vanimadin: (Zombies Rising)
[personal profile] vanimadin
Hey look, an actual new N.D. scene! I told you I was planning on getting back into the N.D. universe again! =3

I also want to work on some drabbles with the set of OC Furuba Jyuunishi that Cassandra-san and I created way back when. But we didn't get too far into that back then so I need to find the notes I scribbled down for it so I remember all the names and character personalities. As it is, all I can remember are Tasuku (rat), Hana (bird/rooster), Natsume (rabbit), Nyoka (snake), Arima (cat) and Ron (bull.) I also vaguely recall that their "God"'s name began with a T. Hmm. Not much to go on. :|

Anyway, on to the drabble!



Sometimes being one of Kakyuu-ouhi's Starlights wasn't all it was cracked up to be, but Ayu always made the best of it-- or, at least, she had in the past. Lately, though, it had become hard to look on the bright side of things, even for him. The past three months, since the sickness had struck Kinmokusei, spreading swiftly through the populace, had been very hard on everyone, and this time Ayu simply wasn't exempt from that fact.

The virus had come out of nowhere, hitting hard and fast and becoming a plague in a matter of weeks. Her Majesty's Starlights had been dispatched across the lands to aide the people where possible-- but they were ill prepared for the onslaught of death-- and reanimation-- that followed. Now, some were still abroad, trying to hold their own against the virus, while others found themselves trapped within the walls of the Palace compound.

Tall stone walls and guard towers surrounded the Palace grounds on three sides, while the fouth reached a sheer cliff face-- impossible to scale even for the living. Those afflicted by the plague walked around, they were strong, and for a time they were swift. They didn't feel pain. But even they couldn't climb the bluffs to reach those within the relative safety of the Palace.

Ayu was one of those who was more-or-less a prisoner in the Palace. He, Yuuhi and Shizuki were all still technically in-training, and thus deemed unprepared to fight this particular battle. Angeline was also held back, as the newest Starlight to be inducted to their ranks. She had arrived from Earth only a month before the sickness began to overtake Kinmokusei. Poor timing, to say the least.

Charmer, the embodiment of Mirai's guardian Star, was still Palace-bound as well. She was a unique case, in that they assumed she could fight if she needed to, but had yet to show any inclination toward it. In fact, she was as opposite from Mirai as one could get. Outgoing, cheerful, bubbly-- but, like Ayu, a little more subdued nowadays. The reason she stayed behind was because no one knew precisely why she had come to Kinmokusei in the first place; why she had chosen to show herself at all. And no one, even Kakyuu-ouhi, could seem to get her to explain herself.

So for Ayu and his closest friends, life in the security of the Palace continued on, almost normally. Classes continued, where they could. Senshi training also continued, doubly as intense as before. They were bounced around to various teachers, depending on who was available at any given time, but that was something they quickly got used to.

"You've been frowning a lot lately, Ayu-chan. Not that I really blame you."

"Haa? Have I?" He blinked, gaze lifting from a vague point somewhere in front of him, and looked sideways at Shizuki. "Well... so have you." Shizuki was normally as cheerful as he was; "demo, gomen. Got a lot on my mind."

"We all do." Shizuki sighed, plucking at her bangs absently. It was a nervous habit she had adopted recently. "The whole planet's kind of gone to hell. I guess it's only natural to be distracted by it." Then a half-smile; "I just miss back when you were always grinning and giggling. Like a girl. Don't know why you always go with this form instead." She gestured vaguely toward him.

Ayu had to chuckle at that, despite his pensive mood. He had been asked why he favoured his male form more times that he could count. He was short, petite and feminine, even as a boy. No one seemed to understand why he bothered with that form at all. Then again, even he wasn't sure why, just that he was more comfortable as a boy than he had ever been growing up as a girl.

"It's comfy." He shrugged with one shoulder, gaze sliding away from Shizuki toward Yuuhi and finally over to where Angeline was playing a board game of some kind with a very enthusiastic Charmer.

Their classes had been cut short today by another emergency, their afternoon training cancelled. It used to be that when they had free time they would all inevitably end up outside, enjoying the sunshine, swimming, playing games or going into town to shop. Ayu and Shizuki had also juggled part-time jobs at The Rose Light.

Now, being outside was almost unbearable. The moans and cries from beyond the Palace walls and the smell were enough to cause nightmares-- and had on more than one occasion. They had all taken turns comforting Angeline when the younger girl woke up from the terrible dreams she now had on a regular basis. They were bad enough, traumatizing enough, that Yuuhi had finally just arranged for her to move in with them. Hiroki and Charmer came along as well, as they had all been rooming together, as did Vesta. Comforting Angeline was something that both Hiroki and Charmer were still getting the hang of, but they tried the best they knew how, along with the rest of them. Vesta was better at it, but as a cat there was really only so much she could do.

"Worried about 'Line-chan?" Shizuki followed his eyes over to the other girl.

"She's more fragile than anyone thought when she first got here." Ayu's lips pressed into a thin line before he sighed quietly and looked away again. Over in the armchair, Yuuhi was clearly following the soft conversation, despite for all appearances being absorbed in the book she was reading-- probably one she had borrowed from Josei before their elder had left to attend to one of the stricken towns. Across from her, at the end of the couch, Hiroki was also reading. Most likely something historical.

"Sou ne... I don't know, though. I think she would have been fine if she'd been here a while before all this started. I think leaving Earth behind and coming here might have been too much. She hadn't even settled in properly when the sickness hit. Just a lot to take in all at once. I think it overwhelmed her."

Ayu made a soft agreeing noise. It would make sense. Moving across the galaxy wasn't something to take lightly, after all.

When he fell silent for a moment, Shizuki shifted a bit, then offered a careful smile. "But you're not only worried about Angeline, are you?" Then; "still no word?"

Another long pause. Ayu frowned, closing his eyes, and swallowed thickly before speaking again. Dark eyes opened and he looked sideways at his friend again. "Nothing yet. What if she's dead, Zu-chan?"

"You can't think like that. I'm sure Monami's alright. You know communication is messed up right now. She probably just can't get through to you. I mean, I bet she's safe and sound and worrying about you just like you're sitting here worrying about her."

"Heh. Maybe."

He could only hope. Monami was his precious little sister, two years younger than him and his only family anymore. Their mother had passed away when they were children and their father had never really been in the picture. Their grandparents, he had learned early on, had been struck down when the virus first hit their town. Monami had been off at boarding school at the time, which could have been a lucky break-- but Ayu still hadn't heard from her, or from anyone else about her, in the months since. If he was honest with himself, his belief that he would see her again was beginning to wane.

"Maa!" A huffed breath and he forced a smile. "There's no use in sitting around fretting, right? Might as well go find something useful to do." Pushing to his feet, he gave a half-salute with one hand. "Don't worry about me, ne Zu-chan? I'm fine, as always. Genki na, genki!"

It was a lie and they both knew it.



Working with the youngest generation of Starlights a little. They came into being very shortly before life sucked Cassandra-san and I up and dragged us away from our beloved Nagareboshi Destiny (kicking and screaming; we didn't go quietly.)

I'm rather fond of Ayu, though I'm not entirely sure why. Part of it is because he insists on being in his male form 90% of the time even though he's so tiny and thin and girly looking. His excuse is that it's more comfortable for him, though he really couldn't say why. It's almost as if he's transgendered, but that's not really it either, since he was perfectly fine with being a girl before being chosen to be Neo-Hunter. Maybe he just doesn't want to put up with the monthly bleeding anymore? lol.

Up until today I hadn't really thought out Ayu's background much. Now, I'm sure more details will come to light as time goes by but I've given him a younger sister, Monami. Monami is two years younger than Ayu and goes to a private boarding school, paid for by an insurance policy. Ayu attended the same academy until being chosen as a Starlight.

When Ayu was almost three years old and Monami was still a baby their father left, so they never really knew him. They lived happily with their mother until not too long ago when she was killed in a work-related accident (details to come later if/when I figure them out), at which point they went to live with their maternal grandparents.

Everything settled down again then and life continued on as per normal until Ayu was scooped up by Hikaru to be Neo-Hunter. She left the boarding school to attend classes at the Palace and train, at which point she learned how to switch to her male form and decided to stick with it. In his spare time he picked up a job at The Rose Light as one of the resident bishounen, though in his case it's more of a MOE thing than anything else.

Then, about a year after moving to the Capital, the plague broke out. Ayu and Monami's grandparents were killed when the virus swept their city. Monami was still away at school at the time, but since then Ayu hasn't heard from her and is starting to think that her sister is dead as well.

Writing Ayu as pensive, pessimistic, sad, quiet and worried is a little strange for me because it clashes with the character image I have in my head. Ayu is a cheerful, perky, happy person. He's always laughing and joking around. Then again, Shizuki is much the same way and her attitude is a lot more low-key right now too.

I guess a borderline Zombie Apocalypse landing on your doorstep will do that to you. Haha.

EDIT: You know, I never would have thought I'd be using this icon in conjunction with N.D. XD;;

***

♥ Vanima Din ♥

Welcome to Beautiful Silence; a writing blog. This is where Sena will keep notes on various fan/original projects and discuss ideas with herself. While fan projects will be posted freely, original works will be locked so only she can see them. Sorry! ♥

All works contained within this journal are (c) Tiffany Wynne (Sena) from 1998 to 2024 and onward.

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