Is it Fate or just a planned Date? (Private)

It Seemed like any other day as the sun was shining ever so bright and the wind blew the trees gently. Elarang was sitting on the porch of her family's traditional oriental mansion, bathing in the sun's light. This side of the mansion was almost always empty and her family never came to this part; especially her step mother. Her father's 3rd wife was not the kindest lady. This lady was cold, dark hearted, strict, aggressive when it came to getting what she wanted, and protecting of her child. The child happed to be the only male heir to the family and the youngest. Before him, Elarang was the youngest, but now it leaves only 6 year difference in their age. His mother viewed the other childern as only tools for money and dolls. She expected them to be stand there like Dolls, not to move or talk, and only to look like perfection in art. Elarang at the top of her punishment list every time. Some say the step mother knew Elarang's mother and the two had grown up to be childhood enemies. Or at least thats what Ela believe to make her step mother hater her the most.

Most of the time it didn't let it get to her though. Elarang was trained to be obeident and she never questioned the actions of her parents, out loud any way. She had learned her lesson many years ago and now stood so ... blank as she would throw on a fake face when it was needed. She, In the step mother's opition, was an almost complete doll.

Earlier this day, Elarang was summoned to her family's main room for a meeting with her step mother. As usual, Ela appeared, quiet and observent. The request placed down before the girl was quiet clear but it made Elarang resistant inside. With the greed and deceitfulness of the Step mother, Elarang was requested to Woo a man and not just any man but the Dark Lord himself. The child thought as all the failure to the women's plan could interfer with it's success. Yet, nevertheless, She knew that the women would only put Elarang at a greater risk than the other older sisters.

Was she planning forthis to fail? And if not, it's just a Win-Win situation for her, isn't it?' Ela thought as she looked over at the koi pond in the center of their smallest garden on the grounds. A soft sigh escaped from her lips. A bored feeling had begun to come over Ela as she feel as time itself had slowed ever so tortuously.

The days were always so long and every time night fall, time speed up only to meet another long day. The sun only read to be about 130 degrees in the sky, which would marked 3 hours past noon. Elarang slipped on her shoes and stood from her sitting spot, looked around. There seemed to be no one around, which ment no one was watching. On that note, Elarang walked over to the wall of her family's home, pulling her kimono, that she was reqired to wear every day, up a bit and loosening it for some movement. Than She jumped the wall with a skillful touch. After she was over, The kimono was fixed and tightened as she began her walk. She needed something to clear her head and she needed to get out of the mansion. She hoped this would clear her mind and stop thinking about the bone aching request her devilish step mother has asked of her.

The area she lived in was quiet nice as most of everyone there was of nobility. This district was closer to the palace, as was most nobility area in most countries, which only ment the people where ever more snoby. There was house keepers, cooks, stable servants, and many others that worked for the higher class' people. Elarang waitnessed the self absorbed people day to day when walking through the town with the shops and restruants. And unlike most, Elarang wasn't blinded by riches. Ever since she could remember, money oddly never intrigged her. Now of days, nothing rarely did.

Holding her parasol to now sheild her warm fair skined face from the sun, Elarang walked through the town, looking at the new thing that were being solded and traded. Many merchants offered to her to buy their goods but Ela refused with an empty fake smile and continued on.

A bright sun shining on a place with the word "Dark" in it's name was rather nice to the lord of this place. The Dark State was not booming with much activity but there was a few people here and there.

The Dark Lord, who was not dressed in formal wear for a walk out in the streets amoungest his people was instead dressed in his more casual traveling gear. Arashi's dark suit with the customized black jacket made his body warm yet not hot. Normally, tradition would dictate that he wear more formal Dark State robes with a crown in order to show that the he was the highest level of athority within this State. Yet many things were enroute to changing. He instead showed everyone that he was just like the rest of the people here, while he was the Dark lord, he did not show he was higher then anyone here. He had no escorts or servants, it was simply him on his own. Aside from the 6 elite fire nations guards that were hidden around the area.

With a sigh he brushed some of his emerald green hair away from his face and readjusted his fedora hat. The only distinguishing feature about him were his eyes. They were a bright gold and were very captivating to stare into. They were the only thing that made people reconize him as the Dark Lord.

In the middle of the streets, Arashi walked throughout the district, simply observing his people. Walks like this reminded him of what his job really was. Everyone here was happy, they all had familys, jobs, and lives to live. It was his responsiblity to keep these people not just under order, but happy. The men and women who walked past him reconized him, and responded to him with a bow or a smile.

With a smile back to each of them and a nod he walked through the streets. A couple pretty girls here and there gave him some looks, yet he did not return those looks to them. One thing he did not want as Dark Lord was a woman who simply was there for his money and power. Personality and his Heart was what he wanted a woman to see, and for him to see in a woman.

Yet he was aware that it was rather hard to do that when your Dark Lord. So he simply lived a content life as he was. Not letting himslf get too involved in anyones life. The Dark State to him was a place he needed to bring back and show it was a place of honor and peace. Given the States history though, things like this took time.

His golden eye's however noticed a woman who was holding a parasol. He glanced at her longer then he did the other woman. His glance was for a few reasons though. One: She looked quite gorgeous, Two: She looked like a Noble, Three: He reconized her slightly.

Being the guy that ran the place, it was his job to know the nobles and there familys. He reconized the woman only slightly, he recalled that one of the Noble familys had a daughter, yet he only saw her in passing, or caught brief glimpses.

What really caught his eye though was that she wasn't much different from him. She was alone and walking amoung the people rather then being companied by servants. Arashi took two steps towards her but then stopped himself. His eye's narrowed and instead he turned his head to one of the merchants shops. He wanted to give it a shot, but he remembered that he had a State to run. He didn't need to talk to the Nobles for any reason, therefore he knew in the back of his mind that if he went to talk to her, it wouldn't be about buisness.

He looked towards the merchants shop, making it seem like he was browsing, waiting for her to pass by before he would go elsewhere. As he thought about it though, he decided that if she were talk to him for some odd reason, then he would be able to respond. as Dark Lord he was supposed to acknowledge his people after all.

That though process however was more like him hopeing she would talk to him, that way he could fool himself in thinking that he was talking to her as Dark Lord rather then a man.

((OOC: Sorry for not making the first move, when I saw the part where your character was supposed to "woo" the Dark Lord I just can't help but see how she will do that. I do wonder what you will do))

Elarang Hadn't noticed the Man and hadn't even noticed who he was at first, must less the dark lord. Like any other day, she kept browsing and walked on pass him to look at the merchandise a bit from the lord. It wasn't until she over some girl giggling and talking to her friend about the dark lord. At first she thought they were just gossiping until they started staring at the man and pointing. She seemed to look at the man casually as she acted to look at a shop arcoss the way in interest. 'It was him...' She thought as she seemed to star off at this shop. What was the Dark lord doing here and alone of all things? Most nobles had servants with them, but one's like Ela did not. Mid-way through her thoughts she noticed her eyes resting on a weapon shop. She quickly looked away as people might seem to whisper if they saw she was looking at weapons. It was unlady like in high society, but secrectly She adorded them.

But that wasn't the problem at the moment, she looked away quickly as the orders from her step mother flushed into her head. She gave a sigh, turning to the man. An order from her family was an order and not matter how much she disliked the giver of that order, it had to be followed.

Elarang walked up to the man, but didn't say anything. She only looked at the items he seemed to be looking at. She pointed at slightly dull, simple, but pretty necklace. It was a silver chain with a half moon shaped pendent attacked to it. "They are all so wonderful but this one seems to stand out the most. No in rarity but in it's unique-ness." Ela look up at him, "I would say it reminds me of you." A faint, real-looking smile softly crossed her face. Elarang really didn't feel any real emotions toward him. To her, it was all an act but it is hard to read her real emotions with in as she was great with positive body language and tones of the voice (Even if it wasn't what she truely felt).

"I'm sorry if it seemed like I was coming on, I truely did not mean to." She Gave a bow to him, "I have a bad habbit of saying whats on my mind some of the times." Her smile increased as she looked to him. Of all features, it was his eyes that caught her attention. The golden shade seemed to reflect the sun. Pulling her gaze from his eyes, she bowed her head to Dark Lord Arashi, "I am Elarang Fae of the Gilrin Family, 3rd daughter to the Head. I am sorry if I have intruded in on your browsing." She looked up at him.

Elarang had never meet the dark lord before and didn't even know his personality, much less what he really looked like. She had only seen him through pictures and heard about him through rumors and texts. 'He's actually more ... different than his picture betray him to be..' which was saying alot as she spoke the words in her head.

Jewlary...Arashi felt so stupid, his act to show he was not looking at her was by looking at a jewlary shop. It seemed to be working though, his ears were honed in on the foot steps her shoes made on the ground. When passed by him he exhaled and loosened up a little. he mostly felt relief, but a slight dissapointment nagged at him.

He let himself simply put aside his feelings though. He wasn't out to pick up chicks, he was simply going for a walk and nothing more. His heart resumed a normal beating pattern and he began to turn his body to keep walking.

"They are all so wonderful but this one seems to stand out the most. No in rarity but in it's unique-ness." A soft voice said to him.

Arashi felt his heart skip a beat as he turned his body and his head to the source of the voice. Once he saw who said this, he felt a weight in the pit of his stomach. However his face was entirly neutral, he was good at not displaying what he was feeling, yet that didn't stop his emotions and feelings from exploding when the pleased.

When she turned to look up at him, he remained calm and simply looked back down at her, curious as to what she was trying to do. Was she just trying to make casual conversation? Being a Noble though, she might have a few reasons for wanting to talk.

"I would say it reminds me of you."

What was this? Arashi felt slightly flattered but he was mostly suprised by this woman suddenly talking to him in such a manner. She certainly was not shy, and did not lack boldness in directly saying what was on her mind. To say the least, he was interested now.

Her apology, followed by her introduction was returned with a nod of his head. That's right, she was from Gilrin family, a very traditional group of people who loved to stick to the old ways. The Golden eyed Lord of Darkness had a few meeting with that family before, sometimes they were a little heated. The Gilrin family didn't approve of the new traditions that Arashi was trying to set in motion. Even today, the old ways of the Dark State to Arashi have long since become corrupt since they were made by corrupt men. Meeting a member of this family almost put Arashi a little on his guard. While he had no quarrel with this...Elerang, he did not know how loyal she was to the old ways.

Nevertheless though, The Dark Lord was now obligated to converse with this woman.

"Oh no not at all" He replied with a smile to her apology.

"It's nice to meet you though Elerang Fae. I' am Arashi Barnet, Dark Lord of the Dark State."

While bows were indeed there to show respect and formally greet someone, Arashi prefered being informal whenever possible. He instead raised his right hand to her for a handshake. He was not sure how she would take a hand shake since her family prefered the old ways, yet he figured that since he was Dark Lord that she would be a bit more willing since as a Noble she was certainly not going to look at him in disgust for a simply hand shake.

After the hand shake, if she shook his hand or not, after wards Arashi would then ask.

"What brings you over here all by yourself?" he would ask her, curious as to why she was not with a single servant or body guard.

The soft smile widend ever so slightly as he introduced who he was. She, of course, wasn't going to say that she already knew or even that she didn't know it was him at first glance. Instead she simplily gave another bow to him in greeting, then looking at him once again. To her notice, The dark lord had extended his hand out to her for a greeting. For a mila-second, she was confused. Her family was traditional and very formal but the honest truth this sparked something in Ela. Elarang was taught in the old ways but never really liked them in some ways. This thinking process only took about a second before She switched her parasol to her other hand so she could shake his hand with the right one. She reached out with a soft hand, taking him, and shaking it.

"Elarang will be well enough, My lord." She maintained the smile as they shook hands. Every point of the conversation, Elarang was studying him. Studying his movement, personality, and even trying to discover his thinking process.

"What brings you over here all by yourself?" The question actually caught her off guard. She couldn't tell him that she jumped over the wall so get away from her family or exspecially her step-mother. Niether could she say, she knew things like fighting styles, acrobatics, and other un-lady like things. She couldn't risk it. Ela thought in her head for a moment but it wasn't before she came up with something. "Oh, I am not alone." She lied with a small giggle as she cover her mouth with her sleeve, "I have a servernt shopping for me in the food market." She knew that one of them might be actually shopping but they sure weren't with her nor did they even know she was out walking about.

"And what about your self? You could be in danger if an assasian or something tried to come after you with no body guards." Elarang smile as she spoke in a joking manner. Yet she knew there was atleast one watching him, just she didn't know from where. He would be stupid to come out of the castle completely unguarded. "Not Saying of course that Our Dark Lord couldn't Take Care of himself." She kept up her act with that same joyful smile on her face.

((OOC: Sorry for the quality, that what happens when you have only 5 minutes to write a post >.>))

Arashi smiled ever so slightly as she answered him. She didn't give off any clues that she was lieing about have any servants with her, yet she seemed far too cheerful when he asked.
The Dark Lord looked side to side as she said there was a servant that was shopping for her. He didn't see anyone that seemed to be following her as a servant would, yet that did not mean she wasn't telling the truth.

Her question was valid, Arashi of all people had quite a few enemies since he was trying to change all the old traditions of the Dark State so it could be a peaceful city, and one that trived off the honesty and purity of the world.
It was not to long ago that the Dark Nation was the main enemy of the world. It was understnadable that some people would want him dead.

"I'm far from alone, but the men who are protecting me are making sure you don't know that" Arashi told her in a bit of a whisper.

As he looked at her though and talked to her. He figured as Dark Lord he did not know this woman, yet as the leader it was his job to know all the nobles.

"You know I've actually been meaning to get to know the Gilrin family a little better. Always talking to head doesn't give me a very good idea of what it's like for the Nobles family in these living conditions" He explained to her.

"You see I was taking a walk and it's good I ran into you. Perhaps if your...Servant is capable of shopping on his own you could join me and we could discuss how it is for someone like you to live a Noble life." He offered her with a smile, his voice sounding confident yet curious.

Elarang gave a small chuckle in amusement as he whispered the words to her about his hidden guards. She had begun to dig out his personality and how to proceed. Staring at him as he spoke, she thought. Her thoughts were deep but she still managed to tie his words being spoken into her thoughts.

"You know I've actually been meaning to get to know the Gilrin family a little better. Always talking to head doesn't give me a very good idea of what it's like for the Nobles family in these living conditions" The Darklord's last word brought back her full attention. 'My living conditions...' Ela repeated in her head as she thought of her conditions at home. Her mind seemed to sigh as her face smiled in agreement.

'Was it good that you ran into me? Was this fate..?' Elarang asked her self in her mind after he invited her on a walk to conversate about her way of life. What he didn't know was that no one knew she was missing at home. If she drew out this walk to long, there could be some unsettling matter back in the family. Yet then again what can they say if she was just following orders, completely leaving out the part about wanting to just get away. It was decided then and her response was, "That sounds pleasent, my lord. I'm sure My servant can find their way home without my presence." Switching her parasol to the other shoulder so it wouldn't hit him while walking, She smiled. "Lead on and I shall follow your lead, Ask what ever you wish."

Elarang's body language was calm yet also confident, like others. Many other stared at her and the darklord in curiousity and some of the other women in jealousy. She paid no mind to them as the two walked.

She was good, but Arashi was not totally unaware of the situation here. He had a feeling there was something different about this girl. She had one servant only who was not even close by? Not to mention she just walked in and yet suddenly she mentions that she is not alone when she in fact came in alone and met with the Dark Lord right away. If there was a servant somwhere then the man or woman was given no signal to Elarangs presence. Also her calmness in the situation was not something that many girls would have. While personally Arashi didn't see himself as much to look at, his character and status demanded that he looked and was presented as good as possible. Not to mention the power he had, no girl in the Dark State, noble or not would be this calm if the Dark Lord himself asked to personally speak to them.

While Arashi had not much reason to suspect, he was in the buisness of diplomacy and hiding ones true nature. He knew when someone was putting on a fake smile, not to say that she wasn't happy right now, but rather this very situation was probably not the only thing on her mind.

Regardless though, he was not going to spend all day speculating. He would simply be as happy as he could be right now in the company of a beautiful woman and just be a bit aware of her.

His face however, was solid, he kept up a small smile as well. His Sun colored eyes looked into hers as she approved of walking with him.

"Alright then Elarang, but please call me Arashi. We can skip the formalitys and just talk as equals." He informed her in a polite yet slightly deep voice.

He walked forward to lead the way, his steel toe boots making a small clink with eahc step as the solid metal plates were more for combat and thus were on the outside of the boot. He walked a few steps at a slightly slow pace, letting Elarang and himself take in the enviroment in a calming walk. He walked in the direction away from the busy markets and walked to more of a senenic route, one that would pass a few murals, statues, waterfalls, brigdes and other assorted upper calls forms of art.

Right as this walk started though, Arashi spoke.

"So what's it like living as a Noble for you? Does the old traditions that your family still tries to follow bother you in anyway?" He asked her in a bit more of a casual tone, like how he would ask a buddy.

Looking at himself now he felt almost like a liar. He was talking to her informally, but he was not acting as himself, not completely. He was still mostly being The Dark Lord. Yet at the same time, he personally was curious about this girl, enough so take the time to talk to her. He didn't think about this like him trying to pick up chicks, it was not like that at all in fact. This was simply him talking to a person of interest. Yet, as Dark Lord it did help to know how the familys were living now a days since he was not able to keep an eye on the Gilrin family at every waking moment.

The walk began as Elarang looked around at the scenery around them. She actually and truely loved sceneries but the ones around here, she had seen a million and one times already. She never really left the Noble's area as her family forbid contact with the other districts since she was younger. Ela left the city once but it was when she was very young and the pictures were nothing more than blurred, dreamful images. While looking away fromthe dark lord her eyes seemed to look in to the distance with a depressed stare.

"So what's it like living as a Noble for you? Does the old traditions that your family still tries to follow bother you in anyway?" His casual voice drew her back to reality. She turned to look at him with cheerful eyes. Her dark brown eyes lite as they looked at him, unlike the gloom that seemed drag them downward when she was looking away. "Hmm.." She seemed to think where to begin.

Elarang loved her family, in name and in heart. Yet her stepmother made it unbareably, unforgetable. She really had no choral with her father, who just tried to stick with the old ways of their family history and traditions. As for her siblings? Well She never really connected with them. Ela was the youngest girl and about 5 years younger than her older sister and 9 and half years from her oldest sister. As for her brother, Who is the youngest and the son of her step mother, He grow to be igorant and just as evil as his mother. Unfornantly He was the Head's heir to the family.

"My family is very Traditional And set in old ways. It would include rules, manners, and disipline.." Elarang began, Looking back at him and smiling faintly, "As for them bothering me? I won't know. I have lived with them my whole life. I have no other out look on life." It was somewhat of the truth, but it didn't mean it didn't bother her. "I would Say, probably just about the same as your life as the Dark lord.." She gave a smile. She knew that it was a reponsablity to be born into a great line; like the Dark Nation's royal family or a noble family's head. At least she didn't need to worry about being the head, thing would be even more crazy for her than they are now.

"Like every one else we are given a job to do, like you, and our family is expecting us to do it for the greater good." She sighed with the same smile on her face as she looked out at the waterfall they were passing. "I wonder what it would be like with out any expectations.." She thought out lound before she caught her self. She looked at Arashi, "I'm sorry It's not right to say that." She laughed embarressed like, "There I go again, speaking my mind..." She lifted her knocks to her head and tapped them gentle on her fore-head. The gesture was simply to show she wasn't thinking.

"And how about you, What is life like fore you Arashi? .. That is If it's ok for me to ask?"

The more Arashi listened to Elarang as they walked together, the more he felt like she was giving him more of an official report rather then her own personal feelings on the life of being a noble. Her answer of how it was simply that she didn't know any other way of life almost made her seem like a caged bird. It was good for him to hear this though, it would help him aid her family and the others to fit better living conditions, one that everyone could be happy with.

As they walked down the route, he let her continue. It all seemed well enough yet...

"I wonder what it would be like with out any expectations.." He heard her say, before she stopped herself.

A look of worry came on the Dark Lord's face now. So there was something she wasn't happy with, yet he was not about to pry her for information. He said it himself that this was to be informal, meaning that he was talking to her as a man and not a commander.

Her question of what life was like for him though meant she must have been getting to a rather touchy subject. He was willing to answer but first...

"Hey, it's alright you know" He said to her kindly with a smile, lightly placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't be afraid to speak your mind, just say what you wanna say." he said trying to reassure her in some way before letting his hand off her shoulder.

He knew it wouldn't be easy right away though since this was techniqcally the first time they met. So he went to answer her question now with a smile.

"Life as the Dark Lord is busy I'll tell ya. There not really such thing as a day off for me, just breaks like now. " He said to her as if he was just talking to any friend of his.

"Every descion I make determines the fate of the State as a whole, and with the new traditions I'm trying to set into motion along with just keeping this place at peace can be rather taxing" he explained to her.

"It's quite alright though, I'm happy with the job despite the difficulty. It's for many reasons but I'm trying to turn the Dark State into a land that can be seen as a home to everyone, and a sanctuary of peace. I mean it was only very recently that the Dark nation was the bringer of War and Terror." he continued on, feeling like he was rambling a bit now.

"Hopefully if it all works out, I can keep people like you safe from harm and make sure everyone lives a life of happiness" he finished right as they were crossing a statue in the shape of Arashi in a type of fighting pose.

He turned his head to the statue and couldn't help but chuckle a little. For now though he turned back to Elarang, seeing how she took his whole speech. He cared enough to see what she thought of it all.