The Return to the University. Day One at Sea.

[This event takes place after "The Evening of the Final Day [PLOT EVENT]" and "The Abyss's Contact? Meeting with the Scientist!" post. Permission has been given by the GM to start the first day at sea.]

The cold night air had slowly begun to warm itself over the bearing sea, as the sun rose above the gleaming edges of the endless water. As the morning light pushed away the cover of night across the vast ocean, a white luxury cruise liner could be seen traveling along the calm waters.

It had been over twelve hours since the departure from Kana Island and the end of the test for the freshman of Terminal University. The students who had been gathered and sent to the hellhole, were just starting to awaken from their long overdue rest, and prepared to greet the new day with a fresh mind and a relieved body.

What's more, every students thoughts was focused on what awaited next. The teams of three had all been established back on the island, and all that awaited them now was the return to the academy for the official ceremony, and for the much anticipated placement of 'Leader'. Afterwards, their lives at Terminal Academy would truly begin.

Out of all the teams though, three in particular stood out amongst the others.

Logan Kober, Zack Lovegood, Tori Young.

Gor, Evrett Varlan, Steven Shields.

Katama Hibiki, Cara Suraius, and Tsukiko.

During their time on the island, these three teams endured the harsh test and challenges the island threw at them in a way that no other team could display. Courage, loyalty, compassion, strength, adaptability, instinct. These were just a few of the traits that these nine students had shown, and it was in these traits that each one had set a place for their future at Terminal.

However, every action has a reaction, and a cost.

For without realizing it, these nine students were about to become involved in a series of events that would shape not only their lives, but the lives of the entire city. And while a select few of them had already experienced a taste of what was to come, what awaited in their future, would be something none of them could prepare for.

But that story is for another time. For now, it was a time of relaxation and preparation for these nine.

For soon everything would change, and these three teams would take their first steps towards making their marks on the world, and their futures.

"BAKA!!!!"

Tsukiko blinked in surprise as he turned towards the voice.

"Ev-"

Tsukiko never finished his words as a small body slammed into his chest nearly knocking the air out of his lungs.

"Baka aniki!! Baka baka baka!! You promised!! You promised you'd never leave me!! You promised you'd always be here with me!! Liar!! You're a stupid liar aniki!! You always lie don't you?! You....you..."

Tsukiko's eyes looked down sadly at the shaking body. He could hear the chocked sobs and feel the wet stains begin to grow in his shirt.

"Eva-chan..."

Tsukiko closed his eyes and hugged the body gently as his own eyes began to moisten.

Tsukiko moaned as his eyes opened up. He could feel the heat of the sun against his face streaming from the window of the room. Sitting himself up from his bed, Tsukiko rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he took in the morning feel.

Taking a moment to gather himself Tsukiko paused and looked around. Where...oh right. He had almost forgotten.

He like all the other students, was given one of the hotel stylized rooms on board for the trip back. It was so each student can have their own privacy on board and not be disturbed should they wish to simply stay and rest. After all the trails back on the island weren't exactly a laughing matter.

Not that he needed the space or luxury, as he had been used to sleeping on the road for some time. Still, it was nice to be able to sleep in a normal bed for a change, especially one so soft.

Finally waking up fully Tsukiko's eyes closed as his mind filled with remembrance at the dream he had.

"Eva-chan..."

How was she? Had she grown up well? Was she helping take care of the others and assisting the sisters? Or had she finally been accepted into a loving family like he'd hoped?

Tsukiko shook off his thoughts. Wondering the 'what if's' and 'how was' wouldn't change anything now. He was here, and she was wherever she was. Maybe one day he could go back and seek her out like he promised, but for now.

Tsukiko pushed off the bed as he walked over to his traveling bag and opened it up. Grabbing his clothes he made his way over to the bathroom and into the shower as he began to clean himself. He would have washed last night, but he had been so tired and conflicted over what had happened, he just wanted to sleep.

Tsukiko paused as the water cascaded down his head.

He still wasn't sure what to do about everything. Cara, the orb, 'Nyx', Lancaster-san, Mari-san, all of it. His mind was a lot clearer now thanks to a nights rest, but it didn't change that he had no idea what he was supposed to do. He felt unsure and afraid, wondering if he had made the right call.

Tsukiko shook his head.

No, he had made his choice. He couldn't go back and fix what was done, all he could do now was keep to his goal. For now, he would go to the academy. He would study, he would learn, and he would get stronger. Strong enough for whatever challenges awaited, and so he wouldn't hurt anyone again with his 'curse'.

And if somewhere along the line he ended up crossing paths with anything dealing with this 'Nyx' thing, he'd deal with it.

*PING-PONG*

"Good morning students, I hope you have all had a pleasant sleep last night."

Tsukiko's eyes narrowed. Alex. Looks like he was using some sort of intercom system to speak to everyone on the ship. Sadly for him Tsukiko still hadn't entirely forgotten last night.

"So everyone is aware our destination is still approximately thirty-four hours from the current time. Breakfast has already been prepared in the dining area for those with an appetite, and we have several entertainment areas on board for those who wish to enjoy their time here. This of course includes a pool, an arcade room, a weight room, and a small home theater."

Tsukiko somehow couldn't help but feel like Alex was smirking as he spoke.

"For those who do wish to leave early on for whatever reasons, the teleporter room is still active and on standby. Should you wish to use it, you will be transported to the docking area back at the university, and will be allowed to do as you wish. Just be sure you return to the academy by the time we dock. Until then, enjoy your stay and rest onboard. You have all earned it."

Tsukiko grunted as he went back to washing himself. Yeah whatever.

....

Wait.

Tsukiko's eyes widened.

Did he say thirty-four hours?

"Ahhh, the ocean this makes me feel free"

The sun was slowly rising across the horizon as Hibiki witnessed this breath taking view.

I wish you guys were here now....

*Ping Pong*

The speakers blared up with the announcement Hibiki listened to it intently.

So I got thirty-four hours huh, I perhaps I should go and celebrate the win it was a tough one afterall

With that in mind Hibiki went looking for his team.

Cara sat up in bed and yawned. She felt rested for the first time in a long while. As she got up and began to get dressed, the speaker came on. "So everyone is aware our destination is still approximately thirty-four hours from the current time. Breakfast has already been prepared in the dining area for those with an appetite, and we have several entertainment areas on board for those who wish to enjoy their time here. This of course includes a pool, an arcade room, a weight room, and a small home theater."

Cara's ears twitched. "A pool? Oh yeah....I forgot." She walked off and began to explore the boat. As she walked around, she noticed other students walking around. She walked up to a guard and said, "excuse me. I have a question. What else is there to find around on the boat?"

The guard smiled. "Well, there's also a hot tub and a..." She cut him off with a squeal.

"A hot tub?! Where is it?" He smiled.

"I believe it is located right down that hallway to the left." Cara lit up and ran off. Upon finding the room, she headed inside.

Double check. Clothes packed, traveling bag secure on back, orb tucked away safely in coat pocket, where it would stay. Nodding to himself Tsukiko looked towards his left.

No people.

He then looked towards his right.

No people.

Tsukiko nodded as he quickly but cautiously made his way out of his room and down the fancy designed hallway. No noises coming from the path ahead, and the ship was moving at a steady and even pace so there wasn't any rocking at all. That would make things much easier for him to get off.

"I'm an idiot I'm an idiot I'm an idiot I'm an idiot!"

Tsukiko kept mentally beating himself over the head. How had he not realized earlier dammit? Alex had said it yesterday before they left Kana Island that it would take two days to return to the port. He had just been so distracted by everything that he had pushed the thought to the back of his mind.

And now he was paying the price.

He needed to get to the teleporter room and off this ship. NOW!

Tsukiko paused as he heard chatter ahead. Panicking slightly Tsukiko quickly moved against the wall towards one of the doors. Waiting a few moments as the chatter passed he let out a sigh of relief and continued to move.

Why? Why did things end up this way?

Don't get him wrong, Tsukiko didn't hate boats. He enjoyed them very much so, and loved going out on them into open water. There was so much freedom and space to be found. So much beauty and wonder, who wouldn't love to explore and witness such a thing? And it wasn't that he got seasick or anything like that either.

So why then was he so desperate to get off the cruiser?

Simple. His curse.

The "Black Wall" was an unfortunate defensive mechanism that had come along when Tsukiko's powers first activated. While a great shield in combat, Tsukiko was incapable of turning off this shield even when he wasn't even being threatened by anything, or was simply going about his day like a normal person should. This was dangerous as the wall was always active and at any given moment, should it sense a 'threat' approaching him, would create a 'black hole' instantaneously to eliminate said threat.

Even if that threat took the form of say, a five year old riding a tricycle.

Tsukiko frowned as he peaked around the corner of the hall. After watching a few chatting students go by, he swiftly made his way down the corridor and towards the sounds of ocean waves.

"Need to get outside and fast."

He needed to be careful. He didn't want to accidentally bump into something or someone and set off his curse. Though that was easier said than done when you're on a ship with semi-tight hallways and hundreds of people wandering about without a clue. It would be better if he managed to get outside where his powers could possibly do less damage, rather than in the middle of the ship itself.

If a 'black hole' set off here of all places, it could only spell disaster for everyone on board. A sinking vessel, hundreds adrift at sea, waiting for help while being surrounded by endless water. And then there was the idea of what could be lying in the water around them.

The mere thought sent shivers down Tsukiko's spine.

It was reasons like that why he always tried to keep a distance from people, especially in large crowded areas or enclosed spaces. They always possessed a greater chance of accidentally setting off his defense rather than an open area or a place with few people. He didn't want to hurt anyone because he was careless. He didn't want to cause another accident because he couldn't control his damn curse.

Not again...

Tsukiko sighed as he made his way onto the outer deck and looked around. He realized of course that things may have been fine if he just stayed in his room the whole trip, where he could be alone and not risk hurting anyone. But it was not worth the risk, especially when he considered the idea of having to stay in that room for a full thirty-four hours, and figured it was better to be safe than sorry.  

Sure Cara and Hibiki might be worried and wonder where he was, but he'd see them back at the academy. And after the ceremony he'd explain everything to them and, hopefully, they'd accept it. If not...

Well, it's not like he wasn't familiar with living by himself.

Tsukiko shook his head. Now he was over thinking things again. He could worry about that stuff later, for now all he needed was to get to the teleporter room and get off this boat. With that thought cleared Tsukiko turned and began walking along the outer corridor of the ship.

Only to pause in realization.

....Where was the teleporter room again?

Hibiki started exploring the boat and came across many other students enjoying the luxuries on the boat.

"I wonder if there is any booze in this boat would kill for some sake"

After searching for a long time he finds the bar.Hibiki walked up towards the counter asking the bartender for a shot of sake.

"How old are you?"

"18 my good man"

The bartender looked at him with suspicion,Hibiki started to panic in his head hoping he was gonna buy it.The bartender then asked for Hibiki's ID.

"Ohh shoot I left my ID back in my room ill be right back"

With that Hibiki left the bar and once he was out of sight he started increasing his pacing which in turn became a jog.

"I suppose I could do something else before going to the telepad"

With that in mind Hibiki goes looking for something that interests him

A dark being could be seen within the tattered walls of Terminal University, the building set ablaze with purple flames, and the blood red moon creeping into every hole made in the structure. The monster’s entirety teemed with the very essence of what even the corrupted would call, complete darkness. Wings, horns, and the like covered the monster, its smile was nothing but demented. All around it were bodies laying on the ground, cold to the touch, as if frozen in fear, the look of demise in each and every one of their eyes. It turns looking at you and begins cackling, the malevolent voice filling the room, echoing off what was left of the walls. You try to escape, but its speed is unlike any other. It toys with you for what seems like an eternity, until it grows bored. A flame of darkness spawns from its hand, growing at an unreasonable rate, and then it releases it into your mouth. Your mind races with your biggest fears and your worst nightmares, causing you to go into shock and blacking out….

Zack woke up extremely scared, sweat dripping off of him as if he’d just completed a marathon. It seems he had a multitude of nightmares, though they were all the same. He took a quick shower, put his clothes on, and emerged from his room extremely exhausted, as the figure he saw haunted his dreams the entire night. It could easily be seen that Zack wouldn’t be able to relax until he told someone of his reading, but not just anyone. He needed to find Alex as soon as possible…

*PING-PONG*

“So everyone is aware our destination is still approximately thirty-four hours from the current time. Breakfast has been prepared in the dining area for those hungry, and many areas have been turned into entertainment spots for those wanting to enjoy it.”

After the announcements went off, Zack went to find one of the staff members, hoping they would know how he could get in contact with Alex. Finally, he ran into the one who gave him his belongings back. “Excuse me sir, I was wondering where the dean would be on the ship, I’ve got something that he needs to know.”

The staff member scratched the back of his head, shaking his head left and right as he did so. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Burke is currently unavailable until the boat reaches port, so you’ll have to wait until….”

“That’s no good!!” Zack yelled “I need to talk to him now, and I won’t take no for an answer!!”

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to calm down otherwise you will be detained in your room for the remainder of the trip.”

Zack stormed off, knowing that he was getting nowhere with the buffoon. He walked down a few hallways, looking into each door and checking in the windows, hoping to find Alex in one of them.  That’s when he came across the bar. A drink sounded good right about now, he was hoping maybe it would help him relax even the slightest bit. He sat at the counter and ordered one of the stronger drinks. Quickly drinking it, he ordered another and turned to a random student in the room.

“Hey, would you like to get a reading done, I can somewhat tell what your future will withhold.”

The student sat there, sort of hesitant but before he could reply, Zack pulled out his deck. With another quick shot, Zack was more than incapable of predicting his future at all. “Welp, I can tell you… that you should stay away from any source of water.” He put his deck away and left the bar. He wanted to do more readings, so he headed to the hot tub.

“You’re going to get extremely sick, you’re going to break your leg, and you’re going to get trampled on by a stampede of bulls.”

Zack was so obnoxious that a couple staff members had come to take him to the dorm, he would be taken to the teleporter room and take him to terminal for the rest of the day.

“Let me go, if it weren’t for you assholes, I’d be able to talk to Alex right now!! You guys have no idea what I saw!!!” he struggled in the staff’s arm, trying to fidget his way out of their grasp, but it was no use. They carried him all the way to the teleporter room, and they all stepped on the pad. They appeared at the university, and they carried him to his dorm room.

“This is where you’ll be staying now that you’re enrolled, your teammates will live here with you for the next five years, so show them some respect. You’ll be able to go to the ball if you behave for the rest of the day.”

Zack didn’t care at all, he just wanted to get to Alex, or someone that would know what to do. But for now, he wouldn’t be able to do much of anything, they locked the door on him. For now all he could do was try to get some rest. But he was afraid of that thing that he saw, he knew that there was no way he could of made a mistake, and that’s what he was afraid of.