Finally In Moriyama The Place Of Rumors [Open/Long Tian]

[Sergius Marduk]

Sergius leaped up a little, readjusting the heavy backpack on his shoulders as he approached the entrance to Moriyama Village. He stood no more than ten meters from the entrance of the mountain village. Above its entirety loomed a great mountain and surrounding it was lush oceans of greenery and forests. " Wow...I can barely believe something so beautiful exists... " he said in awe, walking down the worn dirt path. As he came up on a large twelve ft iron gate, a guard from above called down to him. " You there ! What's your business. " he asked, not to kindly. Sergius raised a brow to the man, feeling salty about his tone. " I'm simply visiting, I heard rumors about this village and I wanted to see it for myself. "

The guard's metal encased head lifted out of view and into the tower above the gate, leaving Serigus to contemplate the reason why. " Rumors you say ? What kind ? he asked bringing his head back out. Sergius scratched his head impatiently with his free left hand. His face expressing displeasure at the man's question. " Does that really matter. Can't I simple enter. " he asked pointing Kurikara's violent wrapped hilt towards the iron gate. " Sorry but bandits have been running rampant around here. We just have to be sure. " Sergius lowered Kurikara back to his side. He could understand the man's rambling questions now.

Sergius beamed a cheerful smile and lifted Kurikara's sheathe towards the man. " I'm no bandit dude. I'm from Fairy Tail. " he said, chuckling lightly. After showing them the orange insignia on the sheathe's middle body the guard had finally allowed him entrance.

When he walked into the village he could see the denizens of the town walking about without a care. They traveled with bags of groceries and friends. Families walked together about to their destinations and gave off the appearance of a loving unit. Sergius held the strap of his bag with his left arm and swung Kurikara at his side as he walked further in. He swung his long, thin tail behind him casually, feeling his tummy growl from his lack of breakfast. " I finally made it. And so far its not disappointing me. " he said, holding his flat stomach. " But I do need something to eat. " he said, feeling the black, sleeveless tunic underneath the sky-blue waist coat he was wearing. It was trimmed with alabaster fur along its inner edges and collar, and stopped a little above his waist.

[Long Tian-Zhen]

There can never be those kinds of memories... Because, deep within my heart, I will continue to yearn for them. No matter what kind they are.

her long hair swayed in the wind as her red eyes scanned the crowds of the people below her. tian-zhen, a servant of justice, had heard and learned first hand of the bandits plaguing the city and she was not going to sit by and do nothing. that is why she is currently laying chest down on top of sloping roof, hoping to catch any thief or evil-doer. whether it was coincidence or fate, her position was near the village gate. her sensitive hearing managed to discern the guard's gruff reluctance of letting someone in and that made tian-zhen alert.

"is that the person forcing his way in?" she whispered to herself. her calloused hands, toughened by years of constant training, tightened around the handle of her sword. her crimson eyes narrowed as she spotted something abnormal about the newcomer. it was a tail; wiry and tough looking like a twisted, layered cable line. extremely flexible too from the way it moved from side to side. he must be a bandit disguising himself! standing from her previous position, tian-zhen then leaped down into the alley and walked into the street.

she quickly made her way towards her target, hands ready to draw out the sword on her left side - fang of hakkai. "fang" or "hakkai" for short. "you there. with the tail. halt," tian-zhen addressed the male, who was now only a few feet in front of her. her voice was, as usual, monotonous and dead. not an inkling of feelings seeping into her words.

[Sergius Marduk]

Sergius took another step forward, ready to wander around the small village until finding himself something to eat. On his face the expression of both helpless and innocence glazed him over. His head leaned to the right slightly and both his eyes were closed as he foolishly daydreamed of the delicious delicacies that the village could offer him. A ill manner slime of drool left his lips as he dreamed. " Yummm, I want something to eat now. " he thought to himself.

He was about to continue his small quest when the sound of a voice reached his ears. His expression became dull as he looked around himself.

" With.. the tail ? " he wondered while pointing to himself. Maybe it was just him, but not many people usually took notice of it outside of his village. It felt weird for someone to actually call him out on it. Sergius looked at the girl who had called him, noticing her short height first and foremost.

" Wow you're short... " he said bluntly, bring his hand back to his side. His cerulean gaze was kept on the girl as she approached him. Her crimson eyes were next thing that caught his attention but he decided not to comment on it. " Why do I have to stop again ? I'm really hungry. " Sergius swished his tail around in a circle behind him before wrapping it around the left leg of his black trousers.

[Long Tian-Zhen]

There can never be those kinds of memories... Because, deep within my heart, I will continue to yearn for them. No matter what kind they are.

"shor-" tian-zhen faltered in her aggressive stance at the boy's off-handed comment. she had been ready to attack him yet the first thing he noticed was her height?! her lips pressed together in confusion and slight annoyance. if he was putting on a show then tian-zhen would have to admit that he was a good actor. her eyes narrowed as she tried to sniff out any dishonesty in him; she didn't miss how his tail did a little swirl then proceeded to, in a way, "stay out of trouble" by wrapping around its owner's legs.

unsheathing her tanto blade, uragiri, from her left side tian-zhen asked, "is that the only thing you're here for? food?" uragiri was a small, short sword that was both visible yet "invisible". some people may even consider it an elongated knife and won't send a second glance at it thus letting tian-zhen have it out in the open. it was more practical than having a full on katana in her hands and unnecessarily scaring any of the nearby citizens. "you better not be one of those eat and run people."

she took a step forward, hoping to look somewhat threatening though it probably looked ridiculous to curious bystanders. a short young girl brandishing some type of house-hold knife against some teenager that towered several inches above her.

[Sergius Marduk]

Sergius smiled honestly and softly towards her show of aggressiveness. He had met such a short pup bark so much since himself. Though, he honestly probably didn't have the right to call her pup. Appearances could be very deceiving. " Really I'am. " he confessed to her, his hand still rubbing the center of his tummy. " I haven't eaten since breakfast. Can we walk and talk ? " he asked, raising his hands up in a harmless manner.

Once her blade was drawn towards him, Sergius simply passed it off. " Your feisty. " he chuckled lightly. Once she took a step and the tension had passed, Sergius brought the finger tip of his right hand on the blade and pushed it down softly. " Can't we.... Just put this down and get something eat. " his eyes were pitiful.

[Long Tian-Zhen]

There can never be those kinds of memories... Because, deep within my heart, I will continue to yearn for them. No matter what kind they are.

tian-zhen was starting to doubt herself. just one look at his sapphire eyes and she couldn't help but feel as if she was bullying him instead of stopping him from any future criminal activity. he... he... he looked so innocent! she let out a low growl to show her frustration. her grip tightened even more on urargiri when he made a move to push her weapon away from him, and tian-zhen let him.

"fine! but i'm only going just to make sure you don't do anything fishy," she said, a little miffed at how easily she was disarmed. with a quick movement tian-zhen sheathed her blade and began to walk past him. "alright. what are you craving for?" no, she was not being nice to him but really, what is she supposed to do?

[Sergius Marduk]

Sergius kept his hand on his tummy, the palm moved in small circular motions. The aggravated expression on her face was awkwardly cute to Sergius. A small smile lifted his lips again, raising his cheeks in response. " You're adorable.. " he told her cutely. His tail unwrapped from his leg and again laid behind him with a life of its own.

At her question he couldn't help but turn his gaze back towards the town. He had entered it, but had little to no knowledge of it. How was he suppose to know what they had too eat. He let out a contemplative hum, bringing his free hand up and clenching his chin with his index and thumb. " How about a buffet ? " he suggested. He let his hand fall back to his side before readjusting Kurikara's strap onto his shoulder. He again had a cheerful smile on his face, it had spread his broad cheek bones and showed his sharper than normal canines.

[Long Tian-Zhen]

There can never be those kinds of memories... Because, deep within my heart, I will continue to yearn for them. No matter what kind they are.

she stood beside him with a gobsmacked expression. her lips were slightly parted and her eyes widened just a fraction of a millimeter. nothing really took tian-zhen off guard but unfortunately that only pertains to combat situations, and not of the social kind. at least, not mostly. she knew how to be mindful of her manners and how to show respect to those who ranked above her, but that was as much as her grand-papa taught her until she left the village.

how does one reply to a random comment, much less a compliment? from what she heard, something like that was called a compliment, right?

while she was still wary of him, tian-zhen felt that she should repay in kind. "t-thank you. and you're pretty c-cute yourself." the long-haired girl felt her right hand twitch to grab onto the handles of her swords out of instinct as their touch bring her comfort. her words held truth in them but almost in reluctance and embarrassment (if her lightly red-tinged cheeks were any indication). tian-zhen was not a stranger to giving people praises but she had never done so that had anything to do with looks; they always had something to do with skills or a talent.

clearing her throat to continue on with the conversation, tian-zhen turned her head away from him to pretend that she's thinking about it. his actions and charming features were starting to render her helpless. "okay. we can do that. but i meant like... chinese? italian? or one that has everything?" her voice was quiet now and not as bland as it initially was.

[Sergius Marduk]

His smile widen further at her compliment and he couldn't help but grin and chuckle a little. " Ahhh Thanks.. You really think so ? " he asked innocent and playfully. He had never heard such an open compliment from a female like that but he was more than happy to accept it.

Her shy expression was one that brought unfamiliar feelings to him, so unfamiliar that he would decide to ignore them.

Hearing her clear her throat Sergius looked down at her short height, his skin below his eyes flushed with red at her flustered expression. His left index finger raised up and he stroked his left cheek innocently before looked up at the sky, trying to avoid her eyes. " Well... As long as some form of meat is involved I don't really mind, " Then he brought his head back down and turned back towards the town again. " Can you lead the way, I really do want something to eat. " he reminded her, bring his hand back to his side and readjusting his blade.

[Long Tian-Zhen]

There can never be those kinds of memories... Because, deep within my heart, I will continue to yearn for them. No matter what kind they are.

"i'm not much of a liar," tian-zhen responded, her head still facing away from him. she hoped that he would get the gist of what she said as she really didn't want to admit that he really was an attractive person. or at least that's what she thought the feeling was. the tell-tale signs were similar to what the village girls described the last time she questioned them about what they were talking about.

closing her eyes and taking a deep breathe tian-zhen hoped to regain her confidence and control of her emotions. another inhale and exhale of air later her eyes snapped open with intense clarity. finally (after for what seemed to be long minutes instead of the actual two or three seconds), tian-zhen turned to him hoping to look like her usual expressionless face. "i can do that. meat... hmm..." she hummed in thought as she tried to keep her eyes steady at empty space above her acquaintance; tian-zhen was still finding herself falling prey to the boy's unintentional charms. his "alright, i got it. let's go."

she jerked her head in the direction they were supposed to go to before starting their journey.

[Sergius Marduk]

He looked off towards the direction she had gestured at, her face and expression still imprinted in his mind. He looked down at her short, petite frame. Was it her blood red eyes that had caught his attention or her long beautiful hair. Knowing him, it was probably her shortness; but than again why would any of that matter when food was only a short following away.

A satisfying humm came from him as his stomach felt full just from the youth's imagination. That was all he had needed to refill his body with the energetic juice that he so cheerfully ran of off. With a smile and a pep in his step, Sergius begin to walk, going so far as to even step ahead of her and walking into the streets of the unknown town . " It doesn't really matter where we go do it ? As long as food is there I don't care. " he told her, slowing his pace down to hers. Almost forgetting that she was the one leading him.

[Long Tian-Zhen]

There can never be those kinds of memories... Because, deep within my heart, I will continue to yearn for them. No matter what kind they are.

when tian-zhen had begun their journey to the restaurant, her pace might have been considered a little too fast for the normal civilians. so she was a bit surprised that the boy had passed her with ease. then again he had longer legs than her and that would attribute to him going in front of her.

"er... i guess not?" tian-zhen replied, a bit lost in his enthusiasm for food. this gave her a bit of a relief as the restaurant in mind came into view. "well, there it is. 'chang's all you can eat.'" she pointed to a large two-story building that head people milling in and out.

the aroma of the different foods wafted from the opening and closing doors that made tian-zhen's stomach growl in anticipation. her arms quickly covered her midsection, embarrassed that an unladylike sound came from her. while she actually didn't mind the sound (it was a natural thing), it was in front of someone that she wanted to "impress" in a way.

she turned a bright red before quickly leading him to the waiters and asking for a table for two. within minutes they were given a table and left to get whatever foods they wanted. "the food here is great so you won't be disappointed." then she turned on him and said harshly (to keep him from thinking of her as a pushover), "no eating and running, got it? i'll be watching you."

[Sergius Marduk]

Sergius held a cheerful, wide grin on his face as the two walked down the path to the restaurant of her choosing. He had genuinely not cared about what he ate, as long as meat was on the menu and he could eat as much as he wanted he would be happy. He walked with his arms crossed over his head, his legs making large strides but purposely staying in tune with Long's own steps.

Once she pointed towards the restaurant Sergius wasted no time he taking hold of her hand and leading her impatiently into the store. A smile decorating his face and somewhere in the back of his food filled mind he could feel the warm touch of her hand in his. The tails of his azure sash flew behind him as he sped walk into the building and his hand released hers. He looked on at the innards of the building, feeling quite excited once he spotted the lay-out of food. All he could think of was stuffing his face and how he would make it seem polite to the lady he was dining with.

Once they had sat Sergius looked off his right shoulder at the buffet than back to her after she had warned him again. A innocent smile replaced the excited one as he lifted his arms and shook his head once. " No worries... " he said, now placing his hands on the table.

He raised his hand to the back of his head and rubbed it, his left eye was closed and his grin shifted to the right side. " One question though... Who's paying again ? " The question may have seemed idiotic, but to him it was valid one. It was never really established, though he wouldn't have no problem with paying if she so wished him too.

[Sponsored content]