A New Player on the Board.

Ryo walked into the hollows of the previous headquarters for the well known Sabertooth Guild. This guild was many things, powerful, talented, prestigious, but the word that was used to describe Sabertooth is why Ryo had come. The word was United. Word throughout the land was Sabertooth was a guild that treated it's members like brothers, and family always looking out for each other. This was an ideal that Ryo held very dear to his heart. He had always been alone in his youth, stealing what he had to in order to get by, and living for the day. When he finally learned about magic and learned how to use it he started to help others who were down on their luck. Now he was a true mage and he wanted to be a part of something grand if for no other reason that to help those he held dear in his life. Sabertooth was the guild to help him do that.

As he walked into the foyer of the old guild hall he looked up to see the balcony he was told about. This balcony was the key to getting to the new guild hall which Ryo had been told was floating high above his head even now. He figured that it must take some grand magic which he couldn't even dream of obtaining in order to make something as grand as a guild hall fly, but still it was amazing to him all the same. He found the stairs leading up to the balcony and began his ascent his spurs clicking on the floor with each step he made. All in all Ryo looked like a rather fancy guy from an old western flick, but he didn't care. As he arrived at the balcony's edge he saw the teleportation lacrima in the center of it. He simply stood there and stared at it for a moment before he inhaled slowly and walked forward pulling his hat down a little further on his head.

The moment he stepped on it the magic work and he appeared on the central platform of the new guild hall high up in the sky. He continued to walk and looked back to see that the Lacrima was still there waiting for him should he choose to return back down to the previous guild hall. With this bit of security in mind he looked ahead at the splendor that was the Sabertooth Guild hall. It's beauty, power, and sheer size dumbfounded him, and made him feel small. His past mind couldn't help but wonder about the riches this keep held deep within, but he shook the thoughts away reminding himself that soon if he was lucky this would be his home. His pace quickened with his excitement as he crossed the bridge that lead to the main guild hall building.

Ryo was once again amazed by the majesty of the Sabertooth guild hall. As he walked inside the building however, he soon became very aware of just how loud his spurs were, and how well they echoed in the confines of this stone, gold, and tiled building. He stopped to look around and admire everything even further, but soon he saw a sight that gave him comfort. It was a bar, and he loved bars. Particularly he loved to drink, this area felt like home to him, and so he turned and walked into it the tension and nervousness he once felt leaving his body as he entered. He walked over to the bar and sat down on one of the stools. Here he began to collect himself and his composure not wanting to make a bad impression of himself to the guild master when he found him. He dared not drink anything as of yet, as he was sure the drinks were for the guild members, and he was not one; yet. Sitting there he took off his hat and used his right hand to smooth back his deep brown hair looking around to see if anyone from the guild was actually around.

Ian walked along the road to the old guild's building. It wasn't in good shape anymore due to the reduction of the members that were in the guild. He sighed as he walked forwards. There were almost none left. It was him, the guild master and a very few of other members who didn't even do anything other then drink. There were barely any missions for them to be able to do. Luckily for him he had just come back from a mission. He had saved a girl that had been hiding in the forest, however he had needed to fly as fast as he could so he would escape the huge monster turkey that they had needed to face. But the girl had been saved and that was what mattered right, and the reward had not been that bad either. Pretty good to be honest.

However he had lost a friend. He wasn't dead but how due to how he had acted in the creepy forest he had not wanted to talk to him again. He sighed. It had been a very nice meeting with him and he had looked forward doing missions with him but when he noticed how he behaved at the mission he totaly changed, his mind. Anyhow, he wasn't far from the guild hall away anymore. He couldn't wait to have a drink, he had walked all day and a bit of the night from before and he was parched.

He hoped the guild would finally have a new member, or maybe even more. However it was a bit doubtfull. The guild was dying. All the members left and somehow the guild had gotten a better reputation. But still his friend had said that sabertooth wasn't up to no good. He had allways dreamed of being in the guild and could not believe when he was let in and even got to fight the master. It may sound weird but he just liked to be known to the magic the people around him use. He had never seen that magic before and he should really have a look to what it was about. He could still see him make that blueish like force field as it absorbed his attack and shot a blue beam right at him. It had been the most awesome fight he had ever been in and could still feel the wave of power when it had passed him.

The guild would get more members, even if he had to get them with his bare hands. The people in the guild were all so friendly so sabertooth should not deserve to be memberless like it was at the moment. He now arrived at the old guild hall. The building wasn't in terrible shape, it looked actually pretty good but the silence inside it made a creepy feeling swap over him. He could see the transportation lacrima but it would be no fun if he would use it. None at all. His simboll appeared under his feet and he jumped up, flying without any sound upwards and upwards. He was looking for the bridge. However he took his time and had a look at his guild tatoo which he had gotten a few days ago. It was on his right shoulder and in a bright grass greenish colour. He was flying for a while now and thought he maybe had made a wrong upturn when he could see the bridge, which people crossed when they would enter the lacrima to get to the guild hall. He flew up on a bit of higher speed and landed slowly and softly on the stone bridge as he began to walk to the hall.

His steps echoed through the stones. He walked on until he reached the guild hall. Everything still astonished him, he liked this way better then the old guild and he could even fly around as much as he wanted! which he loved to do. He stretched as he wanted to go to his room when he saw a person sit at the bar. He had never seen this person before in his life and he had met all members, which had not been a lot, when he first arrived here. He went to the male. He had brown hair and looked well built. He pulled his arm up and tapped his shoulder as he knew the guy would turn around. ''Hey I am Ian, so are you new here at the guild'' He said giving him a warm smile if he would look as he sat down on the stool next to him at the bar as he only ordered some water.

Ryo slowly started to become very nervous about where he was and what it would mean for his future. True enough that he was happy about what his future held for him, but he was also extremely nervous. He had taken to tapping his foot nervously against one of the four legs of the bar stool he sat on. Finally, he just couldn't take it any longer and he stood up and hoped over the bar counter grabbing a bottle of whiskey, and a proper whiskey glass. With these in hand he jumped back over the counter and sat back down on his stool.

He smiled as he looked at the whiskey and pulled out the cork pouring himself a full glass of whiskey. Once the glass was full he put the cork back in and set the bottle aside smiling to himself. Ryo reached out and picked up his glass making a toast to himself and his new future silently and in his head, but it still meant something to him. With his toast made he took a sip from his drink hissing as soon as he swallowed it down. He could never fully get used to the feeling whiskey gave people in their throats, but he loved the taste of it all the same.

As he sat there with his drink he reached out and picked his hat up putting it back on his head. No sooner had he put his hat on his head and adjusted it than he felt a tap at his shoulder. He turned and looked to see who would tap him and he was surprised by what he saw. Standing there was a boy; the boy wasn't by any stretch of the imagination ugly in fact he was quite attractive, but he was a bit odd in some way Ryo was sure of that. Ryo's eyes immediately went to the boy's guild tattoo and he smiled 'so this boy is in sabertooth.' he thought to himself. When the boy finished introducing himself Ryo nodding his head following the boy's movements with his head "Yeah. I'm new around these parts. I'm looking to Join Sabertooth, and so I came here to ask the Guild master's permission, but I haven't seen him around yet." Ryo took another sip from his whiskey before he spoke again "Name's Ryo." he reached down and pulled out a single fire element card "Card Magic is my game." he said before returning the card to his deck box "it's a pleasure to make your Acquaintance."

Ian blushed a bit when he heard him say that he was going to join sabertooth. This was something awesome, sabertooth would get more members, and for some reason, they way he acted made his heart skip a beat he did not know why he only knew that, it was. He studied the male while they were talking. He had a bit of a cool attitude, as he said he was a card magic user and he didn't mind to drink alcohol since he had a bit poured in a glass. From the looks of him he would probably have all the girls running after him and he looked a bit like the type that didn't mind a good gamble, hmm he was probably allready taken so Ian would not mind doing anything.

Ian fell of his chair when the guild master suddenly appeared behind the bar. ''Ouch'' He said while rubbing his head as he pushed himself up by using a bit of wind. ''Ah master, please don't just appear out of the sudden, it startled me'' Ian said as he went back to sit back on the stool and rubbed his head again. Unfortunately the ground was hard, however not like the stool. The stool was pretty soft and he liked the feeling pretty much so he didn't mind to sit on the stool. ''Well Ryo this is the Guild master of sabertooth.'' Ian said smiling. He hadn't heard him mention that to the new one so he wanted to be sure he knew so he would be able to join the guild.

He looked from ryo to the guild master. He had a thought that he would maybe have to leave them alone so they could introduce themselves. Maybe he just wanted to ask him things and he thought it would not be his bussiness to come and talk to them. It would not be even good of him to just stay and listen to what he was asking him. He had the look on his face which he allways had when he was thinking about what to do. It was a concerened look, not such a happy look and he knew it made some people scared of him. He usually had depression too after this. He had to be sure this would not happen. Not with the new member that was here around. He didn't even know if the guild master knew so much about him except his name, age and magic. ''Excuse me'' He said while bowing, not wanting to see the depressive side of him. He walked to one of the benches that was a bit further on its way, so he would not concern them.

He sat down a bit further away from Ryo and the guild master then that he had actually planned. He sighed as he continued his thinking. He knew he could be a really depressive bloke someties and he didn't want to concern master with something which was as stupid like his depressions. He placed his hand under his chin and kept thinking about his last mission and the meeting with ryo. Why had his heart stopped beating for even only a small moment. He knew the guy was cute but that couldn't be it. Maybe when Ryo and the guild master would be done he could ask to team up, however there was a huge possibilty that the guy wasn't even interested in teaming up, or he probably wanted to do some missions on his own time. He looked at Ryo and the guild master as another beat of his heart was skipped. He didn't know why however he had a feeling he would find out soon. He kept watching Ryo and the guildmaster if there would be a sign that he was done talking.

Ryo sat there taking another drink from his glass of whiskey. He looked to Ian in order for him to speak, but he was suddenly caught off guard when someone appeared behind the bar. The suddenness of Zenshin's appearance made Ryo jump back off of his stool to stand a few feet away his hand going straight for his cards. He heard Ian proclaim 'ouch' and this caused him to look over to the younger Mage in concern. Still Ian looked fine so  all they had to deal with was the new comer who could somehow appear out of the thin of the air. It was only when Ian called this sudden new comer master that Ryo relaxed seeing Zenshin not as a threat, and this caused his hand to leave his deck boxes.

He walked back to the bar picking up his bar stool that had been knocked over when Ryo had made his flight from it. He looked at Zenshin trying to gauge him, and see just what kind of person he was. As Ryo stood the stool back up he hoped back onto it and looked at Zenshin tipping his hat low in salute "Well good day Master Zenshin. It is a great honor to meet you." When he realized he was asked a question he smiled and shook his head lightly holding up the whiskey bottle as he refiled his glass. "No thank you sir. My nerves were shot so I had to get me something to settle them. I hope you don't mind."

With his glass refilled he picked it up and took a drink from it. It was at this point that Ian excused himself. Ryo wondered why Ian would do such a thing. He was a member of Sabertooth, so whatever he and Ryo were discussing involved him as well. Still he wasn't going to say anything as perhaps Ian had his reasons. Presently, Ryo looked to Zenshin and smiled at him "Well Master Zenshin, with your permission I would very much like to join Sabertooth and be a part of the guild." he looks around the bar and then back at Zenshin waiting for his answer with baited breath even clutching his glass of whiskey a bit tighter as his nerves were on the rise.

As Ryo sat there waiting however his mind began to wander away with him. He thought about the different kind of tests that Zenshin might throw at him and he wondered if it would be tough enough to keep him out of Sabertooth. He didn't want something like that, but then again the whole idea of him having a test, or even that Zenshin might not want him in for some reason. He began to shake slightly in his excitement this whole thing was a big gamble, and the odds weren't in anyone's favor it was a true gamble whether or not he would get in. He cleared his throat lightly before taking another drink from his whiskey. Now eagerly awaiting Zenshin's reply.

Ian looked at them while they were talking, he was able to make out that Ryo was asking to join the guild which wasn't so weird. He was still a new one and not yet a member. He hoped ryo would be able to join them as well. It would be awesome for them to have a new member since Saber wasn't as full as blue pegasus, Kai had been in there so he knew that there were a lot of members in the guild and his guild, well it was pretty empty. He layed down on the couch yawning as he just kept his watch on Ryo and the guild master.

They weren't arguining so that was a good thing but then again the guild master was nice and you wouldn't be able to get into a huge fight with him even if you wanted to. He was just a bit too nice, and Ryo there were something about him he didn't know what it was but everytime he looked at him he felt a bit weird. He wanted to be able to find out what it was that made him feel this way so he was sure he would aks him now to become a team. He knew he could be rejected but he didn't care any way or another.

He yawned again. He had not thought that he would be so tired from the mission he had done earlier. He had only used a lot of his magic and he had been running a lot. Wait, yeah he would be tired of that so it wasn't so weird that he would be really tired. He went back though to the table. He knew that the conversations wouldn't be very far, from over and that he would be soon able to join. He couldn't wait to see how far they could go. He slowly walked to Ryo and the others as he just walked towards the two of them. He sat down back on the chair he had been on before, as he heard ryo say that the trial he would have to do was to spread the good word of the guild around the country so probably more people would come to the guild.

He smiled at this, this meant that Ryo was allowed to be able to join in the guild. ''Uh ryo?'' Ian said as he was rubbing his hands and looking to the ground. ''Would you , uh if you want would you want to form a team with me, i can understand if you don't know since we just have you know met and stuff but I would really love it so we can become stronger with each other so what do you say about that?'' Ian asked Ryo as he looked at him, hoping he would say something. However he kept looking to the ground still afraid to say anything else then that. He could easily understand it if he didn't want to since Ian was just a newcomer in his life and pretty new to him. He would never join a team with people he didn't knew. Would he really wanne team up.

Ryo smiled as Zenshin talked telling him that he wasn't one for formalities. That made Ryo happy to hear, it was a very comforting thought to know that Zenshin wasn't as demanding about 'proper' addressing when he was talking to his guild members. This helped to further promote the idea of unity among the members of Sabertooth. As Ryo heard the three attributes he must uphold in order to be be a member of Sabertooth he smiled and nodded his head "I swear to uphold all the values of Sabertooth, and act with all of them in everything I do. You have my word Zenshin."

He suddenly became very self-conscious when he heard Zenshin's little quip about him not knowing Ryo's name. Ryo quickly took his hat off placing it over his heart as he dipped his head down. "Oh please forgive me. That was incredibly rude of me. My name is Ryo. I am a relatively new mage it is my great honor to be a member of Sabertooth. As for how I know your name I have heard about the legendary Unity that Sabertooth is known for, and you are the one who is receiving all of the credit for this unity. As for this trial if it helps Sabertooth become even more well known then I shall be honored to accept that trial and promote the greatness that is Sabertooth."

He took another sip from his whiskey returning his hat to his head, as he heard Zenshin's musings about what type of mage Ryo would be. Truth be told Ryo didn't know what type of mage he would be either, but what he did know was that he wanted to be a mage worthy of Sabertooth, and one that everyone would know and respect. He didn't know how he would go about doing this, but fate had a tricky way of guiding one exactly where they need to go.

It was at this point that Ian returned over to them and spoke. Ryo was a bit surprised that Ian would want to even be a member of a team. He didn't seem like the team working type, but this would be a great chance for Ryo to bond with someone in his guild. He smiled and nodded his head lightly as he looked at Ian "It'll be a wonderful time to work with you Ian. I promise not to hold you back." he said with a smile extending his hand to Ian as he finished speaking.

Ryo looked over to Zenshin and listened to him nodding his head lightly "I am happy to be on board with the guild Zenshin. Thank you very much." He listened that Zenshin was taking a job and this to Ryo was astounding. He didn't know that the guild master actually worked on jobs like everyone else, but to know that he was doing such a thing brought some pride to Ryo. he was more than happy to call a man like Zenshin his guild master. He swore to himself right then that so long as Zenshin was running Sabertooth then he would do whatever it took in order to bring Sabertooth pride.

As Zenshin left Ryo tipped his hat to him and then turned and looked to Ian "Well it seems like we'd best get to work as well. After all we don't want our Guild Master to think we are slackers. So why don't you go ahead and pick a job out for the both of us and we can go get some work done. It would be in the best interests of Sabertooth after all." he said to Ian with his famous smile on his face. He took one last huge gulp of his whiskey hissing softly as it went down his throat. He was ready to get going now and he stood up from his stool smiling to Ian "Well let's go get a job." he said before he walked out of the bar heading to the job board.

[Exit Thread]

Ian listened to the praises he got from zenshin and he blushed while smiling. ''Thank you zenshin-sama'' he said as he bowed deeply towards him. He had never thought zenshin thought about him this way as he had thought earlier. But it was obvious he thought they would be a great asset and Ian wa shappy for that. As he had thought before, he would do anything to make the guild master proud. ''Sure that would be a great idea'' He said as he heard what Ryo said about getting a job, He smirked to him and walked with him towards the message board a bit after ryo. He hoped this would be the start of a very nice friendship.

[exit thread]