One Week Later (Emily, David)

[Trizen Takano]

It was early morning. Dawn. The boy had gone early that day to the same spot he met with his mentors earlier last week. It had been exactly one week since he had trained with Emily and David. He practised using his items as best as he could and even developed a nice sense of rhythm with them. But definitely not on purpose. The week had been more than insane since those rogue authoritarians came to the school. Trizen was not able to work since he had homework to compete with. He turned down gigs because of homework... that sucked. The boy turned down arrangements for producers, symphonies or other such things to try and appease the school's new set of rules. It was stupid. He loved music and now he had to put the performance aspect of it to the side... for now.

Here in this early morning, he was trying to relieve his stress by doing a bit of Tai Chi. More or less, he was warming up while waiting for Miss Emily Delos Santos and Mister David Blaze to arrive. He had a lot of questions to ask them. Wondered if he would learn to adopt their styles of fighting, wondered if they were really in agreement with Gabriel's plot, pondered about Matrim... that thing he did. He was on fire. What was that? In any case, he had questions on his mind and hoped the pair of them would be able to answer.

[seishounohana]

A week had passed, and she had promised that she would help Trizen improve. He was promising, just like Ryuu. It seems though, that Ryuu was a bit more...

...

Nevermind.

It was early in the morning, and Emily approached the young man. She quickly recognized what Trizen was doing as Tai Chi, as she does a bit of it herself -- though, she used a Jian with it. She wished she owned a Jian though. Well, not like that was something common around these parts, and it was difficult to order swords as a minor.

Life was terrible.

Smiling, she approached him silently from behind. "Harmony is something difficult to get, don't you think so?" She commented.

[Trizen Takano]

Trizen attempted to continue as he heard Emily's arrival. She did something to him whenever she was around, but that was probably more along the lines of him becoming very self-conscious. The young lady then said something to him from behind. He wanted in fact to be stronger, but...

"Harmony is something difficult to get, don't you think so?" She commented.

Trizen frowned slightly when he heard that and stopped his movements. He hung his head on the feeling that at the end of it all, he still had a lot on his mind to try mess with. He had a lot of questions.

"It's hard to get it when you have a lot of things that aren't lined up," he said to Emily, "There are so many questions on my mind, things I want to ask both you and David. Where you stand, how you took your stand and how you became strong enough to take it. You stepped up, and you probably didn't know when it happened. Would it be the same for me?"

Trizen turned to Emily and tilted his head to the left on looking at her. "I have a lot to learn, Em, where do we start?"

[seishounohana]

"You have to figure out where you want to go, then decide where to go from there." Emily said, as a matter-of-factly.

... Her stand was simple. She trusted "Unfettered" and that she already had given him her word that she wanted to help him achieve his goals -- if anything, he hasn't done anything contradictory to what he had said to her so far. "I promised "Unfettered" that I would help him with his goals, and I still intend to do so."

She smiled at Trizen and crossed her arms, "Where do you want to go?"

[Trizen Takano]

Trizen tucked in his lips for a moment as he thought about the question. It was a loaded one.

The day was certainly beautiful and one could think about the Bach cello suites, as played by Yo-Yo Ma, and integrity of in its nature. The young boy could feel the wind speaking as it gently flew past him and Emily. It gave Emily a sort of serene and compassionate look as he hair blew with the wind. Time extended and played in its rejoice for the goodness of the moment. The one that spoke of everything new and the change that was to come from the future of this conversation. The confirmation of a stand and a journey that took place, is taking place and that will take place. Now Trizen stood watching the young woman in her magnificence. She asked her question. He would answer.

"I want to go where others aren't willing to go. The path of honesty, integrity and love aren't popular because it does not bring the immediate result of power and strength. But with that path taken, one learns to instill the virtue known as patience. I believe under the instruction and inspiration of both you and David, I can be more. You two are what Pillars should be and have the courage to stand for what's right. I want to be able to do the same."

[seishounohana]

Trizen began giving her an idea what he wanted to be; the strength he wanted to achieve for himself. Honestly, Emily thought that Trizen would not gain what he wanted by depending on her and David. His comment about her and David being who the pillars should be disturbed her a little, but never the less decided she better leave it as a compliment.

"Trizen, David and I won't really do a lot for you. We can give you things to think about, but in reality - it's you who will pave the road for that." She smiled at him, "The pillars are fine as they are right now, in my opinion."

She sighed, "I've had my chance as a pillar - honestly, I don't think I could ever be in a position of leadership. The expectations are way out of hand, and in spite of being "powerful" and all, you can't really keep peace easily with just a team of four or less. So at the moment I'd like to give the pillars a bit of slack on this."

[Trizen Takano]

Trizen nodded on understanding where she came from. He knew that she was even the School Captain at one time, but if what she said was true, then he wanted to know more of something else. A change in subject.

"Em, back at the riot last week, I saw so many terrible things. Students were going crazy over these new policies... I didn't know what to think. Everyone fought with each other and no one had any sense of order or responsibility minus the ones who were trying to see Mr. Purple." He was talking about the crew that went along with Linda, Matrim and David. "During the event I saw something I've heard about but never seen before. While Ryuu and I were holding off students from entering the school, Matrim suddenly turned into a ball of flames! I've never seen anything like it. That power... he was stronger... faster... it's like it was a superpower."

The boy didn't outrightly want to ask what happened, but it was the question of the story: What was Qi and did she have it too?

[David Blaze]

"Its called Qi, and quite a few students have it."

David walked in from the shadows, having only been there since Trizen had stated what he wanted out of life here at 42. He walked forward, rolling up his sleeves as he did so. He was only doing this to get into a professional mid-set, he wasnt going to attack Trizen again. He was merely here to state the same thing Emily did- that there truly wasnt any training for him to give the young male. This young boy would probably grow to be stronger than either of them, and set on a path of light only made Davids heart swell with pride. He stepped forward, nodding in respect to Emily. He stopped next to them both. He wished he could find, in his mind, a way to lead up to things, but it just didnt happen that way with him. He walways seemed to say what was on his mind.

"I'm sorry for being late, but i had to think out what i wanted to say." He took a deep breath. "Trizen, in truth, i know you can handle yourself or i wouldnt have given you the tools that i myself imployed. I asked for this meeting for one purpose. You guys are basically the only two people i can trust, or count on, in this school. My purpose for us meeting up is to discuss the recent events happening on these grounds and what each of us, individually, wants to do about it, or if we want to do anything about it." He turned his head to Emily, looking her in the eyes for possibly the first time since 259.

"Emily...what do you think about everything that is going on, and do you want anything to change? If you do, then how do you want to change it?" He asked her first because she was the bigger influnce, and because she knew more people. Strength was trivial- Both of these kids were probably stronger than him. This was about thought and principals. He placed his hands in his pockets and waited, a questioning look to his eyes as he waited for Emilys response.

[seishounohana]

"I believe that there are things that can be improved, but drastic changes are currently unnecessary." She shrugged, "I've done a lot of thinking recently, and I've begun to think the pillars are fine. We just need to make sure they're doing their job, and we'll do our part as students. It's never a perfect system."

She sighed though, Emily was strong physically - yes. But of heart, no. Or at least, when she had the desire to do drastic changes, it was a rare thing. Emily had many hopes, and though some of them seem to be going into their rightful places, there are just some pieces that really didn't fit as well as they should've.

Sometimes, she just didn't bother.

"What are you proposing, David?"

[David Blaze]

David nodded- he too had come to the same realization, only amplified.

"Well, i have to say i agree with you. The pillars are fine as they are, and would be perfect if times were normal." He took a deep breath. "Look, You both know about the riot, and the issues with Purple and Orange are, in my eye, only the beginning. Thinking head, we had to ask the question- who sent these two men to our school and will there be more? We don't know anything, the next ones they send could be far worse, and the damage to the school and students may be catastrophic. The pillars would be perfect in the times of normality. They could handle little pockets and fights, but if we get tons of riots and school violence, they wont be able to keep up." He looked between Trizen and Emily as he spoke, using his hands to talk with him.

"Our pillar system is flawed because it isnt being used as it was made- the Pillar system was made to be run by an individual such as a headmaster or supervisor. Now, even if a headmaster stepped into play, they wouldnt be able to control the pillars because they are so used to abiding by thier own orders. Not to mention thier Pride." He took a deep breath. "In these ways, i believe the system as a whole is currently unable to defend us as is needed, and therefore i wish to suspend the Pillarship in lue of a student run army, similiar to Militia, to help regain control of a violent school. With the pillarship appearing to be done away with, people will look to those strongest for an answer, and we can be those students."

"Now, you might ask what makes us different from the Pillars? Because we wont be asking for just the strongest, we want everyone to have a say. I'm wanting to re-create a kind of student Council similiar to What Mathew Amtrum wished to do. This student council will be run by eight to twelve students who rotate every three months, each of them getting an equal say in everything." He shrugged. "This of course is way down the line, but its a goal to reach, and i can't do it on my own. Thats why i wanted your guys' help. Gabriel plans on tearing down the Pillar system but i believe he may want to set up an entirely new form of dictation in it's place. I don't want to see that happen...and the only way i can think to stop it is to do what i've just stated."

He spread his hands before him.

"There you have it, my long-winded explanation and plans lay bare. Also, so its known, i plan on speaking with all of the pillars on this, and giving them the opportunity to join in what i plan to do, unlike Gabriel, who wishes to rip them from thier seats. Everything i plan i will make as diplomatic as possible, but in what i speak of sits a new belief i belief can save a school before its destroyed." He looked around himself. "It may be true that right now, things have calmed down slightly..."

"But i believe the destruction has only just begun."

[Trizen Takano]

"Trizen, in truth, i know you can handle yourself..."

The boy had eyes wide opened. This was certainly the first time he had heard that from any one person in particular, though Emily had always been one to say it indirectly. She always brought a warm smile and kindness to anything towards him, which made Trizen feel stronger all on his own. One could say she was certainly a source for inspiration.

'Wait, what? Problems?' The boy thought to himself as David asked Emily what she thought would happen next.

In point blank view, Trizen had no idea. He was all for helping the students, the Pillars and Militia if it meant that everyone would calm down and stop the fighting -- as much of it seemed completely unreal.

Now here's where things got serious. Davidi Blaze was beginning to tell them his plans. His views. And knowing David, the motion of things that were already underway. He talked about the Pillar System. It wasn't perfect, but Blaze was right, it would work during normal circumstances. And having thought about it, there was no Headmaster. Was that why Mr. Purple and Mr. Orange were here? The thought of battle scared him, but he didn't know how involved he was going to get. Particularly when it came to Mr. Orange.

"How do we suspend--" Trizen started the question, but didn't bother to finish. Instead he would just listen to the entirety of it all.

"But i believe the destruction has only just begun."

Trizen gulped and was nervous. What else could possibly happen to the school? If Thirteen had been there, she would probably say a sixth of the school was torn down. But either way, Trizen would never believe it. No one would ever go that far.

"W-wait," Trizen stammered, "You mentioned Gabriel. Why would he want to run the school for himself? He was apart of Militia, he's friends with the pair of you. If his goals are the same as yours, why don't you two join forces?"

He wanted to say Gabriel was creating his own army. He wanted to say that Gabriel would never turn on his friends. Though he knew he couldn't say Gabriel approached him.

Looking to both David and Emily, the sophomore took another breath before speaking, "How do we prevent this destruction? What are our roles in this school's plan to succeed? Where do we start?"

[seishounohana]

Emily closed her eyes as she listened to David's long explanation as to the situation of things in his view. His plans were plausable, and in essence similar to Gabirel's plan -- only a much diplomatic approach. She find herself agreeing with her ex-pillar, and smiled. Though about Gabriel, she was still considering him to be a comrade at this point. It wouldn't be until later that Emily would find herself questioning Gabriel's loyalties amongst his comrades. Then Trizen gave out two important questions that lingered in Emily's mind as well:

"You mentioned Gabriel. Why would he want to run the school for himself? He was apart of Militia, he's friends with the pair of you. If his goals are the same as yours, why don't you two join forces?"

Emily shook her head. As of right now, She didn't see Gabriel as a power grabbing scoundrel. Then again, Militia had been going through many, many changes the past few months, even way back in 259. "I cannot see a reason why Gabriel would do all this, but now that I think of it.. David is right. Ripping the pillars off their seats wouldn't exactly be much of a solution."

Honestly, Emily had been doing a lot of thinking over the course of days and weeks over many things. Her views kept on changing and changing as her experiences widened and showed her many faces of both the pillarship and the system itself. It was a fascinating thing, that Emily had yet to make up her mind about.

"Like in any war, you must build your army." She said to Trizen, answering his question hopefully. "...and in any army, there must be people who will lead with a purpose. Am I right, David?"

The thing is, once a person starts building his own group, there was already a war. Emily knew nothing about what Gabriel was doing at all, but Emily had been spending a lot of time with some members of Militia. "If you talk with the pillars, then I suggest taking me with you."

[David Blaze]

David held up his hands.

"I spoke with Gabriel yesterday to try and see his point of veiw, and things arent looking up. He wants to totally tear the system apart and replace one of his own deciding. I too, must admit ive thought the same due to the pillars weaknesses. But Gabriel is erratic- he doesnt care about loss of physical health or the health of those who side with him. He is anything but my ally at this point." He got a frustrated look, speaking the last line in a low tone. Gabriel and him had made a pact once, and he wished they had a chance to make good on it. So many things had gone wrong for the pair that theyre next intelligent conversation would be the one they had not twenty four hours ago. He looked Emily and trizen in the eye.

"He said he didnt care about innocent people getting hurt. He is not one of us anymore."

David took a deep breath, changing the subject.

"Look, i just want to try and defend this school as i have done with every other school i've ever been to. I'm a protector at heart- something i can't help." He kept his sole focus on them. "Emily, if you are willing, i'd like you to be my Public Leader. Everyone will assume that you are giving the orders, taking command, and while they will be partially right, only us three will know that i'm in control. Trizen, you can be my third." He cracked his neck. "If we can get enough people- namely the ones that Gabriel hasnt gotten- then we can put up a solid defense and make sure that he can't do what he plans."

He smiled.

"What do you say?"

[Trizen Takano]

"He said he didnt care about innocent people getting hurt. He is not one of us anymore."

Trizen had a confused look on his face. What did he mean Gabriel wasn't one of them? What did the young Seran do that was so terribly insulting and abhorring? Maybe the young one would speak with him before something terrible happened between David and Gabriel. The boy did know them both to be honourable people. They had different approaches, but the result was the same. They were both rolemodels, though their moral standing and heart would always be compared to Emily. She was purer than the pair of them, he believed, and always had the right heart about things. In all honesty, Trizen was not sure what Em really thought of Gabriel, but what she and David said about the Pillars made sense. That and she did answer his question.

'An army... both sides... leaders?'

"Emily, if you are willing, i'd like you to be my Public Leader. Everyone will assume that you are giving the orders, taking command, and while they will be partially right, only us three will know that i'm in control. Trizen, you can be my third."

"Third? ... Like... in command? Command of what? I'm no leader! I-I don't even know what to say to people when it's one-on-one let alone a good sized troop!" Trizen exclaimed. It was easy to read Trizen's emotions. All one really had to do was just watch his reaction to things. His body language gave it away more than anything. That and Trizen was a terrible liar. A good thing when needing the truth, but a bad thing when using the truth against him.

Then David said something about recruiting more people. He was really serious about this.

'But then... who hasn't Gabriel spoken to? He came to me in the first week of school... what if... there isn't anyone left?' The boy thought, but had to keep his hopes up. He had to imagine Gabriel would do something against the student body. That he would not allow for innocent people to get hurt for the heck of it. He hoped not.

David was smiling now. He was waiting for their answer. Trizen was hesitant. There was a lot on his mind. Moreso then when he first thought about this meeting. It didn't involve strength, power or Qi, not it involved intension and politics. And most importantly, truth.

"If you really believe in this, David, then..." He looked to Emily. She was so sweet in her way. She was always optimist about the school, its students and their future. Surely if she was apart of this, then there was hope for this school. And Trizen did trust David, despite his questions. He knew David would never lie to him. But in that same run, he thought that way of Gabriel too.

Shaking his head of all thoughts, Trizen opted to clear his mind and go with his gut. He focused his eyes on Emily, then David. Then he put on his famous grin.

"Let's do it."

[seishounohana]

Emily nodded. It was like a chess game. The queen becomes more visible, distracting the enemy from the king. It was a fascinating strategy, though Emily wondered how well that would play out against Gabriel and the rest of his followers, if he had any that is. "I'll do my best." She told him, Before looking at Trizen and smiling as well. "Sometimes, leading doesn't need words. Sometimes, you need to show them an example to follow."

Emily nodded after Trizen gave his decision. "Right." she smiled, "Although, I have an assignment for you, Trizen. After all, you're still a member of Militia. I believe there is someone you should fight against."

There were many things to prepare for, physically and mentally. If they wanted to pull this off, they had to be powerful. Power was given to those who work hard, or to those who are extremely powerful. Either way, you had to work for that for some point in time. Emily's greatest asset was her influence, as she knew many people and knew how to talk to them in a way that, in all honesty, makes them see her way to some degree.

Trizen had that in him too, but he had to fight his own monsters first. "You up to it, Trizen? I believe it would be a great experience for you."