Nostalgic Rememberance

Akura Nagashime

Tyronas Beach was a rather scenic vista seated before the immense Vyren Ocean. A vast stretch of golden sands sandwiched between the cool waters of the sea itself, and the emerald green grass of the mainland. People flocked to the coast to partake in all manner of festivity and enjoyment, finding a brief solace as a break from the mundane grind of their daily lives. It was a place for any tourist and traveler, but for some, this place offered a way of life. Fishing and boating remained an attraction for some, with sizable marinas and piers set to accommodate such tastes. Though, the vast majority came here to soak up the sun or to ride the waves. Tourism was the obvious focus here, catering to a rather broad range of individuals sharing the fringe of mainland willingly.
On this particular stretch of beach, an assortment of energetic youths could be seen amidst the azure blue waters and the golden sands. Surf-boards had since become the main stay of beach front décor, propped up in the sand like sign posts. A trio played frisbee on a sand dune, as a couple reclined under the bit of shade afforded to them by a red and white patterned umbrella. Another couple wandered along the shoreline, the soothing sounds of waves audibly heard as the waters washed up along the shore. Across the stretch of ocean in the distance, the city of A'larys stood in the waters like an exotic gem, catering to all manner of peoples of those in residence beneath the waves and the mainland alike. Apart from the warm and welcoming rays of sunlight overhead, clouds of white drifted by against a sky of the lightest blue.

Walking by her lonesome along the golden sands was a rather beauteous green-eyed girl. Her jade green gaze was complimented by the reddish-orange and white fur coat that she sported, clothed only in thin red latex swimming attire. She had the look of a raccoon, bearing the exact likeness of a red-panda in form. A pair of pointed ears poked out from her hair of white, cut short as the lengthy strands stopped at the nape of her neck. While her height was more or less on the average side, she carried herself rather well. Her form and figure was kept thin but toned, bearing the likeness appropriate for a petite young woman. And yet her eyes conveyed a sense of maturity that went beyond the youthful appearance that her body conveyed.
From youth to adulthood, Akura Nagashime was born and raised in a somewhat cold household, which seemed established upon a bewildering array of principles. Love and compassion were two qualities that seemed absent from her parentage, replaced by a rather reserved and distant manner of being. Her parents came to expect from her a higher caliber of self worth that Akura would never truly be able to fulfill, and would guide her path with a resolve as cold as ice. She had to be hardened from the inside out to steel herself for what lie ahead. A life that would be lived on a path of duty, which was to be her destiny.
She learned the ways of a most esoteric manner of combat, to ready herself for the many trials ahead. That she would be one of the great unsung heroes that would face off against the forces of evil, safeguarding the innocent and righteous of Genova. Expected to live a double life under her parents, Akura had gone to school regularly and earned the finest of marks throughout her academic pursuits. Behind closed doors, she trained rigorously and studied studiously, only to enjoy a scant sliver of time to herself. She came to be known under her preferred nickname of “Naga,” just short of her last name, and seemed strangely interested in the supernatural beast to which she owed her monicker. The way she carried herself drew her a great deal of popularity among her peers, though it raised a slew of questions along the way.
There came a time after her teenage years had come to pass to adulthood that she became strangely enamored with one Tujoma Musaki, who had amused her to no end with a quick and easy joke and a more buoyant manner with which he observed life. And while she was strangely smitten with the playful panda, she knew in the back of her mind that it could never last. Companionship was a thing that would be decided for her when the time was right, when the order that she was a part of would match her with someone “perfect.” Her parents feigned acceptance in the beginning to put on false airs, but expressed their deepest feelings of disapproval for the “oaf,” as they called him.
As they seemed to go the extra step one day, Tujoma invited her to stay with him, and Naga found herself moving into the small apartment that he owned in New Haven. Life seemed pristine for the few months they were together, as her thoughts began to shift to her wants and needs. While it was a fairly ordinary existence, it offered a taste of what she could have had if she were any other normal girl. But it was simply not meant to be, and what came to her later was a reminder that she needed to prepare for her duties as a combatant. Such had been what she had prepared her whole life for, the reminder in a rather simple envelope outlined in black borders and a rather strange symbol. After reading the austere message that it enclosed, she knew what to do.
There came a day that Tujoma came home to find her packing her bags, a meager assortment of belongings assembled in a small valice. She said not state why in any elaborate sense, but seemed to hint that she looked towards “greener pastures.” As the panda continued to ask why, an exchange began, one that quickly escalated into a small argument. Neither rose their voice in any sense of yelling or screaming, but the panda couldn't help but look to her with genuine curiosity and surprise.
And then, Naga went on to say how she could no longer deal with the narrow life that the panda led. The insipid jokes, the obnoxious sense of humor, and how child-like she saw him as. 'Grow up..' She remembered saying, just as Tujoma began to protest her decision. Part of what she said in breaking apart with him was how she truly felt. Part of what she said was fabrication. Excuses, meant to veil the truth. The truth would have sewn some dire consequences, and somehow, she preferred it this way. Perhaps if she broke it off hard enough, the panda would forget about her in time. That would suit her just fine. After a hurtful exchange between the two, she disappeared from the pandas life, and had thought little of him... until now.

Now, on Tyronas beach, Naga was enjoying a brief respite from her duties. She had always loved the seaside, loved swimming through the azure blue waters sparkling in the glimmer of sun light. Something about the sea had enamored her from child hood, the infinite stretch of waters offering with it unlimited possibilities. Though, her ears suddenly flicked as she heard the dull buzz of her short-wave radio crackling to life. She stopped, and was given pause as her gaze settled upon the metallic surface of the communications device. Jade green eyes looked in scrutiny upon a narrow glass display, glowing a faint yellow as the electronic workings continued to function inside. She easily recognized the incoming frequency. 1489.23. It was Tujoma, the panda. The closest thing that had come to being her lover, up to that point. She didn't have the heart to answer.. What could she possibly say that would make up for what had been said already? The truth, she did not want to say. She couldn't say. Not at this point, and never could she say it with impunity. Though, knowing who it was on the other side only filled her with the briefest sense of loss.
It soon subsided as the noise died down, the radio falling silent much as before. And in a passing glance, her gaze turned to look upon the endless waves that stretched on to the horizon. What best characterized the look upon her face at that time was a deepened sense of nostalgia, as she'd slowly begin to walk ahead like before..

Commentary:

Finally had the chance to get some solid art done after con, but I can't help but feel I should have gotten a lot more done by this point. My apologies for the lackluster and unimaginative background, but I figured it suited her best for what she was wearing. I would say, if I had to declare a characters theme song, Naga's would be “Green Eyed Lady.”