PART I

[dragneel]

Characters: Anyone going on the Excalibur Quest!
Location: Excalibur's Cave
Rating: G/PG
Time: February 22nd
Description: A bunch of guests set out to find the legendary sword, not knowing what's in store.



[ The terrain is rocky and uneven and the trek is no easy task. Even when the goal's in sight, it's still far away because according to the book -- just up this cliff is Excalibur's cave. Looks like some teamwork might be needed to get up there. Not everyone can have a cool, floaty skateboard like Death the Kid. ]



(OOC: This log will be divided into two parts. The exploration, which is this log, and the actual encounter with Excalibur. I'll be making some subthreads for chambers to explore, but feel free to make your own threads and mingle! If you can dream it and it's annoying enough, Excalibur probably has it in his cave.)

Comments

[ninjainviolet]

[She narrows her eyes and gives him a wry look.]

Bite your tongue.... [She chuckles, but she'll explain about her summons to him later--after they get to the top. A goal soon reached as she touches a patch of grass there.]

[shiromadoushi]

[[gives a sheepish laugh before very carefully hauling himself up on to the ledge and flopping down with a relieved, happy sigh]] Made it! Thank you so much!

[ninjainviolet]

[She pulls the rope steadily as he climbs, her grip firm--just in case. Thankfully, it's not necessary, and she smiles at him.]

Hold on a sec. [Removes the harness and gets a bottle of water from one of the food packs.]

Here you go.

My name's Sheena Fujibayashi, by the way.

[shiromadoushi]

Aaaa-- thank you! [[very grateful as he undoes the cap and takes a deep drink.]] Bakura Ryou, nice to meet you! [[smiles with a small nod of his head]] You've been a life saver!

[ninjainviolet]

You're welcome. And it's nice to meet you, too. [She begins to gather the rope together, trying to hide the blush from his compliment. She shakes her head slightly, however.]

Nah. You did the work. I just showed you where to go--like a map.

[shiromadoushi]

Doesn't make it any less a big help! [[smiles warmly as he very carefully rolls his shoulder to stretch out the tension that climbing put on his scar.]]

[ninjainviolet]

[She sighs. She has no argument for that.] All right. You win. [She chuckles again.

Sees his motion and lifts her hands.]

May I? [One thing training taught her: a light massage can be good for sore muscles.]

[shiromadoushi]

Eh? Aaa.... [[looking suddenly so uncertain. Would that sort of thing be all right for that scar...? Well, it had healed over, so it wasn't as if it were going to start bleeding again... maybe...

He finally nods]] It's a little damaged, from something from back home... so....

[ninjainviolet]

[She nods.]

Okay. I'll be careful. [She holds her hands together first to build up some heat before applying them gently to his shoulder.]

If it hurts, let me know, okay?

[shiromadoushi]

[[nods, still looking just a touch awkward and uncomfortable. He's getting better at this, however. Between the repeated times having to get it wrapped and Megumi's examinations and everything else...

It was just the awkwardness of having someone that close... he still wasn't at all used to it. Not that he minded it! (especially when the girls he had met in Death City were nothing at all like those horrible fanclub types...) It was just... strange.

As if anything else about this trip was going to be anything but!]]

[ninjainviolet]

Bakura, are you okay? I can stop if you like.

[His tension from her touch is pretty obvious, but he hasn't said it hurts. Then again, they have just met, but she really doesn't want to see him in pain if she can help it.

If she had known about those who clamored after him back home, she'd understand, having seen firsthand just how oppressive fans can be. As it is she sits next to him, confused, leaving her hands where they are to warm the muscles there.]

[shiromadoushi]

Aaa-- it's okay, it's okay! Sorry, I'm just... really not used to this sort of thing. [[admits a bit sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with his right hand]]

[ninjainviolet]

Oh. [She grows quiet as her confusion slowly disappears.] I didn't realize that. I'll take it easy. [Since he hasn't told her to stop, she begins kneading his should gently, her fingers barely pressing into the skin.]

[shiromadoushi]

[[Slowly, his shoulders relax. There's a small twinge of his left arm every now and then as the scarred muscle there reacts just a touch to the massage, but as long as she stays high enough up to avoid the spot where the scaring is, he won't protest.

He sits quietly, enjoying the view and the gentle touch, feeling very grateful.]]

[ninjainviolet]

[Sheena's noted the reaction in his left arm and once again adjusts for it. She only concentrates on his shoulders, barely reaching down to his upper arms.

She also looks out from the cliff, and her jaw drops at the view.]

Wow...

[shiromadoushi]

Really worth the climb, isn't it? Even if we don't find anything.

[ninjainviolet]

Yeah... [Stops massaging and just rests her hands on his shoulders.]

I mentioned finding some of my summons in high places. Want to hear about them? [She had clammed up about them suddenly, and well, she feels he has the right to know, since she brought it up to begin with.]

[shiromadoushi]

[[looks back over at her with a warm smile]] If you wouldn't mind talking about it, un! [[a nod]]

[ninjainviolet]

Normally, I don't, but I didn't realize just how much a part of me they were until I came here. I feel a little "empty" without them. [She tilts her head.] You know what I mean?

[shiromadoushi]

A little... [[a small smile]] Though not for anything big, just something from my father that I always had with me, so I'm sure it's not the same. [[Especially when the Ring was a very complicated thing.]]

[ninjainviolet]

[She taps him lightly in the head in admonition.] It doesn't matter the size; if it was important to you, and it's gone, then it's the same, Bakura. Okay?

[shiromadoushi]

[[he ducks his head just a touch on reflex at the tap, looking very sheepish]] Un... it's my treasure. [[says with a small smile]]

[ninjainviolet]

[She can tell he doesn't mean treasure as in being rich financially, and she smiles gently.] Which means that when it's gone, you feel it more than you would something else because of that attachment. Because in a way, it became a part of you and who you are. [Just like her Summons. So yes, it's the same thing.]

[shiromadoushi]

[[Bakura laughed very softly at that That would be one way of putting it.]] Un... Is that how it is for you?

[ninjainviolet]

That's exactly how it is, Bakura. There are times in battle when I summon them, and they need to use my mana in order to perform spells. We're connected that way. [She sighs and looks forward.]

Now they're gone... [Chuckles softly.] And I hadn't even known them that long.