Relaxation | Open

[eight]

The skies were undeniably blue and welcoming, with giant, fluffy clouds lazily making their way through, their courses uncharted and adventurous. Way below, a young man makes himself comfortable against a wooden log, big enough for somebody to lean against. Perfect for relaxation. That was the young man's intent, of course, being the perfectly laid-back and easygoing individual that he generally is. The same can't be said for when he's in the heat of a battle, but right now the only goal was to sit back and take it easy. Which, so to speak, is pretty much what he always does when he's not trading blows with someone. The sweet scent of honey wafted past, as did a tiny, purple butterfly, while the young man proceeded to lie down in the grass.

All in all, the air was suffused with tranquility and serenity.

The young man, whose name was Eight, swung his leg over the other, and then proceeded to lace his hands behind his head. He gently laid his head to rest on top of the wooden log, seeking comfort in the green grass, and looking up at the skies, carefully observing the clouds and looking for ones that looked like an object; the activity that children would like to partake in. There was no age limit, however, when it came to Eight. A soft breeze passed over Eight's face, and somewhere off in the distance, it rustled the leaves on a tree.

Wow... what a nice place.

If one considered the predicament Eight was really in, they'd agree that he had no time to be relaxing. Once upon a time, the boy awoke to find himself in this generally peaceful land, with nowhere to go. Actually, he didn't even know if he could go anywhere. He remembered that it was most certainly a strange sensation, being somewhere where everything was extremely unfamiliar to him. Well, he remembered thinking, it's a nice place to be lost in. Always thinking optimistically, he also remembered the many moments of relaxation and reflection on his part, seeing as there was not much that he could do. That moment being a mere two hours ago, when he first woke up in the strange and alien location (mind you, he didn't know that he was on an entirely different planet -- that kind of thing only exists in fairy tales). With the slow pace that this... world seemed to be moving, he didn't really have the time to have a good panic attack. All was well.

He allowed a lethargic sigh to escape parted lips as he closed his eyes, taking advantage of the lax atmosphere. Sure, he could have been worrying about where he was, but he decided that he could procrastinate on that and live in the moment for a little while. He lay there, and waited for something that even came close to exciting to happen.

[Deleted]

((I am glad you put this in the directory and I checked. Hope you don't mind me joining. Shall we then? =) )

Hollow Bastion. That was the world known as Radiant Garden’s second name and one that seemed to fit the tense atmosphere and washed out clouds that hung above the town now. The Heartless ran rampant in the streets forcing most of the citizens to either stay inside or flee from one place or the other while they tried to live a more or less normal life in these tough situations. While the Academy existed and still ran, there were hardly any people of “Light” rushing to save the town or even trying to flip the world into Light’s hands by challenging whatever spirit controlled such things in the world. The Restoration Committee of the town didn’t seem to be doing much either, their members just as scattered as those that belonged to Academy.

The only one that still moved about in the town that could be said to be a "hero" was Deshitana. The white haired warrior had made an alliance with the Academy. Agreed to work for them as he learned exactly what to do about the beast within him. Back then, he had been lost and without purpose, but much had changed since then. Deshi was no longer the same lost man he was back then. No, after that run in with Altima, the beast within him evolved into something deadlier than before, but also something calmer. Something that wanted to co-exist with Deshi instead of trying to devour him. The change was welcomed and accepted by the man allowing beast and man to share the same body…and in turn leak into each other’s personalities.

The beast made the man unstable. It’s drive for blood and a good fight keeping the man always itching for battle and not caring that world was in Darkness. The Beast liked it that way because of the chaos that the Darkness brought and the man liked the world left in Darkness because it drew the Heartless. With so many Heartless around, the beast did not have time to idle and potentially start slaying innocent ones in its hunger for blood. While the creature was in no way an uncontrollable mad man like the Void, it was still dangerous and something the man within could not fight against. If it wanted to take over it could and would, but thankfully the beast only fully came when there was too much blood in the air or the man's emotions within went rampant.

The beast allowed the man to act as its sheath, staying calm and content to stay hidden until the provoked to come out. It was…a welcome change, but still the situation weighed the man down heavily. He still needed to find a way to complete control whatever was inside of him. Still needed to make himself mostly human again…somehow.

Deshi shook his head to pull himself out of his depressing thoughts and to also focus on patrolling the area he was in. He had been hunting down Heartless for days now, but his efforts were small in comparison to the army of blackness that kept coming from that strange castle across the barren valley. Ever since the Darkness came, the strange and twisted castle that had been still seemed to come alive, making Deshi wonder if the stories about the evil sorceress that had once made that place her stronghold were true or not. Or maybe the malicious air and the constant presence of the Heartless made the already creepy place seem alive. It was hard to tell and quite frankly Deshi was in no mood to go check out the place and end his questions.

His usual curious nature was being crushed under a wave of depression and agitation… the result of wandering thoughts, too much fighting, and little rest. World hopping didn’t bring him any more joy nor did it do anything to cure the negative emotions running through him. If anything, world traveling made the emotions worse as he found only more strife in other places. The war and all the troubles of the world... He was sick of dealing with them alongside of his own problems. He should just throw in the towel right now and quit being involved in a world that confused and hurt him so. He should just hide from it all and will the pain away, but…that was impossible for him to do. While he hated to fight after living a life dedicated to the art, he knew he could not sit back and watch the worlds fall to pieces. The part of him that was still human and wanted to do right would not let him rest….and so he would have to continue to fight. Even when he was on his last leg and wanted nothing more than to cease existing at the moment.

Deshi sighed slightly as he kept walking down the streets, feeling the weight of discontent and fatigue weighing on him. As he walked, his eyes caught a pair of Heartless running from one of the houses with a book in han--er...claw. While no one was yelling about the theft, there was something in the way that the Heartless were waving the book around that made Deshi feel like he needed to get the book back and place it back where it belonged.

Preparing himself for yet another battle, Deshi went after the Heartless. Upon seeing him coming, the Heartless tried to use Corridors to escape, but the warrior followed them down their dark paths, chased them all over town until finally he cornered the thieves and destroyed them.

As the Heartless were fading away into darkness, Deshi picked up the book and looked at its cover. It was some sort of children’s book with a bear and some kid on it. Something labeled the 100 Acre Woods.

Now why did you feel the need to save this again? he questioned himself, but did not bother to answer the question as he shook his head before placing the book securely in his belt, but out of harm’s way should he need to use the chain that hung there at his side. He didn’t want the book damaged, regardless of how worthless it seemed now. Focusing on completing his small task, the mercenary began to head down the road once more. When he reached the house the book was stolen from, he entered the place unhindered and looked around. The place was full of books and other knick knacks, making Deshi wonder who owned the place. It certainly didn’t look like a place for children, but then again maybe whoever own the place was a collector of all things including children books. The piles around the place suggest such a thing, but then again what did he know?

Anyway, it didn’t matter. All he came to do was return the book and that was that.

Nodding inward, Deshi moved through the clutter until he found a small clean table to lay the book on, reflecting on how the table seemed almost perfect for the book. Pulling the book from his belt, he laid the book down on the table, but instead of removing his hand from the book and simply leaving, he found himself staying where he was.

He looked at the book that rested under his hand feeling a powerful urge to open and read it. Why? He didn’t know why and didn’t care. The urge was too strong to ignore, so he stepped closer to the book and opened up its cover, curious as to why he couldn’t leave the book alone.

As the book was opened, unfurling its words and pictures, the pages began to glow and a wind began to tug at him. Then before he knew it, he was falling forward into blinding light.

An eternity later, Deshi was tumbling head over heels across something soft before coming to a stop flat on his back. Stunned by the unexpected trip (literally), Deshi remained where he for a few seconds was with his eyes closed as he let his other senses do the work for him. He could hear the tweeting of birds and the rustling of wind through leafy trees. He could smell grass and the scent of open country and honey. The scents connected to some vague memory of a happier time in his life, but no matter how hard Deshi tried he could get the memory to become clear.

Giving up on the matter for time being, Deshi slowly opened his eyes letting bright light and blue skies filter in slowly. As he looked up at that perfectly blue sky and watched as giant fluffy clouds moved by at their own pace, a gentle breeze washed over him ruffling his hair and pulling on the loser pieces of his form fitting outfit. He stayed where he was enjoying the peace and tranquility that was here.

Was this real? Or had he slipped on something and hit his head in that cluttered room? Had he passed out from fatigue and was dreaming? Or were the horrors of the war and his life the nightmare and this place the true reality he had been in along? There was no beast stirring in him. No conflict bothering him. Just peace. Finally.

Deshi smiled slightly and prepared to close his eyes and take a nap. Yes. He was okay. All that other stuff had just been a nightmare. Right. Right?

What the hell? Get up! the thought was sharp and clear as Deshi’s eyes snapped opened and he sat up….a bit too fast. The fatigue he had felt earlier came crashing in on him like a wave, making his world spin. Bracing himself against the disorienting feeling, he closed his eyes and let the wave pass before trying once more to take in his new surroundings.

Opening his eyes once more, he did indeed find himself in a field of green grass, gentle breezes, and rustling trees in the background. The place was peaceful and calming, he’d definitely give it that, but how had he gotten here? And where was here any way?

Was he still within Radiant Garden…or had that book taken him somewhere new? Was he perhaps in the book itself?

Now, that is just ridiculous. You may be able to travel from world to world, but you can’t enter a story book, guy.

His logic told him this and yet…something in him would not dismiss the idea. Could he really be inside of a book?

He was pulled out of his thoughts as a purple butterfly came near him and after fluttering around a bit landed on his hand. He could feel the creature and everything else around him, so how could this be inside of a book? How was it so real?

Deshi watched the butterfly until it flew away. His deep brown eyes followed the creature flight until he could not see it anymore. Curious for a sky to seem endless within a book and a butterfly to disappear into vast distances. If he were in a book wouldn't he be able to look up or to the left and right and see the room where it sat? Where were the boundaries? Hmm…

Well, whatever the case was, he was in this new place now and curious, so he guess he could explore…although he’d much prefer the na—

“Huh?” Deshi said softly as his train of thoughts came to a halt. He had been scanning the area the whole time not seeing much until he saw a log resting in the field and next to it a person. Wondering if maybe the person might be familiar with this place, he got to his feet and headed over to the person; however, upon getting closer he found himself stopping a safe distance away unsure of what to do.

The person before him was a guy dressed in an unfamiliar fashion that might’ve been normal for this strange place. After all, the guy did seem comfortable with where he was at and appeared to be even sleeping. Maybe it was better to leave the guy alone and find someone else to help, but where was he going to find another person?

His dark brown eyes moved from the teen on the ground to the area around him. He could see trees and a pathway leading between them, but as far as he could tell there was no one else here, but himself and this young man. Was he lost too? Or…or…?

Deshi sat down on the ground and folded his arms slightly as he bowed his head in thought forgetting for the moment that he was a few feet away from the sleeping guy as he mind debated on how to act in this situation and try to understand what had just happened to him.

As his thoughts raced, he closed his eyes, finding it a bit hard to keep them open in this relaxing place...