crystal-headed girl

It’s doubtful, but you never could say for sure in a city that was this large. Maybe one of Agnes’ friends was actually living around here and she had no idea. Now that would be ironic.

She also had to wonder why the sight of her knife appeared to unnerve Agnes. Oh, yes, she had noticed. It was all in the body-language, really. It didn’t offend Ryoko; it merely confused her.

Humans really didn’t seem to like weapons, whether they were going to be used on them or not.

“I can’t say for sure. During my frequent walks out in the city, I have occasionally see an orb of light floating about in Sector 2,” she recalled, eyes still glued to the screen. “Very easy to see among the smog. I haven’t approached her directly nor have I heard anything about fairies or magic in the local news.”

Suddenly, her phone shut with a clack, and she turned to face Agnes with a cheery little curve of a smile.

Ah, the thought of made her feel a pang in her chest.

Her eyes focused on the other once she heard the shutting of the gadget. The bluenette spoke and the last sentence made her blink twice.

Agnes only made a handful of friends in her lifetime. It was rather unusual for anybody to call her that right off the bat. 

       Add glanced at the lady before him– didn’t she pass by this area twice now? an eyebrow raised as he noted her puzzled gaze to the possible directions to go. if he was a betting boy, he’d say she was lost. usually, he had no interest in aiding those who looked similar to lost puppies. however, he had nothing to do other than cursing the world. plus, it’d bother him more to see this lady walk past a third, or even fourth time.

Early mornings were the best time to read for Agnes. She practically grew up reading an array of novels, poetry and Orthodoxy scriptures. Reading was her favourite-- and one of her only-- past times. The vestal thought of heading to the library as soon as it opened that day. But that did not come true.

Hearing a bystander direct a question at her, she faces him.

But that would mean replacing order with chaos. That meant bringing danger to others on the path to protect them. He knew this. But he wouldn’t stop. Not until the one he held such hatred for was gone, stripped from the world. He wished to lower casualties, but he knew there was no way to stop them.

In this one place, in this one time, was proof of that. The girl’s movements, her mannerisms, they all made it so clear. She was not as strong as she tried to show. Amane was similar in that regard. Repressed, restricted, always put into her role. She had to do what was expected of her, regardless of the situation.

So he walked. He did not wish to bring anything more to the girl. He did not want to bring her any more harm. As he passed her by however, he placed his hand atop her head. Was it a comfort? He wasn’t sure. But it was something that seemed to calm his other friends in the worst of times.

“There’s no need for thanks. I’m not the one you want to give them to anyway.

The thought made her lips curl slightly. It was then the other placed a hand on the crown of her head. The gesture surprised her a little and she sighed a few moments after. Agnes felt calm whenever her friends did the same to her when she felt uneasy or aggravated. It had the same effect on her now. She always wished that moments like this lasted a few seconds longer.

For all she knew, Agnes was probably present during that battle of the alternates. That empty void still lingered somewhere in the clouds like a festering scar, yet nothing had seemed to have emerged from it. Or have been done about it. Ryoko curled up one corner of her lips.

“Let’s see…” With her other hand, Ryoko plucked her cell-phone from her pocket and started clicking through the menus. Once her Contacts page was up, she scrolled through the A’s section until she found what she was looking for. Rank, living quarters, it was all here- this place really knew how to keep things updated daily.

The idea of this information being used to track herself down crossed Ryoko’s mind, but she tuned it out just as quickly. It wasn’t like anyone had tried to do anything about her behavior this year, so why even worry?

“I did a little check and the records say that you’re housed in Complex 001 in room T-1, Agnes.” The blunette gave the screen of her phone a tap with the tip of her knife. “Going by the numbers, it’s all contained in Sector 1. I actually have a house of my own there.”

And what was this? Friends? Ryoko thought on what she had said.

The girl looks up from her phone her gaze shifts from the knife back to the eyes of the other. She wonders why the blade unsettled her so. “Is that so...” she leans forward a little and checks the phone’s screen. Sector 1 is where she must head to, then. 

“Then I guess you should be counting your lucky stars then, miss. It was very fortunate for you to have run into me instead of some depraved stranger.”

All too true in Ryoko’s opinion. No doubt there were a few ruffians or perverts just aching for the chance to get a young woman like this alone. She would be fine in the capable hands of Ryoko, who knew no forms of human depravity.

She waggled the knife in her hand as she lined herself up next to the brunette. She knew, from a very far off experience, that the name of this individual happened to be Agnes. Judging from her data, however, Ryoko was inclined to believe that this was not the Agnes she had shared a trip to the train-station with. She hadn’t exactly been able to confirm such a notion in their occasional chat, but up close and personal, there was no more doubt.

She flicked the knife high into the air above them…

“Feel free to ask me anything you want to, miss.”

And caught it at level with her chest using only her middle and index fingers.

“I’m Ryoko Asakura.”

Lucky in the sense that the first person she saw was someone she knew before-- unlucky because she really was not liking the look of the blade she so freely tossed and played with. Caution aside, Agnes didn’t think that Ryoko had intentions of harming her. What can she gain if she did so (probably a world full of trouble, if Airy ever knew)? “Agnes Oblige,” she returns, not sure if they exchanged introductions before. “Thank you for providing me company.”

“I’ve been great.” he said, spoken with little emotion. It was not the normal way he would talk, somewhat blank but with a hint of sarcasm, but total nothingness.

With a nibble to his foot, he looked down at Helel. The eyes of the small sheep were pure, and one of the only real things he could call constant in this city. Everything changed. Everyone left. People came and went, and unless they were an emotionless nun, a friendship obsessed nut, or a very few others, the leaving was more common. But all those that left, when they came back, they’d met the same person. Nudging his leg again, the sheep was almost telling him to move in a certain direction. Putting a slight smile on his face, Kazuya crouched down, petting his companion. And after a slight sigh, he looked back up at the girl.

“I’m not going to lie to you Agnes. Nor will I lead you on. I’m not the person you knew before.” like flipping a mental switch, he changed the color of one of his eyes. One stayed the blue of human, another the red of a Demon.

“I’m neither. Not the one from your city, nor the one from the other. If you had to be pick one, I’m closer to the other. I don’t… remember what the one you knew was. I don’t remember his role. There’s many of us, there were many choices I had. I’m sure there’s one for each and every one.

I am Abel, Agnes. The Overlord of Demons, and King of Bel. I’m not the human you spent your time with. Nor do I wish to be.”

Her heart sank a bit. Agnes can admit that she did not know him long, but the Kazuya from back then made her feel rather…warm. She wanted to talk to him more, to go visit places with him more. And her heart sank because that person does not exist anymore.

In place of him was Abel, crouched down with his little sheep companion. She locked eyes with him– brown meeting blue and red. The colors made her stare a second too long, her expression a mask over sadness. It was not him, it was not him.

“…I see,” she simply replies. The vestal bows, hair falling a bit over her face. “I-I apologize. I had thought wrong.” Straightening her posture, she clasps her hands together, gripping her gloved hands tightly. “But…thank you anyway, for back then. I remember not if I properly gave you thanks.”

Having recovered from that entire Halloween fiasco, Ryoko was back to her usual routine in the city. Usual if you were her, at least. Lately she had started to feel as if she were, what was the word…

Oh, right, invincible.

And how could she not? No one had ever challenged her or actually come to make her pay for any of the grievances she had caused. Neither citizen nor NPC had really come forward to voice their transgressions. While she wasn’t planning on publicly revealing the underside of her mask just yet, Ryoko figured that it was best to spend her time in the areas of the city that she rarely visited. Her appearance may have been distinct enough, but in a crowd of so many colorful characters that often changed, she doubted anyone would be quick to point her out on the street.

And this particular street barely had crowds around. Peaceful enough for her to be alone with her thoughts and her knife.Why shouldn’t she have it out? people openly toted around worse. Tossing it up and down to catch it effortlessly in her palm, Ryoko wondered how her little machine was doing. She still had yet to properly name it.

Any further musings were put on hold once Ryoko felt herself being addressed (easy to figure since she detected no one else nearby). She looked ahead and- well, she actually knew this person. Exchanged pleasantries with this girl and maybe waved. Agnes, wasn’t it? Ryoko hadn’t seen her for quite sometime.

Now what did she want? 

“Mmmmm, you do look rather familiar! …I guess we might have. What can I do for you?”

“Oh, well...” her eyes move from the girl’s face-- expression quite cheerful as she had a deadly weapon in one hand-- to the knife, blade glinting in the natural light. A dreadful feeling was just tapping at her shoulder, as if whispering to her that the younger lady was not the best person to approach. 

Agnes was not a stranger to seeing weapons brandished in front of her. She’s seen every kind there was, possibly. But seeing a charming, friendly-looking woman toss and play with a knife like it was the most natural thing-- that was different. During their brief meetings, the vestal had never seen the girl wield or even possess a knife. Where did she even get that? Was there a kitchen nearby? 

Was she a chef?

Days were rarely truly peaceful in Kazuya’s life. Whether it was the situations he created for himself, ones brought on him entering into other’s conflicts, or ones brought about by someone coming after him, there was always something. Today however, was one of those rare times, in which he and Helel would wander the city. Of course, the small sheep was like himself; it liked to do its own thing. So while he wasn’t at the Overlord’s feet at the moment, Kazuya wasn’t worried about him. In fact, he had little worry this day. It was a calm one.

That was, until he heard the voice. He was not looking at her, but it was unmistakable. Eyes widening at the voice, for once, the King of Bel was uncertain what to do. What could he do? He still had very few memories from before; most had been lost or distorted in the battle against himself. Yet he remembered how one of the previous hims had left things with her.

And on top of that, he was no longer the person she had known. Yet from her call to him, she was certainly the same.

It was at that moment the sheep returned to his feet. Good timing Helel, he thought, wondering if he could hide behind his small companion. No, that would be impossible he was sure. How fast could he call Fujino, have her get here, and duck under the oversized uniform she wore? Not fast enough.

With a sigh, he turned. He couldn’t run from this. He’d wondered many times what to say to those who knew the previous him if they returned. He’d wondered how to explain, to tell them he was not the same they had known.

With his black and red cape, as opposed to the white and blue one from before, fluttering in the wind, he turned his head to her. His face was not quite a frown, but nor was it a smile. And it was a far cry from his normal blank expression.

“Agnes.” he spoke in a somewhat quiet, yet still commanding voice. It was not as soft as his previous incarnation; it was that of a general rather than a person. Of a king, rather than a simple ruler. “You’re… you’re back.”

Brown hues observe the other, noting the slight change in the tone of his voice. He sounded…austere. Commanding, even. Agnes wonders if he was okay. The expression on his face was hard to read, but it did not seem like he was hiding anything either. What had happened while she was gone? Was it because of her?

She was hoping that this really was Kazuya. Not the crimson-eyed King of Bel she encountered before.

But the vestal could not help but smile a little at the mention of her name. He still knew her. That was good. “I am afraid that I am, yes,” sighing, eyes left him for a while to have a brief glance around the park. “Not much has changed around here, I believe,” memories slowly flooded back to her. It was like reading an old journal. Very few, distinct moments she could remember, and all else was just vague, like mixed up paint on a palette.  

If there was one (pointless?) thing Crimson could take pride on, it was her ability to not let strange or surprising situations to get the best of her. Oh no, she tried to keep a positive attitude and take life in stride; it was simply her way of doing things. Still, this was worthy of being called strange enough to shake her up.

Crimson eyes darted back and forth as the blonde spun in place, her head tilted back as she gazed upwards at the tall, foreign buildings. The structure was vaguely similar to what she recalled from back home, but never had the rider seen buildings quite this tall; some of them made even the fortresses and walls back in Nohr pale in comparison. The entire explanation of why, and how, she wound up here blew over her head since the beginning, and maybe a small part of her regretted it. Not to mention the lack of proper weapons did leave her feeling antsy.

“Well, at least I got you, right?” A hand reached back to pet the neck of the small wyvern holding onto the armor on Crimson’s back before her eyes settled on the crowds surrounding her. The people seemed lively enough, if not a little strange. Little else was on the blonde’s mind than exploring, and she did just that.

Even the length of her stay in the city did not prevent her from getting lost. It was in her nature, unfortunately. Though this time, the brunette did not really have a destination in mind. All she wanted to do was walk and perhaps see some people she has not in a while. The last thing she remembered was the city being in total ruin-- a memory she most definitely was not fond of. Seeing the city being normal again brought her much relief.

And if there was one more thing that was in her nature, it was her dislike for crowds. Dipping her head, she attempts to slip through the masses when she hears someone calling out to no one in particular.

“ LYING IS FOR PEOPLE WHO LACKS GUTS, MISSY! AND I DO NOT LACK GUTS! “ He shouted back, offended by the woman not trusting the value of his words. 

“ But! It is true what I did was inappropriate! I need to make my amends! “ Determined to show he was just, he walked towards the building next to the sidewalk and flung his head into the brick wall. Over and over he crushed his head and left cracked bricks and chips of it falling down to the ground.

Blood was both painted on the wall and on his forehead. 

“ There! The pain was immense! I do not know how hard I was touching your boob. But I made sure to hit himself as hard as possible to make it even! “ 

“ But if you’re here doesn’t that mean you’re heading to Anicon?  Fine! As further payment for my mistake, let me pay for something reasonable for you there. 

Brown eyes still on the other, she watched as he flung his head back and then proceeded to let it collide with the exterior of the building. She gasped in horror, thinking this man a lunatic for a few seconds. She then thought of him an absolute lunatic when she saw red painted all over his features.

She had no words-- her mind was trying and failing to grasp any words at the moment. “A-Anicon..?” she finally spat out. “B-but you are bleeding! You cannot go around wounded,” Agnes felt a tad guilty as she saw what this man had done to himself.