A dragon's desent. (Sunny/Open)

[Byakurai]

(Few days after the attack)

All the faces around him, so happy, so carefree as he once was. It was raining this night was the weather showing how he felt inside? No, it was just a conquence. It began to pour harder and harder. People swarmed away from the streets, in groups and pairs or less. Leaving him in the cold alone walking so aimlessly in the cold rainy night. He there was no one he hated more than himself. The more he thought the more he felt alone in the world. It was true.... Though he wish it wasn't, it was true what corpse told him before.

He was only a pawn

He had no meaning in this world but to serve. No one loved him, not even Morphia. He finally understood that he was only a passtime for her. There was no love just lust. His friends....They hated him. His family, he felt like they deserted him. He looked up to the cold, dark and rainy sky cursing his life and asking why? Why did the man he worshiped, glorified and loved make his life like this? Like a hell? He was kind to all, and treated other with respect unless they lost it. He offered his home as a place to stay for others and offered food to all those who were needy. Even when he had a hard time living on his own already.

He never complained about his life and how it was. He believed he had a strong resolve. He was wrong. All the innocents screaming in fear of him. Was this the honor he had? Was this the resolve he had? No. He was weak and this was going to make him stronger or he will die without purpose. He place a hand to cover one eye was he walked, lowering his head. Still walking aimlessly until he came across a small asian oriented resurtant. It remind him of home, the smell it self made him feel warm thinking of the family he had once believed he had. What a fool he was to believe such a thing. He went in to the quiet and empty place.

The room was of velvet carpeting. Aligned with the colors of white paint and gold decorations. A normal alignment for this kind of place. But a symbol of home for the young man. He looked around looking at the paintings and loin statues. A saw a buddhist statue was well with burning incense giving more of a warm feeling in his body. It was safe to say, this was alot like home. The young man couldn't help but smile.

"Hey, your a new face." The man said in japanese. In hope that the boy was as well.

Well, well the man could speak japanese as well. Finally someone he could actually talk to. "Hai...."He said calmly in his native languge. "It's nice to finally see a home away from home face." The older man laughs and the converse in small talk. Afterword the young man orders the house special. The older man nods and heads off to the kitchen to prepare the meal.

The young man watched at the news and saw the mutant attack on 'humanity'. How they were terrorist and scum. His face went into shock. As they cursed them for the 'uncalled for' attack. How that they were all dangerous and everything. Lucky for him he was wearing a mask. Or everyone here would be trying to hurt him or worst. People fail to mention how he saved a little from being crushed by a collasing buliding. Who would care? It wouldn't make for good news now would it?

The old man comes back out, setting the dish down. Then looking at the T.V. "Those jerks." He said in japanese. "Abusing their gifts like that. Back in my day, I would of done some good. Like undoing damage to Hiroshima" He said with a laugh joking a bit. But spots the sad look on the young boy's face, the old man frowned. "Did you lose family?" The old man asked.

"Kind of." The young man responded with a heavy heart. He looks deeply into the soup. The old man sighs looking at the child's depression, thinking he lost family because of the attack.

"It's on the house this one." The old man said softly grinning. The young man returned the smile and insisted that he paid. The old man said no. But the argueing continued until the old man won with a old asian story the bored the young man into submission. So far so good. What else is going to happen?

[Sunshine]

It had been a few days and she still hurt. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this hero business. The young woman sighed softly as she made her way around New York. She was going to have nightmares for the rest of her life after this. Her whole body ached but she didn’t feel like being in the infirmary or her room anymore and she was getting hungry. She slipped into the little Asian restaurant and looked around. She actually spotted a somewhat familiar face and headed over to him. ”Hi… I think we’ve met before. I’m Penny, if that helps.”

Really she remembered meeting him when he almost her with his car. That was it, when they met the blond speed demon. Even though she took over the kitchen of the diner he’d probably forgotten her already. She figured she’d wait to see if he recognized her and before she even thought about taking a seat. She was hurting but that could wait for now he seemed to be hurting worse.

[Byakurai]

He eats the noodles and drinks te soup quietly until he hears someone. "Oh hey. The one who took of the kitchen that one night." He said giving her a fake smile. Not because he didn't like her just she caught him at a very bad time. He slurps up some noodles.

"It is very nice to see you again." He said politely. "But I remember to telling me you live in a school. Xavier's right? I drove by there once and it was like a mansion." He drinks the soup. "What brings you here to the cozy but cold slums?"

[Sunshine]

Penny blushed a bit as he remembered the kitchen incident. ”Yeah that was me.” She had a funny feeling he didn’t really feel like talking much, since his smile seemed kind of forced. ”Nice to see you too.” She frowned a bit when he mentioned Xavier’s she never said where she had gone to school. ”Xavier’s?” It was obvious he didn’t want company so she’d answer his last question and leave the boy alone. ”I was wandering around and got hungry. I.. guess I’ll leave you to your noodles.” She flashed him a quick smile and then scanned for a table.

[Byakurai]

"Oh, sorry. Must of mixed you with someone else." He returns the smile. "Again I'm sorry." He pats the seat next to him, feeling like he was being a bit rude to her for no logical reason. He had just to endure his pain of loss for now. "You seem like a nice person. Sorry if I seemed rude." He said calmly, his eyes wandering back to the T.V as the news continued to talk about the attack.

[Sunshine]

Penny sat down next to him and tilted her head a bit. ”That’s alright I have one of those faces.” The young girl looked up and frowned a bit at the T.V. her body ached with some phantom and some real pain at the memory of the battle she had been in. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t fun. ”It’s alright you look like you have a lot on your mind. Care to talk about it?” She looked up when the waiter came and she ordered some beef noodles and Dr. Pepper. ”I mean I know you don’t know me or anything, but it might help.” Had she known he was a member of the Brotherhood she might have surged a whole lot of fear through him. But she didn’t so she didn’t see any problem s with talking to him.

[Byakurai]

He made his signture soft smile but hurt look face towards her. He never believed in good or evil, just balance and karma. Partly due to his religous beliefs, but mainly what he had learned or experienced. Everytime he fought it was never for himself but for another. He kept on telling himself the attack was logical, he even saved many lives due to his tactics and personally, a little girl who cried for her mother. With all that he still couldn't handle being called a terrorist.

He quietly let his heart sink when he saw the blue-mask fighter come up. They called him a terrorist, a hater of man-kind, and scum of the world, all indirectly, being as it is on national televison. He slurps in some of his noodles and drinks some broth, directly from the bowl. A custom to do to show the food was good and next thing he know the food was all gone and then quickly replaced by thre old man.

"You look hungry, please have some more kid. But next one you have to pay." The nice old man said in japanese with a slight chuckle, giving her bowl and Dr. Pepper. For once he spoke in english, and with a funny accent. "You his friend?! P'ea'e Enjoy! It on him!" He said happily and overdramaticly. Only doing this because he could tell the young man was depressed about something. It was these kind of people, that made the young man regret what he did. The young man stares into the bowl sadly, the n was smack playfully over the head by the old man before he walk to the kitchen.

"Aieeeya!"

The young man shouted in surprise. You would think the two would be grandfather and grandson or something. With his chopsticks wanting to eat his noodles quietly, only to stop by a flinch. Of her asking what was wrong. She sounded like a old friend of his. And out of reaction he looks at her with a broken smile. Without an option he had to lie to her in order to be polite and making himself seem to be comfortable around with.

"I was stabbed and cut up pretty good the other day."

He stated calmly. Ok he didn't technically lie to her. Because he was stabbed and beat pretty good helping someone, but he didn't mind that at all. It was the attack that made him depressed, more than mildly to, it even got him thinking. Most people didn't believe a person like him would get into that kind of trouble. Even his 'friends' from work. That was well, he was closed from everyone. Without thinking, not really wanting to show off, he reveals what he was stabbed and cut tracing the scar from his stomach up to his chest. Quickly he lowered his shirt and turned away.

"I am sorry, it is a reflex now, not a lot of people expect hostile behavior from me. But when a friend or someone truly dear to me, even a stranger is in harms way. I don't know why, but I can't help but to lash out and help them. It is something good and bad I guess. Well I was up in Boston during my 'vacation'. And I came across a good guy, his name is Dom. He was in quite the situation, so I hurried to help him."

He said with a small laugh before adding more to it.

"But the thing was. I got really hurt and it him that rushed me to the hospital. So the rescuer became the rescuee I suppose if that is the correct term to say. My english isn't any better than our first encounter."

[Sunshine]

Penny watched the two of them banter and she couldn’t help but grin a bit. She slurped her on noodles and broth because she knew that was the polite thing to do. The girl tried to tune out the news because it kept reminding her of the battle she was in. The girl was not a fighter at all, unless really provoked and she proved she was a dismal failure when it came to battling the Brotherhood.

The girl frowned when she saw the damage done to him and worry clouded her brown eyes. ”Are you alright?” She dipped her head to take a closer look before he dropped his shirt back down. The poor boy! Now of course she had no idea that he was Brotherhood or the words might have been completely different. It is one thing to attack the people directly responsible, but what they did or tried to do to all of those innocent people was just not tolerable. ”The other person is OK too? And don’t worry most of us can’t speak English very well anyway. Just ask one of my teachers who is British.” She giggled thinking of the eye rolls Mr. Wisdom would be having about now.

[Byakurai]

"Well, I'm alive and have a pretty cool scar."

He said opening his reserved self a bit. Doing his best to make her feel comfortable around him. Not to mention, not have her worry. It just seemed to him that she was one of those kinds of girls, who would selflessly care for others. If so, he would put more effort in this. If not, this would be all pointless. In even trying.

"Well, he must be in better shape than me. He left with a few bruises. I haven't talked to him for about a week now so, I guess I will need to call him down sometime."

He laughs weakly with a bright and fake smile. He slurps up some more noodles and broth. Then wiped his mouth letting out a soft sigh, before continuing talking.

"My this food is amazing, reminds me of home! Well, that is great to hear too! I'm not the only one that people don't understand."

[Sunshine]

Penny grinned at him. "Pain heals, chicks dig scars, and glory... glory lasts forever." One of the rare football movies that Penny had actually seen and she loved it so much she watched it repeatedly. It was her most favorite line from a movie save for the quote from Hitch. "Well you helped someone and that's always a good thing. Did... Did he question your motives?" If Hiro was another person like her who just genuinely liked to help people then maybe he'd understand what she was going through.

The girl slurped some of her noodles as well and frowned since his smile was so obviously faked. "If you don't really feel like smiling you don't have to in order to make me feel better. I'd rather it be real or not at all." She nodded in agreement when he said the food was amazing and giggled when he got a bit excited about her comment on speaking English. "Nope, I'm always having to explain myself." She just omitted it was her actions she was always having to explain.

[Byakurai]

"Indeed it does. Have to love nature for that one.They do, do they? I should walk around half-naked proudly then huh? Just kidding, just kidding."

He said with a laugh. He was hoping she would get the joke, though he was never really good at jokes. In fact he didn't even know she was quoting a movie. At least she was a nice person, so far he had seen anyway.

"Maybe in mind."

He shrugs a bit with that answer.

"But he never said anything about it outloud to me. You can't blame people though. 'Selflessness' always comes with a price for most people."

He sighs a bit. 'Selflessness' had no meaning anymore in society. It was always like, 'Hey I helped you, give me money' or whatever a mind lusted for. He found that to be vile in a person. Society was an ugly thing that separated people by class, and made them ugly on the inside.

It looks like he wasn't a very good actor after all. She saw through him like a book. His smile guadually disappeared. But on and off his smile would appear. He hoped he didn't insult her with his little ploy. He smiles, giving out a warm tone as if he was laughing at her comment. His reserved self was starting to take over.

"Yeah...I always go through the same thing."

[Sunshine]

Penny giggled at his joke and nodded. "I would be highly recommended if you want to have to beat the girls off with a stick." She shook her head a bit and slurped her noodles. She nodded when he said the guy was probably thinking about it. "I know what you mean. I do something nice and they give me this look like I'm either insane or that I want something from them. It kind of hurts." She thought he'd understand what she meant by that comment, at least she hoped so.

"So now you know you aren't alone." She clinked her bowl to his in a 'cheers' fashion and grinned as she slurped some more.

[Byakurai]

Rolling his eyes playfully, he laughs. Beat off girls with a stick? Like something like that would ever have to happen. There hasn't been one person who has shown that they were interested in him. He looked at her with a half grin and nodded. He place down his bowl for a moment and placed his hands over his mouth and took a moment before speaking again.

"I understand what you mean. But the world is so paranoid now, that true kindness is often mistaken for greed or hidden evil. Though we can't blame anyone. With the recent events, well, you get the picture. I suppose it's our job to do what we do best, show kindness to others. We need to be patient and they will eventually accept the kindness we show and return it to us in full."

He watched her as she clinked their two bowls together and he couldn't help but to smile a bit. He raised his bowl and returned the gesture and slurped some of the soup, then continued to eat.

"It's good to have that feeling. The feeling that your not completely alone in this world...."

[Sunshine]

Penny idly wondered how many girls he's had to tell to back off. He was really cute and really sweet they had to be swarming him. Unlike her where she all but gets a pat on the head and told what a good friend she was. Not that she was looking for a boyfriend, it would just be nice to be seen as something other than the good friend or the sweet one to come to for things they need. That's why she liked Ben he just wanted to be her friend, sure that was all she was, but he wasn't expecting anything more other than just to be friends. Her head tilted at the half grin. He had a cute smile, yeah was probably having to run like hell to get away from them.

"I know, it hurts my feelings. I can understand it but that doesn't make it hurt any less. Lately I've been trying to figure out if I want to keep being this way or may I should just turn into an agenda wielding meanie." Penny highly doubted she could ever go bad but sometimes it was tempting. Now one must take into consideration what she considers bad as opposed to the rest of the world.

The young girl slurped more of her soup too, following Hiro's lead. "You have a nice smile." She nodded and didn't blush since she was complimenting and not actually flirting with him at least not intentionally. "Yeah it is. Never thought I'd ever really feel like that anymore. Thanks for understanding."

[Byakurai]

"I like how you are, now that I got to really know you more. At first well, you know."

He said lowering his bowl and giving her a quick nudge.

"And I say don't change yourself because society demands it. Unless you want to better yourself for you."

It was then he was caught off guard by what Penny had just said. In fact he blushed slightly, never being told he had a nice smile. He didn't know really know how to take a compliment. That was something it wasn't really used. He slurps his soup to hide how happy he felt at the moment. It was something that hw need from the terrible slump he has been in. He lowers his bowl before speaking

"I've been told that I am very understanding."

He said with a chuckle.