[OP:F20] Catching Up

[Oikawa 1]

Grass curled beneath the small gusts of wind sweeping the field. Air whistled around the golden figure as he traversed the land. Most of it seemed familiar yet foreign at the same time. A crimson gaze danced along; scanning the horizon for signs of life. Whether friendly or hostile, he cared not, but what did matter was the interaction. For quite some time the blonde had been away from the battlefield. This marked the fourth time he had taken such a hiatus as well as the fourth time he has returned. The allure of the world around seemed to keep his soul hooked no matter how many times he wanted to walk away from it.

A sigh escaped him.

Why do I do this to myself?

[Hikoru 0]

Hikoru moved across the floor quietly, appearing in and out of shadows at a rapid pace, training for the upcoming boss fight that would eventually come. He was just finishing grinding when he saw that a familiar face was walking around. It made him stop completely for a moment, and he had to rub his eyes. Was that really him. He moved closer silently, and saw that the orange crystal really did give it away. It was him. Quickly conentrating, he focused on the shadows that loomed over the orange-crystalled player and soon appeared behind him. He wasn't going to try anything rash, but he couldn't hide the smile on his face, not even with the darkness given from his hood

"Oikawa... It's been far too long my friend." He said, and backed up a step to give a nod and to give the player some space. Him appearing in shadows around players tended to give them some discomfort, but he had a feeling that Oikawa would shrug it off, as was his usual demeanor whenever he had met him. He awaited his friends voice anxiously, as he had missed hearing it in the months that the man had disappeared. He hoped that he could make the man he looked up to proud with how far he had come in the time that he had disappeared.

[Calrex 0]

The twentieth floor was still a bit of a mystery to him, even though Calrex was one of the participants in the boss raid in order to unlock it. In fact his days as a scout/material gatherer back when he had first started adventuring out of the Starting City felt like grade school to a college graduate. With all of the eager frontliners that took on the mission of discerning the next floor boss, the Ultramarine Knight decided to better spend his time outside of those things, merely taking in what he had missed on the floor below. Because of that, it was only the second time he had decided to explore the newest floor.

"Honestly this is a real breather from the past floors. It feel like a real respite from the usual gloom and grind we seem to have to subject ourselves to. Maybe I've just outgrown those years of thinking that being dark and mysterious was something to be admired or venerated. Now it just feels like one is trying way too hard to be noticed, in an almost 'senpai, notice me' kind of fashion."

Stretching his arms so that his hands could reach behind his head his blue fur-lined jacket opened to fully reveal the white T-shirt beneath. His regular clothing had not changes for an extremely long time now, to the point it almost felt like second nature to have it on when not in combat.

As Calrex continued along his mind appeared to also browse down a mental memory lane of all the experiences he had gone through up to this point. There was the fair share of good, bad, and ambivalent. However, there were only a few constants throughout his course through SAO.

Looking forward his eyes picked up on two people in front of him that were standing in conversation. Well, one appeared to have appeared from out of a shaded corner for a moment. As much as a assassin-like maneuver this was, a person's reputation was as much of a signal as their actions. Only one person in all of SAO had the current capability to try and function like the classical rogue, that would be the second wielder of the Shadowed Path, Hikoru.

The other's reputation was just as prominent, but at the same time the blunette would have been able to pick out the blonde's appearance, as well as a handful of other individuals, from a crowd. A welcome face, and one that had been away many times in the past for various reasons.

Approaching he raised a hand casually in greeting to the two, "Fancy seeing the two of you here. It's certainly been some time."

[Oikawa 1]

Wind coupled with the uneasy feeling of another presence; causing the blonde to pivot as a familiar voice reached his ears. Jet black hair and soft blue eyes came into sight, revealing his visitor to be none other than the current King of Shadows, Hikoru. The lad had been a protege of sorts for the blonde. Seeking approval from the self proclaimed "Paragod" for what had seemed like the last year. Judging from his stature and health bar alone, Oikawa knew he wasn't in the presence of the same Hikoru from before. No, matured and with health to match his own, Hikoru was far stronger than before his hiatus.

A smile curled along his features as he addressed the Shadowed Path wielder, "Long time no see Hikoru. I see the shadows have treated you kindly I my absence. Have you finally grand-mastered the skill?"

Whatever answer was to be said, would've been lost to the wind as another voice floated from the surrounding area. His gaze lifted and shifted tot he source. Another small grin displayed as he took note of the person responsible for the small interruption.

"Calrex"

Nodding in his direction, he awaited the noirette's response.

[Hikoru 0]

Hikoru gave a nod at the Blonde turned to recognize him. He saw a small smile come across his face as he spoke, and he knew that he had made him much prouder than he was prior to their last time meeting, which was a duel that he had lost due to lack of strength and co-ordination. But now he had grown much stronger, and was now fully prepared for the frontlines. He knew he could still get so much stronger, but for now he was a force to be reckoned with.

"Yes actually, just recen-" Hikoru was interrupted by the voice of another. He turned to see the Blue-Knight himself, Calrex. He had gotten much stronger since the last time he had seen him, and that was to be expected since he knew that he was still active in the world. He turned to Calrex and gave him a nod. "Cal, it's been awhile. How has Tea and yourself been since last we met?" He asked out of curiosity. The two players had been like a father and mother to him, and he wanted to see how they had been doing since the last time he had seen them.

[Calrex 0]

"Tea? About the same as you'd expect, at least from what I can recall of the last time, heh."

The bluenette returned the nods of both Oikawa and Hikoru before returning the hand he had greeted them with to his jacket pockets. Glancing upwards the bluenette quickly made note of his familiar's location. Roc had assumed the same high circling flight pattern as he usually did when Calrex was standing still. It was a type of flight that allowed the bird of prey to check all sides for any potential incoming threats and relaying that in the form of a screech or other abrupt noise.

However, it seemed that the trio had randomly met up in an area currently devoid of spawning of roaming creatures, so the blue peregrine falcon remained silent. Calrex returned his eyes back to the two in front of him as the conversation continued. Going from what he had quickly heard before greeting them, Hikoru was about to speak before his sentence got but off by his arrival. "In any case, you can already guess probably what I've been up to, same as usual. How have the both of you been?