He sat alone, as he always did, out in the courtyard under a birch tree. He had always liked the birch, shedding their young bark to reveal the pale white wood underneath, as if they were casting off their shell to reveal some sort of purity. He had left all the ones he considered "friends" behind when he moved to Port Crescendo from the Western Shore, and didn't much care to put forth the effort of making new ones. No, it's better this way. Safer. People have always bored me anyhow.. Though, I do miss the comfort, at times. Yoshi stared at the half-emptied thermos he toted about, The smell is a little more noticeable today... He poured it on the ground and turned his gaze toward those gathered amongst the gazebos in the courtyard.
He liked to watch the people from a distance and imagine being able to intermingle with them. Though, every time he had tried in recent history, either he or the other party had simply not 'clicked', always devolving in to a painful silence. Maybe I'm just being stu-- A voice interrupted him, slow-spoken and calm. Cold, but intent. "Stupid? Yes. You've always been quite good at doubting yourself. It's what makes part of this so easily achieved.." a snicker followed the latter part of the statement.
"You've achieved nothing, so go back to your hole." He spoke sternly, but felt weakened by the confidence in the Imp's statement. Easy... Surely I'm not that easy. I've kept them at bay this long. Wouldn't they just get on with it, if it were that close? He anticipated a response before it was given. Don't answer that, I wasn't asking.. A feeling of stillness came over him. He had felt it before, but never out in the broad view of prying eyes. A slight gasp, followed by a whispered protest. "Shit... Not here. I need to get somewhere." He tried to stand, but his knees were weak.
He continued to whisper to himself, as if to coach, as his thoughts were too loud to hear himself. "Okay. One thing from each sense, right?" The caretaker was pruning the hedges nearby. SNIP The sound of the shears echoed in his mind over and over in his clouded state.
"Shit... I..." He gripped the edge of the bench."Wood. The grain of the wood, right. uhm..."
A breeze kicked up and carried the scent of azaleas towards him."Flowers. Gross."
He racked his mind over, trying to remember the five senses, he couldn't keep in order which he had recognized and which he was lacking. "Sound, touch, smell... smell... uhm.. Damnit." Dizziness began to overtake him. He felt as though something were pulling him away from the courtyard."I'm tired... Touch..." He bit his tongue, drawing a bit of blood, hoping the pain would ground him back in the waking world. "Taste. I taste pennies." a ruby colored bead dripped from the corner of his mouth, slightly agape and it worked, for half a moment.
Pulling at his hair and trying to remember which sense he hadn't indulged in the excersize, the tug at his scalp was all that was keeping him awake."NO. No.. This is just more touch.. Damn it. This is so simple, why do I always have such a hard time with it? Weakness. Simple weakness."
A new sound rang out, the smooth and sort of sing-song voice of a young girl. A freshman, at that. "Hey there... Are you alright? You look sad." A new touch and sound came as she sat on the bench beside him, shifting his seating slightly as the old wood beneath them creaked beneath the load. "I'm... I'm fine. Thanks, though."
"You're not. But I can help, I think! Just look at me, okay?"
Sight. I've not looked. He raised his head to meet the gaze of a girl with raven hair and a soft smile, her scarlet eyes piercing his of emerald. He was awake, but confused. Normally, he could read people, but her.. Something was different. The kindness was genuine, but there was something in her stare. She was looking in to him, instead of at him.
"I'm Rosalie, but my friends call me Red." She said with a slight tilt of her head. "Oh, dear, we can't have that." She pulled a handkerchief from her jacket pocket and dabbed the blood from Yoshi's chin. "Well. I told you my name. It's rude not to offer yours, don't you think?"
"I.... uh.. Yoshi. I'm Yoshi."
"Pleased to meet you, Yoshi. I felt that you were distressed, and it troubled me. I think that you're lonely. And I know just the thing to remedy that! There's a club I heard of that plays all sorts of really fun games outside of class, and I'd like you to come with me! They'll take me more seriously if I show up with an upper-classman, anyhow."
He had never been fond of clubs, or socializing. "I... I'm no--"
"Of course you're sure! You're sure that you don't want to, but it's for your own good! I won't accept 'no' as an answer." She grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet, and his knees stopped shaking. He didn't know what to think. Who is she...
"Well? Is it a yes yet? It's the only real answer, after all." She gave him a warm smile and a gentle tug, beckoning him to go with her. For the first time in a long time, he was intrigued. With a drawn out sigh, he gave her the response she wanted,"I suppose I must, if there is but one answer. Which club are we going to, anyway? Something boring like rugby or SpArena?"
A soft laugh came in response. "It's called the Monster Hunter Club, and it looks like the most fun out of them all!" She pulled at him once more, and they made their way toward the main building. Passing the crowds of freshmen and upper classmen, still in a daze, Yoshi caught bits and pieces of conversation. Everything from typical gossip and banter to the more serious tones of how monsters had been getting not only bolder; but bigger and stronger.
Why am I even allowing this.. He was rarely influenced by the will of others, often simply walking away from situations in which 'peer pressure' was utilized. But there was something about this girl that made him more comfortable in the 'follower' sort of role. She had, after all, been the thing that finished grounding him back in to reality.It could have been bad, had I slipped in public like that..
Rosalie, half skipping, was eagerly tugging at Yoshi's wrist. Brushing past nobodies and professors alike. Every so often, she'd turn her welcoming smile back, as if to be sure that he was still behind her, despite the certainty of her grasp. After a short while, they made their way to the second floor of the main building on campus. A black sign with bold, golden letters read 'MHC H.Q.' This is the door she chose to open.
Upon entry, Yoshi shifted in discomfort. They were both trained hunters, after all, and between them stood a slender and ghostly lad. The noise of the door opening had directed all their attention toward it. He had never been comfortable with eyes on him. Like spiderwebs brushing on my skin... He turned to Rosalie, as if she'd take the spotlight. Instead, she placed a hand gently on his back and nudged him forward.
"Go on, then! By the looks of it, I'm sure they'd love to know our names and why we're here! Introduce us, if you would!" She took a step backward, giving him the foreground and curtsied to the occupants of the headquarters.
He looked around the room, analyzing everyone inside. He had always tried to remain aware of his surroundings, and understand what was going on around him. A calm, collected young gentleman, observing every movement in the room and gauging it, albeit somewhat half-heartedly and a girl with tattoos all over her body and a piercing gaze. He got the feeling the boy center of the room wouldn't be seen if he weren't intentionally showing himself.
"H-hey. Uhm.. We...." He froze. He'd never been good with strangers, let alone a crowd. He shifted uncomfortably, trying to find the words to use. Just as he felt his face begin to flush, he also felt a gentle hand pushing him aside, and she stepped forward.
"Hello!" a harmonious voice rang out amidst the room, cheerfully calling more attention to the duo."My fried here is just a bit shy amongst new people, don't mind him. My Name is Rosalie, but you can call me Red! We're just looking for a club to join, and this one seemed the best option! I'm not much one for something like carpentry, and, as you can see, my friend here wouldn't do well in something like theater in front of a crowd!" a soft giggle followed the statement.
She turned to him with a smile, as if asking his permission, though a bit more pressing. Yoshi nodded, and turned his gaze toward the calm young man leaning back in his chair."We'd like to fall in to the ranks of the MHC" 'whatever that is' If you would have us. My name is Yoshi." The two exchanged looks, and he got the feeling that he had interrupted something important."Well, uhm... What exactly are we doing here?"
