Into the Fire {OPEN}

[Rachel North]

The sun was only just beginning its descent down into the darkness of night. The rays of light which she loved so much would be gone, and she'd be forced to find a place to sleep for the night. Since she didn't get the chance to grab anything when she'd been kicked out of her home, the nineteen year old presently standing in the shade of a tree at the park had no place to go or call home. Blond hair fell in loose braids, the adult having no reason to pull the braid out. They kept her hair out of her face and that was enough for her right now. As Rachel North, a young woman kicked out of her home by her unforgiving father, sat in the shade appreciating the warmth of the day, she couldn't help but feel a little melancholy at how her life took its turn.

She'd caused a fire in her family's mansion because of her not being able to control her emotions. They hadn't even been negative ones either. She'd been happy, excited as she watched her younger brother work on a school project, even helping him when he'd ask for it as he did need a second person to do the project. He'd asked her to create a small will-o-wisp, which she'd immediately agreed to. Her flame, blue as it normally would be for the technique, was held gently in her hand as she knelt down and tried to add the fuel to whatever crazy thing her brother had been trying to build this time. But the flame had gotten out of control, growing larger than normal and catching both of her brothers feet. The Ninetales Gijinka bit her lip, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the tree she sat under. Now was not the time to get lost on memory lane. Her stepfather or brother could be here, and she didn't want them to see her like this. Not when she knew her stepfather would likely come over to her and start yelling at her for simply being in his presence for the first time after he thought he'd never see her again.

Turning her head a bit, glancing through a clump of trees, her blotched brown and dark brown, almost black clothing helping her to remain practically invisible. For the umpteenth time that day she wished she wasn't so vulnerable like this, no money or anything to help her out in a city full of dangerous people and people who simply wanted things for their own ends. There was the occasional person who did what they would and could for other people, but they were the minority in this blasted place. If she could leave, run and never look back without having to worry about food or other basic needs, leave her entire life behind, she could. But there'd still be one person she'd come back to if they asked and that was the very person and reason why she was away from her home in the first place.

Word Count: 512

[Kouhei Makoto]

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[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i45.tinypic.com/2ebxptw.gif); webkit-border-radius: 20px 20px 0px 0px; -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 0px 0px; border-radius: 20px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 6px;] My heart's beating faster Sick of being tired and sick of waiting I know what I'm after. [STYLE= width: 350px; background-image: url(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g368/RyuujinYoukai/tables/ricepaper-hue-pink.jpg); -webkit-border-radius: 20px; -moz-border-radius: 20px; border-radius: 20px; border: 4px solid B22222; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman; color: #000000; padding: 5px; float: left; margin-left: 3px; margin-bottom: 5px]It was another night to be spent on the streets. That's how the raven haired teen saw it. It wasn't too bad outside, and he couldn't bear another night in his apartment, not with the thoughts that raced through his mind - fresh air would certainly help to clear the fog up there at least a little... right? Like every other night spent wandering the streets, he found himself at the park's edge, eyes tracing the fenced line of grass and concrete as he walked, heading for the entrance - the steady rhythm his boots made on the sidewalk lulling him. There were a few spots in here that he had, more or less, claimed as his own... second, or perhaps third, homes among the trees. He could always retreat to the Team Rocket base, crash in a room there... but he only did that under more dire circumstances. Why should he spend his time in a place where most of the people either feared or hated him? At least here, he could have a few moments of a feeling of freedom. Stepping around the corner, Kouhei came to a stop, finding himself before the park's entrance, gaze focused on the lettering on the sign that towered above him. It was a welcomed sight, one so familiar yet so cold. Sighing softly, the Zoroark gijinka walked through the gate, pulling from his side a pokeball, releasing the one friend who had always been there for him, even when he had run from the rest - an action which would still haunt him, even today, even knowing that Cecil had found him once again... he would never be able to let go of that guilt... of knowing that he hurt the one person he had always cared about. "Ugh..." Why did the thoughts he had always tried to run from always seem to find him, no matter where he was, no matter how hard he tried - he just needed a break. One small break. Raising a gloved hand to run it through his hair, taking a deep breath, the boy shook his head, glancing down as he felt a nose push into his other hand. Looking up at him, tail swaying behind him in a content manner, the Houndoom whimpered softly, pressing his nose fondly into his trainer's hand. They had been together since they were child and puppy, having grown up with eachother, they had grown a keen sense of knowing when the other was troubled, sick or simply not feeling well... and with Kouhei, that seemed to happen quite often anymore. But through the pained thoughts that brought turmoil to the teen's mind, a small smile pushed through, shining down at the pokemon. "Thank you, Mythos... I'll be okay..." They were only words, easily spoken no matter what one's condition may have been, but they rang true, this much the Houndoom could tell, and it contented him for the time being. "Come on... let's go find a place to rest for now." Moving once more, Mythos sticking close by his side, Kou wandered off the path, eyes glued to the ground once more in thought. Occasionally he let himself glance off at a group of flowers, or raise his gaze to watch a wild pidgey or spearow flutter by, disturbed by the boy's presence. Idly, he wondered what it'd be like... be able to fly away from everything here, find something else on the outside, maybe something better. "Hn..." Drawing his lower lip into his mouth, biting down on it as he rose a hand to the piercing on his chest, playing with it as he always did to calm himself, Kou cast away the thought, continuing on, more or less following the sound of the houndoom's pawfalls beside him, knowing the pokemon would lead him safe. However... they stopped, which also brought Kou to a stop, eyes ever glued to the ground. When they picked up again, they moved in a different direction at a faster pace, and this grabbed the attention of the dark type gijinka. "Mythos...?" He questioned, lifting his head to look after the pokemon, Where the hell is he going... Slightly irritated by the change of path, Kou followed the canine, not wanting to lose him among the trees. Growling, the teen muttered, ducking under the branches of a tree to find his houndoom sitting, staring off in the distance. "This is not the way to ou-..." Cutting himself off, he allowed his gaze to follow that of the pokemon's, landing on something he didn't expect, and it made his heart skip a beat in panic. Dammit... Falling quiet, quickly pulling his gaze away, he felt that of the houndoom's fall on him again as the canine stood once more, snorting and taking a few steps toward Rachel, head lowered with ears back - a cautious yet non-threatening pose. Staying behind the Houndoom, quiet and looking off to the side, Kou bit his tongue, not wanting to snap at Mythos, yet wanting to give into his instinct to run... what if this girl was epispect? Neither of them knew that... "Houndoom..." The pokemon sat once more, not too far away from the girl this time, waiting for something that he knew his trainer wouldn't do without a little push or two... or maybe three. [/style] [/style] [style=float: right; background-image: url(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g368/RyuujinYoukai/Shin/Shin89_zpsbdba1d6d.png); height: 100px; width: 100px; border: 4px solid B22222; -webkit-border-radius: 20px; -moz-border-radius: 20px; border-radius: 20px; text-align: center; v-align: top; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 3px] [/style]

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i45.tinypic.com/2ebxptw.gif); webkit-border-radius: 0px 0px 20px 20px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 0px 20px 20px; border-radius: 0px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 6px;][STYLE=width: 467px; background: url(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g368/RyuujinYoukai/tables/ricepaper-hue-pink.jpg); margin-left: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 20px; -moz-border-radius: 20px; border-radius: 20px; border: #B22222 solid 4px; padding: 5px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; color: #000000;]✔ Credits;; Ryuuin ✔ Tags;; Rachel ✔ Notes;; Zorua egg x1 (1 post) Sorry for the terrible quality :'D ✔ Please view in chrome!

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Save me cause I'm falling

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[Rachel North]

Rachel's eyes had closed for a moment. Just a moment. Feeling the warmth of the afternoon sun, still high in the sky, warming her and everything around her. Feeling small breezes and gusts of wind as they passed by her, throwing the bits of loose hair that she had, around in which some would land on her face, stick there, and proceed to ruin the perfectly good moment of peace and mostly quiet. The gijinka's eyes opened again as another breeze passed, the nineteen year old finally being calm and content enough to let herself relax and perhaps finally take that nap she'd been wanting, but was too dark scared of her stepfather to do so.

As the girl was shifting to move into a more comfortable position to rest in, she caught sight of a Houndoom moving closer to her. Her first instinct was to bolt out of there, run and only look back when she'd cleared the other side of the park. But she didn't do that. Rachel sat there, watching the dog-like pokemon as it moved in what she could only interpret as a non-threatening way, finally coming to rest near by, sitting down.

"Hullo there." Rachel spoke in her normal tone of voice, which, with her temper known to most fire types, was surprisingly really soft. She had never really spoken loudly before. Even when she was mad her voice would be controlled, never raising above a level that would cause herself to wince at how loud her voice sounded to her. Now she was speaking for what seemed like the first time in days, her voice a little scratchy from disuse, but nothing too bad that would warrant anything for the girl to be concerned over.

She didn't move from her spot, content now in the fact that this pokemon wouldn't hurt her. At least not yet anyway. She pulled her knees up to her chest, the normal position she took nowadays whenever she was going to sleep or take a nap of any kind.