Everyone Like Me [Rikku]

[K2]

The life and times of Mokai were hardly luxurious. He was a general -- a man of war -- and he lived to survey the battle field, plan out strategies, and execute said strategies. It was all military science, yes, but it was a passion of Mokai's. He wouldn't be able to explain to you why he enjoyed being a military man... He just DID.
But alas, even the most experienced of generals needed a break. So, Mokai took his break at La Mage Hotel, a luxurious hotel for an, again, not so luxurious general. He'd checked into the massive complex and gone straight to his room the night he arrived. He had slept like a baby that night. Eventually, he awoke to the sound of... A maid. Turns out, La Mage Hotel had great maid service.

Mokai was now by the pool, soaking up some sun. A few young sages were playing in the pool. Somewhere to his left, a rather attractive young woman in a bikini was tanning. Ah, the life and times of vacations. Mokai was enjoying his vacation. He never expected that he'd be attacked. Not here... Not now.

[Ino]

The noise like a rattlesnake's tail was set off, loud and strong, and in a flash of green and the heavy scent of roses, Zumi came. She stepped lightly through the green smoke, her eyes vacant, slightly, before they came to and she was standing there, flat on the ground. The place was beautiful but at the same time it seemed sort of dangerous. Right now all she wanted was to be alone, but then she saw Mokai and realized a fight would be what she got. "Hmph."

[K2]

Mokai, normally, wouldn't have reacted much to the appearance of a mere girl at a pool through use of magic. Magic was common in this dimension. Everyone used it. A girl teleporting in like the scene which had just occurred before Mokai? Nobody looked twice... Nobody except Mokai, who happened to know this girl very well.

So much for a vacation.

Ah, yes. This was Zumi... You see, Mokai had met Zumi once or twice before, and those exchanges hadn't quite been ones of joy and happiness. No, Zumi was a rather... Special girl. Her talent and skill for the magical arts, and her personality (a somewhat gloomy one) made for a dangerous combination. Mokai wasn't a fan of dangerous.

It had all started in the bar in Eta City...

"Come on, General! Let's see what you've got."

"You're on, captain," Mokai mused.

The bar owners must have been overwhelmed. Here was a bunch of sweaty military guys having beer chugging contests on an otherwise slow night. Soldiers can drink a lot, too. In the same way, they can throw up just as much and maybe more if they've really had fun. Yes, it was safe to say that the poor owners of the small bar didn't expect this, but the money they were racking up from this exchange would be well worth it... Right?

This one particular challenge against Mokai by a captain had attracted a lot of hooting and cheering from the other guys. Some put their bets on the captain. Most knew better than to go against the General in a drinking contest, though. Mokai could certainly hold his own. It was funny, though. Mokai didn't particularly love booze. He was more of a social drinker.

The contest was reaching its height when shouts of, "GENERAL!" filled the room. People were springing to action... The building was on fire. The poor bar owners were staring in awe, watching said fire spread. One of the soldiers in the room summoned water in the palm of his hand and used it to try to put out the fire. Easily enough, it was put out, but it was quickly revealed that.... The entire street which the poor little bar was located on was on fire.

The soldiers rushed outside of the bar and began to get to work putting out the fires, but Mokai's eyes had been set on a shadow in the sky.. A shadow who liked to play with fire.

"Zumi... Been playing with fire lately?"

It was on.

[Ino]

A small smirk played on Zumi's face when Mokai said his words. She was thinking the same thing. She remembered that day so well that it was what she dreamed about. That day was extremely amusing to her. "Yeah, I have." that sly smile played across her face as evil and mischief lit her eyes as she remembered the feel of the fire against her finger tips.

Her hips cocked to the side as her weight shifted to her right foot. Thing fingers gripped her bony hips as she looked at Mokai, her eyes fierce. She lifted her right hand out to the side and a small CD player appeared there, floating a few inches above. "Want some music?" she asked. "Cause I have the peeeerfect song."

The music started to play and Zumi shifted into her fighting stance, just as she did that day in the bar, which seemed so long ago. With her legs tight and in position a little farther out than shoulder length and bent at the knees, Zumi looked like she was about to do squats or bend down to get into sprinting position. In her right hand a sword appeared, danced in a flurry of silver fire. "Bring it."