@Rusalka

Ryūko seemed surprised at how Asuka offered her hand. "With all due respect, Hanazono-senpai," she said, her tone somewhat formal, "I'd rather not hold hands. Someone might think bad of you." True, her hands were rough, but everyone at Claymore tended to. Even now some of her classmates still called her the "Toast Girl". She didn't mind it, but Asuka had a reputation to uphold.

@Rusalka@Framing A Moose@sassy1085
Tora blinked and looked down at the girl who had fallen before her. "Ahr you alright missu?" Her English was shoddy at best and thick with her Asian accent, but she would make do. She bent down and extended a hand to the poor girl.

@Otaku95

A shy disappointed was she, slightly frowning, but nevertheless accepting. ~"Perhaps you are right."~ She sighed. Her reputation? As what? A spoiled rich brat from a family that measured the weight of her worth in her victories on the battlefield? A spiteful, arrogant wretch who most girls approached as if she were a flame of Hell waiting to devour their souls? And let's not forget....someone who couldn't even protect their own sister from the black, skeletal hand of death... ~"Although..."~ Her tone a bit proud of herself, rather haughty as she crossed her arms grimacing. ~"I could care less of their opinions. I am my own woman who shapes the very path I shall follow. Hanazono Asuka listens to no one....no one..."~ But empty again was her voice, for even if she did believe it....twas merely a lie.

@Bryn @sassy1085 @Framing A Moose

Well, at least Higuchi-senpai knew a little english, though flawed a bit. Still, it made the situation a little less awkward for Tohru.

@Rusalka

Ryūko felt the hollowness behind Asuka's words. Despite what she said before, she took her hand and squeezed reassuringly. "I'm really sorry about your sister, Hanazono-senpai," she said. "I know what it's like to lose someone you love. My father was a soldier, and died in a battle. There's honor in that. But to be killed by a someone too cowardly to fight face to face..." She shook her head.

Natalia took the asian girl's hand and used it to get onto her feet. "I'm fine...I think." she said, rubbing her forehead. She then looked at the people in front of her. "Oh...I'm, uh, sorry...I actually didn't learn too much Japanese before I came here...I knew I was forgetting to do something all those saturday nights!" she exclaimed, bonking herself on her head with the palm of her hand.

@Bryn@Otaku95@sassy1085

@Framing A Moose@Rusalka

Tora smiled a bit. "We at Craymore accept all students frumuh everywhere. We ahr mostry Asian hereh. It's alright. I can show you around." she explained, rolling up her sleeves and gestured to the other students.

@Otaku95

A tad unexpected it was for the girl to take her hand so quickly, caressing it with a fond pressure. Her cheeks reddened slightly, not a full-on blush, yet evident enough as she looked towards Ryuko, her eyes dim and vacant. ~"Indeed...Chizuru-chan's death was not honorable at all. She deserved better."~ Mournful the redhead sighed, but smiled all the more generous. ~"But let's not entertain the past. I think it's best we hurry before we are caught outside, don't you?"~ Her hand....I...I can't believe this. Usually when a girl had taken my hand, it was so frail, so...timid, but she...she grabbed mine with such force. I don't understand what's happening to me.

@Framing A Moose @Bryn @sassy1085

Understandable she didn't. Tohru would just have to brush up on her English then. At least it was nice to see a new face at Claymore, even a foreigner's. So instead of speaking to this girl, a cheerful smile she gave and a respectful bow.

@Rusalka

"Right," said Ryūko. She let Asuka's hand go. "All of the major classes start tomorrow, right? Or did I misread my schedule?" She trailed off, muttering to herself.

Natalia smiled at the two people. They seemed like very nice people. But when the girl bowed, Natalia seemed confused, but she bowed back. "Um...what exactly does bowing mean here?" she asked.

@Rusalka@Bryn@sassy1085

@Otaku95

~"I believe so."~ Asuka added with a soft giggle. ~"But honestly they're so trivial. Everyone knows the true reason for the four schools of swordsmanship. To train the future warriors to face whatever may come, though, I do hope these times of peace continue."~ Peace...well...peace for the rest of the country. There was still war afoot however between the two families, Hanazono and Itagaki. Would there ever be true peace? Would the violent vendetta between her and Tohru's families ever end...or...would it just consume more and more innocent lives like the hungry beast it had become, it's ravenous hunger never satiated?

Ugh! Enough of that! She had to get her mind away from it. At least an adorable girl like Ryuko gave her an excuse. ~"Say, Ryuko-chan, isn't your dorm and mine on the same floor?"~ Rather sly she inquired.

@sassy1085

"Umm...Rin-san." Tohru mumbled to her. "I don't think she understands Japanese."

@Rusalka

"Nani?" Ryūko asked. She thought about it for a moment. "I believe so. I'd have to check the chart." She turned, and the hilt of Olympia got snagged on a branch. "Crap!" Unlike most students, Ryūko kept the scabbard of her weapon across her back, instead of her hip; if she did, it would have dragged on the ground.

@Framing A Moose@sassy1085@Rusalka

"One could apologize, greet or use it to accent other things. Rin just greeted you. Tora said.

@Otaku95

Of course Asuka wasn't implying anything too...risqué, but she wouldn't mind this girl's company a bit more often. She didn't understand what it was however that drew her to Ryuko. She was just like any other girl, and yet...different at the same time.

~"Ryuko-chan, are you okay?"~ She asked concerned, a bit surprised at how Ryuko sheathed her blade. ~"You know, Ryuko-chan, that's not really the best way to wear your blade. You'll leave yourself open."~ Sincerely she smiled.

@Rusalka

Ryūko managed to get her scabbard free of the branch. "Right," she said. She adjusted the sheathe into a new position. "It drags on the ground if I wear it like anyone else though. I don't want to modify it, 'cause my dad picked it out, and modified it specifically for me."

@Bryn@Rusalka@Framing A Moose
I blush a little I thought she understands Japanese. whatever I have a long day today I walk to my dorm room and lay down my bed, put on my headphone and listed some music.

@Otaku95

~"Understandable."~ Asuka chuckled holding her hand to her lips. ~"Besides, this position you chose is quite rare among swordsmen. I've only known a few who wear their blades like you."~ As they walked back to the dorms on the carefully manicured pathway, a scent lingered amidst the cool evening breeze, the soothing, peaceful, and sweet aroma of cherry blossoms fluttering about the air, soft pink petals drifting to and fro, culminating with the starlit sky of night. Such a lovely time it was indeed.

~"Well...here we are."~ She whispered upon reaching the dorm hall. Twas quiet now, the sounds of girls embroiled in mock battles with wooden weapons succumbing now to the silence of the night. ~"I suppose we shall go our separate ways now, but I will see you early, Ryuko-chan. Oyasuminasai."~ Asuka was about to bow to her and bid her a good night...but...something else she thought of. A simple goodbye, it wasn't good enough, no...not for Ryuko-chan. Her eyes...she couldn't stop staring into them, languid and lingering, such lovely amber shades lulling her deeper into a euphoric state. Then, a surprise. Tenderly her hand cupped the girl's petite chin, such a gentle touch of skin, then...a kiss, not on her lips...at least...not yet, but on her forehead, a simple display of her affection, nothing more, nothing less. A soft smile she gave to Ryuko-chan and into the building she disappeared wondering...what sort of impression had she left on the sweet little girl other than her lips?

@sassy1085 @Bryn @Framing A Moose

Another respectful bow she gave and off to bed she was following behind Rin to the dorm hall. And what timing when Tohru made it just mere inches from the building, that she witnessed quite the spectacle, Hanazono-Asuka, a girl more noted for her deviousness and her brutality, acting rather smitten with one of the girls, Ryuko Tohru believed her name was, Drake Ryuko. Hmm...perhaps I did misjudge Asuka too much, just as she had misjudged me. She pondered, not realizing that Rin had already left her behind. "Eh? Rin-san, wait up!" Tohru quickly followed behind, trudging up the stairs and down the hall of the third floor, finally, collapsing in her bed with a relaxing sigh. From her shelf she grabbed a book to read, the Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. She was always brushing up on her history, especially of the martial arts. A few chapters she read then set the book down, already her eyes heavy and barely able to stay open. She yawned deeply, nestling her head into the warmth of her pillow, and gently...Tohru drifted off to sleep.

@Rusalka

Ryūko turned a bit red, watching Asuka leave. This was the Akuma no Hime she'd heard so much about? She's a good person after all, the girl thought. Ryūko yawned softly. It had been a long day. She dropped by her dorm room, grabbing a fresh change of clothes and her toiletries before going down to the showers. There were only a few other girls here. In truth, she was grateful; she was a bit concerned about her appearance, namely in the chest area. Curse my pettanko body!

As i drifted off to sleep I was in a black world I was dark and everything I look and I see I was in my Old uniform from my old academy Scimitar Academy what the hell?...Why am I wearing this? because you try to run away... I look around to see who say that and then I see her I can't believe it was Yasha. My old friend.

A night so beautiful and so tranquil as this should not be wasted. That is what she thought as she slipped out of the dorm hall, clad only in a silk yukata and her sandals, and sauntered into the night among the forest trail leading to the gentle flowing waters of the river, a return to that very place she laid eyes upon the ever adorable Ryuko-chan not too long ago. Surely yes she would have joined the other girls to bathe in the showers, but...given her infamous reputation, the company of others was less to be desired. Besides, she somewhat relished these moments she had to herself, to be alone with only her thoughts to accompany her, even...the ones she didn't wish to ponder of. But, while most of her ill thoughts were those of the constant shame she brought upon her family and the consequences that would follow, the guilt eating at her like the incessant moths devouring an old, withered piece of cloth, tonight...her thoughts were elsewhere. Ryuko-chan.... As if in trance she glanced at her hand, the very same the girl had squeezed so tight, such an odd touch to give, and yet...so mesmerizing to Asuka.

There were fireflies out tonight, little stars that seemed to have fallen from the heavens above and flickered and fluttered about the red haired girl, removing her yukata and letting it slip from her smooth shoulders. Such an eventful evening indeed it been, but now it was over and the midnight sun....that pleasant full moon....was in bright spirits with her pale light dancing upon the stream, notably calmer than before...the water almost as still as glass until Asuka disrupted that stillness wading into the shallow portion of the stream. She shivered a little at the brisk touch of the water to her sensitive exterior, but gradually she eased into it....feeling yet again at peace. Her hand reached for the silk black hair tie that kept her ponytail in place and removed it, letting her long, crimson locks fall about her rather slim shoulders as she closed her eyes and submerged into the clear, cool water. She opened her eyes momentarily underneath, noting how....different it felt under the water....such a different world below, even more mysterious with the rays of the moon permeating the crystal surface and casting dim light and dappled shadows upon everything. She resurfaced again with a breath of air taken in and exhaled, pushing back her damp and heavy hair, a few meticulous strands clinging to her face.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

((Battle Music: Our Last Night Alive))

It was that dream again...... the same that haunted her sleep night after night since her youth.

No...not again... Why am I here? What does this all mean?

Beyond the battlefield, scarred and defiled, tainted black by several years of ceaseless, bloody warfare, beyond the festering, maggot ridden corpses of dead men, the splintered shields and shattered swords, the cracked helms and rusted armor, there...they stood, the last two warriors left alive. Two knights, one in white, the other in black, their swords drawn and their shields raised as the warriors gazed at each other from among the dark of their helms....but their gaze...twas not the heated glare of death between adversaries...but a painful stare of regret, as if Tohru could see into their eyes, see the suffering and discord the two knights shared. Neither of them wanted to do it, neither of them...wanted to fight any longer. The thick scuffs and dents in their tattered armor, the dried blood upon their swords worn down by years upon years of vicious war and turmoil, both knew it was the end for them. It would not be a fight to victory...but to the death.

The black knight, Tohru couldn't help but notice it now. For as long as she's had this dream, she had never realized underneath her dark, shadowy armor, the black knight....was crying, and...so too was the white knight. They were both in lachrymose, but even so, to their fate they charged headlong, a mighty war cry exhumed from both their dry and cracked hollow lips. Their swords met in a violent clash of thunder, steel and sparks shooting too and fro as without mercy, without quarter they bashed their blades together, several painful grunts and groans as they fought onwards...onwards...to a bitter end. Blood, red and viscous, it poured from their ghastly wounds, yet neither knight surrendering to the agony inflicted upon their bodies. Finally...

...it ended just as it had begun.

Both warriors, with one final, heartfelt thrust of their blades into one another, they fell to their knees upon the ashen grounds of the battlefield, the life...slowly and ever so tortuously draining from their mortal coils. Twas then the black knight...with a dying gasp for air she would never savor, fell into the arms of the white knight, embracing her in their last moments...as death took them both...