Meiko was pulled inside before she could nervously mutter, "Sorry for the inconvenience...I'm not exactly safe at home anymore. Anyway, I'm Meiko. Pleased to meet you. Though introductions are probably the least of our worries..." She half-smiled and shrugged. She sat down on the edge of a chair and thought quietly to herself. Do I have enemies? She didn't know for sure. She'd thought she was being followed, but she could easily have been mistaken. She'd found Akira and Shinta in an alley. How did she know it couldn't have been Shinta?

Meiko sighed. "I don't know. I thought I heard footsteps. Maybe I'm just paranoid. The powers are new to me...but, still. I'll try to be as aware as possible." She nodded and crossed her heart.

"Hello to you, too," Gavin muttered, choking back some disappointment. Still, he understood what the ninja was feeling and decided against being a total ass. "So she's still not coming back, huh? Heck, what in Amria is she thinking?" He had become quite fond --in a masochistic sort of way-- of the former Paladin, but lately her dark moods had been puzzling him as well. "So...are you going to tell Rolan you found her? Where is he? And--you know--how is he?" If he, a relatively new acquaintance of Akira was this concerned for her, he'd rather not think about how devastated Rolan was for the past month. He tried talking to him before, but he felt like it wasn't his place to tell him anything, or to ask him anything. If there was one good thing about being a bit detached from the situation was that he tried to think how Akira might have felt. "If I had been told that the only thing I felt I was good at, was any good at, was going to be taken away from me, I don't know what I'd feel," he remarked out loud. "Ahh, but it's probably still no excuse. I don't know what's running through that crazy girl's head." He was about to put an arm around Shinta to comfort her, stopped himself in mid-air, and settled for an awkward pat on the back.

Shinta came in, clearly pissed off. She didn't know Gavin at first, but maybe it might have been better if she hadn't. She needed to rant, and she did. "I can't beleive Akira! Did she not learn a single thing from her disaster at that other dimension?! It's like she didn't retain the lesson from before at all."

She needed to break something but calmed her enough not to get to that point. "If she wanted to get away from everyone. Hell, if she didn't want to see us anymore she should have the guts to say to our faces instead of running like a child. Arghhh! What was is that girl thinking?!"

Finally the female ninja calmed down."..Sorry. Just Akira is really getting me irked right now. I'm never going to understnad her sometimes."

"Actually, I was thinking the exact same thing," Akira said. She looked around her, watching for any more unexpected visitors of the more malevolent kind. "Hate to be a cynic, but experience told me those people who have the means to get as much power as they want will do so the minute an opportunity presents itself. Right now, we're both vulnerable, seeing as we're both still just adjustng to these powers. I think my place would be better. By the way, is anybody looking for you? Just so I need the heads-up for future reference." She talked as she walked, and she walked very briskly indeed, leading Meiko through different streets and alleyways in an almost circular path. FInally she stopped at a small run-down building, where a single room had its lights on. The light was blue and Akira took that as a sign that her witchy roommate was home. She knocked on the brick three times. "I'm home, Zee. And I brought a guest. Hope you don't mind." Instantly, a young woman popped up right beside Akira, appearing in a puff of violet smoke. Akira coughed, waving the stuff away. "Geez, Zyrna, why'd you keep doing that?"
"Can't help it, amiga," Zee answered, shrugging. "Who's the chick? Boy, my apartment's turning into a homeless shelter if we keep this up."
"Three girls is hardly what you call a homeless shelter, you scrooge," Akira remarked.
"Sure, Aki, bite the hand that feeds yah, go ahead," the witch huffed, before grabbing both girls and teleporting them back up to their room.

**

Gavin had been away for a couple of days talking to his clan leaders, hoping that his diplomacy towards Akire--and his new powers--would improve relations between the two. Noting that Shinta wasn't around upon his return, he followed her to another place, a city that looked fairly rough around the edges. Deciding to surprise his friend, he made his way up the window of her hotel room. No-one was around yet, so he took the liberty of entering through the window and plopping down to rest on the nearest couch.

Meiko took Akira's hand and stood shakily, pulling her hand out of the grasp to dust herself off. "It's Meiko. So, metal, huh? That's really cool. Hmm...I wish I could heal with my water. Maybe one day when I have more practice. I honestly know little to nothing about these powers, not to mention that I have little control most times. If I don't keep my emotions in line, they go crazy. I guess it wouldn't be too safe to stay at my place..." Meiko sighed and pushed a stray lock of hair out of her face.

The smoke cleared and the other person, allegedly named Shinta, had disappeared. "So who was that? What's going on anyway? Actually, scratch that. I highly doubt you'll tell me your life story anyway, so I'll save you the trouble. Maybe some other time when we're better aquainted." Meiko laughed, not even sure if she'd ever get to know this Akira well enough for that.

Akira's thoughts were far away, as they usually do when in an uncomfortable situation. Police sirens a few blocks away, she thought, knowing that she's making that an excuse not to think about what Shinta was telling her. There's a shootout--Shinta wouldn't understand--People are getting hurt over there--Couldn't they see that?--I have to leave, some gangbangers--Akira--! "--Shit!" Akira yelled, and in her frustration she swept her hand aside, unconsciously dragging the metal barriers to the ground. When she saw that Shinta had already left, she yelled herself hoarse, kicking at everything her feet could come across. She wanted to cry, already she was starting to sniffle, but she was too strong (or stubborn) to show that she was any more visibly upset than she already was. "This is better," she said out loud, "better for them to hate you at this point." She sat down on the pavement, composing her thoughts.

At length she spoke, this time to her companion. "I'm...sorry you had to see that," she started, "as you heard from our visitor, my name is Akira. No, wait, change that. 'Akira' is what they call me, but it's not my real name. But you better call me Akira anyway." Akira gave her a small smile. "Water powers, huh? Nice. There's a dimension I visited once; people with water powers can also heal over there. I suppose, though, that you don't have the same power." She looked down at her hands, which looked sore and bruised. "Always happens after I try my new powers. Ah well. Zyrna has a salve that will cure that, never mind her magic. Maybe I should get a gun soon." She stood up, dusted herself off and offered her hand to the girl. "I don't think I caught your name." She made another unconscious action and glanced briefly at the street running down south, at a building she perceived to be a hotel.

Shinta's eyes narrowed, not paying attention to the other human girl by her. She wasn't going to hurt her but she needed to stay out of business that didn't concern her. And once again it looked like she was going to have give Akira a stern lecture. It was starting to piss her off with these games she was playing, if she wanted alone time that was fine but to simply run off like some child? Using her speed, she once again very calmly walked to Akira and the girl at.

"Look." She said very simply. "I love you like a little-sister but this is why I have to say this, call it tough love." She took a deep breath, and then her tone changed. Hardening. "Do you have Any idea what your little stunt did to Rolan? To me? The others? Rolan thinks he did something wrong, Alouette cries at night and even Ranma was worried about you and you know how he is. If All you wanted was some time to yourself, all you had to do was ask. But this running away thing needs to stop, you're not a little kid anymore Akira. But.."

She looked at Akira then to the other girl. "I'm not chasing you. Like I said you're a adult and if its your decision I can't force you to come back. I won't tell the others where you are, but I will say when I found you, you made the decision not to return." Shinta pulled out a black ball. "If you change your mind, I'll be waiting at the hotel south of here. And if you want to be left alone, say it to Rolan and the others faces. Make up your mind Akira, it's time to grow up."

And with that, she threw the ball down, disspearing in a puff of smoke.

((No problem. Happy to :]))

Meiko felt the impulse to smile sarcastically and lie, but the look an Akira's face made her think otherwise. The second she opened her mouth to speak, she was swiftly picked up and Akira was running. She let out a small "eep!" as she was dropped and a wall of metal rose from the streets. Her eyes widened in wonder.

"O-okay!" She jumped up and held her arms in front of her, willing the water to hear her inner plead. Please, water...help me now. Come to me and protect us...

The puddles on the ground shook and spouted from the earth, mixing into the metal wall for extra strength. Even if things could penetrate water, at least it could hold the wall up without using so much of Akira's powers. It was the least she could do for now. If anything, water was powerful enough to slice through objects. Hand-to-hand combat wouldn't be so difficult. Plus, Meiko had taken a few Tae-kwon-do lessons back in the day, so she had a little experience. But she hoped to never use it. Probably because she was only a yellow belt.

(( hey Goth! Thanks for joining!

hey, SIon, no problem ))

"This is so not my night, isn't it?" Akira muttered, wishing Zee was there beside her. Now that she was more vulnerable to attacks and without the ability to teleport, she needed the witch's magic for a quick getaway and boy did she feel a great need for a quick getaway. To her left, a teenage girl who, despite Akira's lack of Paladin powers, had an aura the former Paladin could feel. To her right, a face that would on any other circumstance be very very welcome. "You first; you I can deal with," she said, pointing to the stranger but talking as if to herself. "Your name, quickly, what you are doing here and what your powers are. No lying now."

"As for you," she said, turning to Shinta., "I'm not the best person to be around right now. Tell everyone I said 'hi'." She tried to sound indifferent, in a hurry, but that last statement almost caught in her throat. And what the hell am I thinking? I can't outrun Shinta as it is. Akira prayed that Shinta was slow tonight, as she put on a pair of gloves and grabbed the young girl, running as fast as she could. If there's some good to be had at being Paladin, it's that at least I got a lot of exercise, she thought grimly, looking behind her. She found an open space to run to ahead of her. "Get behind me," she ordered the girl, taking off her gloves and clapping her hands together. A whole truckload of scrap metal, strewn along the path she just left, came rushing up and building a barricade, but some of the pieces almost snagged them. "Shit," Akira muttered, getting hit by a broken metal bar on the leg by accident. "Girl, if you've got any powers you better use them now if you can."

OCC: Sorry for the late response Paladin I was lazy >>

Shinta was busy searching. Anywhere would be better then just standing there but she needed to find Akira. What was it with her trying to do things by herself? It agitated the female Demon Ninja that she had run off yet again without another word. One of the flaws of her friend is that she had a habit of disspearing without saying a word, Rolan had been beating himself up about it and it had turned made her a bit more angry at her. Sure she loved Akira like a little sister, but even so..

..Sometimes, big sisters had to smack common sense upside your little siblings head. Which, is what she planned to do.

That scent..

Picking up the scent she would know anywhere, she silently but carefully made her towards her 'prey'. Not making a sound she found said target with another girl, who she didn't know but she ignored it for now, she was miffed. Hanging upside down from the alleyway, she suddenly said. "Akira." Came Shinta's voice, calm like normal but in a tone that she Better have a good reason. "Before I get realy mad about what you leaving without a word did to Rolan and myself, I'm going to give two minutes to explain yourself. Starting, now."

Meiko backed up a few inches before bumping into something...or someone. She let out a small shriek, covering her mouth. Were they going to catch her? Turn her in? Sure, she was different for a human. What fourteen year old has the power to manipulate water? The answer was obvious. None. She didn't know she was different until about a month ago on her birthday when she was in the bath. Water had spilt over the edge of the bathtub and all over the bathroom floor. Meiko had wished that it would just clean up itself and when she'd looked over, it was. The water was twirling through the air into the sink. Not to say Meiko wasn't scared, but she was far more intrigued than afraid. So she'd practiced. And now she was being chased.

She wasn't sure who was chasing her. Or even completely why. But it had something to do with her power. Would they take it away? Quickly she hoped it was just thugs instead of some kind of "power police". They existed, right? Stupid question. No one has powers. Maybe it was the FBI or CIA. Or some kind of undercover-something-or-another that wanted to get rid of her power so she couldn't "disturb the peace" or whatever.

Meiko spun round to face the person. Just a woman. She sighed in relief. She leaned against the wall opposite the person and whispered, "So why are you hiding in this alley? You don't look homeless or like a pedophile or anything." Meiko cocked an eyebrow and smiled.

[Sorry it's not as long as yours, but I hope it's okay.]

(for Sion_Reaver, and for everybody else who likes to join I'd prefer maybe vigilante-type heroes, magic-powered characters and even plain ornery humans.

Summary: My character, Akira, has gone on a self-imposed exile. She left behind her previous duty as protector of worlds and in doing so forfeited the powers she was bestowed with. However, she recently found out she had the power to manipulate metal and turn objects into silver, but she cannot control this yet. She is currently living with a friend, a witch named Zyrna, and has turned into some sort of vigilante while in hiding.)

Okay, Akira, focus. There, just like yesterday, concentrate on your fingertip. You can feel the pull of the metal, don't you? Now slowly, slowly, touch the table...."Tsk. Dammit. Not again." Akira quickly withdraws her finger and scowls at the shiny silver spot on the otherwise brown wood table where her finger touched the surface. She sighed, leaning back on her chair as she looked out the window of her dingy apartment. She had this on loan from Zyrna, who had the annoying tendecy of popping in and out of this universe ever so often. Had I still been Paladin--officially--I would arrest her sorry joy-riding ass, she thought glumly. But Zyrna was doing her a favor, and she had no right to show displeasure in their little arrangement. "I wanted to be invisible, and here I am," she said out loud. She looked at the wall clock. 5:00 pm. "Alright, vigilante time."

She did not know which Earth-like dimension she was in now, and quite frankly she didn't care. Whatever gets me anywhere but here, she told Zyrna a month back, and upon her request the witch transported her here. To keep herself occupied (or, as she sullenly admits to herself, to feel needed) she had taken to cleaning up the streets of this metropolis. No more rules screaming do's and don'ts in her head, no more superiors telling her she's using too little or too much violence on her enemies. Apparently, most of the thugs today carry metal, and she had discovered that, aside from being able to turn things into metal at a touch, her body has the ability to repel metal. Her newfound powers were extremely erratic at best, but for now she was able to master the 'force field' to some extent.

"Why are you helping me, Zee?" She asked, once. Only once. She did not like feeling helpless, and she knew Zyrna likewise disdained appearing any nicer than she seems to be.
"Because I think I know how you feel right now." Zyrna, for kicks, accompanied her on her 'rounds' from time to time, but most nights she worked alone, using what little combat skills she remembered and her protection against metal to fend off crimes both petty and potentially dangerous. She was lucky to have survived this long without her Paladin powers, and her survival, again, she attribute to Zee's magic. She found out only recently that the white-haired witch wove a charm around her. Neither of them discussed it.

Tonight, as in any other night, she managed to ambush two gang members about to pick some unsuspecting tourist's pockets. Knives. Akira almost laughed as she cuffed them. She got the handcuffs from Zee, who told her she got arrested a lot of times and escaped, collectng more cuffs along the way. She was about to leave the scene when she got the acute feeling of being chased. Paranoia served her well as Paladin, and she wasn't about to betray her intuition now. Akira ran as silently and swiftly as possible, finding a dark alley to hide in. Please don't let it be anyone from the Council, she muttered, and please don't let it be anyone from home. For a moment the faces of her loved ones flashed before her eyes: Akire, Garret and the Amrian cousins, her friends Ranma, Shinta, Gavin.....and Rolan. If there was anybody in this universe and out of it who was perhaps the most determined and most capable of finding her, it would be him. "But please, not today." She could feel that someone creep up; they were close.