(NYC) Field: Times Square

[Cipher Izanagi]

After taking a break from exploring and resting up at the hotel, Seifer decided to get back out into the streets of New York City. He didn't know how much time he had left here, or until his next match in the tournament, but he felt like he should explore the city some more. It was pretty nice here, at least he thought so. After walking for what felt like ages though, the brunette sat down at a walk-in diner, ordering breakfast. Something simple like eggs, bacon, and a waffle. As he waited for the meal to arrive though, a wave of nausea washed over him prompting him to remove his glasses and pinch the bridge of his nose while shutting his eyes. He felt dizzy and rather drained. Was he getting sick? No... no that couldn't be it. It didn't feel like an illness, just his body felt massively drained. After a few moments though the feeling went away, but he opted to leave his glasses off. He wasn't entirely sure what just happened, but he equated it to nothing more than just a temporary burst of nausea. Maybe even homesickness. He was a long ways away from home. While he was lost in his own thoughts, the waitress had brought his meal, to which he picked at while staring out at the scenery of the city, losing himself in thought again.

[AlwaysAwake]

Fwoosh, zoom. The battle was over, their speedy back and forth attacks finally ending as Alexander dealt the sixth damage to Tsubasa. A confident grin resting on the young mans face as sweat dripped from his brow. The battle was intense, and the reveal of his opponents Ultimate Break sent a chill down his spine. The burning lions visage was that of a experimented warrior, having imagined his form, luckily by his side was a fighter that could go toe to toe. Azure Dragon, the mechanical deity having met his opponents blows, although it was the beast deities tag team attacks as a whole that were able to beat down the red lions ultimate form in this match.

"Hey, Tsubasa... Right? That was a good fight, I don't think I've ever seen a unit like yours though..." His words coming out in their questioning tone, placing a hand on his chin as he rubbed it lightly. Looking to be in thought for a moment but shrugging it off, turning to the other young man once more. "Do you live in America? Or are you also here to see the Circuit? I came to spectate myself. My mom was kind enough to let me go and all." Throwing bits of information about himself out there. It seemed like he was being friendly at least, Alexander having gained respect for his opponent. Though he felt something odd about the fight, as if not having seen his opponents true potential.  Disregarding the feeling he outstretched his hand to shake it with the other fellow, an attempt to be well mannered and such.

Now, if Alexander would be more conscientious of his surroundings, he would have noticed the crowd of onlookers. People eyeing the two after all of his shouting during the fight. Some unnamed appreciators of vanguard having eyed the game closely, while other strangers giggling silently at them. Though, like everything in the city, it would be eat up by its own noise, people going on with their daily lives as the dispersed to see to them.

[OverDrive]

The cardfight between Tsubasa and Alexander was challenging for both sides, even though Tsubasa had a difficult opening hand he still did his best to push his opponent but the style of nova grappler was too much to handle at that point. Nevertheless it took great skill to command such a formation of pressure against your opponent, so Alexander has gained Tsubasa's respect.

After seeing how the people surrounding him, reacted to their game he says, "..Let them react any way they like, they will never know how good this game is..." he said, as he began to walk out of the store. "..And to answer your questions, my unit is an evolution of my avatar, a symbol of my vanguard, and i'm not here to see the circuit i'm participating in it, i'm sure we'll meet again soon Alexander, but for now I have a match to get to."

Tsubasa wanted to spend some more time fighting this impressive fighter, but the time for him to find out his round 2 opponent was approaching and for that reason, he had to leave.

"..heh I'll get my rematch..Alexander..." he said.

Alexander Reis +1 AP

[Cipher Izanagi]

After losing his match against Tsubasa, Seifer stumbled to the hotel first to change and leave his glasses on the table. When he returned to Times Square, the male was now wearing a black jacket with a fasten type collar, a black t-shirt, the black slacks like normal and his black boots. The necklace of a lion was draped around his neck, and as he walked, his eyes were shut halfway. 'Something just felt... Wrong... Toward the end of the fight... Something's missing... But what is it?' he sighed to himself before sitting down at the diner from that morning, this time ordering a dinner plate classic: a burger and some fries. While waiting for the meal to come, Seifer stared down at his deck, at Leopald.

[AlwaysAwake]

Alexander blinked blankly for a few moments, confusion settling on his features before he took in the meaning of Tsubasas' words.

"W-What?" he stuttered out, the mans answer unthinkable, having faced a circuit participator without his knowing causing a mix of emotions to swell within him. Mostly positive ones truthfully. Though, the young mans next words seemed to cause him to pause for a moment. "An evolution of your avatar...?" Repeating his words, both as a question and as a thought. Shaking the words away as he saw Tsubasa being in a rush to leave. He nodded, waving him goodbye as he spoke. "Well, alright. I'll be rooting for you. It'd be a shame if you lost too early now." The words spoken as a provocation of sorts, a small jab, the words holding a rather arrogant meaning. "If you lose early it means beating you wasn't worth anything."

So with Tsubasas' departure, and him having finished his coffee, Alexander rushed to the stadium. Wanting to catch the ongoing matches, and have a chance to see his newfound rival in action. And somewhere in his heart, a yearning for Azure Dragons own growth began to form, a wish to match a unit of Ezels caliber. This time head to head.

Tsubasa Hayato AP +1

[Cipher Izanagi]

Returning to the hotel room after eating dinner the previous night, Seifer yet again ventured to Times Square. There wasn't anything else left for him to do here, but he'd decided he liked the food at least enough to stay until everyone else returned. Sitting down at the same diner from before, the brunette male ordered the same thing he'd had for dinner and quietly watched the streets while waiting. After a few moments longer, the male's head started hurting again, prompting him to pinch the bridge of his nose.  'Again?... This has gotten more frequent since I lost to Tsubasa... What's going on... And why do I feel so empty...' his thoughts disturbed him a great deal and yet... he couldn't do anything about it. It was true. Sighing the man turned his head back toward the streets as the waiter brought his food. Hopefully this would help him a little bit, at least for the headache. That was his thoughts before eating quietly, going to excess lengths not to spill or drop anything.

[Kuro]

Haruki triumphantly walked down the streets of Times Square as he left the tournament area after his victory from his round 2 match. While walking through the city, the young man of justice noticed Seifer quietly eating some food. He walked up to his friend to say hi.

"Hey Seifer, great to see you here. What have you been up to in New York?"

[Cipher Izanagi]

Having just finished his food, Seifer glanced up as he was addressed by the approaching Haruki. Admittedly he was happy to see one of his friends as he'd not been able to talk to any of them outside of the tournament, the last being Tsubasa. "Ah... Nothing much really, just biding my time until we have to go back. I lost out to Tsubasa in the tournament." he explained to Haruki, smiling softly. Paying, and tipping the waiter, the brunette stood to meet Haruki fully, slipping his hands into the black jacket he'd bought back before the tournament with everyone. "How about you Haruki?"

[OverDrive]

Having finished his second round fight with Seifer, Tsubasa takes this opportunity to take a walk at Times Sqaure for a break from the cardfighting stage. But even now he still wonders about his upcoming opponents.

"Satoshi...Noah...Haruki... and Yukino...I have to be ready" he thought as he continued walking.

Tsubasa walks past a diner and spots two of his friends at the diner.

"Haruki...and seifer....I wonder how they're doing.." he thought, as he began entering the diner.

"Hey guys, how are you both doing?" he asked.

[Kuro]

"The World Tournament here has been cool so far, and I even made it to semi-finals. Your's and Tsubasa's match was great too when I was watching it, so nice one." As Haruki talked with Seifer, his other friend Tsubasa walked in too. Haruki greeted him with a friendly smile.

"Hey Tsubasa, been doing great. Congrats on making it to semi-finals by the way."

[Cipher Izanagi]

Seifer laughed softly at the compliment, appreciating it probably more that Haruki knew. As Tsubasa walked up, he gave a genuine smile waving at his friend. "Hey Tsubasa. What're you doing here?" he asked tilting his head, both of his eyes shut halfway. He wasn't mad at Tsubasa or anything for winning their fight, not even close. He was glad his friend could do as much as he could, and was connected to his clan, but at the same time that was something he envied.

[OverDrive]

" Thank you.." he said, smiling back at the two. "I'm glad you're progressing well in the tournament yourself Haruki, but be careful...Yukino is not an easy opponent" he said.

After his words to Haruki he turned to face Seifer. Tsubasa did not want to pressure Seifer about his strange behaviour at the end of their match but he was too curious and concerned to let it slide.

"I need to ask you something..." he said. "At the end of our match...you started grasping your head, as if you were in pain, what was that about?" he asked.

[Kuro]

Haruki was surprised to hear from Tsubasa that his friend Seifer could have been in pain at the conclusion of their match. He remembered that when he came up to Seifer in the diner, he looked tired, maybe with a slight headache. The young man of justice looked to his weakened friend with a concerned expression.

"If you're feeling troubled Seifer, you can tell us about it. Anything to help a friend in need."

[Cipher Izanagi]

The concern and questions took him by surprise but he didn't shrug it off. Instead he met both of his friend's eyes before sighing softly. "I'm not sure honestly... It started just before our fight. I'd start to get headaches and feel weak and tired. After our fight they grew more frequent and intense. I feel almost... Empty. Like I'm missing something really important. ...Like I can't get connected with Great Nature. Don't get me wrong... I love the clan. But from the first moment I had it, I felt something was really... wrong. Then I see you with Gold Paladin Tsubasa... and it makes me.... Jealous. You're connected to them. I could tell in our fight." he sighed again scratching the side of his head and turning his gaze toward the streets. He'd just let himself ramble more than he should of probably, and he hoped he didn't sound... weird. But he wasn't entirely sure what to say other than that.

[Kuro]

"Hmm... can't get connected with your clan?" Haruki thought about what Seifer said and remembered how his friends Neo and Tsubasa had this feeling too. Perhaps his dilemma had to do with the missing clans problem as well.

"Hey, Seifer. You play any other clan before Great Nature?" He turned to his friend Tsubasa to explain his reasoning.

"Seems like the same clan mix-up that happened with you, huh?"