| Empty Spaces (Akihiko!) | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 5 2012, 12:06 AM (744 Views) | |
| Deleted User | Feb 5 2012, 12:06 AM Post #1 |
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MAY 27TH, 2012 | 1:00 PM There were times that Rise missed fame. No, really-- there were. The glitz, the glamour, the cheering fans and the adoring masses... but it all came with a price that, for now? It was all far too high for her to pay it. Maybe once she was a bit more mature, she'd try again-- but for now? She was enjoying a more mundane existence. Sure, every now and then she still got asked for an autograph... but it had largely calmed down from the frenzy that had occured when she first arrived in Inaba. Having the time to reflect on what had led to her being burnt out on the verge of self-destructing was probably the most valuable thing she had... and so she was doing just that, a pink pen moving over the journal she's got propped up on her knees as she sits on the steps leading up to Tatsuhime Shrine. It was a spot that allowed her some level of privacy while also giving her the chance to enjoy the sunlight, a rarity now that the fog had begun to show up on a more regular basis. Her pigtails blew about her in the breeze as she wrote, her eyes glued onto the page in front of her as she works. Dressed today in a floral print, halter-style top that was done in shades of yellow and orange, she's got on a pair of denim shorts instead of her usual white capris since the last thing she wanted was to get too much dirt on the rear end of her favorite bottoms. Simple white sandals upon her feet, she hummed some song or another she'd heard on the radio to herself as she worked. Empty Spaces, she thought it'd been called-- some hit from the States from years ago. It had been oddly catchy. I'm not afraid... to go backwards, fix what we broke... And the more she thought about it? That summed up how she felt about her time in the spotlight. Even now, with her mind ensnared in the past that had nearly broken her... there was a lot more she could learn, and could teach others now that she thought about it. Hopefully, someday, she'd be able to share what she'd learned with the world-- see if she could save some other girl with stars in her eyes and big dreams from the same pitfalls she had stumbled into. |
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| Deleted User | Feb 5 2012, 11:56 PM Post #11 |
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When he said that he'd only experienced the fog that had begun showing up on Inaba's streets, she nodded faintly. So SEES didn't have the means to explore the TV World after all, mm? That meant that the Investigation Squad had the advantage on that front... and provided she played her cards right, she'd be able to pique Akihiko's interest in going there. She'd need to figure out a surefire way to get out safely first, though, something she hadn't had the chance to test yet. The last she knew, the Television landing pad was still intact-- she'd need to take a peek and make sure of that. With the fog showing up, she even had an excuse... but back to the conversation at hand. "When the fog leaked into this world before, it was tied to the weather-- when it rained here for long periods of time would be when it would show up, clearing out of the other side. That'd be when things in the TV World got more dangerous." And... judging by how he's pinching his nose? He's not the one that handles information-- and what he said confirmed it. Making a mental note of the names he mentioned, she decided to ask one final question. It was simple enough, and it'd also divert the information toward a more useful source, or so she hoped... even if it meant not having that excuse to see him again. "Where would I find them?" Leaning down and picking up her journal, she wrapped her arms around it and held it to her chest as she watched him reach into his jacket... and pull out a parcel that he tossed at her. She barely unwound one of her arms to snag it before it hit the ground, carefully fumbling it open... and what she saw had her eyes widening subtly. He'd outdone himself, from what she could see-- it was the same color and cut of skirt, but the fabric felt a bit thicker, more substantial than the one he'd ripped to shreds. A quick check revealed that it was a couple sizes too big, but... hey, it was the thought that counts, right? "Hey, thanks. I wasn't expecting you to replace it, but... it's nice that you did. Thoughtful, even--" And he's walking away? Wait, what in the world was he doing?! Quickly, she strode forward to catch up with him, lightly snagging his arm by the elbow. "Wait up, Handsome! You're not gonna walk a lady home? And I'm gonna need to get your number too... y'know, in case I need saving again." Cheshire cats would be envious of the grin that was tugging at her lips as she looked up at him, even going so far as to bat her eyelashes at him playfully. He's the one that decided to stop talking about serious stuff... so now? Now, he got to deal with the consequences. |
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| Akihiko Sanada | Feb 8 2012, 07:45 PM Post #12 |
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Akihiko shrugged to Rise's question. He didn't know where Aigis or Mitsuru could be found; not anymore at least. It wouldn't be that difficult to pick up a phone and ring Mitsuru, but somehow he doubted she'd answer even if he tried. More than likely Rise was bound to run into one of them sooner or later. It'd just depend if either party happened to recognize the other. And yeah, yeah, she was thankful, he got it, but he didn't buy her a skirt to appease her lack of fashion. He did it for himself. He sighed again as he found himself pausing, perplexed as to why, as she ushered for him to wait by tugging at his elbow. And that name again--handsome. Why couldn't people call him Akihiko or Senpai anymore? "My number?" Akihiko blinked and looked down at her. With a face etched in stone, he said, "No." Sorry, but he wasn't going to be giving his number to random people in Inaba when they weren't apart of SEES. While sure SEES was recruiting, Rise had already announced she had her own clan to plot with. Having her in both screamed double dipping, and Sanada's loose loyalties was with SEES, not with Team Sailor Jupiter. Ugh. Akihiko didn't even say his thoughts out-loud, and already he was embarrassed in even knowing who Sailor Jupiter was. "SEES members made a deal," Akihiko frowned, staring straight ahead. "We're not becoming close with the locals. So I'd prefer if you actually called me Akihiko," if she insisted on a nickname, "and not... that." It just wasn't right to hear others call him handsome. Maybe it was because he never viewed himself to be handsome or understood the true concept of "pet names." "But I'll... walk you home this one time." Akihiko wasn't going soft; he just wanted to make sure Rise didn't follow him home like a lost puppy. He stopped at the entrance of the shrine and shrugged again. "Lead the way." He was suddenly paranoid what someone else would say--like Aigis or Mitsuru--seeing him walking down the street with someone like Rise after what he said to them. But he swallowed away his worry and kept his mind on the idea that this walk was completely platonic, and not because he was worried Rise couldn't handle a shadow by herself. |
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| Deleted User | Feb 8 2012, 08:11 PM Post #13 |
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Well gee, that was useful. Rise had expected that he'd know where the rest of his group was at-- but then again, he had said that he'd been giving the jerk-butt treatment to everyone else... so maybe that extended to the people in the SEES group he kept talking about? It honestly wouldn't surprise her if that was the case. And really, he should be grateful that she's choosing to not take offense on how the skirt he bought for her was too big-- or that she's still smiling sweetly at him, the way that thousands of teenaged boys would be envious of! Ah well. She'd break him down sooner or later. Progress was already being made on that front, after all. He's having to keep his emotions contained, lest he blush like she just knew he wanted to-- and then he refused to give her his number. Feigning a pout when he delined to give her his number, she gave him the patented puppy-dog eyes that had been one of the first tricks of the trade she had picked up in her foray into fame. "Aww, why not? I mean, don't you wanna be able to get ahold of me and make sure I'm alright?" And then he answered her. Not supposed to make friends with the locals, huh? Well, on one hand, Rise did indeed live in Inaba-- but she'd also been all over Japan, traveling far and wide. She'd gone far enough to know that such a policy as to distance oneself from the people that knew the area was... well? It was downright idiotic. "Sure, and I bet that deal included you convincing them into thinking it was a good idea before you pulled the assbutt routine on them like you did to me. Admit it, Akihiko--" Hey look, a concession! She was willing to give him that one since he'd agreed to walk her home. "You're lonely, in your self-improsed exile. Besides, just how many other Persona-Users do you know that won't be fighting?" The answer to that was zero-- or, at least, that was the hope. It was a gamble to be sure, but it would be well worth it if she got him to admit that she was right. And if that wasn't enough, well... there was an adage she'd picked up that would seal the deal. "You know what they say... two in harmony surpasses one in perfection." Ignorant of how she'd just referenced someone that was rather important to the light-haired young man, she kept her hold on his arm as he stepped off of the shrine's grounds and onto the sidewalk. It was only proper and polite that he offer his arm to a (former) celebrity such as herself, after all. Besides, this way she got a chance to enjoy being closer to him, something that she found herself savoring despite how she'd tried to forget all about him. Turning them both toward the gas station, she explains. "I'm around the block, behind the weapon and tofu shops. They yell at me when I go through the alley, so we have to go around." And truthfully? They did, if only because of how they didn't like anyone going back there since the murders. |
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| Akihiko Sanada | Feb 10 2012, 12:17 PM Post #14 |
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Get ahold of her to make sure she was all right? No. Not particularly. The last thing he wanted was her to call her out of the blue and say, 'I got out of the shower okay! No need to worry about me!' or 'I almost strangled myself in my bed! You should come over and tear the sheets up!' He frowned at her next statement. He wasn't lonely in his self-imposed exile. He was becoming stronger, ignoring any outside influence. What more could a man want than to focus so completely on training he could achieve a goal? Of course it'd be nice for someone to watch him, or train with, or travel with... No. He was not lonely. He always found something to occupy him before he found himself feeling lonely. She caused him to stop, every muscle in his body flexing. "What did you just say?" Two in harmony surpasses one in perfection... it was the Kirijo Group's family motto. How did Rise even know something like that? Glaring at her, he yanked his arm away, already feeling anger bubble up. "Did Mitsuru send you to 'check-up' on me? Tell her I don't need a damn baby-sitter." It'd be just like Mitsuru to keep an eye on her friends when she couldn't. It'd make sense, right? Rise comes out of no where after he had an argument with Mitsuru. Rise talks about her 'group'--what other group was there except the Kirijo Group. Rise can't fight and the Kirijo Group knows Akihiko has an inner need to protect the weak. How could he have been so stupid not to think Mitsuru would do something like this? How could he have been so dense not to notice the signs before? "You can tell your group I have every intention in competing in the arena, but if they continue to send some cheery little girl hoping she'd get close to me, then they can go to hell." He wasn't someone just to be used for their petty circumstances. He already helped get them out of one shithole, and now he was going to do twice. If they didn't trust him to get the job done, then they could piss off. He ignored anything she said about the tofu shop. He was too busy reeling from the fact he ignored all the signs. "I think you're perfectly capable of going home by yourself, Rise. I'm tired of being toyed with." |
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| Deleted User | Feb 10 2012, 12:45 PM Post #15 |
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One moment, things were fine... and the next? He's gone still like a deer in headlights, tensing up in her grasp in a way that she couldn't help but appreciate. To feel that strength around her... my, that was a pleasant thought. She didn't get the chance to linger in that, though, since the next thing she knew? He was going off half-cocked. "Wait, wha--" And then, for the first time... Rise got to see Akihiko's anger first-hand. It was a decidedly not-pleasant thing, she'd admit right from the get-go, but a lot of what he was saying just... didn't make any sense. Sure, he'd mentioned Mitsuru's name once or twice, but the rest of it? In the former idol's opinion, she hadn't heard a conspiracy theory that inane ever since the last time she'd made the mistake of reading a Mel Gibson interview! Stalking around in front of him, she channeled all of the female maternal figures that she had ever seen and threw it into one of those looks that snagged his gaze and, hopefully, had the authority of the mothers of the world. Her words managed it, at least. "Are you done?" Hoping that her directness would cut him off from ranting and raving any further, she continued, not budging from her position in front of him. "For one, I don't know anyone named Mitsuru-- ever since I left showbiz, I've only ever heard the name from you." There'd been some assistant or aide of her agent's that also had the name, she thought, but that was hardly important. It wasn't the same girl-- that was what mattered. "And F.Y.I., I overheard that at one of the clubs I was set to perform in on Port Island... Escapade, I think it was called. I wound up having to cancel when there was a buncha' electrical problems-- a short in the wires, or somethin' like that. I didn't really get into the technical too much since that's not my thing." And then he tried to accuse her of trying to stop him from competing... and she finally went off and truly snapped at him. "And honestly? I don't care if you compete or not! Just so long as you get out in one piece, you can go diving with sharks in a meat swimsuit for all I care!" ...and that was ridiculous and so Lady Gaga of her, but she didn't care-- it was the truth, plain and simple. That was something that she valued above all else, after her ordeal... and even if it was inconvenient, she wasn't going to lie now. |
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| Akihiko Sanada | Feb 10 2012, 06:01 PM Post #16 |
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No he wasn't done. He had her figured out, or so he thought. The pieces fit too well together than to think this was pure coincidence. There was too much stuff going on to take anything as a coincidence. Squaring his jaw at Rise mentioning she didn't know anyone by Mitsuru, that didn't mean anything. Anyone from the Kirijo Group could have ordered her to keep an eye on him. Though she said caught her off guard again. "Perform?" Akihiko looked over Rise again, judging what exactly she performed. She was too young to perform at a gentleman's club, but too old to be a comedy act, right? Even picturing her as some pop-idol never entered Sanada's mind. Though the mention of electrical problems caused Akihiko to cringe. Could she have really overheard someone at the Espada saying the Kirijo slogan? The odds were not in Rise's favor, but Akihiko couldn't completely dismiss it. "Who would do that?" Seriously, who would be stupid enough to bait sharks? Akihiko sighed. "It wouldn't be beyond the Kirijo Group to keep an eye on me after Mitsuru and I fought. They're the people who trained us and gave us the evokers. She's in charge of them." The boxer shook his head while looking at Rise. "I wouldn't be surprised if they were bugging your place right now if they've seen me talk to you." They were a devious bunch willing to do whatever it took to get their information. Thankfully one man went against that idea, but the result brought on the Dark Hour. "You're going that way, right?" He pointed down the area she was drifting them toward. "How about I watch from here for the 'bad guys'? It's probably not best to be seen with me right now." |
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| Deleted User | Feb 10 2012, 07:21 PM Post #17 |
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Seeing Akihiko caught off-guard was something Rise was rapidly becoming familiar with... and also more than a little fond of. For him to be disarmed of his usual stoic expression to see something beyond it was something she could well and truly get used to, she decided... alongside of him being shirtless in the rain. But that went without saying, right? Ahem. But back to the matter at hand-- namely? Her fame. Nodding, she responded while giving him a somewhat deadpan look. "Yeah, perform. Why? Unless..." Trailing off, the realization that dawns on the former idol has her eyes widening and a disbelieving grin tugging at her lips. "Wait. You didn't know? Oh my Gawd." A soft, disbelieving laugh escaped Rise's lips as she reached up, placing a couple of fingers on Akihiko's chin and turning his head to look at the window next to him. While the store hadn't been open for a few months, it still had posters up in the front window-- and right there, in front of his eyes? Was one of the very pig-tailed girl in front of him, dressed in a bedazzled costume with a big, beaming smile and a microphone held in one hand that was thrust, up, over her head. 'The Risette 2009 Tour' was written in fancy script beneath it, with the tourdates outlined in neat tables beneath it. And one of the dates? Was in Port Island, for September 2nd. "As I said... I was performing in the club, there, but the lights went all funny so we had to cancel the gig halfway though. One of the stagehands tearing my set down said that adage, and I remembered it ever since." Knowing better than to expect an apology for the ill-placed leap that Akihiko made to the wrong conclusion, Rise chuckled softly as she shook her head. When he mentioned the idea of someone bugging her place, well... she laughed outright at that, snagging his arm just like she had before he'd pulled away and made a big fuss of things. "Akihiko, the papparazi and press have been trying to pry into my personal life for years. What's another group added onto that list? Now c'mon-- it's gonna be getting dark soon." A pause. "Okay, so maybe it won't be for a couple of hours yet, but wouldn't you rather patrol while the sun's still up? And besides, I have something for you. Nothing bad-- promise." And she's even not crossing her fingers or toes! |
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| Akihiko Sanada | Feb 10 2012, 09:42 PM Post #18 |
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He didn't know... what? He blinked as her fingers greeted his chin and turned his face toward a poster. There she was, in full glory, looking like... like a wannabe Madonna or something. Lowering an eyebrow, he looked at Rise again, probably not as impressed as Rise was expecting. "You're a singer?" His face went usually stoic before his mask began to crack. He cleared his throat as he choked something away. Using a hand to cover his mouth as if he was about to cough, instead all that came out... ...was laughter. He couldn't contain it anymore. He couldn't imagine how many guys would be swooning over her as she was on stage. The thought was making him laugh harder. Dear God, Rise?! An idol?! He would have given Yukiko a run for her money in a laughing competition. He wasn't on the verge of crying, but he could feel his abdomen begin to protest. He hadn't laughed like that in a long time. After a few moments of letting the lingering effects wear off, he waved his hand, shaking his head to control himself. "It's not... It's not that I don't believe you. It's just...," laughing more, "...it was the last thing I expected. Does this mean if you sign my phone," choking back some more laughter, "that I'd be the envy," Cough. Laugh. Cough., "of all the eight year old boys in the world?" He chuckled some more. He really wasn't laughing at Rise; he was more laughing at the absurdity of it all. How in the hell did Inaba have a pop-idol? How was someone like her calling him handsome? Snicker. "I'm sorry, what'd you say?" Cough. "Did you... sign... whatever you have me?" A small half-laugh fell from between his lips, but he regained his composure, despite his eyes still laughing. He should probably take this revelation more seriously, but all he could think about was how Iori would be falling over dead right now that he was talking to an idol. Yukari's jaw would drop, Mitsuru would sigh, Ken would ask for her autograph, and Fuuka would be running up and asking to cook something for Rise. The thought made him chuckle more. |
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| Deleted User | Feb 10 2012, 10:08 PM Post #19 |
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Well... laughter wasn't the reaction Rise expected, Not that she expected him to suddenly swoon all over her, although that would've been nice-- she honestly figured that he would've taken it with the same Ben Stein sort of stoicness that he'd taken darn near everything they'd talked about. But for everything she had accomplished, from working her tail off to win that idol competition to nearly being driven insane with the work load she had carried for years... to be treated as a joke? She couldn't help the scowl that tugged at her lips as she glared at him, the sight and sound of him letting go and laughing something that only slightly tugged her away from being foot-to-groin angry. "I..." ...okay, so it helped more than a little, although the words he sputtered out mitigated a lot of that help. Being the envy of eight-year-olds?! He was mocking her worth as a performer, belittling what she had done in making her childhood dreams come true-- and from what? A poster... well, that and clearly living underneath a rock of some sort to not have known about her fame as Risette. Even if it was childish of her, she found herself wishing that he had known about her time as an idol. Thinking back on it, it had been nice being treated like she'd never done anything more than live in Inaba and be involved in the solving of the murder case... but she felt ridiculed, now that he knew, and that wasn't something that was gonna heal easily. Her tone came out sharp as an end result, far sharper than she'd intended. "No, Akihiko, I didn't sign it." Rolling her eyes, Rise shook her head as her features became a carefully-controlled mask of what she hoped was chilly reproach-- and it actually hit the mark, by and large. "Now if you're done with laughing over something that was my life for a couple of years, I'd like to get going." Well shit... he probably hadn't meant to hurt her feelings, but that's exactly what he had done-- and he'd really stung her, enough so that she wasn't pouting adorably or screeching at the top of her lungs. No, this was the real stuff, the kind that had her looking away from him and quickly swiping her arm over her eyes to wipe them dry. |
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| Akihiko Sanada | Feb 12 2012, 05:23 PM Post #20 |
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"Don't you think you need thicker skin if you're going to be at the arena?" Maybe he felt a bit sorry over laughing at the situation, but surely she knew he wasn't laughing at her. Poking fun of her a bit, perhaps, but never out right laughing at her skill or capabilities of being an idol. The laughter had loosened Akihiko's muscles, giving him a sense of flexibility he hadn't had for awhile. He relished in it, twisting his upper torso and rubbing his shoulder blades. Once he finished, his arms dangled at his side before he ran a hand through his hair. Maybe he should apologize? But he couldn't apologize if he wasn't sure what he was apologizing for. "I wasn't laughing over your life. I was laughing more...," How could he put it? Words were difficult sometimes. "Have you ever laughed at something that wasn't funny because the world was about to end?" He shrugged. "Things have been tense lately. I guess it wasn't right to laugh, but in this case, it was easier to laugh and loosen up than to look... stoic?" Not stoic, really, but horrified--horrified of the fact he was talking to someone who was a celebrity and all he wanted to do was to stay in the background. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." It was probably the closest Rise was going to get to an apology since he still wasn't sure what to apologize for. But this time, he wasn't going to fret about it as he felt he did nothing wrong. "Since you're a dancer," he started to walk again, "your thighs must be built enough to withstand a range of kicks. Give it a try next time you want to kick someone." Not him. He'd had enough of being beaten up, especially emotionally. "Do you still get... fans?" |
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3:38 AM Jul 11