A Warrior's Awakening (Open)

[OmegaBearBeast]

((My first Hub thread! I’m allowing anyone to say hi, but keep in mind that I’m not looking for a fight or anything.))

For the first time in 13 000 years, the warrior awoke.

He had been dormant all this time, waiting for something to wake him when needed. However, like the rest of his fellow members of the ancient Order of the Beast Blood, he had been thought for dead. Even Kitamura, the one he held a psychic link with, was unable to tell if he was alive or not, and much less know his location. Beasts could not communicate with their minds if the target mind had slipped into deep, deep unconsciousness. The idea to try and find the members had been tossed on the table. Once and for all, to solve the enigma, but also to ease Kitamura’s worrying heart. After all, it had been a request of hers to help her locate the warrior that worshipped and protected her, Isaarker. Before she was captured by the UCA, she had returned to her home planet in search of him.

It had taken a good deal of time, but the one named Isaarker was found.

The Mehrksis had brought him to their ship. It was hard for him to regain his motor functions, and even harder for him to grasp everything that had happened since he was gone, at the time when Higarious was still a threat. He fought back the sluggishness, and was allowed to meet back with the Beast he admired the most. When the energy shield that served as a door faded, the masked warrior stepped in slowly, taking the time to admire the beauty of the reconstructed area.

“Aaah, I knew the Mehrksis would find ya!”

Isaarker instantly recognized the deep, ragged voice. His head turned to look at the speaker; The Martial Master herself, hung upside down by the tail on one of the trees dotting her quarters.

“They are very intelligent. I knew you would not leave me behind, Master.” The warrior spoke, his purple eyes blinking slowly.

“I’m nobody’s master, Isaarker. Others might say yer my servant, but yer not. Y’even said it yourself; ya don’t serve me because it’s yer duty to, you do because yer heart says so. To me, you are a friend.” Kit replied. Even as a martial artist, she would raise an eyebrow when referred to as a master. She was only a skilled fighter and had great knowledge; nothing more.

“I forget. Forgive me, Mast-... I mean, Kitamura.”

“Hrmph, ye always were forgetful. It has been waaay too long, ol’ friend. I’m so happy to see you once more.”

“Me too... Kit.”

At this moment, the Martial Master’s cubs, Masser and Bergunth, came closer to meet the newcomer.

“Ah... Isaarker, these two are my greatest accomplishments: Masser and Bergunth.”

The two behemoths bowed to greet Isaarker. They already knew him from stories told by Kit – his way of fighting always fascinated the youngsters. Instead of outright attacking, he would dodge attacks until his opponents gave up. There were even accounts of him fending foes without looking at them!

“I always knew I would see you with little someday, Kitamura. Masser and Bergunth, I am honored to meet you. I am Isaarker.”

The warrior bowed himself, before Kit pointed with a sideways movement of her head towards the right of the quarters, where a temple, built in an Asiatic style, had been built.

“Here y’go. UCA guys are okay with you stayin’ with us, so they thought they’d accommodate you. It’s almost a perfect replica of the one you had... I say “almost” because there’s a sort of teleportin thingamajig in one of the rooms. That’ll lead ya to the Hub, at the part where the humans and other non-Beasts get together and chit-chat. Go ahead, see for yerself.”

When Isaarker entered the temple, whose golden door was adorned with a symbol of a flaming paw, Kitamura turned to Masser.

“See, Massy? I told you he was too small for you to hug. Do me a favor and don’t try to, honey.”

-----

Isaarker’s gaze looked up and down, his purple eyes, lacking pupils, widening slightly in awe. They looked like purple orbs, the light reflecting in them. He would take the time to explore it further, but he was eager to meet the others. Stepping on the “teleporting thingamajig” without understanding its functioning, he was taken away.

The masked being was later sitting alone at a table, staring at the cheeseburger in his plate. With a claw, he poked the sandwich, only for it to spill cheese and grease. Who had created such a strange-looking food?

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

"Are you perhaps enjoying your new stay here?" An innocent voice reached the warrior. The beast looked up from the odd food before him, and saw the Ruler of the Netherworld approaching him. Yuyuko for once didn't have a monstrous plate of food in her hands, only nothing in her hands. "I hope you don't mind if I take a seat with you... I sensed your arrival and came to see you... anyone with a soul like that of Masser is a soul I can understand and be friends with. What you are looking at right now is a modest human invention... a sandwich. You simply hold it on your hands, and eat it. A pleasantry for anyone to enjoy." The ghost said with a smile. She had been watching the Orsa fight until Orsa had drawn them into a separate realm, and having lost interest in what was occurring, had gone off to meet this new member. Of course, that hadn't prevented from sensing something... odd occurring at that match... and sensing an old spirit she never thought would have been here. .. or either of those spirits, especially with one of them observing this very meeting at the moment.

[OmegaBearBeast]

Isaarker looked up to Yuyuko, a movement followed by another slow blink.

"I am indeed, and I thank you for asking."

His purple gaze then dropped to this alien dish.

"So, this... is a sandwich."

The warrior priest grabbed the cheeseburger with a hand and prepared to take a bite, but only for it to slam into his mask. The accident got a chuckle out of Yuyuko, who was kindly enough to offer a tissue to help the freshly awakened being clean his mask.

"Oh!? Right... I forgot to remove my mask. You see, my memory is still returning."

With that, Isaarker - after cleaning his mask - placed his hand on the bottom of his mask, and pulled. The bottom of Zaark "unhinged", revealing a toothy maw. With a "bluuuaarrghhh", Isaarker grimaced to shake off sluggishness. After this, he began take two of eating the burger. He took a bite out of it, a little slowly due to trying an entirely new plate... but liked it.

"It is good! I am sure Masser would like it."

As if on cue, thunderous footsteps were heard, and Masser herself arrived. Her paw was dripping with honey - a little snack she had brought. The blue brute wanted to check on Isaarker to see how he was doing. She greeted him with a grumble, before she noticed Yuyuko, whom she also addressed a greeting. As the spiked Beast resumed her snack, Isaarker turned to Yuyuko.

"So, what might be your name, ma'am?

[Hyperlulz]

With a flash of smoke, a new greeter appeared. Reclaimer strode into the enclosure, and stood before Issarker, still with a bit of cheeseburger on his mask. He purposely ignored it, and nodded to each of the rooms occupants and greeted them by their names until he once again returned his gaze to the masked man. "I haven't seen you here before, your name is?"

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

Yuyuko raised an eyebrow at these new arrivals. One of them she knew as Masser, a fellow lover in the art of food... but the other, bore a scent that sent the tiniest of shivers down her back... whoever it was, they had been around the kind of company the ghost ruler was no fan of. However, she didn't let this show, but kept her pleasant, innocent smile on. "The name is Yuyuko, and I am the Ghost Ruler of the Netherworld, the place where spirits head that are not deemed worthy for heaven or hell. No need to worry, I am not here to take anyone's souls away or wish death upon you... that is not what I am here for." She kept her eyes on Masser and Isaarker alone, not daring to look at Reclaimer...

[OmegaBearBeast]

As Masser's pink gaze took turns in observing the three small creatures below, occasionally scooping some more of the honey coating her paw with her tongue, Isaarker grinned happily behind his mask. Only his purple eyes narrowed from downwards as part of the expression, followed by another lazy blinking. The warring priest extended his arm and shook hands with Yuyuko.

"Much honored, Mrs. Yuyuko." he said with a small bow.

As he slowly withdrew his hand and reared back, straightening his back, Isaarker took the time to introduce himself to both Yuyuko and Reclaimer, in a louder voice:

"I am Isaarker, a member of the ancient Order of the Beast Blood! I am devoted to the Guardian Kitamura -- I do not take threats towards her lightly. I am her protector from non-Beasts, and a friend! The same goes for her cubs."

Isaarker had turned his head to observe Reclaimer in the middle of his introduction, and pointed up to Masser at the end of it. The blue bear, having finished her meal, sat down heavily, causing Isaarker and Yuyuko to bounce on their chair.

Withdrawing the bottom of his mask again to continue his most unique meal, Isaarker addressed himself to Reclaimer.

"What about you? Do you wish to introduce yourself?"

[Hyperlulz]

Reclaimer, noting Yuyuko's refusal to look at him, but refusing to notice, looked back to Isarrker as he finished his question. "I am known as Reclaimer. I would enjoy to share more with you, but the powers that be may not approve of it." Reclaimer added airily with a small glance at the ceiling. "What is the Order of the beast blood? I assume it has something to do with these individuals?' He asked with a wave to the beasts.

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

"So you are her protector? How sweet." Yuyuko said to the bear, refusing to even acknowledge Reclaimer's existence. She shifted in her seat, and placed her hands on her lap, her figure wavering abit as she closed her eyes. "It really must be nice, being able to protect someone you hold in such high regard. What kind of a place did you and her share? Was it a peaceful area, or one full of danger?"

[OmegaBearBeast]

"You want to know what is the Order of the Beast Blood? Picture a tall range of mountains. Mighty, dangerous, jagged. There are those who wish to climb these mountains; to conquer them. But before they can reach them, they have to pass through the mountain range in front of the tallest ones, surrounding them like protectors. The tall mountains are the Beasts, and the "defensive" mountains is the Order. We protect the Beasts from whatever would want to harm them."

The masked warrior then turned to Yuyuko.

"It is indeed. Most of what I know, I know it from Kit. She is a very wise Beast... That said, it is often hard to keep up with her during battle training... Oh! But here I am, starting to ramble. The place we shared was both. Colossus can be dangerous as much as it can be peaceful. The wildlife is not exactly friendly... but most of it leaves you alone if you do not bother them. It is a beautiful, but dangerous world."

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

Yuyuko nodded as she listened to the warrior. "I know what you speak of. Many things in nature have unquestionable beauty... and yet, are also deadly beyond compare." She said, looking down to a sheath on her leg hidden amongst her kimono. Of course, it was empty as per the rules of this place, but under normal conditions, she would have had a small, elegant blade with her, one there for "self defense"... After all, the reason she even had a personal gardener was that said gardener was there to give her swordsman lessons at her request..."I know of a certain flower where I am from.. a flower that blooms only in the Netherworld. It is a blue thing, large and beautiful, yet it releases spores that cancel out any magical energies near it. One single flower can cripple an entire army of mages, and prolonged exposure to it is lethal to most youkai. As a ghost, it is nothing to me, and even makes for great tea, but for someone else-"

"So that explains it." A new voice rasped from the enterance to the room. All turned, to see Persephone, one arm braced against the wall, standing there in the doorway, the other around her stomach. The Hellian Queen looked to be in better shape after her brief rest, but her eyes were still bloodshot, and a bit of drool was dripping out of the side of her mouth. "I knew it was something you gave me that made me fail the damn fight with Fenris... but Myrs Siren tea? You poisoned me... I can't believe you fucking poisoned me!" She screamed, staggering toward the undead ghost, who simply chuckled.

"Now now, it was meant only to be a prank, Persephone. I was half expecting you to realize it was poison, and not drink it, but you fell right for it, hook line and sinker. I intentionally made sure the dosage was a small enough amount that you wouldn't die... but I did find your failure against Fenris quite humorous... though now that Mara is back from her fight, I might have her try some."

"You stinking bitch." Persephone spat, doubling over in pain. "If we were anywhere else, you would wish you had been able to reincarnate!" Then, she stopped, and blinked rapidly. " Oh well, I guess I can't get even with you this way... I have to pay a visit to Mara anyway... But I willb e back to see you..." Persephone groaned as she dragged herself out of the room, leaving the other 4 there.

Yuyuko shook her head. "It was only meant to be a joke... why is she so bitter over a bit of poisoned tea?"

[Hyperlulz]

"Some people simply can`t take a joke." Reclaimer said smoothly. Looking at both Issarker and Yuyuko in turn. As he did, his eyes flashed throught the spectrum of colors. As he did so, he seemed to defoucus from the current company. After a moment, his attention returned to Issarker and Yuyuko. "Issarker I will not be suprised if you do not know the answer to this question, but are either of you familiar with an individual by the name of Yuuka?

[GI Jho]

"Yuuka, you say?"

The voice caused the others within the room to turn, as a man wearing a long black robe stepped into the room. Behind him, stood the uneasy form of Tel Megiddo, the cybernetic being's sword clasped tightly his hands. The man soon approached the others who had gathered in the cafeteria. The man seemed quite calm, despite stepping somewhat rudely into their conversation, just as Persephone stepped out of it.

"There's a name I believe I have heard before... but do not recall the face. Perhaps it is my foggy memory, or maybe my lack of empathy for her."

"And who are you?" Yuyuko asked, genuinely curious.

"Me?" The man chuckled a bit. "You can say that I'm no one at all, really. I am just here to observe and see that things... go according to plan, you can say."

[OmegaBearBeast]

Isaarker sunk an eyebrow at the sight of the Man in Black, but his attention was switched when Masser spoke to him telepathically.

"Masser is saying she faced Yuuka before along with Bergunth, but Kitamura interrupted and... Huh? 'Turned her into a flambé à la plante?' As for myself, no, I have no idea who this Yuuka is."

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

Yuyuko was about to address the newcomer, when she froze. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed something the others couldn't. As the Ruler of the Netherworld, she had the ability to see wayward souls that were otherwise invisible to eyes of mortals. Normally, such souls would be few and far between outside of the afterlife, since a Death God would be there to harvest them... and yet, this person was SWARMING with such souls. They were being drawn to him like a moth to the flame... while ignoring her and the others. That set her on end. Whoever this person was... they wielded such power over the undead to a degree that she herself didn't. Not to mention... his own soul was unreadable, like a book written in a language foreign to her. As much as Reclaimer made her nervous, this person was far more dangerous in her book. Whoever he was, he was a severe threat. "The name does ring a bell. I know of her as a gardener, a florist who loves plant life... and a skilled combatant." Was all she said as she finally acknowledged Reclaimer's existence, now feeling him to be the lesser of two evils, though she didn't show any signs of discomfort... atleast externally.

[Hyperlulz]

Reclaimer continued on after greeting the Man In Black. "Anyway. From what I can gather of Yuuka. She has some sort of plan brewing. I was hoping you may have a better idea of her character or motives. She seems to have a rather ill intent. Even compared with the other unsavory characters here." Reclaimer cleared his throat before continuing. "Issarker, how long have you been here?"