YSS Kaiyo:
William walked slowly from the sim bay towards his room. He looked terrible. His eyes were sunken from lack of sleep and it appeared like he had lost a few pounds since they had gotten there. He decided that he would lay down, but only for a few minutes before he returned to training.
Amanozako leaned against the bulkhead, arms crossed over her chest, her red eyes watching William as he trudged along the passageway.
"You look like death warmed over" she commented as he walked, if walking was what one could call it, pas her.
William jumped, not even noticing the Neko. "Amanozako, you scared me." He said stopping and looking at her. "I have just been putting a few extra ours of training." He replied.
"More than just a few, I'd say" Amanozako replied, "Kid, you look like you've pushed yourself past the breaking point, whats ging on?" she asked, pushing herself away from the wall and imposing herself to block his path.
He looked away. "I..." He started. "I'm just nervous about our predicament." He replied. It was half true, but not the entire story.
"Well, I don't think anyone is happy about what's going on right now" she said. "But you're taking working out your anxiety to an extreme here. There's something else going on"
William closed his eyes tightly. "I'm not strong enough!" He said, angery at himself. "I'm not strong enough. Meeting my... I don't even know what to call her, made me realize it. If she had attacked the Princess, I would have gotten her and myself killed. She would have cut me down in an instant." He said, his fists balled up and his fingers turning white.
Amanozako raised an eyebrow. "How old are you, kid?" she asked. "You're just in training, no one's expecting you to be a fully skilled warrior yet"
He looked up. "I just turned 17..." He replied softly. "But I am the guard to the Princess... I have to be able to protect her."
"Tell me this, kid, how good a job are you going to be able to do protecting the princess if you're burned out and unable to stand because of how tired you are?"
William was about to reply, but the word caught in his throat. His fear and anger gave way to a moment of clarity, and he felt stupid. He sighed. "You're right... If we were attacked right now, I would be a liability..."
Amanozako smiled, a rare expression for her, "And you would be, but you can fix that easily" she said. "Also, something to keep in mind. Part of being a good warrior, is knowing when it is time to rest. Practicing is all well and good, rest is equally, if not even more important, depeding on the time" she said and slipped her arm about William as she moved next to him.
"Come on, let's get something to drink, then you can put your feet up and relax"
William listened intently to Amanozako's words. When she slipped her arm around him he nodded blearily. "Okay." He said.
At that moment his stomach rummbled as well. He then realized he hadn't eaten... in the past 2 days. "Maybe something to eat to?" He asked sheepishly.
"Yeah, eating is good too" she said and guided William along to the ship's mess, where they could get food and drink.
William walked along with Amanozako, the smell of food causing his stomach to churn and guggle in anticipation. The adrenaline that was being constantly pumped into his system was finally dissipating, and William started to feel all the aches and pains he had caused himself.
"I really over did it..." He said as he felt his stomach, where the Virtual Wila slammed him into the ground.
"It happens" Amanozako said as she steered him into the mess. "Don't worry about it. Understand what you did wrong, what you did right, learn from it. Don't beat yourself up about it" she said and aimed them for the buffet.
"Here we are" she said.
William's eyes widened and he smiled as he grabed a plate and piled it high with food. He was starving.
He sat down and dug in, and began to wolf everything down.
Amanozako got something for herself and sat next to William. "Don't forget to breath" she said and sipped at her drink before starting on her own meal.
"Okay!" He said happily between bites as he ate. After several minutes, he cleared his plate and he sighed happily. "That was really good."
The dark haired neko nodded, finishing a bit after William. "Yes, it was pretty good" she said. "Well, let's get some drinks to take with us and we can go relax and you can tell me why you wanted to be a princess's bodyguard" she said and got to her feet.
"Sure." He replied with a nod, and moved to grab some drinks. He loaded his arms full of them, before following after Amanozako.
Amanozako grabbed a few drinks and snacks as well, then exited the mess with William. "Leade the way" she said with a nod.
William walked back towards his room, and entered. Finding it empty, and moved and sat down on the edge of the large nest pit. His eyes began to droop now that he had a full stomach. "So what did you want to know?" William asked, forgeting in his tired stupor.
The neko settled down next to him and opened one of her drinks, taking a long pull from it.
"Well, what makes a kid like you want to be a bodyguard?" she asked, noting that he was starting to get tired. The effects of his hard practicing and a good meal.
He shrugged. "I didn't know that was what would happen to be honest." He replied. "Mom...er... Sensei Rei said that she was leaving the school and said that I could come with her if I wanted. She just adopted me, so I didn't want her to go. When we made our way to the capital, we met Aiko and I was told that we would become her retainers. That is the way it has been ever since." He replied, summing up the recent events.
"Hmm" she nodded. He had ended up in his current predicament because of the wants of others, in a way a lot like her early life. "You like what you are doing?" she asked.
He nodded. "I do. I am able to be with Sensei Rei, and I can serve the princess. She is very nice to me, and she is fun to be around." He said, blushing slightly when he thought about Aiko.
"Sounds nice" Amanozako said, turning her gaze to her drink, suddenly remembering how along she was in the universe usually, her mind drifting to Desmond, the one person she could think of that she called a friend, much more than a friend, where he might be right now, if they were ever going to get back home. She took a long drink and pushed that thought out of her mind.
"It's nice that you have a calling and people you like to be around" she said, reclining back, setting her drink down and settling into a more comfortable position.
William nodded. "Plus I got to meet all of you. I'm very glad for that." He replied scooting closer to Amanozako. He laid down next to her. "Thank you... for everything." He added, resting his head on her shoulder.
"Heh, most people are not usually pleased to meet me" she commented, noting William's head now rest on her shoulder. She didn't make a move to push him away. Funny, of all people to be able to talk to or get along with easily on this ship, the kid.
He closed his eyes. "At first I thought you were really scary. But, you are actually very nice." He replied. "I am very happy I met you." He added.
"Hah! Nice, me?" Amanozako laughed and draped her arm about Williams shoulders. "I'm a monster, you know" she said and closed her eyes as well.
"Well, I don't see a monster." He replied, snuggling in closer to her. "I see you as my friend." He said softly, before the Nepleslian boy fell asleep.
"Friend" she muttered, letting out a soft sigh, then drifting off to sleep herself.
OOC: JP between Amanozako and William