001; Wutai

[yuffiekisaragi]

On the mountain of Da Chao sits a lone girl, her legs swinging off the ledge as she contemplates the town below.

It's her home - Wutai, a once proud nation that has been reduced to nothing more than a cheesy tourist attraction. By none other than her father, a man she doesn't exactly get along with in the best of times.

Something's off though.

Yuffie squints as she studies the town, telling herself her eyes must be deceiving her.

Usually there are people strolling through the town, children playing tag in the streets. The ones who had recently been infected with Geostigma are recovering, and there is a jovial air about the town. Now, though, there is no sign of life. Not even a stray dog roaming through, begging for scraps.

This just isn't right, and Yuffie has to investigate.

Standing up, she brushes the dirt off her legs, then plants her fists at her hips.

"Only one person can get to this bottom of this mess!"

She pauses without looking back, shifting her weight as if she wants to fidget.

"You can come too. Having an extra pair of eyes wouldn't hurt," she says this with a little hesitation. The truth is, she's a little bit worried at the absence of people, and could use a little support as she tries to find them.

Comments

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Ami, whose dreams had recently taken her to the ruins of her own ancient kingdom, knows the loss of former glory.

She turns away from the view this height provides, to the girl beside her, at those bold words; more, at being included and asked for help so naturally. It deflates her first urge to shrug off the responsibility and say it's none of her business, she isn't from this world, or planet, or city.

Instead, Ami nods, but fails to move.]

Wait.

[She takes out a small device, a hand-held computer.]

This should be able to track any energy signatures still present nearby. It'll be easier to find them from there.

[yuffiekisaragi]

[Never one to stand silently and wait, Yuffie bounces on her toes as she waits for the blue haired girl to finish fiddling with the device.

Studying her, stares at the blue hair, momentarily distracted. She can't for the life of her remember anyone who had blue hair. Reno's was an obnoxious red, but that was as close as she'd gotten to brightly colored hair.

The device starts to beep, and Yuffie inches closer to inspect it over the girl's shoulder, curious.]

What's that mean? Is someone down there?

[It abruptly stops beeping and Yuffie leans back a bit, giving her companion an expectant look.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[The computer beeps loudly, and Mercury's head snaps up to look across the deserted surroundings. She squints in the direction the computer had zeroed in on, but a second later the beeping stops and she shakes her head.]

It disappeared.

[She doesn't suggest it might be an error. She has faith in her technology and her powers that she lacks in people.]

However, they might still be just outside the range of that search. Do you intend to go there?

[yuffiekisaragi]

[Yuffie frowned, looking at Wutai. She had to get to the bottom of this. An entire town of people didn't just vanish into thin air, and she was determined.

She'd dealt with her share of strange happenings in her life, and this was definitely making her top ten list.]

Of course. My people are missing, and if someone's hurt them in any way, I'll give them a smackdown like they've never felt before.

[Looking over at the girl, she nods a head toward the tiny computer.]

That thing tell you what direction it was? Was it in town?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Mercury hasn't heard talk like that in quite awhile; among the people she calls her comrades (never 'friends'), they may help each other out in battle, but they also expect each other to take of themselves.]

It was that direction.

[She indicates the way, but makes no movement to head there, still indecisive towards how involved to become.]

[yuffiekisaragi]

[Yuffie nods, looking in the direction. That damn town her father made her fight in lay right in her line of sight she squares her shoulders, preparing herself for what might be ahead.

She pauses, looking toward the girl before realizing she actually didn't know her.]

Who are you anyway?

take CARE of themselves /kicks missing-word typo

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[She makes a formal gesture.]

The Soldier of the Flame of Knowledge, Mercury.

[When she wakes up, she'll be left to wonder just why so many of her dreams lately have revolved around turning the water that flows inside her to this burning fire.]

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

Normally she might ask Yuffie if she's sure those extra eyes would help--teasing a bit at being "allowed" to help--but the still village below is worrying. What's going on? Her head starts to shake slowly as she looks at the village.

"I don't hear anything... but let's stick together, just in case."

[yuffiekisaragi]

Yuffie nods before starting her march down the trail toward Wutai, running over the possibilities of what could have happened out loud.

"It can't be a trick. Half of them can't keep a fricken secret if their life depended on it, and someone would have blabbed to me by now."

sorry...I'm having trouble getting gmail to surrender tags @_@

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

"No out-of-town festivals on the calendar? I guess that'd be a bit much to ask..." Stubborn, stubborn Aerith, trying to come up with a reason for the sudden silence that isn't a disaster. "Wouldn't your father say if there was something wrong?"

Totally understand :)

[yuffiekisaragi]

Yuffie shakes her head. "The guy doesn't keep me in the loop ever. No festivals this time of year either. Plus they always end up being a huge thing of 'Let's Make All Things Tacky' with the decorating, and I don't see any of that down there."

As they draw closer, she looks over at her companion, a little bit worried. Unwilling to say so, she instead blusters. "I bet everyone just got tired of dealing with the old man and skipped town."

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

Though she feels a little worried herself, she knows Wutai is important to Yuffie and pushes her own concern down for a reassuring smile--and a cheeky wink. "Oh, we'd better figure out where they went, then, so you can make yourself the new leader. Right?"

Aerith's attention is drawn toward the ground as they approach; for a moment she kneels, looking for any tracks in the dirt of people either leaving town or entering it. But she's doing more than that, listening to the earth... listening to the Lifestream for any hints of what might have happened here, and hoping she doesn't hear anyone suddenly joining it.

[yuffiekisaragi]

"They need a new leader after this, if Godo's managed to lose them all. Geez." Yuffie watches Aerith kneel, biting the inside of her cheek as she ran through the different scenarios in her mind.

"Maybe something scared them off," she muses out loud. "Some kind of monster?" This still didn't make sense - she was positive her father would have just smacked the thing into the dirt. Not to mention they had plenty of people who could protect the town.

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

Sephiroth stands still, curious. He recognizes Wutai. He fought a war here, but it's different than he remembers it. It's not only the lack of people. The very atmosphere seems changed.

He doesn't recognize the young woman who addresses him, but he asks mildly, "You want my help?"

[yuffiekisaragi]

At his question, she faces him. Yuffie thought something had been a little off before, but now the situation had climbed from 'slightly strange' into 'uber weird' territory.

"When did you get here?" His presence usually meant good things were not on their way, and she narrows her eyes.

"Did you have something to do with this?"

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

He isn't bothered by the accusation. He doesn't expect he'd be a popular figure in Wutai, and with good reason. He was instrumental in Shinra's conquest of the nation.

"I've only just arrived." He doesn't understand why he's here, but he is clear on the fact that he wasn't here moments ago. "No, not at all." The town is oddly empty. He's always done his best to avoid civilian casualties, and he doesn't like the looks of this scene. "But I am willing to assist you."

[yuffiekisaragi]

Giving him a wary look, she turns her gaze to the town once more. Something inside her, bone deep and buried, told her that she should be more afraid of him than she felt. However, the only thought that consumed her was the mystery in her town. It was a strange feeling, something a little bit hollow with a mix of confusion.

Yuffie shoved it aside.

As much as she liked to do things on her own, it would go quicker with someone helping, regardless of who it was at this point. Questions could come later - there were more pressing issues at hand.

"Okay, follow me," she starts down the trail, assuming he would follow if he really did want to help. "There's no telling what happened here if we don't investigate."

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

She might be from Wutai, but he has no reason to feel wary of her. There are very few people he feels wary of, though he might feel differently outside of a dream. He knows who he is, but his own recent memories are remote.

"That's reasonable." He follows, calmly interested. He has no reason not to follow. He'll see where this goes. "There's no sign of conflict." There is not much sign of anything, as far as he can see, other than the buildings themselves, standing mute and seemingly empty. His own senses are far sharper than an ordinary human's, yet he can hear nothing from below.

It registers with him belatedly that he has very little idea of who his young guide is, just as he doesn't know why he's here. "What's your name?"

[yuffiekisaragi]

There really is no sign of conflict - just abandoned shops and homes. It was eerie, and she felt the hairs on her arms raise.

At his question, she stops mid stride, whipping around to put her hands on her hips and give him an astonished look.

"What? You haven't heard of Yuffie, Ninja Extraordinaire? Able to fly across buildings in a single swoop, and sniff out materia for miles and miles!" If anything, Yuffie has no qualms introducing herself.

[findmyownreason.livejournal.com]

He shouldn't be here.

How many times does he have to get smacked in the face with how useless he is when his friends need him most before he catches on? The persistent, nagging headache throbs in time with the dull ache in the bones of his left arm. As if he needs the reminder. He can see Wutai beyond Yuffie and he can see its barren. Not at all the bustle he remembers from his last delivery here less than a week ago. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that something's gone horribly wrong and his battle honed instincts kick in hard, fed by the mild fever he's been running for about a week now.

He shouldn't be here. Yuffie needs a real hero to help her.

Except he is here - and no one else is. And he's not letting her go home and face whatever's there on her own. The apathy drags at him, the guilt tells him to turn away before he makes it worse - but she needs him.

And there's no one else he can ask to go with her instead.

So he comes to stand behind her, swords making soft noises where they rest against his back. And he tells her it'll be okay.

"They're probably hiding from you."

ooc. tags will be all kinds of pathetic slow... but Cloud couldn't leave her alone

[yuffiekisaragi]

Yuffie makes a face at Cloud. She doesn't stick her tongue out though - and this is progress, since a few years ago she probably would have punched someone in the kidneys for that one.

Not that she would have punched Cloud - she was well aware he could wipe the floor with her. She takes a second to get a good look at him. His skin was a little flushed, and she wondered if he was feeling okay. Anyway, he was offering help and she wasn't going to turn that down.

Puffing out her cheeks, she let out a long suffering sigh. "Please, you think they can organize enough to do something like that? The old crazy hag in town would have been cackling at me about it the second she'd heard." She studied the town, then turned to the path down. "Let's go."

OOC- That's fine, I totally understand. <3 Take your time!

[findmyownreason.livejournal.com]

He falls into step just behind and to the side of her. This is her home and he'll let her take the lead but he's still in a position to move in the way if something comes barreling out at them.

Cloud's always liked Wutai.

Not that he should. His first visit here was pretty memorable for all the wrong reasons. There's a quiet peace here though unlike anywhere else when he has to stay overnight on one of their mat beds where you can open a paper door to let in the night breeze and watch orange fish in a clear pool. The people are comfortable for him too, never asking questions or expecting anything from him. His brows come down as they descend the path and he casually pulls one of his swords free. This isn't his land the way it belongs to Yuffie... but if anyone's hurt it, he won't exactly take it kindly either.

He knows she's a ninja, but sneaking doesn't really seem to be either one of their styles. Eyes scanning the area, his voice is still the same calm low it always is as he casually asks:

"Is that the one with the house full of cats?"

ooc. \o/

[yuffiekisaragi]

Yuffie snorts at his words. "Yup. She's pretty nuts, and she's our town healer." She rolls her eyes, talking to keep herself distracted from the empty town growing closer.

"She was a fan of this nasty green goopy stuff, and she'd slap it all over your face and arms. And then the leeches, ugh." She shudders. The last time she'd been taken to the woman, she was ten. She'd kicked the lady so hard in the knee the woman had to use a cane for months.

Godo didn't force her to go after that.

"Anyway, she sorta has it in for me." A fact that doesn't really bother Yuffie, per se, but it certainly creeps her out when she would see the woman out in town.

[findmyownreason.livejournal.com]

"Uh huh," the sound he makes gives the distinct impression that either not surprised someone in her hometown has it in for Yuffie or that he's surprised there's only one of them. Either way, he's vocal about it because he doesn't mind playing distraction as the buildings get closer.

He didn't see anything from the mountain but now that they're closer, he's looking for signs of struggle or battle or anything that will give any indication what's happened here. He knows that during the war with Wutai they were vicious fighters but by the time he came here during the time of Meteor the ones he met seemed more intent on avoiding strangers and not attracting attention.

Except for the one in front of him, of course. It's as if her entire people packed all their energy and fury and drive and life into one tiny person and sent her out into the world to wreck their terrible vengeance.

He's pretty okay with that.

And so he dryly adds:

"You say that like she's the only one."

[yuffiekisaragi]

Yuffie punches Cloud's arm. "Hey. I'm pleasent, okay. It's not my fault people can't appreciate my quirky ways," she says, grinning. She's fully aware that she can be hard to swallow sometimes, but it's something she likes. If someone is put off by their intial impression of her, she didn't have time for them. It was a good test of character.

Also, she likes being a pest.

Looking ahead at the empty town, her mouth settles in a worried frown. "It looks like everyone just vanished." She points to several things - a bicycle leaning against the side of a building, some bags laying haphazardly on the sidewalk. Yuffie isn't really sure what to make of it, exactly. She can't think of any type of spell that could cause spontaneous disappearance. Especially an entire town.