Years of Lies [IC] [Best Veteran Q2 '12]

HUMAN DISTRICT :17:
lets get it started

Chapter 1 - Bernkastel Vermillia - Demon District

"....." The sun was just beginning to set below the treeline, and with each waking minute, more pairs of glowing eyes were in her pursuit. "......" SNAP. Another arrow lodged into one of her pursuit's eyes, making for a clean kill. Still, there was no turning back to retrieve the body. She was still being hunted herself. But, the rush of adrenaline was what she lived for. The ONLY thing she lived for. Yet, it wasn't something she smiled about. It became a boring sport after the next few tries. I mean, a pack of wolves were no match for her speed as a demon. Everything simply rushed past in the blink of an eye, and stray bugs were snapping onto her cheeks as though her face was a windshield.

With a hoist and a few jumps, she managed to avert herself away from the pack, and high up into the branches of a tree. The pack immediately ran out, not noticing their prey had disappeared from sight. However, her eyes kept glowing their hypnotic emerald green as she watched the beautiful colors of the sky disappear.

The hunt was over, and hopefully a bigger, better hunt would be awaiting this adrenaline-seeker...

"They better not bore me this year as well..." With a slight shiver from her branch, she was off; back to her home city where...She truely did not belong.

~~~

Sitting atop an abandoned warehouse, this young woman gingerly flipped through her books; her expressionless eyes glancing towards the government building every few moments. She had been attending these reapings since she became a teenager, and she probably would continue until she came of age. Then, she could repeat the same, endless cycle she had seen her parents go through. Wake up, work, eat, sleep. Nothing to keep up the excitement except for these...Population Games. It was the only thing in the world that could really keep her going on. For the adrenaline rush to come again. Yes, again.

"L-lady Bernkastel! Kuze is calling for all the teenagers now!" It was Harrold; the young, optimistic retailer who was calling out to her. Looking down from her perch, Bern saw that he still had his exciting little smile, even though children were going to be picked that day to potentially die. Perhaps he knew that Bern was going to be in this year again? After all, because she was there after her last games, meant that she had beaten the rest of the districts. She was the only victor of sixteen people.
"...Fine." Bern slipped herself from the rooftop, and landed neatly beside Harrold. Though he knew she wouldn't land on him, he flinched every time. Harrold was an amazing man, as he was the only one who really paid attention to her before her partake in the games. "Let's go."

~~~~~

It took longer than expected for them to get to the government building, but...If she had anything to blame it on selfishly, it would be Harrold's blown-off leg. Yeah, he got a new, artificial one, but it was still not enough to keep him from tripping over like the clutz he is. But, they did manage. She couldn't possibly leave Harrold hanging, and it was a wonderful thing that the Population Games did not affect him much. He's single and has no kids...So, he's living his life rather well.

However, Bern seemed to be the unlucky one. Two Poppy Games have taken the lives of her friends, instead of her own. Now, she did not care if she got picked. There will be nothing to come back to after this. The adrenaline rush will be over.

And Bernkastel Vermillia, will finally die.

~~~~~

With the night-time air around them, Bern casted herself back onto the stage in front of the governing building, knowing without knownledge that she was indeed going to be picked for the third time in a row. The first one had apparently been a fluke, but now... These demons were betting on if she was finally going to die this time around. Some even have rumored that Bern was immortal.

Standing up beside Kuze -the government leader- Bern couldn't help but have her hands trace the symbols burned onto both her arms. Each year, you got a symbol embedded into your skin to show your participation...Where were they going to burn her this time around? It wasn't any secret that Kuze hated Bernkastel's guts; especially after killing off his youngest son in the first games she had participated in. Now her life was in total balance. Die here, or die in the arena for his justice.

~~~~~

The horn was blown to signal the start of the reaping, and immediately Bern synced herself out of the speech. Her eyes just scanned the crowd. Ever since coming back from the second games and not going to the Victor's District, she had decided against making any new teenage friends, which she might have had to kill later on. Her relationships died along with her very emotions back in the second games.

"Xavier Harrah. Bernkastel Vermillia...Ryuu Akuma...And Paris Junibe."

Paris. Bern winced at the name, and watched as a beautiful,young woman
of seventeen walked onto the stage with enormous purple-feathered wings. Glossy brown hair and stunning cranberry eyes; completely gorgeous. The other two boys seemed to be in the looks department as well...And the one who certainly caught her eye was named....Xavier. Too bad most, if not everyone here was going to die.

However, it didn't seem as though Bernkastel was the only one to notice the odd selection of players this year. So did Kuze, and he seemed to be enjoying it. Kuze was-don't vomit-a handsome old man. Blood red hair to match his eyes, and he always looked as though he was simply DIPPED in gore. He probably was, as he always reaked of blood and booze. He stepped up to the mike amazingly, and began to speak in his low, no-nonsense voice.

"Seems we have a bunch of supermodels to look at this year! May our eyes be sinned by their disguising beauty." Did Bern ever mention how he HATES beautiful teenagers?

At first, Bern thought that maybe she wouldn't get her burning this year. Oh, was she so wrong...After the three participants were symboled by their arms and the smell of burning flesh was in the air, did Kuze pay notice to Bernkastel.

"Our third contestant to the games..." He raised the white-hot, metal seal into the air, and the small flickers of heat licked the air hungrily. Abruptly, strong arms grabbed Bernkastel, and pinned her down to her stomach. Kuze leaned over her as one of the demon's extended her left wing. Her beautiful, raven-black wing. "May this be Bernkastel Vermillia's..." He positioned the symbol just abover her feathers.

"Final Population Games."

With that final saying, the metal snapped down onto her wing, and everything was colored in everything painful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 1 - The Reaping of the Population

Summary:
It is now the beginning of warm, beautiful weather. However, your blood may be shed within the week, to stain your local white roses red. To be exact, it is the beginning week of May. You know the saying: April showers bring May flowers. However, it seems that your blood will be the showers, and there will be no beautiful flowers afterwards.

What Will Be Happening?:
*You will be introducing your character like I did with mine. Point out key points to their personality, or their hobbies.
*You will either be guilded or dragged to the reaping. Go crazy with your reaction to participating in the games.
*Make sure you give off clues to how your district is different to others. Their systems of how they choose players.
*Your post will end after you are choosen for the reaping, and you can either have a reaction to something another player did, or you can move on to the trains.

Angels:


Demons:


Vampires:


Humans:


*All train desinations are to District 5, which is a small piece of land outside the vampire district. Camera's are only at the reaping. This chapter is mostly for interaction between the participants of YOUR district.

There was never anyone more excited for the days of the Reaping than Ryuu Akuma, more commonly referred by some as "The Rhino". Ryuu grew up under one of the most pampered and richest families of the Demon District. His life was one of luxury and solitude, but even as he was there, Ryuu knew this was not where he belonged. He was, from a very early age, quite bloodthirsty, even for a demon. When he was 13, he had taken his first kill. Since then, he was on a rampage. As the districts were separate by shields, though it was harder and harder to find others of the 'lower races', as Ryuu called them, to kill. Ryuu would never get in trouble with authorities, though. His parents were in such high standing, they would always find some way to get rid of his accusations, which ranged from:

Assault, Assault with a deadly weapon, Murder, Attempted Murder, Attempted Murder which became murder, Assault with a murdered victim, Murder with a deadly weapon, Assault with a weapon that couldn't have possibly been deadly, but unfortunately was, etc.

The list went on and on. Every time, the charges were dismissed, but everyone knew who did them. They always knew. Ryuu was a walking deathtrap. One false look could make you end up dead, and running wouldn't save you. Ryuu was persistent, perhaps TOO persistent, hence the nickname "The Rhino". But even so, murdering his own kind left a bad taste in his mouth When he heard about the Reaping, being a troublesome kid who murders his own kind for pleasure, he was certain they would vote him to there, and he would be happy to participate in a conflict between the 'lower races' and himself.

But as the time came, the names were called, and he wasn't selected. Every year was the same. It had gone on for many years before, at 17, Ryuu had discovered that it was his parents who had kept him out of the Reaping. They had held enough authority to constantly banish his name. But the authorities were getting impatient, and so was Ryuu.

On night, not long ago, in fact, only a few months ago, Ryuu went into his parent's bedroom and murdered them in their sleep. Once again, everyone had known, or had a general idea, who did it. Yet they figured making him fight and die in the Reaping would be more appropriate. Finally, after years of waiting, Ryuu Akuma was finally getting his wish.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Ryuu awoke by the opening of the curtains by his servant, whose name Ryuu did not bother to learn over the years. He just knew him as servant, and servant just knew him as master. The hot climate of the inside of the house matched that of the outside. Demons preferred to be in hotter climates. Ryuu growled a bit as he opened the curtains, letting in the light into his dark room.

"Explain yourself, servant."

The servant mumbled a bit. "Y-yes, master. Y-you see, y-you w-w-warned me to w-wake you up earlier on the d-day of the Reaping, and I wanted to respect your wishes, m-master."

Ryuu instantly shot up. "Well why didn't you say so!!!?" Ryuu got up, putting on his favorite dark blue shirt and pants, and putting on his ankle-length coat on. The clothes were tattered and worn. They had been previously in neat shape, but after his parent's death, he felt unnecessary to put on the charade of nobility. He wore the style he liked, even if it was a bit unorthodox of one with money.

The servant muttered again. "M-master, the escorts are here to escort all t-teenagers to the Reaping. Shall I let them in?"

Ryuu's got up beside the servant. At well above 6 feet, he was a giant to him, and his expression matched his stature, a brute of sorts.

"I will walk myself. I need no escorts. Have I not made my way there before countless times?"

With that, Ryuu sprang from the window, shattering the glass as he fell to the ground from his mansion, which, after the death of his parent's, now belonged to him.

He made his way to the back of the crowd and watched in glee and excitement as he waited for his name, which most certainly would be called this time, to be called. Kuze announced them.

"Xavier Harrah. Bernkastel Vermillia...Ryuu Akuma...And Paris Junibe."

He noticed the pause as Kuze said his own name. Ryuu didn't doubt that he had heard of him, and possibly wondered how he made his way onto the list. As he approached the stage, he wore a smile on his face. The others were less impressive than he, or so he thought. The two women were attractive, and wondered why the people would vote for them to be sent to the Reaping. Yet, as Ryuu learned in the past, looks can be decieving (Well, maybe not in Ryuu's case). Ryuu went to get himself symboled,cringing a bit from the pain. He accepted it, though, thinking in his head, pleasure for pain, pain for pleasure. Just as he thought this, the one known as Bernkastel Vermillia went to get herself a symbol. He noticed herself covered in them. She had done this before, and survived.

Ryuu watched the three now with renewed interest. Before they could say anything else, they were rushed off to the trains to take them to District 5. Ryuu's heart pounded as the train doors closed behind them. Ryuu spoke for the first time, mostly to himself.

"The beginning of the end..." With that, the train doors closed.

Chapter 1 - Nokoto Umi - Human District

"Tap tap....Spin! Jump! There you go! Well done, Nokoto!"

I stopped my movements as a warm, comforting hand reached out and touched my shoulder. I bowed towards my mentor-who was also my mother-and smiled brightly. It had taken a full day to perfect this dance, so I was soaked in my own sticky, gross sweat. My mother began drowning me in applause and praise, and I drank it all up. With an empty dance studio all to myself, it actually wasn't that big of an accomplishment. But still, my body couldn't help but share the fact I was in major need of a nice shower.

After a quick shower in the changing room, I slipped on my skinny jeans and black t-shirt. According to my mother, athetic women don't grow breasts, which was completely fine with me. I never wanted to have big, size D boobs anyways. I have had the same plan since I was seven years old. My life would be rather simple. No husband, yet I would let my little sister live with me. I would be a dance instructor for children, while she, Kimi, would teach vocals. Neither of us would have children, so we wouldn't have to worry about the reapings taking them away.

"Crap!" I froze just outside the door, and that's when I remembered what day it was. Through the tiny, plate-sized window, I could see the outside world which I had missed almost completely. Marching through the streets were approximately a hundred soldiers; unarmed. Teenagers were crammed between the two lines of adults, and were steadily approaching the other end of the city; where the government building was. Today, was the reaping day.

Well, I couldn't exactly SKIP this. Not like I would be elected anyways. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door. Attempting to look casual and calm, I slid between the people, only to end up beng pushed along by the tides of older teenagers.

That's how we traveled for the next few blocks. Packed together like a loaf of sliced bread, even if you did trip, the people in front of you would stop your fall. The reason I wasn't worried about being picked for the election, was because of this. There were more teenagers than adults. Your chances on being picked were four to about...A hundred thousand. With these sort of odds, four unlucky people were going to be majorly blind-sided today.

~~~~~

Even better, we were herded into the area before the tall government building like a bunch of cattle! Soon, the air was vibrating with whispers from everyone, and even though I was bored of the same routine for three years, I couldn't be bothered to listen in on conversations or make my own. I didn't have to wait long, though. The single-toned bell rang out to get everyones' attention towards the podium. For safety issues, there was a line of armed guards separating us from the building. After all, there had been riots in the past during the reaping.

Every teenager watched in silenece as our bleach-blonde leader...Statia Maina...approached the stand. Her perfect face free of blemishes with those baby blue eyes were being broadcasted across the world. Each reaping was on camera, yes. Which, is both a good and bad thing. The woman leaned her mouth close to the mike, and began her long, boring speech that was repeated among the districts. How the population games came to be and blah blah blah. I zoned out at this point, and only came to when I heard my sisters name; Kimia Osoku. At first, I thought someone was speaking to me, so I looked around for the one who had spoken. My gaze rested back to our leader as she announced three names from the square of paper in her hands. Three names...The first one had been my sister's name.

And she was the participant for this years' population games.

~~~~~

Before I knew what I was doing, I was at the line of guards; screaming my sisters name again and again as two adults restrained me. I could see my small, frail sister climbing the staircase to her potential death...

"W-wait! Stop! Kimi!! I'll take Kimi's place! Just...Just let her go!" I pleaded out, struggling to get my sister off that stage. That horrible, horrible stage. Finally, I broke free of their grip, and stumbled over to Kimia. I hugged her tightly, before looking towards the crowd. They were all staring. Thousands of eyes, just...Staring.

Statia cleared her throat as she glanced at the two of us embracing. "Well...It seems this individual has offered to take Kimia Osoku's place...It shall be, then. What is your name?"

I swallowed hard. Now I didn't feel as confident and brave as before...But, if it meant saving my sister's life...

I stood tall, and pushed my crying sister behind my back protectively. "My name is Nokoto. Nokoto Osoku." I turned towards the cameras on the ledge of the stage, and pointed straight at it's lense. "And I WILL win the Population Games!"

This day smelled of death. The air, the land, the water, the people. Everything reeked of death. Especially, his wings. Xavier knew many people envied his wings. They were comprised of black and blood red feathers. Blood red. He could find no other way to describe this color. It just reminded him of.....blood. More specifiaclly, blood spilled in the Games. The sickening events that were to start in the next few days.

Xavier at the moment was daydreaming out of the window in his 'house'. Yeah right. His house had only three rooms - if one said they were big enough; a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. From a distance you could say it looked like a shack. Which it basically was since it was just a larger shack.


And to him the games were just plain pointless. Really was there any point to them at all? What most people would say is to keep the population down.....really? Why in the right mind they're most likely in, believe that load of crap the Gods fed them? People from all districts are having more and more babies every year and by basically keeping the species from waging war, they were simply having the populations rise! At least in Xavier's point of view.

His mind was still whirling from all the thoughts of the Games and the familiar face popped into his head. Bernkaestel Vermilia, the two time winner of the Population Games from his district. How full of herself is she? And also another word to describe her, bloodthirsty. The only reason Xavier would ever go to the winners district would be so he would never have to murder for the sake of entertainment again. And she? She had to keep going back and killing more and more of her own kind. Sickening. Absolutely sickening.

Xavier heard a low rumbling sound that echoed throughout the district; signaling it was time for the reaping. The said teen always found it odd that he was never chosen. He had been alone for years and always thought he'd be chosen, so now he just assumes his whole existance had been forgotten. Not really a problem at all actually. He prefered to be alone at this point.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Reaping~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Xavier took his seat the reapings had finally began...with his name. Well it looked like he wasn't as forgotten as he thought he was. Although, who had been keeping an eye on him? He didn't know anybody except the Games winner and Kuze. That'll prbably never be answered so he just decided to drop it and walked up quietly to the stage, to be immediately accompanied by Bernkaestel herself.


Once the other two members of the reaping took their places beside him Xavier had been only worried about one person. Bernkastel. she was the only one he knew about and was thus his main threat and...wait?! What in the heck did Kaze just say?! Beautiful teens?! What was wrong with this man? Outside of Xavier however his expression was still rock blank. 'Nngh!' His teeth clencehed after the burning of his arm and watched as Bern fell to the ground and Kaze's menacing words as he was shoved on a train.


~~~~The Boarding~~~~~

Xavier had been on the train and had been waiting in his seat when a man dropped Bernkastel into the seat across from him. When Bern turned to look at him Xavier gave off an awkward hello and turned his head to the window beside him

-Raike nodded as he leaned against the doorframe of his house, listening to the soldiers explaining the event that was taking place today. When they told him that he had to go to the election seremony, he refused quite solidly, shutting the door in the faces of the two soldiers. As he ignored the banging on the door behind him, he walked up the steps, skipping two at a time, sighing. When the soldiers had come, Raike had been sleeping, so he had basically answered the door in his boxers, but he didn't really care. As he pulled on his black baggy jeans, he scowled at being woken up so early, well for him at least.

"They'll probably pick me, since they want to be rid of me oh soo badly." Thought Raike as he slipped on his red and black striped shirt, and his jacket over it. "Well, I don't feel like it, so they are going to have to tranquilize me or something, cuz' I'm getting outta here." he murmered under his breath as he slipped on his gloves, and then his boots soon after. He strapped his hunting knife to his belt, somewhat hastily, hearing the now splintery sound of the front door breaking.

As he opened the window, he felt the cool breeze hit his face, and he smiled slightly, looking back at the room. The house wasn't necessarily his, taking into consideration that the owners had gone hunting in the woods a few years ago, but had never returned. Raike had needed a place to stay, so where better then an already paid for house? He climbed out of the window and pushed off the wall, jumping to get a grip on the ledge of the neighboring house, and repeating between the two until he reached the ground. Dusting himself off, he began to run in the opposite direction, dodging patrols that were gathering other teens, who seemed somewhat happy to go.

Raike shook his head looking at them, they didn't know what they were doing. He had spied on the "game" once before, and saw what happened to the people there, and he wanted no part in it. He was almost out of the danger zone when he made one false move, he had stepped on a twig, and his metal plated boots had snapped it easily. The soldiers in the Human district were pretty alert, nothing Raike couldn't handle depending on the number of them, but there were too many this time. It took about 17 of them to restrain him, and make him join the line going towards the reaping.

Scowling, he glared at all the people around him; this was not good.-

======

-Raike stood, scowling and glaring at everyone around him. Everyone just thought that he took space in the village, and even was a bit of a theif. Yeah, he would be "elected" alright, and there was no way he would be getting out of this. He watched Statia Mania, the town's mayor for 11 warily as she went on with the speach that talked about the glory of the "game" and how great of an honor it was to be in the fight. When she stopped speaking, she silenced the cheers of the crowd, and began to announce something, and Raike cursed silently.-

"Now, before we allow voulenteers, there has been a spot reserved, for none other than our Raike Destan!"

-At this Raike cursed a bit louder, and the people began to grumble about why Raike, the worst of them all was getting the chance compete. Raike walked up to the platform, avoiding the gaze of the crowd, and mayor, and staring off into the distance. He zoned out as the other names were called, but came back when it was boarding time. Raike had no one to say goodbye to, and so he walked silently down the steps to the underground subway to catch the train. The crowed filled up the room after the other 3 condenders had walked down the steps, and entered the train.

All of the crowd was cheering, partly because Raike was leaving, and also because they wanted the rest of the humans to bring back victory to their district. Raike decided to leave the people something to remember himself by, so he looked around and spotted a windex can. Luckily, there was still some of the liquid left, so Raike sprayed it all over one large window. He then proceeded to write "F all you jankbots." jank being his own made up curse word. He then flipped them all off as the train pulled out of the station, ignoring the angry shouts and curses.-

Chapter 1 - Amelia Kunjui - Angel District

"EEP! Stop!" The little girl cried, holding her hands into the air clumsily as she attempted to catch her necklace, which was being thrown back and forth by two older boys; in the sky.

"Hah! Come get it yourself! What, can't fly? Then you can't call yourself an angel! Go chop off your wings and live with the humans! Freak!" The first boy snarled, chucking the diamond locket to his equally mean best friend.

"Stop! Please! My mother gave me that!" When the second boy caught it, he began to pull on the silver cord keeping the locket together.

"You know, this is called harrassment, boys." An older woman was standing behind the second boy, and swiped the locket away easily. The boys turned and looked at her with awestrucken faces.

"Y-you're..." The first one began. "W-we're sorry! We won't do it again!!" Before the woman could react, they were already flying away in a panic. Slowly, the brown-haired teenager flew down to the ground with her white angel wings, and gave the locket back to the girl.

"Here you go...Be more careful next time." She smiled gently, and the smaller girl smiled back and thanked her. "Thank you, Amelia!"

~~~~~

I stared at myself in the mirror, and a female servant brushed my long brown locks in silence. Ever since I was little, I had wanted to brush my own hair, but my mother would never allow it. Servants were there for a reason. So you could look perfect without moving a finger. They picked out my wardrobe...My habits...Even what I ate. And this is what I had become. I simple doll used for decoration. That can not acheive anything because my mother didn't want me to get a papercut. My skin is absolutely flawless, as it was always protected from the blazing sun with long sleeves. My hair is also perfect, as I showered twice a day with the finest, most expensive shampoo. My family had been wealthy for well over a dozen years, so I had been only six years old when we were on the brink of bankrupcy. How did we build ourselves to be the richest family in the angel district? I'll get to that later.

"Madam...Don't slouch. It's bad for your posture. Don't frown. It gives you wrinkles." The servant repeated for the third time this sesson. She was now applying makeup to my eyelids like the doll I was, while the other two mindless servants prepared me an outfit. Of course, I was never able to wear skirts or jeans like the other girls. Either too much skin was showing, or it wasn't 'lady-like'. Dresses. That's what I wore. Even my pajamas were elegant, light dresses. Just in case, you know, a camera popped out and wanted my picture at two AM. Did I mention my bedtimes? Eight o'clock at night, and I cannot leave my room until ten the next morning.

I slowly stretched my body out beyond what it was supposed to be, and placed my hands on my lap. My lips arched up in an elegant smile, and I stayed like that for the next hour, while my servant applied the heavy makeup to my face and naked body. I was then ordered to stand, and I did in one swift motion like how I had been taught. No hesitation. No mistakes. Everyone is watching you. The second servant -an ugly older woman with wrinkles- brought a tape measure to my skin, and began measuring each point in my body. Either congradulating me on my figures, or bashing my breasts for being too small. Next week I was scheduled for breast implants. I'm sixteen.

Once my measurements were confirmed, I hopped onto the scale. My servants watched as the numbers moved around, before settling at a hundred and twenty pounds. Oh, and my wings alone are fifteen pounds, meaning....I weight about a hundred points, and I'm in my teens. I'm also tall because my mother has me do stretching exercises every day. I'm five feet, eight inches. Want to do the math? Sorry. My mother doesn't allow that either. I have to solve everything by myself. I take special tutors from home, which mostly involve math and politics. I also excel in arts, drama, piano, violin, and bass guitar. Hi, my name is Barbie.

"That's good, madam. Let's get you dressed now." Remember, I'm still smiling like an idiot. Of course, I suppose no matter how high my IQ is, I really am an idiot for putting up with all this. I watch with my glossy brown eyes as the three servants swarm around me, and grab different point in my body. Isn't this called sexual harrassment in the real world? I put up with it like the idiot I am, and suck in what stomach I have so the corset can squeeze me in tighter. The corset also goes over my breasts, but they aren't used to press down. The corset is also used to make them look bigger in a dress. When I feel like I'm about to hurl, they tie the strings at the back, and prop up one of my bare feet. They then slipped each foot into two-inch, diamond crested sandals.

I am then told to stand myself on a platform, so I do. Raise my arms. I do so automatically. The itchy, heavy fabric of the ball gown slides down my body, and falls down the floor either though I'm on a foot-high platform. My mother doesn't believe in hemming. My treated wings find themselves out of the two slits at the back, and the servants pick away loose feathers to my dismay, as some weren't loose, but were only standing up from the rest. I then sit down awkwardly on a chair, and extend my fingers before them. Instantly, two of the servants get to work on my fingernails, while the other grabs my foot from underneath my dress and paints my toenails. By the time they're finished, each nail is perfectly curved and painted white, with real strands of silver making stripes across them. I do not dare ask if we are finished, so I keep silent and continue smiling happily. "Oh, you look beautiful, Amelia~! You'll take the entire world down with your beauty!" The first servant says, as the third places expensive jewelry on my wrists, ankles, neck, and ears. Finally, I am fitted with a crown, and I'm told to walk outside.

Lowering myself down the steps leading down to the main entrance, I can't help but realize that I can't walk in these stupid high-heels...I think my servants went too far from reality than normal...At least they left my hair be...Walking down the tile flooring, my heels click against its surface with an erie sound. It was quiet inside, but outside was a madhouse.Exhaling slowly, and smile again after letting my jaw muscles relax for a minute, and I push open the doors. To find myself behind the line of guards guarding the government building, and watching my mother's back as she did her speech about the population games. You guessed right. My mother is the most powerful and weathiest women in the angel district. And I am her daughter.

I stand between two of my personal guards, and watch with minimum interest as the government leader goes further into the speech. However, I lock my full attention at a box on the podium after her speech. Four people's names were going to be drawn, and they were probably going to die. I wait patiently as three names are called, before beginning to move back inside. However, I do not hear a forth name. Only silence. I turn around curiously, to find my mother holding a piece of paper up to the sunlight, as though she can't read it properly. "A-amelia Kunjui..." My heart stops as I realize what that means. My mother saying my name from a piece of paper on the reaping day...I didn't win the lottery. I won my immediate death.

I stare at my mother in disbelief, and she looks back to see me. For once in my life, she give me a worried look, before turning back to the crowd. "And that concludes the reaping!"

When the crowd is finally gone, I rush over to my mother. "What will we do?! Do you have to participate? I'll die for certain! There are so many more people who are stronger than me, mom!" Taniko looks down. "I know...I'm sorry I can't send anything with you to help. But maybe they will allow this." She reaches into her pocket, and hands me a stick of plastic. I twist the end, and...Lipstick! "I'm sorry you'll have to live out in the wild without all this. But, try to sneak that, alright? You still need to stay--" Anger washes over me. She didn't care about my life! She cared wheither or not I was beautiful the day I die! Without thinking, I slap my mother across the face. For the first time, I feel physical pain, and...It feels good. I go to slap her again, but eletricity shoots me in the back and I fall to my knees; knowing I had just been tazored. With my last bits of consciousness, I mutter one last thing before they begin to carry me towards the train. "I hate you."

Rai woke up before the sunrise and then looked out to the skies.

"Today has finally arrived. A chance to get out of here, and to leave most of my people behind me, and to start anew with other races." Rai thought to himself.

He then got ready, putting on his clothes and getting ready for his day. He picked up his military tactics book and combat tactics book, and admired them, knowing that this day would change him forever.

Rai simply got ready, and prepared his food, knowing his parents would be at this event, hoping he would get sent off and hoping that he would die in the process.

Rai knew that his parents hated him, he knew that they didn't even think of him to be their child. They think of him as a blemish on their high class family. The only reason they hated him, was because his wings were pitch black, while everyone else's wings in the family were white. When his parents rejected him, people saw it as a license to insult him, and the attempts on his life began during his formulative years. The first time was when someone came towards him with a knife, slitting his neck a few times, but out of self preservation Rai grabbed the guy's head and twisted it as far as he could. Eventually, instead of being the boy who killed out of self defense, he became the boy killer. Eventually the attempts on his life became more public and frequent, and with each time he was about to get killed he incapacitated the assailant, due to the fact that he only kills as a last resort. Even his father tried killing him one day, and out of self preservation, kicked his father in the lower back, and made his father a parapalegic angel, to this day.

Everyday Rai learns a new skill, which is why he had those books; he mostly learnt adaptability and combat skills, but he also learnt about anatomy, so that he could quickly incapacitate an opponent. If he was selected, he knew that he had a high chance of it, it would be simply so that he would die, and the blood would not be on the district's hands.

Rai simply took everything that he needed and put it inside of a bag and walked out, going to the reaping.
---

Rai simply looked on, knowing that Mr. Kunjui had a generic speech which all of the districts would get, and he simply just listened to bits and pieces of it due to the fact that he only wanted to be seen when his name would be called, no other time. Rai simply looked on and saw his parents, and they then spotted him, having a very devilish smile at him then looking away. Suddenly a plethora of sounds composed of cheers, cries, and other things rang through Rai's ears. He then heard the next name.

"Shizuka Yoshiko!"

Not many people knew him so he just went to hug a woman who was probably his mother, and Rai knew not to underestimate this man.

"Kaito Hirosaki!"

Rai's name was called and as a path was cleared where he was, he walked forward with energy, even though people were throwing things at him, and that energy then dissipated, and people then began raining insults on him, and Rai simply walked with his head down as there were some trying to attack him then and there, and he simply walked off to his death as he heard a name he never expected to be there.

"A-amelia Kunjui..."

Everyone's jaw dropped whether physical or metaphorical and Rai then looked and then felt guilty because the girl had never done anything to him, and the competition he intended to use to meet new people and to make sure that people couldn't toy with him was now infected, by a weak dollfaced girl.

Chapter 1 - Amelia Kunjui - Angel District

When I awoke, my back was still feeling a bit numb from the electric shock. But, it was worth saying those words to my 'mother'. And those would be the last words I would probably ever say to her. The three words still rang in my head as though a disc in my memory had been jammed endlessly. "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you!" I jolted upwards into a sitting position. Where was I?! I looked around, and my panic slowly thinned, as where I was was the least of my worries. It was who I was with, I should be worried about.

Over to my far left was the boy I remembered to be named Shizuka. Normally, I couldn't go outside, but from what I had heard from the political people around me, nobody liked him. Reason? Because he had odd wings; grey with blue tips. It was a rare occurance for angels to have dark-colored wings, so those individuals were always bullied and threatened...Far in the back at the edge of my view, was Kaito. Amazingly, he also had black wings...Interesting. I look over beside me, and jump out of my seat to find the other girl glaring at me. She was....Well, what my mother would say, ugly. But she actually was normal-faced. What normal teenagers had. Pimples...Your noticable scars and imperfections....Her wings were a smokie grey. What was her name again...? Oh right...Pewi. Her arms were crossed at me, and she seemed rather irritated. Actually, I probably should too, because of the circumstances...

Giving a polite nod towards her, I awkwardly stumbled away. Why was she looking so angry? Finally, I decide to ditch my expensive high-heels and go bare-foot inside the cabin of our train. Nervously, I walk over beside Shizuka, and lean over to look at his face. Honestly, I have never been greeted to anyone here. I've only heard horrible rumors about them. They didn't seem like bad people... "H-hi. You're Shizuka right...? This is my first time meeting you. I guess you know who I am..." I give off a nervous laugh. Of course everyone knew who I was. Especially now.

Chapter 1 - Pewita Humoi - Angel District

Why are you reading this? You have more important things to read, than my feelings. Some say I'm sadistic. I say I'm normal. Who in their right mind would LIKE the Gods running the place and sending teens off to be killed? I hate everything involving them. From the buildings their money made, to the people under their toes. My eyes looked towards Amelia, the only daughter of the Angel District Leader. Since her mother is in hoots with the Gods, then the daughter must also be hated. With her perfect good looks....Expensive clothing, and power...What was there NOT to hate? Guys would always flirt with her when she was outside, and some guys didn't even date in hopes of having this perfect beauty.

When Amelia realized I was staring, I didn't look away. I simply crossed my arms and hardened my look further. Perhaps she would get the hint that she wasn't wanted by me? No way in Hell was I gonna kiss up to her just because her family has power. I will defy her. Her mother. The government. The world.

And I will eliminate her.

I watched with eagle eyes as Amelia got up and nervously walked over to that Shizuka character. Probably to seduce him with her beauty...Well, if she was gonna play like that...

I heaved myself up to stand, and used the window beside me to fix my hair. If Shizuka was already taken, then I was gonna have a pleasant conversation with Kaito. Walking over to the other end of the compartment, I leaned myself against the seat beside him and eyed his wings. An interesting one already. Normally, angels would have white, pure wings. This one had black wings. I had grey. What was the difference then? His wings were already like defying nature itself, so...

"Yo, Kaito, right? Why are ya hanging over here and not with the others?" I slided down beside him, and blinked my violet eyes at him. "Pretty interesting, the selections this year." I added, sliding a hand through my tomboy-ish short blonde hair.

Chapter 1 - Bernkastel Vermillia - Demon District

I must have only been out for a few minutes, because next thing I knew, I was seated on the train with that Xavier boy before me. Where was Paris...? Ryuu? No no, I could see them now. Ryuu's reflection in a mirror, so he was behind me at the back of the train. Paris was the the front. Cleaning her nails and muttering to herself about how long it was going to take for the symbol mark to heal. You'd think, after seeing my condition, that she would realize that the symbol was forever permanent. As soon as my mind trailed to that, I realized just how much pain my wing was in. Probably wouldn't be able to fly for a few days...

An awkward hello came my way, and I looked up from my shoulder to see Xavier turn his head towards the window on his left. Honestly, I was surprised I wasn't getting jumped for participating for the third time. But a simple hello? Before I could stop myself, my mind began taking hold of different possible theories to this. That was just how my mind worked. I was a thinker. Someone who gathered knowledge whenever possible. It was because of my traits, that I had won two games in a row. Most likely a third. Abruptly, the tv above me, and the other above Xavier buzzed, and the screen flickered to the recaps of the reapings. As always, the God-favorites went first. They skipped the speech this time around, and before the leader -Calzus- could say the names of the participants, a vampire jumped over the crowd to stand on stage. Everyone gasped, and then went completely silent. This teenager didn't look all that good in comparison to the other teenagers in the crowd. She seemed rather skinny, but there was a lustful look to her eyes that I immediately noted down.

The next participant made my eyebrows raise. They were taking little girls' now? No...This girl named Marisa wasn't as young as she looked. Examining her body, this must have been her first year taking part in the gathering. She looked easily killable. The other two didn't really catch my watchful eyes, so I looked back to the window and waited for the next recap.

The screen hardly wavered, when the angel's recap replaced the vampire district. This one seemed more entertaining, as the two men which had been elected seemed to be the target for bullies. They stuck out like blood against snow. Dark-colored wings in a sea of whites and yellows. The third to be called was the leader's daughter, and that came as a shock. I had always thought that children inside the government had protection against the reaping...I suppose not. The final person looked like someone who had lived as a gangmember half their life, and got into a fist-fight lately. She also had dark-colored wings...Huh.

Next was the demon district, so I immediately turned my attention to my wings. I didn't need to see the symbols embedded on my body on a simple television to know they were there. Once that district was over, the final district's reaping was broadcasted. The human district. What was really fasinating, was the scene a girl named Nokoto made. Supposely, her sister's name had been called, and she volenteered to take her place. Another human had a reserved spot, which was rather interesting as well. Just as the reaping was ending, the Nokoto girl pointed at the camera and announced to the world that she was going to win this year. I crossed my arms, and then my legs as I leaned back in my seat. "....I want to see your proof on this. Courage and bravery do not kill the wise and strong." I was mostly talking to myself, but at the last word I gazed at Xavier with my blank emerald eyes.


Chapter 1 - Paris Junibe - Demon District

"Ahhh....Just great...I broke a nail, too...Could this day get worse?" I huffed, fixing up my gel nails which, mind you, were rather expensive. Why was I here again? I wasn't a trouble-maker like the others. I was a celebrity among teens! A celebrity did NOT participate in blood-spewing games. Yuck. And blood is hard to get out of clothing! Just. My. Luck. I looked up the find that the recaps of the reapings were playing, but I couldn't be bothered to see others misfortunes. Mine were the most important right now! I mean, how could I keep my skin clean of blemishes out in a arena full of savage peasants?

Chapter 1 - Amelia Kunjui - Angel District

Wincing at how straight-forward his introduction was, I began to take in what kind of person he was like. He didn't seem too bad. Honest, perhaps...Unlike what my servants have been rambling on about. She didn't get what the big deal was with having darker colored wings...He was still a member of the district, and needed to be treated respectfully like everyone else.

"Y-yeah. I'll probably be the first to be killed anyways." I answered back, chewing on my lower lip. I could still take the gross flavor of melon that came with having several different things applied to my lips. Lip hydration cream, lip stick...Lip gloss. The minute I find a faucet and a change of clothing, I'm gonna shed off everything. "Nice to meet, yes..."

I paused, as I was asked about why I, the leaders daughter, was carried inside while the three others walked. I flinched, as his question seemed a bit hostile with the way he worded it. However, I managed to answer truthfully while glancing upwards to the TV screens.

"I slapped my mother, so they tazored me." I answered, rubbing the burn mark at the back of my neck. It was a good thing I was tolerant of pain. Pain usually came with having a body-shaper on twenty-four seven, burning leg hairs, and harsh chemicals being applied to every inch of my body. I was just used to pain, so the tazor had only been a moment of pain when I blacked out. Now the only evidence that I had been indeed tazored was the burn mark it left.

I was just beginning to speak again, when the buzz of the televisions interrupted me. I gave a curious look towards the others, to Shizu, and then the flat screens propped up on each wall. It was like we had no choice but to watch. When the screen flickered to the Vampire's government building, with the goverment leaders Calzus and Yuna, I immediately knew we were watching the reaping which had taken place. It was deep into the night there, and flames seemed to be the only source of light. Perhaps they were short on light bulbs...

My eyes flickered with a hint of bewilderment, as I eyed two female participants which had taken the stage. Shiro and Marisa...Hm. Just by watching the fidgeting motions of Marisa and the gestures Shiro was making, I came to a conclusion and shared it with Shizu.

"The small one, Marisa...She's probably the most dangerous out of the group. She's pretending to look innocent and weak. Shiro, that taller one, doesn't seem very level-headed. Bloodthirsty." I had been good at reading people since I was young. It was a trait my mother had developed to me, so I could tell good people from bad. Liars from the innocent. I would be good at interrorgation.

Chapter 1 - Nokoto Osoku - Human District

Silence is what follows after my proclaimation. A few people cough nervously, and immediately I regret having said that. I probably just put a huge target on my back. However, I do not show how on-edge I am, and I quickly stride away from the stage and towards the guarded subway entrance. I am even more paranoid of everything now. Especially of the other three participants at my back. You did it now, Nokoto...

The subway station is probably the most depressing place in the world, which also fits the entire situation. Four people heading off to be ulimately killed. What? Not like the Gods would have the subway full of beautiful flowers and bunny rabbits...Though, that would be nice, truthfully. You'd have to be stinking rich for the Gods to allow for your family to own a pet of any kind. And when you do have a pet, you go to great lengths to make sure that pet lives for a LONG time. Gods like to suck the rich dry of money, and pets have funerals, so...The funeral is probably worth more than years worth of food.

Taking in a deep breath of air, I walked into the subway train, and immediately my eyes gazed around at the beautiful leather chairs, glass tables, and flat-screen televisions propped up on each section. Suddenly, I heard the doors close behind me, and I found that the other three had pushed past me while I stood awkwardly at the sliding doors. "Oops..." I mumbled, carefully beginning to turn when suddenly a strong, brutal force struck me by the neck and held me against what was probably the back of a chair.

In astonishment, I grabbed the force that had my neck, but it was simply useless to detach myself. It was the other female participant -Jin- whom had my neck. Her eyes were of pure hatred, and she sucked her hand tighter around my neck. I managed a short gasp, as she began to shout at me. "Listin here, you little runt! You have no right...NO RIGHT. To say you're gonna win these games! Nokoto Osoku, you'll be the first person I kill in that arena!" I was then thrown by her grip, and found myself in the grip of the male participant; Fausto. He didn't say anything, but carefully righted me back on my feet. Jin was now throwing out profanity to everything and everyone. Some profanity which should not be repeated, even by the most gruesome of people.

-Raike took up a whole set of four chairs on the train, laying on his back with his hands behind his head. The seats were pretty uncomfortable, but he was determined to get some kind of sleep. The occasional bumps and jolts of the moving train caused him to have to reposition himself a lot, making him growl, and glare at everyone looking at him. For some reason, they had not taken his hunting knife, so he took it out of its makeshift sheath, and began to absentmindedly sharpen it, looking at the others around him. 3 faces too many he didn't know, and didn't care to know, so he went back to sharpening his knife.

For some reason, his thoughts began to drift towards his district, and he sighed. They wouldn't really care if he died in the arena, and he doubted they would care if he won anyway. Either way, he might be better off dead, he thought, grunting. He then began to wonder about what was going on in the other trains, or even the other districts. What had been their reaction when their contestants had been chosen, and when they had boarded the train.-

"Heh, it was probably better than my boarding. I just flipped the mayor, and everyone in that district off, so maybe it's better for my health not to return. Still.... I wonder what kind of people I will be facing. I refuse to have my blood sucked by any vampire, and also to be seduced by some angel. The demons will definently be a challenge, so I will have to use whatever wits I posess in order to defeat them. I have been hearing about some kind of psycho vampire girl from their district, so it might be better for me to avoid her..."

Xavier had only listened to part of the broadcast as it didn't really matter to him. Win or lose. Life or death. He just didn't care. There would be no 'strategy' that he would use at all. He wouldn't attempt to study each and every opponent to ensure victory. Xavier, to put it frankly, just doesn't care.

But why; you may ask. Well, he never had a very enjoyable life. He had noone really. Not even something as simple as a friend. During the reapings,when he was called, most -if not all- the demons were confused when they heard his name. He was forgotten among his own race. But in reality, he was never forgotten because someone had to know he existed first. His mother and father had both died before they even had a chance to meet him. The only knowledge he had of his family were in a medical book. And the only info was how they died.

The book:

Dale Harrah (Status: Deceased) : Cause of death, Was infected when shards of silver were placed inside his drink a day before his child had been born.

Theresa Harrah: (Status: Deceased) Her demise had been the same as her spouse; Poisoning. What was odd about this part was that there was a tidbit of information about him supposedly surviving in her womb, when he should've died along them.
Surprisingly, her son that was and is to be named Xavier, had somehow chosen inside the womb to reject his mothers nutrients that night. And miraculously, he lived.
This is still a medical anomaly that is to be studied. The other pages were completely unreadable.

He had been pulled out of his little daydream when he had heard Bernkastel muttering something and how she was looking straight at him. "Yes?"

Chapter 1 - Bernkastel Vermillia - Demon District

Looking Xavier over, I moved my attention back to the screen as a sort of survey was being broadcasted. People in the Gods district were voting on who they thought were going to win the games. I raised my eyebrows slightly as I saw the scoring so far. Most obviously, I was the highest on the charts. It was who was below me that had me frowning. The little girl from the vampire district...Marisa. Just below me by a couple hundred voters, which wasn't much. Then was Ryuu and Xavier battling for third, Kaito, Shiro and Shizuka...The list went on. Oddly enough, Nokoto was on last place. Perhaps the little remark on winning wasn't enough.

"...Nothing...Nothing important." I mumbled, resting my chin on the base of my palm. "I'm wondering how you're so high on the rankings...And that Marisa girl, as well...My ranking doesn't surprise me, but it's probably not going to go as planned this year." I paused for a long while, and gazed out the window to find forests and birds flying past so they were simply a blur. "These games have become boring for me... So, I will not be the winner this year."

I was speaking the truth on that note. Living had become only an obstacle now. The games became a boring way of adrenaline halfway through the second one. It was simply luck that the one she had been stuck with on the final two, had been crazy in love with her. Hence the 'crazy', he commited suicide right in front of her, so she could win and live on. However, Bern had had no such feelings for the boy. He could have won if he had attacked her. Not like she was fighting him.

Ryuu needed to do something to occupy his time. The train was boring, and Ryuu was never comfortable with sitting and waiting. He was a man of action, and hated sitting still. Slightly irritated and bored, Ryuu turned his attention to the televison screen, which was broadcasting a survey in the Gods district on who they thought would win the games. To Ryuu's surprise and delight, he wasn't first, which was a good thing.

They voted on what they did know, and that, in Ryuu's thought, wasn't much. His parents, while they were alive, had been burying evidence upon evidence of his heinous acts. So what they did know was the bits that was getting out, which wasn't too much. If Ryuu was the highest on the charts, he would have been disappointed. That would have meant that even with the downgrading of knowledge, he was still considered the favorite. In this way, he knew there was at least some challenges.

And just as he thought, the other one, Bernkastel Vermillia, the one who had been participating many times before, was right on top. She was followed by Marisa of the vampire district, and then Xavier, with Ryuu close after.

Ryuu remembered not to judge his competition from their looks, but he couldn't help but cringe a bit in disappointment.

Pah!, he thought, this is my competition? A petty vampire?

Ryuu turned his thoughts to the other two in the polls. Both were from the Demon Districts, sitting in this very train. He felt excitement fill him. He thought he'd get a bit more knowledge on his soon-to-be enemies. Besides, he had absolutely nothing else to do, and no one around to strangle, so he was bored.

Ryuu got up and walked towards the others. He looked ahead at the one sitting alone. He turned his face in disgust. No fighter at all. He didn't even know what she was doing. Ryuu reminded himself that these were troublemakers, not fighters. Ryuu had just been constantly putting the two together because he was actually both. He sat down in the seat adjacent to the two, who were apparently conversing. He sat and looked at them intently, more specifically at Bernkastel. She had done this before, and won. More than once, in fact. He opened his mouth and spoke.

"Woman, you have done this before. You will tell me what I want to know. I have not really ever before had the pleasure of fighting and killing the other lower-races. Which would you say are the most challenging to kill? Angels? Or perhaps Vampires? I doubt the pathetic humans are of any consequence? Or...would it be unfortunate to say that demons tend to be the obvious stronger race, which would mean the most I would have to look forward to is...you...three?"

Ryuu's heart pounded a bit, getting excited with every passing thought of the upcoming slaughter. Hopefully, there would be a challenge. Ryuu looked at her intently. Attractive as she was, Ryuu dared not lower his guard. She had done this all before, and won. She would most certainly attempt to do it again, unless Ryuu has something to say about it.

Xavier simply shrugged what she said off, although inwardly he became filled with disgust. She wasn't tired of the games, she was bored of the games. Bored. Bored of killing people. That meant she had liked killing someone. Liked. She even killed other species. Ones that had no affect as to whether she would win or not. Win. This is what Xavier is going to do. And he didn't care about the stupid rankings.

He turned back towards Bernkastel, ready to speak something else when the other boy moved to them. Ryuu. The one who had a sickening thrill with killing other people. Sickening. This is what Ryuu was. Taking a thrill to killing someone. Killing. This is what Xavier planned to do, to Ryuu.

Chapter 1 - Bernkastel Vermillia - Demon District

Just as I was awaiting Xavier to speak, another man slid into a leather chair by us, and began attempting a threatening conversation with me. I only stood straight with my gaze fixated on a tea-cup in which a servant on the train had set down for me. I picked up the tiny china cup after he was finished his works, and took a small sip with my eyes closed. "Threaten me if you will, but it is quite obvious that I could beat you to the pace. I am not a woman. I am a demon." I set down my cup silently, and gazed at Ryuu with my emotionless emerald eyes. "If you want to have a decent conversation, with the answers you are looking for...I suggest you call me by my name." Resting my left elbow on my arm rest, I pressed my cheek into my gathered fist. I hated these types of people. The type who thought that they could get whatever they want through poor threats and violence.

"...Besides the fact." I looked between Xavier and Ryuu before twirling my dark, raven black hair around my fingers. "There are no weak districts in my experience. Only weak people. Each person has their own unique judgement on a person, so that is why I can not tell you accurate information." My gaze trailed over to Paris, whom was getting furious at a male servant for not having a certain type of tea on stock. "....." People could ask me all they want, and I could give them the same answer. "But in my opinion, the vampires are the ones to worry about...But I will tell you this." I clasped my fingers together, and take on a serious tone. "I call the girl. Kill anyone you desire, but I will kill the girl named Marisa."

"...That being said, I do not wish to kill anyone else. Never seen the past few games? I do not kill directly. I let the arena's tricks do that for me...." My gaze reached for Xavier momentarily, before I continued. "I have only killed one other person directly in my life. Two will be the total, when I die."

"Now, if you'll excuse us, Ryuu. I was having a conversation with Xavier. Go harrass Paris, since I never will be in the mood for your voice."

Ryuu looked at her, angered. Ryuu Akuma had the reputation of a brute, and the smallest things could set him off like a grenade: a misspoken phrase, and insult, a slight fowl look on the face. Ryuu smiled, but his expression was clearly not one of amusement, or happiness. He grew angry, very quickly. Nevertheless, he tried to smile with the infuriation building within him. He got up and walked right in front of her, knelt down and spoke into her ear.

"You think I was threatening you? You don't know threats. Of course, you will very soon. I care not how you survived and won these events last time around, or the times before. All I know is, I will dethrone you. You've had your fun, but now it's time for mine. The last thing you will see will be me standing over your soon to be broken body, as much as it saddens me to have to kill such a pretty one as you."

He leaned closer in. "Moreover, I take no orders. I will kill who I please when I please it, and if that means I shall kill the Marisa girl first, then so shall it be."

Ryuu leaned away, before smiling, "Thanks for the information...Bernkastel." He recalled the name from the TV. Ryuu went back to his old seat at the back of the train. In usual circumstances, Ryuu probably would have attacked her and attempted to drop her where she was, but in these situations, Ryuu kept his calm, for now. But what Bernkastel had not realized is that Ryuu had already painted a target upon her. His hunt for her has already began, and Ryuu "The Rhino" Akuma does not slow down, he does not falter, he does not stop, until his opponent is killed, or he himself is.