The Beach (Raiden & Anemone)

[Silver]

The seabed was always more interesting than anything on the ground above sea level. It was rather surprising what one could find if you knew where to look. So far, Anemone's bag was filled with several tiger conchs, a medium size pink clam shell, a few half formed pearls she'd manage to barter from passing oysters and a few small gems which had escaped from some hidden cavern.

Most of these would be made into trinkets for her sisters and for her Nona. It was one thing Anemone liked to do when giving gifts to people, and that was to make them herself, as bought gifts seemed so second rate and half-hearted. Making something, especially when the things you were making the items from meant something to you was far more personalised.

Delving a little further down in the water, Anemone glanced up in time to see Fossu passing over head, on the prowl for some unsuspecting prey - which would probably appear in the form of a bass or barracuda. For now he was contented and so was she. She slipped down into the seaweed skimming along the bed of the sea with barely an inch between herself and the sand, it gave her better vision and made it easier for her to find things. Fish were parting in surprise before her, giving her room to swim, meaning she wasn't concerned with bumping into any of them or getting stung. Though lion fish always took her attention, she'd learned from past experience that they were not to be touched. Unless she wanted a quick trip to the doctor again.

However as this one swam calmly away from her he revealed a rather interesting looking shell. It looked to be a narrow conch-like shell. It must have been under the water for sometime because barnacles were beginning to grow. It was especially amazing on first glance, but it was an incredible blood red colour, and the grey barnacles caused the shell to be dappled. Unable to resist, Anemone scooped it up and slotted it safely into her bag.

Feeling the tide beginning to turn, Anemone kicked off from the seabed and began to slowly ascend to the surface. Once broken, she swam toward the shallows, leaving Fossu to enjoy the open water for a while. Anemone lay flat in the shallows, surrounded by surf as she breathed in the cool air. As she lay still, she fished around in her bag for the red shell and brought it up to her face for closer inspection.

It wasn't like a shell she'd seen before - and maybe that was why she liked it. She couldn't escape the fact that she kept thinking Raiden might like it. She continued to examine the shell, and the rest of her stash silently in the water, listening to the waves, and the occasional sky bird.

[Mookie]

Raiden gracefully weaved his way through pointed and jagged rocks, careful not to hit his head on the rock that had almost knocked him out cold the last time he had scrambled down here.

The Hanyou finally broke out of the boulders and onto the sand, lifting an arm to shield his eyes from the bright rays of the sun. Fenrir, his dog, had already made it onto the beach. How, Raiden didn’t know. But the large dog was now trotting along the shores of the ocean.

Raiden let out a tired sigh and dropped onto the sand with a heavy thud. He leaned back onto the palms of his hands and stretched his tired legs out onto the sand. He had just finished a two hour run, racing up and down the length of the beach and when it had started to become busy he decided to chill out here for a little while before heading back to the school.

The 23 year old surveyed the surrounding area with mild curiosity. It didn’t seem that Anemone was here today. Come to think of it he hadn’t seen the annoying teenager since he had watched her disappear into the oceans water. That was over a week ago. He wondered vaguely where it was she had gone to. He had been on the beach a good a hour and a half after she had left before he decided to leave himself.

Lazy eyes slowly trailed the large husky as he splashed through the shallow water and another quiet and somewhat bored grunt passed parted lips. Raiden had another free day today and although he liked having a break from his work from time to time, he felt at a total loss for things to do. Besides spending time at the beach, working out and spending time with his dog, Raiden didn’t do much of anything.

So whenever he did have time off of work he’d distract himself with even more work. Like finishing any odd jobs he had to do around his apartment or working on his bikes or helping out Ella with her apartment.

This is where he had a problem. Ella had commanded he have the weekend off. Something about him working too much. The older woman had even gone as far to tell their supervisor not to allow him to do any free volunteer work. That woman really could be a pain. If he wanted to work during his free time then he would, damnit.

So now, with absolutely no work to do around his apartment, at the school or at his work place - he found himself completely bored.

“Leave it alone, Fenrir.” Raiden ordered half-heartedly, when he spotted his dog sniffing at something in the water. He was aware that Fenrir liked to tease and play with any living creatures he could find scrambling about in the shores of the ocean. In the end it’s always Fenrir who comes trotting over, whimpering with his tail between his legs because that one crab he was ‘playing’ with pinched his nose or paw.

___

((OOC: Sorry I took so long to post Silver. Also sorry if it's a little on the crap side. n_n;))

[Silver]

Anemone had been enjoying herself. Quietly laying on the sand, her arms behind her head, eyes closed and nothing disturbing her by the waves and the sky. It was a perfect situation. Silent and familiar. Even her mind was at ease. With Fossu out in the open ocean, she didn't have his thoughts and words weighing on her. She could feel he was enjoying himself too. Being couped up inside a teenager's head most of the time was probably not the most enjoyable thing for the shark.

She relinquished a long breath, cracking open one pink eye in time to see a large black something shuffle over her forehead. The other eye opened with the other and she stared up. Two big eyes stared back. Joined by a rather goofy canine grin and a tongue lolling out.

"Uh..."

She stopped as the dog started to sniff at her face and lick her cheeks. Salt. She was covered in it, and if there was anything she knew about mammals it was that they liked salt. Despite her trepidation to the animal, she couldn't help laughing and reaching up one hand to enmesh in a head of thick fur.

"Come on now, lay off." Anemone said as she started to roll onto her front so she could sit up. As she moved, the dog managed to grab her headdress of her forehead and ran off a few feet with it. Anemone kneeled up and thingyed and eyebrow. "That's mine." She said, as if she expected the dog to understand. It didn't, onviously. Simply stood there, tail wagging, waiting.

Anemone weighed up her options. Get up and part-take in the stray's game. Or sit and feel bad for not taking part. Her good side won out and she stood up, slipping her bag over her shoulder. "Alright..." She took one step and the animal took off like lightning up the beach. "...NO FAIR!"

She persued, though she knew it was completely futile. The dog kept stopping and facing her, headdress still clamped firmly in its teeth. Each time it stopped, Anemone did too, taking a breather, and every new step she took, it took off again. She wasn't getting annoyed, just worn out. She was starting to work out it was making its way up the beach. She hadn't stopped to think how it had found its way into the cove, maybe it had swam like side did, or clambered over the rocks. Though if it had done that, it was an impressively agile dog.

As she took off after the animal again, and it sped off away from her, again, she noticed a shape in that of a sitting person. Probably the dogs owner. Anemone stopped, changing her tactics. She was getting tired.

"Didn't Raiden say he had a dog?" She mused, kicking the sand for a moment. Deciding to chance it, she marched across the sand to the sitting figure and slumped on her knees. "Hi." She greeted Raiden with a marginally worn out grin, "your dog has something that's mine."

[Mookie]

Raiden had been staring off into the distance with hooded eyes when something across the beach had caught his attention. Slouching forward a little, the Hanyou looked on in mild amusement as someone, who he had made out to be Anemone, chased his dog across the sand.

A few minutes had passed before Anemone had appeared to have grown tired of chasing Fenrir. She eventually approached Raiden, sitting down in a crouch before him, a smile on her face.

"Mm?"

Rubbing idly at an ear, Raiden turned his attention to see that Fenrir did in fact have something in his mouth. The dog turned in circles, impatient and looked on at Anemone expectantly. However when it became apparent that she wasn’t going to chase him, Fenrir started at a run again.

“Fenrir.” Raiden called simply, though his voice was laced with warning. Fenrir stopped in his run immediately as if he knew that call all too well and what it meant if he were to disobey. Drooping his head in defeat, the husky slowly padded his way over to the sitting pair. Sitting down, Fenrir automatically placed the item he had taken into his owners laps.

“Good boy.” Raiden whispered and lightly scratched behind one of Fenrir’s ears for a moment. The large dogs tail thudded happily against the sand and with that he bolted off towards the oceans shore once again.

Finally, Raiden turned his attention to the girl crouched before him. Picking up the headdress from his lap, he wiped it off carefully and then held it out for the student to take. “Here.”

[Silver]

Anemone felt a little sorry for Fenrir as he looked dejected and padded over disgruntled and possibly annoyed. She couldn't blame him. She'd probably feel the same if someone she was playing with suddenly got bored. But her chasing after him made her realise she needed to shape up a bit. She smiled a little as Fenrir did as told and Raiden allowed the dog some affection, with a rub behind the ears. Fenrir's dejection didn't seem to last for long as he shot off down the beach.

"Thanks..." Anemone murmured, taking the headdress gingerly between her thumb and forefinger. She opened her side pouch and placed it inside. "I think I'll give it a clean before I wear it again." She explained, fastening the pack and leaning back on her haunches. She would be maimed if she lost that headdress. It had been her first, and was apparently quite precious to her father. More than she was, at least.

"He's a cool dog! Considering he's yours." Anemone glanced at Raiden sideways, smirking a little, "you'd have thought a pet belonging to you would take on your traits. But I guess not. Maybe he's your playful outlet." She grinned and placed her bag on the ground, beginning to fish through the shells and stones she had collected to re-examine them in better light.

"How've you been anyway? I haven't seen you in a while. You been avoiding me? Or the school or something? Have you been sick?" Anemone asked mindlessly while she continued to rifle through her treasures.

[Mookie]

Raiden sent Anemone a half-hearted glare after she compared his dog to him which was quick to slip into an annoyed glare when the teenager began her 21 questions.

What was it with this girl and her questions? It was never just one question. It was always question after question after question.

Leaning forward Raiden placed a hand over Anemone’s mouth silencing her in the process. “You ask too many questions.” He said simply and then dropped his hand away from her mouth.

Huffing out a heavy breath, Raiden closed his eyes and allowed himself to fall back onto the sand, resting an arm over his closed eyes. He didn’t bother to tell Anemone to leave him alone. He knew that she wouldn’t. Besides he didn’t seem to mind her being around him all that much. Which was bizarre now that he thought about it.

__

((OOC: Sorry it's so short. But as you know Raiden isn't much of a talker or socialite, haha.))

[Silver]

((Haha, I know! Its okay! ^^))

Anemone wasn't surprised or even put off by the glares Raiden treated her to, perhaps like anyone else would have been. They were used to scared and intimidate, but she just took them as part of Raiden, and they were rather ineffectual to her.

The was, however, surprised when he silenced her by slipping his hand over her mouth. It worked. Very well in fact, and once her intial shock had worn off, Anemone simply grinned impishly, poking her tongue out. "I know I do." She retorted playfully. She watched as Raiden practically fell back onto the sand, using an arm to cover his eyes.

She remained silent, sitting with her legs curled beneath her. It was nice... a kind of quiet contentedness just sitting and being. Watching the playful husky chasing seabirds on the shoreline. As she sat, going through the shells and treasures she'd picked up, she recovered the red shell she'd foudn that kind of reminded her of Raiden. Taking it out of the bag, she removed a penknife from her hip pack and flicked open the cork screw utensil. The point of this would be ideal to make a small enough hole to thread some fishing wire (another thing Anemone had found on the ocean floor that day) through.

Glancing at Raiden, Anemone tilted her head and smiled a little. His ears were unguarded, and it was incredibly tempting to try and pet them again. Placing the shell and penknife carefully in her lap, she reached her left arm out, gingerly taking one of his ears between her thumb and forefinger, beginning to gently rub it. She giggled a little, "your ears are so soft."

[Mookie]

He could feel himself drifting off the moment his head had touched the sand. It couldn’t be helped. The atmosphere felt calm and relaxing, a nap wouldn’t hurt. Besides it wasn’t as if he had anything better to do today.

He wasn’t asleep when he felt the soft touch of fingers against his fury ear but he was switched off to his surroundings and hadn’t expected it at all. “Yeah..” He murmured softly and then within seconds his senses had snapped back into play. Raiden bolted up right and the hand that had been rubbing at his ears was caught in a firm grip.

“Don’t.” He warned, though the warning wasn’t as harsh as he would have liked it to be.

Embarrassed and annoyed that he had allowed himself that split second of enjoyment - and even worse he could feel himself blush because of it - Raiden was up on his feet within mere seconds. He stalked across the sand, down towards the ocean. “Fenrir, we’re leaving.”

With that said he turned and headed over to the boulders, completely ignoring Anemones presence in the process. Once he had reached the rocks he paused and turned his eyes automatically searching for his dog.

“Fenrir.” He repeated, his tone heavy and laced with warning.

It seemed that the husky didn’t want to leave however as he had trotted over to Anemone’s side and was laying down, curled right up besides her, giving Raiden his best ‘puppy eyes’ look.

Raiden stared at his dog long and hard and when it seemed that his dog wasn’t about to budge he chanced a look at Anemone, though he diverted his gaze a second later. An annoyed scowl twisted at the Hanyou’s features and he t’sked loudly, turning his back on the pair.

“Fine. Stay.”

In the blink of an eye Raiden had leaped from rock to rock with surprising ease until he had disappeared over the top.

-

‘What the hell does she think she’s doing.’

The Hanyou landed on the sand with a light thud. He stood up right and turned his head a little to look back at the boulders that hid away the cove he had just made a quick escape from. He couldn’t help but think that maybe he had over-reacted but then the realisation of how he had let himself slip up came crashing down around him. The whole thing made him want to bury his head in the sand.

Raiden hated to admit it. Hated to admit it. But he hadn’t ever felt so embarrassed. Which in turn caused him to feel angry at himself. His anger only prompted irritation and unwanted thoughts which concerned a perky, yet annoying teenaged girl.

He felt angry and embarrassed and a little confused and damnit she wasn’t supposed to rub his ears. Didn’t she know that?

Grunting, Raiden started his walk along the beach and away from the boulders. He had left Fenrir but it wouldn’t be long before the dog would come chasing after him, he’d take it slow until then.

[Silver]

Anemone had almost dared to think he would allow her to keep rubbing his ear, the moments he seemed not to notice it, he actually seemed to enjoy it. And this his attitude changed, and she felt her hand grasped, and watched Raiden sit bolt upright. He had tensed, and he was not happy.

Everything then happened rather quickly. Raiden standing up and walking away instantly towards the beach calling for Fenrir. Anemone stayed seated, interjecting with the occasional (futile) plea of '"Raiden come on." and "sorry, I didn't think it would be such a big deal". But to no avail.

"You don't have to leave!" Anemone said annoyed, getting to her feet as the older man continued to call for the husky. Raiden went towards the rocks, he was unaccompanied as Fenrir seemed to have taken a liking to Anemone and decided to sit by her for now, staring at his master with a better puppy look that she could muster.

Valiant though his attempt was, it did nothing, and Raiden disappeared over the boulders in a flash. Anemone bristled crossly and dropped back onto her knees. She looked at the shell, currently disguarded next to her in the sand and then glanced at Fenrir. "I think I really annoyed your master." She muttered, rubbing the husky behind one of his ears. Determined not to let bad air remain, considering she felt she was actually starting to get somewhere with him, Anemone quickly threaded the fishin wire through the hole she'd made in the shell and tied it loosely around Fenrir's neck. She pocketed everything and got to her feet. "Come on."

Climbing over the rocks she paused at the top, annoyed that Fenrir found this so much easier than her. She could see Raiden, trapsing along the shoreline, annoyed, but going slowly probably waiting for his dog. Leaving Fenrir to find his own way down, Anemone (tried) to make her way down the boulders at a quickish pace. Once again the dog beat her but waited for her at the bottom.

"Stupid rocks... stupid legs. Too long and spindly." Anemone muttered crossly. "Stupid Raiden." Her foot touched sand and Anemone was grateful for it. She took a second to stand, and was then running you the beach towards Raiden, full pelt. Fenrir in hot persuit and then over taking, barking quite loudly. Anemone was willing to guess he thought this was all a game.

Coming to a sudden stop in front of Raiden, Anemone planted the palms of both hands on his chest to try and stop him just storming off again.

"Okay, seriously what is your problem!?" Anemone shouted. "I'm sorry I touched your ears. I didn't realise they were a no go area, but that's no reason to get your panties in a twist and go storming off. I mean geez - you're acting like a child!"

Anemone stood straight, dropping her arms to her sides. Her rant was complete and she managed to breathe enough to calm down. "I'm sorry I rubbed your ear. I didn't know it would upset you, curiousity got the better of me, and it won't happen again." She looked up at him, genuinely apologetic. She doubted it would do much, but she hoped.

[Mookie]

Raiden caught Anemone’s scent and didn’t have to turn around to know that the girl was fast approaching from behind. In a matter of seconds she was stood in front of him, hands planted on his chest. A lame attempt to stop him from running off again he guessed. He didn’t move though, instead he stood there and listened to her rant.

He wasn’t sure why he just stood there. Raiden wasn’t one for taking verbal or physical abuse from anyone. Still he listened, his expression impassive.

“It‘s fine.” He said simply and moved around Anemone so that he could continue with his walk. He stopped a few feet away however and turned his head to the side in order to talk back to her. “Don’t hang around me anymore.”

Having Anemone around him was just too much trouble. Sure they’d only spent time together twice but in that time he’d never felt so out of sorts with himself. He doesn’t like how at ease he feels around someone he met just over a week ago. Or how he gets that feeling of guilt whenever she becomes angry or upset because of him. It’s irritating and makes him think too much.

Putting Anemone in her place now would be for the best. For both of them. Raiden would be confusion and irritation free and Anemone.. Well hanging around Raiden couldn’t be fun for anyone.

With that said he pocketed his hands and continued along the beach, Fenrir trailing behind him.

__

((OOC: Waaah, I feel like I have to apologise for Raiden being an arse, hehe. He can be difficult. I love that Anemone tells him off though, teehee. I need to go to bed. )

[Silver]

Well, that wasn't the reaction I was expecting... Anemone thought watching as Raiden walked off. She knew, if Fossu was still in her head he would be advising ehr to take the dog-boy's advice and just leave him alone. However, Fossu was hunting, and Anemone could feel her temper getting the better of her.

"You're a jerk, you know that?" Anemone snapped, following Raiden, disregarding his request entirely. "I don't get why you're such an ass to everyone. Or to me. I mean, what the Hell have I ever done to you? I don't delude myself that we're friends. I happen to enjoy hanging around with you, and you must get lonely having your guard up all the time. What is it that you're so freaking afraid of?"

She surprised herself at how calm her voice was. Even though she felt like she was going to start screaming any moment. Keeping her voice level, calm and lacking any serious emotion was probably the best way to go right now. However under control she felt her temper was, it wasn't so under control that the waves weren't effected. They were coming in harder and faster, in fact the water's surface was becoming rougher and more choppy over all. There was a tempest stirring, and Anemone wasn't quite aware of it. all she could focus on at the moment was Raiden, and how angry she was with him.

"You who I feel sorry for? Fenrir. And anyone you dain to care about in the future. They will and he must have a hell of a hard time getting any love or affection out of you. Its like getting blood out of a stone."

((That's okay! Raiden is cool when he's an ass. :3))

[Mookie]

Raiden had to remind himself to keep his cool. To stay calm and let Anemone’s words pass over his head. But then she mentioned that she enjoyed spending time with him and that guilty feeling was back again. The guilt only caused him annoyance and confusion and he could feel his calm temper slipping.

'This girl is a pain.'

Stopping in his walk, the Hanyou turned to face Anemone.

“Are you finished?” He questioned and levelled the tall girl with an annoyed stare, completely unaware of the sudden shift that had occurred in the ocean. If he had realised he would have turned tail and got the hell off of the beach in fear of being pulled out to sea.

“I’m only going to tell you this one more time.” Raiden said through tight lips. His golden eyes were narrowed into a glare, daring her to challenge his statement.

“Do not hang around me anymore.”

[Silver]

If Anemone had been endowed with any sense, she probably would have taken his warning tone to heart, shut her mouth and stormed off. But her sense had presently taken a short break. That and Anemone was probably about as stubborn as Raiden was. He was glaring at her, and this time he really meant it. It wasn't half hearted, it wasn't even irritated or annoyed, he really looked furious. But that wasn't about to make her go away. Anemone drew herself up to her full height, clenching her hands into tight fists, digging her nails into the palms of her hands.

"Why?" The word was short, simple and snapped. She wanted to know just why he didn't want her around, and was going to find out even if he didn't want her too. Even if she lost her control of her temper completely.

Furrowing her eyebrows, glaring straight back at him, Anemone asked again, "come on, why? What is it about me that you can't stand?" The more words she spoke the angrier she was becoming. Waves were starting to crash on the rocks that guarded the cove; it was like there was an invisible gale. To a passer by the strange behaviour of the waves must have seemed exceedingly peculiar.

"All I want to do is spend time with you. Is that so bad? You're a puzzle, and I like you. Why can't you just accept that?" Anemone released a breath she had been unconciously holding, and ran her fingers over her temple. "Am I really that abhorrant?"

[Mookie]

Aren’t the students supposed to respect their professors. To listen to what they have to say and if told to do something, then do it. Except Anemone wasn’t listening. In fact she seemed really angry. Now that Raiden thought about it the whole atmosphere seemed to have shifted to something much darker.

Raiden had noticed a couple not too far from himself and Anemone. Earlier they had been looking over in their direction, being nosy he guessed. But now their attention was pulled elsewhere. It wasn’t just them either, groups of people were stopping to stare in the direction of the sea.

Quirking a brow, Raiden also chanced a glance towards the ocean, curious as to what all of the commotion was about. The sea water raged angrily, which was odd as only a few moments ago had it been peaceful.

Upon seeing how fierce the ocean had become and how close he and Anemone were stood besides the Sea, Raiden could feel his insides knot. It took all of his effort not to run away like a frightened child.
The last thing he wanted was to look a total coward. He’d suffered enough embarrassment for the day.

His uneasiness however was momentarily forgotten when his attention was drawn back to Anemones words. He regarded the tall girl with a bizarre and somewhat sceptical look, as if he didn’t quite believe that she liked him or that she enjoyed spending time with him.

That guilty feeling had returned again causing him to sigh. He really hated it. He really hated himself. He really hated annoying teenaged girls. At least.. He was supposed to.

“No.” He replied to her last question and turned his attention back to the uneasy waters, his golden eyes unable to meet with her pinks ones.

“You’re strange.. and annoyingly persistent.” He grunted, glaring half-heartedly at her in the process, before turning his attention away again. “But.. I don’t mind -” He cut himself short, his uneasiness apparent.

“You can hang around me.” He said finally, a hint of defeat within his voice. “If you want.”

_

((Teehee. I love writing awkward Raiden.))

[Silver]

While Raiden stood apparently dumbfounded by anemone's admittance, and did his best to look at everything but her, Anemone simply stood. And waited for a response. Bracing herself for Raiden to turn around and tell her to beat it again. She expected it. In fact she expected worse than that, she expected him to loose his temper with her, the way she had. She wouldn't have been surprised, and she would have been the first to admit that she deserved it.

As he stood rather silent, distracted by the ocean, Anemone glanced across at the walkway. People had stopped and were staring out to sea. Anemone's first thought was that Fossu had appeared, which was something he was never supposed to do, but then she changed her gaze. Looking in the same direction. She effected the sea. Her anger was betrayed in the water.

Not good. Anemone thought doing her best to start breathing slowly. She had to get her temper under control. she didn't really want to be responsible for a maelstrom... again.

She heard Raiden say 'no' and averted her gaze back to him. He wasn't looking at her. It was like he couldn't, or didn't want to. He was uneasy, and was talking to the sand. He thought she was annoyingly persisant? Anemone half-grinned, bending a little, turning her head up to try and gain some eye contact, "I'm probably about as stubborn as you."

Standing up straight, he surrendered, defeated and Anemone exhaled deeply. She felt her anger leave, and just like that, the waves went back to a calm, still surface. "I want to." Anemone answered, wrapping her fingers around each other, "you just have to let me know if I'm getting on your nerves or something. I'm not that bad all the time, y'know." Shrugging a little, Anemone smiled awkwardly and rubbed her arm.

"So uhm..." she kicked the sand with her heel, "do you have to be anywhere? Or do you wanna hang out for a while? I won't touch your ears."