another city......(open)

[Akari Mustang]

The Central city, the great central city that everyone says is a marvel. Akari sneered as she walked into the center of the city. She had seen better towns on her long travels than this one. All she could see was the military's mark on the city, the construction of the city, the roads, all of the men in uniform. She had come to hate the military because of what it had done to families and towns alike. She crossed her arms over her chest as she walked over to a fountain in the smack middle of the city. Akari sat on the edge of the fountain and crossed her legs.

The only reason Akari was in the city in the first place was because her supplies were running low and she hadn't had a good sleep in three days. She was exhausted and couldn't make it to the next city before she collapsed. She frowned as she pulled off her backpack and sat it on her lap. She rummaged through it as she searched for the small amount of money that she had left. She pulled out a small handful of coins. She sighed as she put the coins in her pocket and stood up. The small coins jingled as she walked for the hotel across the street. Not one of the best hotels in the city but the one she could afford for now.

Akari usually got her money from trading. But after the last town she had almost nothing to trade with now, she had her bracelet and a few priceless rocks left. She swore to herself that she would never give up her jade bracelet, it was on her wrist on the night of that horrible fire. It was all that she knew of her lost past. As for the rocks well she had acquired those on her extensive travels in the north. Akari rented herself a small room over looking the fountain in the center of the city. She sat her pack on the bed and leaned over the window frame.

Akari looked at all the people walking below her imagining how many of them were going home to their family from a long day at work and laughing and enjoying each others company. The wind picked up and blew her raven hair lightly around her face exposing her birthmark on the side of her neck. Akari pulled her head back inside the window and sighed to herself. What she wouldn't give to have a normal life in a large city and family to come home to. Akari sat on the hard bed as she turned her pack upside down spilling all its contents on the blanket in front of her. She reached over and plucked the jade bracelet from the pile, she easily slipped it on her left wrist and leaned back against the wall. Her pant leg raising slightly to reveal her dragon tattoo around her ankle.

"Just another city, that is all my life is...just another city." Akari said out loud as she closed her eyes slightly listening to all the noises from down below her in the central city.