.hack/FRAGMENT

Saya

version 4.0

Rainy Season

new topic posted 10.16.05

Erika spun around and her twoblack blades slashed through the monsters, within a few moments they disappeared and a blue treasure box stood in front of her. The girl shuffled through her items for something to open the box and sighed disappointedly at what she saw when she managed to complete the task.

"I'm surprised there's someone else here," said a loud, commanding voice behind her (and did I mention obnoxious? It wouldn't be a proper description without the word 'obnoxious'). The Twin Blade spun around, her weapons held defensively in front of her as she turned to face the speaker. Experience with Death dictated, 'always be on your guard,' the boy loved to see how she'd react if he tried to attack her. (That girl has strange taste in friends, me not included, of course.)

She widened her blue eyes and let her hands fall to her sides when she saw who it was. An apologetic smile materialized across her face as she said, "I'm sorry. Um, who are you?" Erika pushed a wet strand of white hair out of her eyes, she loved the rain dearly but it was a slight inconvenience when one was trying not to be killed by random monsters, ones that specialized in water no less. (But what else would the case be in a water area?)

The speaker was a tall girl (although she was slightly hunched over—what horrible posture!—she still towered over our pint-sized heroine) with short, chocolate brown hair and coffee colored eyes (I'm so hungry). Her outfit was fairly earthy: dull brown boots, a light brown top with sleeves that hung loose, a brown skirt, silver hoops around her neck and a staff at her side with a green gem floating near the top, suspended by the air. "My name's Amaya and you are in my private haven…"

Erika looked at her oddly, she had been playing the game long enough to know that one could not claim an area, though some were not officially claimed. Was this one of those areas? No, someone would have warned her. "My name's Erika," not that the other girl had asked. "I'm sorry to be bothering you, Amaya. I was just trying to get a little training done before I met with my friend tomorrow to take on an event" (one of many events that I force Erika to come with me on).

"It's alright," the other girl said as she sat down, "I just like it here is all. Most people don't so I was a little surprised."

"Why wouldn't most people like it? It's beautiful!"

Amaya shrugged as she placed her staff down lovingly on the ground beside her. "You can sit if you'd like." (Translation: "Sit down, now or I'll smack you to the next dimension!") But Erika remained standing as the rain soaked through her clothes. The Wave Master, as our heroine assumed she was, glared through her dark eyes, accentuated by the rain as it fell against her face and hair and reflected what limited light there was. "Sit down." The Twin Blade uttered a strange cry (something like "meep!") and immediately sat down beside Amaya. "It is beautiful, isn't it?" Without waiting for an answer she continued on that vein, "I love the rain, it just washes everything away. It magnifies the light and makes everything look so…" she couldn't think of the word.

"Ethereal?" Erika offered and the other girl nodded.

"Yeah, ethereal," the Wave Master continued nodding. She was about to say something more when Erika jumped up and slashed at a monster that had snuck up behind them while they spoke. Amaya twisted around but managed only to look foolish and fall over. "Wow. As thanks take my member address," she used her staff to pull herself up off the ground and wiped dirt and dust off her clothes. "Call me whenever you need a Wave Master!" All things considered, Erika assumed the other girl would run off in the other direction. But instead, Amaya slumped away, slowly as if she was reluctant to leave and the only reason she was doing so was because her private spot was not so private any more.

Amaya, eh? Erika smiled to herself, another new friend. Amaya, what a pretty name. Just like the rain.