed her lips against his. He leaned in as well, gently pressing against her kiss. And, in that moment, Hayato started to lose the smile that was gracing his face, moving his hands to block the blinding light.