“And you smile, hiding behind a God-given face
and I know you're so much more
Everything they ignore is all I need to see” 'Let Love In' by The Goo Goo Dolls.



Neither one of them wanted to think about the repercussions of the battle just finished.

Sekai for the purely instinctive reason of what was going to be awaiting their return once Gyl-san had managed to relocate, hopefully get some well deserved and needed rest, and set his equipment back up in a safe place. And Kira, well, the vindictive AI had her own reasons for not wanting to think about the battle with Saol and how he'd met his rather ironic end.

So, without giving her little one a chance to argue- if the girl even had enough energy to- the Rue wielder carefully kept the girl at her side and prompted her to take a few moments to tell Zan and, at least, Sidhe where they would be going in case anyone needed them to be there and fast. Complying without a word of disagreement otherwise, Sekai composed and sent off a flashmail, allowing Kira to lead her back to the Chaos Gate and to warp them to the place they needed to go.

A few moments later and the faint blue light faded with the last trace of the gold, rune covered rings that took them from field to field, and even from server to server without hesitation. Kira sighed, long and heavy as she removed her arm from around her little one's waist and composed a message of her own, sending it off without bothering to wait for a reply. Tired muscles ached and protested as she stretched out, on the balls of her feet and then her toes before her arms dropped back down to her side and she glanced over at Sekai to check on the girl.

Fussing about her armor, the short haired Archer was trying to get at her main arm, the one she used to hold and pull back the bow strings with, and massage the over-used muscles currently paining her. The taller woman walked over, gently slipping her hands beneath the cover of the armor and pressed her fingers firmly into the girl's shoulder, rubbing in a slow semi-circle of movement that had a slight whimper escape from the weary Archer.

“Let's get inside first so we can sit down,”

The idea of which was very appealing to at least Kira, the longing note clear in the woman's voice as Sekai inclined her head in agreement.

“Then we can make a deal; I'll get the knots out of your back if you'll do the same for mine.”

Both of them trekked into the cathedral, Kira wandering over to “their” bench which, once again, had been rendered intact and unharmed by a server reset or whatever. Annoyed with it, she called in her weapon and swung mightily down twice, the first shuddering the wood against stone, the next blow put in more 'oomph' behind it and cracked the wood. A third strike broke it in just the right place and bent it down to the point where they could recline more comfortably and not end up with a stiff and sore back.

...despite the fact that waking up was going to introduce the little Archer to a whole new world of aches and pains that she'd have to get used to in future times.

A glance up revealed Sekai's whereabouts, the girl standing before the chained statue with her head bowed, hands clasped in prayer and her eyes closed as the light filtered around her. Kira rested her arm, leaning with a frown on to the pew in front of her and watched with an expression of discontentment warring with... something more on her face. It wasn't something out of character for the girl to do, not necessarily, but... somehow, watching her stand there in a praying position and with the light and shadows from the windows and chains falling all around that odd like triangle of light she seemed to be standing directly in the center of...

It bothered her.

Sekai looked up after a moment, hands still clasped in the same position, and squinted slightly against the light as her eyes settled upon the statue of the chained girl. Kira could only see her profile from where she stood, watching over her in an unmistakably protective yet melancholy manner that was rather... uncharacteristic.

Then again, a lot of what went through her mind and how she acted around the girl when it was just the two of them, was rather uncharacteristic of her these days.

She had answered the riddle Ciar had given her so long ago, knew it by name and had already waded through the bouts of hysterical disbelief that something so... so human could have possibly begun to insinuate itself within every strand of data that composed her. And yet, watching a moment like the one in front of her... filled her with things she didn't understand. Things she didn't want to understand or even acknowledge in the least were there.

Things that scared her almost as much as having nothing but emptiness where Sekai had been since-

Kira stopped her thoughts, surprised at just how long her lifespan had been extended by a moment of coincidence and good damn timing. Almost three years had gone by since she'd first “met” Sekai and had attached herself to her data, slumbering quietly within it so as to preserve what little strength and sense of “self” she'd had left after Garvix's attack had torn her to literal pieces. Two years and three months by Sekai's time now since she'd awakened and had first sensed the danger presented by Trent, the wood-smoke scent of Ko_Inuyasha's Vak based energy.

Since they'd been introduced face to face with one another after the agonizing, endless patchwork of red brick, stone and dim, torch lit rooms as they were tested by the now Commander of the Army of Darkness.

How in the hell had time gone by that quickly?

“Kira?”

Softly spoken and yet, with so much more within that gentle voice than just an inquiry to catch her attention, Kira swallowed back the lump in her throat and focused her sight back to Sekai. The small girl had walked over and stood right beside one of the colorful shadows of the stained glass windows on the floor, her expression curious but concerned as she waited, respectfully, for Kira to acknowledge that she was there.

How long has it been since you haven't been there?

She wondered ruefully to herself, a sinking feeling in her chest that had nothing- and everything- to do with the girl in front of her.

“Off with it, you're first; that way I can show you what to do.”

Her voice came out slightly husky, throaty on accident, as emotion choked her in a rough stranglehold from behind. Sekai's concern was nearly palpable and the stubbornness that people often managed to overlook, or miss entirely, due to the girl's wide eyed and innocent appearance took firm root.

“You always put me first, it's your turn. I know what I'm doing.”

Kira raised an eyebrow and, not wanting to cause a fight, shrugged and complied, having to harshly stamp down the urge to burst out laughing at the girl's muttered “I think.” after she'd begun heading back to the broken pew. Stretching out and removing the overskirt, the tall AI settled herself calmly against the slightly musty fabric serving as a cushion on the pew and waited somewhat tensely for the presence of the girl to come closer.

Fingers, light, nimble and gentle with slight callouses- God, what the hell were they doing to her?- brushed against the sensitive skin of her back, looking for where the snap or whatever it was that kept the wrap around Kira's chest and shoulder together and found it in a series of hidden snaps along the inside of the garment. After a few moments' careful prying, the wrap itself was carefully spread to the side, the heating of her palms, not to mention she could practically taste the way the girl's heart seemed to leap into her throat at the sight of bare skin.

She frowned to herself, moving her arm and folding them beneath her chin, resting her head there as she tried to remember some random tidbit of the girl's particular culture. Didn't the Japanese have a thing for... what was it, bare necks and backs? Something like that. Oh well, if her little one liked what she saw, all the better to show it off and tease her with.

Slowly, hesitantly the first touch of bare, heated palms against her back made itself sharply, painfully aware for the AI. Her eyes shot open, tension rising in her back as she heard Sekai swallow hard and set her teeth, determination mixed in with shaky admiration and... something she was trying to hide that Kira couldn't quite name filtered in through their bond as the hands applied more pressure. Her fingers almost tapped- what in the name of hell was the girl doing anyways?- against her skin, like she was looking for something specific before she felt a burst of concern, chagrin and triumph wash between the two of them before those light little breakable fingers suddenly took firm root within her skin and pressed.

O...kay, maybe she did know what she was doing after all.

Kira thought to herself after the haze of shock and bliss caused by a brief surge of tightened pain released into something warm, languid and relaxed. It was definitely a different kind than Kira was initially used to and, hell, the girl must have been either reading up on it or had great muscle memory to be able imitate something like that. She almost laughed again, subduing it merely to a bare hint of a smile as she felt the sudden flash of fretful indecision at what to do about her legs before grimly going after them next.

Holy crap; the girl did great on foot massage as well, Kira though, eyes lazily closing as the gentle, firm ministrations warmed and relaxed her muscles, settling them from a tensed, combat-ready state into something more fluid and almost euphoric. Hell, the girl had a rather deadly secret weapon in her hands and didn't even realize it! The possibilities and ways this could be used against others were almost endle-

Fuck that, I'm not sharing.

She muttered harshly to herself, firm in her resolve and dedication to keeping this secret little art Sekai had chosen to reveal completely to herself. Fuck the rest of them, they could find some other cute little warm eyed and soft hearted Archer to massage them after battle. Her arms were last, followed by another, quicker, rub that left her limbs rather rejuvenated and the blood flow back where it should be.

“Should have suggested this sooner; we'll make it a habit.”

Sekai flushed, glowing with a mix of embarrassment and pleasure at the compliment, and quickly turned an entirely new shade of red when Kira pushed herself up, looking rather impressed at the strength already returning to her body and motioned for her to take the place she'd just occupied. Topless, as Kira would have had to be.

Her armor was stored away, leaving her in... what she called undergarments- a pair of tight fitting exercise-like shorts and the one shoulder top that served as a sort of bra or camisole- as she gingerly placed herself on her stomach and nervously listened to Kira's movements beside and above her. Kira's hands were definitely more calloused, harder against the soft skin of her back; letting her feel a long life's worth of fighting and strife without even seeing it in the way the woman carried herself, spoke or looked when she thought no one was looking.

But the touch was gentle, attentive enough that it brought tears to her eyes.

She couldn't speak, dared not to break the fragile moment of tranquility and peace that seemed to have been blessed upon them by opening her mouth and allowing words, worries and anything else that may have come out disturb the atmosphere around them. A cringe when a particular knot wouldn't give way to Kira's deft and nimble manipulation and a gasp when the flood of built up tension exploded and faded away, leaving behind only a sense of satisfaction and comfort on both ends of the link. Kira caught the sight of moisture in the girl's eyes as she came back up to give the girl a similar rub down that she'd been given and froze, hands on either side of Sekai's waist as she leaned over her in concern.

“Little one?”

Anxiety, a fear she might have triggered a memory from the Juk field, of something from the past she might have remembered that pained her, swept through her and through the link at the sight of her tears. Sekai turned around, staring straight up into the worried amber eyes in front of her and tried a watery smile before shaking her head, clearly unable to find the words to convey what she was thinking.

Calloused, rough as her hand was, Kira reached down, holding all her weight on her elbow as she dropped down, not completely unaware of how and where their bodies met and pressed against one another, and touched the girl's cheek hesitantly. Her thumb carefully brushed away tears from the corner of her eyes, patience warring terribly with frustrated anxiety as she cradled the girl's cheek and jaw in the palm of her hand. Sekai's arm shifted, sliding up around Kira's as a smaller, softer hand moved and covered the AI's own as it held her, her head turning into the gesture and her tawny eyes closing as she swallowed a small, hiccuping sob and held on.

“What did I-”

Her free hand reached up, fingertips gently silencing her as they pressed lightly- soft as a butterfly's wing- against her lips, shaking her head as if trying to convey that nothing was wrong, obviously failing and shifted a little. Kira's eyes darkened slightly, confusion mixing in with concern and the fear she'd done something wrong or had hurt her, as she shifted a little, rolling on to her side and sliding her arm under the girl's side to pick her up, holding her against her chest and shoulder as her hand splayed across the fragile back.

For a long, long time it seemed, she just held the smaller girl, letting her cry and felt the tears seep down her back, over the curve of her shoulder and down her chest. It was awkward, to be that close to someone, to let someone be that close and...

so... so... personal that she didn't know what else to do but hold her.

She nearly jumped when Sekai's hand moved, fingers slowly tracing an odd pattern on her wrist before sliding up- and innocent yet, not gesture- before she pulled her hand up, like she wanted something. Frowning, not understanding what was going on in the least, Kira lifted her arm, hand as well and watched in surprise as Sekai stared through teary eyes at the difference between the two. Fingetips brushed against her palm, an odd sensation that sent a chill down her spin and the hair on the back of her neck and arms on end, before those same fingers slid up from the bottom of her palm to where they could reach.

Her palm against Sekai's own.

Her mouth was dry, throat closed and uncertainty, vulnerability, clearly shown on her face as she tried to figure out just what in the world Sekai was doing.

And why it felt like this.

“I'm so sorry, Kira.”

Sekai whispered softly, genuinely meaning the apology because she knew how confused Kira was and, by their link, what she was feeling as well. She wanted to explain, Kira knew she did and also that there wasn't a way, not at that moment, to really do so. Like always, Kira accepted it and didn't ask questions, just waited and wondered and watched over her.

Just as she'd done from the very beginning.

“I don't want to miss one smile
I don't want to miss one kiss
I just want to be right here with you, just like this
I just want to hold you close, feel your heart so close to mine
and just stay here in this moment; for all the rest of time”- 'I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing' by Aerosmith

Torn between panicking and paralyzing fear that, somehow, the girl had been hurt, Kira was helpless; genuinely fucking helpless as she sat there and watched the girl weep against her palm as if her very heart was breaking. Why was she apologizing and what for? It was failure on her end, the failure to understand just what was going on, for not knowing the reason why.

And most of all, for not knowing what to do about it.

“Why do you cry if I'm not the cause?”

Frustration, biting and sharp, entered her voice as she murmured softly to the weeping girl-child all too quickly becoming an adult despite her age. No response, she hadn't expected- and had so badly- one to begin with other than an initial shake of the head and the tightening of Sekai's hand against her own. Was it... was it just one of those times that a human girl just needed to cry? Just needed someone to hold her for a moment? To tell her it was okay?

What was she supposed to do?

“Little one, you need to help me out,”

She pleaded softly with the girl. Shifting her until she could somewhat embrace her- somewhat awkwardly due to the odd angle she had her palm and arm in- but a manageable one nonetheless. It was the sentiment and well intentioned and genuine thought behind the action that count dammit.

“I-I'm not-I'm not very good at this. I don't know what to do.”

I don't know what to do when you cry.

The thought traveled without her permission down the link, the helpless, frustrated thought reaching the small tear stricken Archer effectively as swollen, slightly reddened eyes took a good, long look at the extreme concern and worry on her beloved Long Arm's face. Raw and painful, clear as a pure diamond in her bright eyes and in every line of her regal, exquisitely sculpted face. For someone who didn't understand, who didn't know very much and often was frustrated by the very emotions that she was unable to help but be drawn and attracted to...

Kira sure did a rather wonderful job at expressing them when she learned them. Sekai almost envied her ability, so hard did she try to repress her own sometimes.

She loved her.

The way their hands fit together, how their personalities would clash, the quiet weaknesses displayed by accident or revealed in silent, private moments, her scent- faint sweat with a faint tang of salt- and the way her eyes would narrow when something caught her attention. The faint quirk of the left corner of her mouth when she thought something- or someone- was being stupid but amusing and the way those eyes of hers would shine from deep within when something- usually nothing good mind you- would strike her as a good idea or as something fun.

The way light fell on her, casting a shadow she didn't fear and the strength, the gentle way hands and arms so accustomed to fighting, to killing were able to hold her. The lightest, briefest touch, frequent and almost reverent that she could swear it was only her imagination, against her mind, against their link and her heart to make sure she was still there.

The way she defended her, treated her as if she were a warrior as well, one with less experience but one nonetheless and challenged anyone, everyone who dared say otherwise.

The way her fingers slid so easily, so simply into her own and gave her strength from that mere contact.

How badly she wished to change, to be able to be strong enough, worthy enough to fight directly beside her, to support her in any and every way that she could.

How painfully lonely and cold it was when Kira wasn't around, when she had to go away and do her duties that she just couldn't leave behind, regardless of how badly she wished to.

How much just one whole-hearted, genuine smile meant to her.

Yes... she was in love with Kira, every single sign, from the few shoujo manga to the books she'd read to the quizzes she could probably take online if there was ever a chance to return to her old world.

She was a human being in love with an AI who was becoming so human that the distinctions in her mind were- no, had- blurred into a nearly indistinguishable... or maybe she was the one becoming more and more like an AI.

Which was it?

And... did it truly matter?

Tawny eyes searched Kira's face, looking for the answer- if it mattered- and found it easily in the way the woman's eyes dropped- Kira dropping her gaze!- and the feeling of conflicted desperation, of frustrated confusion steady through the link as she tried again to speak and failed. There was no doubt, no lingering fear and... just a lot of acceptance, a lot of personal admittance that this was who she loved.

This was where she belonged.

Downy white hair tickled her neck as she turned her head slightly, pushing herself up in a move she considered bold and leaned up. Softly, gently her lips brushed against Kira's. Meeting, clinging in a whisper's undeniable strength for a long moment, her lashes crescenting against her cheekbones as she allowed herself this one small indulgence, this one moment of selfishness.

'I can't... I can't tell you now. But someday, okay?'

Time stopped, held its breath for a long, long time as Kira's surprise paralyzed her, Sekai's words forcing her to tense and relax at the same time; a conflicting war of emotion rushing through her as she tried to figure out just what on earth was going on in that head of hers. It wasn't much use trying, as she scowled to herself mentally a moment later, the girl had whatever it was completely sealed off in the one place she couldn't touch; that small, central core that defined her very existence, a place that was probably the “house” for this “soul” a human had.

She accepted, confused as she was, and turned her head a little in return. This wasn't the time- and they both knew and accepted that- for anything heavier, for anything more intimate to be done. Nor was this the place they should be doing such things in to begin with. But; one small, selfish indulgence... that even the Gods could not fault them for; not after everything that they'd been put through so far.

After that long, terrible period of being severed from one another so completely.

Sekai broke off first, reluctance, wistful longing between them as she contented herself for nuzzling the other woman's cheek and jaw before allowing herself to release Kira's hand. Arms moved, wrapping around her shoulders and slipping beneath her own- so small... so strong- to protectively hold her stomach and side. Her head rested against the taller, stronger woman's collarbone, eyes closed as she listened to the faintest drum beat of Kira'd steady, stable heart. One hand searched, seeking the one she wished to hold, that fit so well with her own and connected the both of them and found it resting gently against her shoulder. Fingers slipped through Kira's own, pressure applied from both ends as the two held that stolen moment for as long as they possibly could.

Held their breath, wishing that the moment would never end.... just for a little while.

We should sleep.

She spoke to her softly, not showing any sign of moving as she rested her head atop Sekai's own. A confirmation came from the other end of the link, still wistful, still wanting as she replied ever so softly in return, more than a faint trace of heady exhaustion in her quiet, gentle voice as she shifted a little, somehow managing to get closer despite Kira's disbelief of there being a closer without being naked and, well, other things as well.

'May... may I stay like this?'

You could have The whole goddamn World if you so wished for it, Kira thought, painfully, to herself as she responded carefully, already figuring out how to keep the two of them as close as they were- closer even if it worked the way it looked in her mind- and began to move a little to warn the girl of her plan.

You'll get a kink in your back and neck if you sleep like that. We'll be more comfortable in the way I'm thinking.

Kira shifted, sliding sideways until Sekai was forced to move to keep from falling off, finding herself straddling the long legged AI with a blush that made Kira wish all the more that they had the privilege of having the privacy, the time and place to be more with one another. Her arms came up as she stretched out on the half-broken pew and tugged the girl upwards somewhat playfully, a finger crooking, beckoning her to move on up and closer to her.

Sekai complied, abeit rather shyly, as she moved, hands moving in a way that tormented the AI right next to her sides, the way her body slid against her own- it was torture, pure and simple. With a heavy, almost disappointed sigh, Sekai loomed for a moment, tilting her head curiously at the otherworldly, predatory glint inside the brighter hue in Kira's eyes before smiling a little in sympathy, in quiet acknowledgment that she too knew what the issue was... and her own regret.

The larger hand rose, tucking the longer tendrils of snowy hair behind her ear before gently cradling her cheek in one hand, feeling Sekai's cover her own as her weight settled for a long moment and adjusted to having another body beneath her own. Smaller, softer fingers smoothed her hair away from her forehead, tucking strands behind her ear as well as they spent another long, quiet moment just... together.

And relishing it.

The stolen moments, traded affections from one another as a sort of melancholy- one that never, ever faded from either one of them regardless of where they both were- peace settled over the both of them, easing the hurt, the pains of the heart only for a little while. Kira initiated it that time, turning the girl's head before connecting their mouths. She could feel the ghost of her lashes against her cheeks as the little Archer complied, entrusting herself completely- or almost so- to her care. Whispering nothing in particular, her lips moved, brushing, leaving ghostly trails against the girl's lips, her cheek, her forehead and brow before reluctantly lying back and watching the tawny eyes search her expression.

She'd found something, or something had been resolved, it was easy to see within that girl's eyes, Kira thought to herself with a light whispering smile on her lips. One of many conflicts within that poor child's heart had been resolved on her own, something she knew the girl was taking more than a little bit of great pride in.

And something she as well was proud of her for and, despite not know what exactly it was, sent her approval, her support and pleased encouragement down their link.

And God how that made her eyes shine.

Finally, and like a tiny, exhausted kitten, Sekai seemed to be succumbing to sleep, a small, soundless yawn escaping as she rested her chin atop her hand and her ear against Kira's chest. The strong beat of her beloved's heart sent her swiftly, painlessly into a deep, dreamless slumber that came only for children and those so emotionally exhausted they had no other choice.

Kira listened to her sleep for a long while it seemed, her soft heartbeat against her breast, vibrating within her own chest until their hearts seemed to find one another, to connect on a deeper level and evened each other out. Before sleep claimed her as well, she called in the robe that had come into her possession, covering the both of them with the pale, ice colored fabric until she was positive that no chill could get at the soft, fair skin beneath it and kissed the top of her head gently.

A very small, very, very selfish part of her wished for death for the both of them; for a swift, painless end to come and end it right then and there. A quiet exit from their worlds, one that would leave them within each other's arms, with their hearts still connected and that peace they both longed for so damn much still all around them. The rest of her pleaded with time, with the Gods to leave them the hell alone; just for a little while.

Just long enough that they could imprint this peaceful, stolen moment into their memories and hearts forever.

“He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything or he'll say he's 'just not the same'
and you'll begin to wonder why you came” - 'How to Save a Life' by The Fray

Footsteps brought her swiftly out of the dream... or had it been the urgency behind the voice of the statue within her dreams? Tawny eyes opened, staring up at the ceilings, caught by the pendulums swinging back and forth just a little lower in her vision as Kira's breathing, deep and even, silent as always within the cathedral, told her that she had been the only one awakened by the sound. A smile, affectionate though slightly troubled, tugged at her lips as she smoothed away the silky tendrils that had fallen into the relaxed face of one deeply sleeping AI.

'Surely, out of the two of us, you had much more to be exhausted about.'

Sekai thought at the slumbering form in front of her, a soft, affectionate smile curving her lips as she tucked a bothersome tendril of hair behind her ear and out of her way. This time would need to be different, the young girl thought to herself, smile slipping into a more serious, solemn expression as she watched the light flutter of long eyelashes against Kira's face as she slept.

'Things aren't going to get easier... are they? '

She thought ruefully, snuggling closer with a long sigh that was as quiet as she could manage. It was a small thing, this being able to be this close without any repercussion or consequence. Always protected but never able to be the protector; it was frustrating. Small, slender fingers gently brushed against the soft skin of Kira's cheek, tracing the hint of where her cheekbones were and slowly dropping to follow the strong, noble line of her jaw.

“I want to protect you.”

Sekai whispered quietly. A solemn sense of formality in her words as she watched the AI continuing to sleep unaware of what was going on around her. A feeling she didn't know exactly what to call lie within her chest, swelling and constrictive, the longer her eyes watched the deep, even rise and fall of the woman's chest.

'I want to protect them; but...'

How would she go about protecting so many people who had abilities far, far more powerful than her own? Tawny eyes darkened in thought, lower lip worried by her teeth as she tried to come up with some sort of answer to that particular question and failed. Maybe... maybe it wasn't something she'd be able to do right them. Not right now, maybe the answer would come to her later?

Another faint sound from behind her caught her ear, drawing her back to the matter at hand as she recalled that footsteps within her special place had awakened her... or the dream-figure's urgent 'you must awaken' had done so. Either way, something had woken her and she needed to investigate.

But who's footsteps had been there, echoing, in this place she called her haven? Her sanctuary away from the rest of “The World” and the horrors- and wonders- it had to offer?

As quiet as her nature presented her as, Sekai slipped away after a lingering moment of regret and resistance from the arm still slung protectively around her waist. Her hands drew the fabric, cool to the touch and soft as the smoke had been against her skin within her dream, up and tucked it in around Kira's form. A chill wouldn't be a good thing, though, she had a suspicion the heat would have had more of an effect than the cold would have on Kira, just a guess anyways. She called in an item from her inventory, sliding the rich burgundy fabric over her shivering form and relaxed in the familiarity of tying on an obi in a loose, all too improper way that allowed her to breathe but still retain warmth from the heavy material.

“Was it just because I had to defend myself? I…was never religious, but is this your retribution? I once thought that you had to exist, only a month ago, but that was all a dream, a…fake. If that…dream is to be believed, then I know why now. But if it was merely a dream, then I’m no closer to figuring it out than before.

Her eyes widened as something about the voice that had begun speaking suddenly clicked in her mind; recognition surprising and high as she stared at the tall blue garbed Wavemaster standing before the quiet and understanding statue of a girl she felt was so familiar.

“Ondine is here now, so the reasoning doesn’t make any sense. What did you mean Gwyneth, when you left? Why did you have to vanish, to die like that? What am I anyways? Human, yes…but…what about everything that’s happened? Normal people…”

'Takua...-san?'

Surprise filled her. She hadn't expected to ever see any of the Eventide Crescendo here, well, especially none from her clan. Not to mention she'd accidently stumbled on to the keywords herself and hadn't been thinking when she'd hit the random keyword generator. Not until later had she realized the... unusual coincidence of finding that area at the time she had. Shaking her head, she began to take a step forward, away from the pews, and froze when his voice began to crack.

“Everything went wrong! I don’t…even know where it all started. Why I’m so different from everyone else, why I can’t…be the same. Normal people don’t have to go through this, they never ever…have this happen to them!”

A lump formed in her throat, her teeth against her lip as she looked down. Shame filled her face with a heated flush, mixing in with anxiety and sorrow. How... how much damage had his journey through the very first field, into the Gan field, had he truly suffered and was trying to keep hidden?

“Ever since Gwyneth died, I’ve been confused. This feels so much like her, and it should from what I know…but that’s wrong because that isn’t the case. I…nothing is how it seems, it can’t be.

Each time, every word spoken, only seemed to confuse her further. Who was Gwyneth? And Ondine? What did he mean by something was wrong with him? Her heart seemed to freeze one moment and double in speed the next when he'd pause and then go into another burst of what seemed like... something that had been weighing too heavily on his heart for the longest time and that was emptying without his permission.

“ This is all wrong. This only happens in sick stories, in fiction. Fantasy. This is real life…right? I shouldn’t…can’t…feel this way. Everything I know shouts that this is wrong, that I’m missing something. I should know what’s wrong. This…madness…it says as much. I know some psychology…why don’t I know this?! The feeling won’t go away. It’s alien, foreign, and it shouldn’t be there, but it’s always there, always clawing at me, seeking an opening and I-”

The sound of tears pained her greatly and she began to step again, freezing when he asked 'why' and bit her lip, wanting to answer, wishing she could give him the answer he seemed to be looking for despite the fact that she knew nothing and was as confused, if not more so, than he seemed to be. When he fell silent, cutting his own words short, it felt as if she needed to fill that silence somehow, to somehow break that sudden feeling of wrongness that seemed to fill the air.

Maybe... maybe there was something she could do? Maybe... maybe somehow she could convince him that it was okay... that he could... that he could back out and not have to risk it anymore than he had already.

A soft step, her socks suddenly fading after she'd nearly slipped and she removed them from her person for safety purposes, hoping that the guardians of this place wouldn't mind too terribly, and then another, the whisper of fabric against the smooth, cold marble ground as she bit her lip again and tested her voice by calling his name once in a hesitant, questioning manner.

“Takua-san...?”

She stood there, expression filled with worry and concern with her tawny eyes darkened and her white hair glowing in an almost surreal way; catching the rays of light that streamed around from the stained glass windows and from the around the statue in front of her and reflecting them back as she pulled the long scarlet robe closer around her body and held it shut with one hand. The free hand rested at her side, pale against the richly colored fabric as she stepped forward, removing herself from between two of the hard wooden benches covered in plush fabric several shades darker than what covered her body.

“Am... am I not mistaken? Is... Takua-san in... in some kind of trouble?”

Judging by his reaction- as violent and startling as it was- something was definitely wrong about the entire thing... that and he definitely hadn't seen Kira or herself within their usual place... perhaps he'd stumbled here by rumor or accident? Sekai thought uneasily. How he'd managed to miss them was another question all together, the color of their hair and skin and the covering that Kira had tucked around them both had been pale against the darker hues of marble, stone and wood.

Then again... with the way his eyes kept flickering around, looking, searching for someone or something seemed to be a big enough indication that whatever lie in his heart, that troubled him, was certainly weighing more heavily than any possible presence around.

Time... wasn't something easily judged once within “The World” and she had no idea whether it'd been half an hour or, well, several hours. Something about the odd way his eyes looked bothered her to the point where she took another careful step forward, a second, and then a third before she stopped again. The hysterical sounding giggle that escaped from him startled her a step back, her own eyes widening in shock as she watched him sit there, laughing in a way that wasn't entirely... entirely... she didn't know what the word was.

“Trouble? Trouble? I don’t even understand what’s going on in my mind, what is happening with my thoughts. How could I not be in trouble? I can’t…even think. I can’t keep my thoughts my own, and I don’t even understand that. I can’t stop what’s going on because I can’t understand it at all, even though I know that whatever it is it’s bad and should stop now, but I can’t because something’s wrong and I’m crumbling and falling and I can’t stop that either.”

Was... was this because of those fields? Or was something going on in his home that made it and what he'd seen blend together?

I’m not there, but I am, and I’m slipping and there’s the cliff and that’s the last place I can go because I’m finished if I go there.

A cliff? There wasn't... there hadn't been any cliffs, save for early on in the beginning-ish area of the Juk fields, where the Falls Golem had been to be exact. The hair on the back of her neck began to rise as she glanced around, hoping something, anything might be able to give her some sort of closure on the subject or some kind of hint.

“First someone dies because I needed to live, and then another person does the same, assuming that I’m not completely insane and dreaming it all up, assuming that I actually know what happened to me and what’s going on now. Only that second person didn’t need to die, the first person I didn’t need to kill, and I’m going crazy and I can’t figure out why or what’s wrong.”

Confusion showed itself clear, warring with concern and anxiety as she tried to make sense out of the rapidly babbled speech and tossed caution off when his legs buckled, sending him crashing to the unyielding marble floor. Her footsteps were small, light and quick sounds as she rushed over, kimono settling in a pool of russet all around her as she dropped to her knees beside the weeping Wavemaster. Anxiety was in her eyes as her hands reached out without hesitation and touched his shoulders, ducking her head to try and see his expression, only hearing his sobs, seeing the way it transmitted through the wonders of science and technology to best represent itself digitally within the character.

“Takua-san? I-I don't, I'm afraid I don't understand. What happened? What cliff are you talking about? Who's died? Takua-san, please, please calm down, I don't understand what you are saying.”

His entire body froze the moment her hands settled, her eyes widening in return as she tried to figure out whether or not she'd just done something very bad in trying to calm him down. Her mouth dried when he stared directly at her like he'd never seen her before in his life, like she'd done... done something, be it good or bad, she didn't know. And then the tears fell again, leaving her desperate and frustrated, feeling like she'd definitely done something wrong during the process, yet wasn't able to comprehend just what that was.

“Takua-san...”

It hurt to watch him like this, to be so lost that he couldn't even seem to tell her what was really wrong. Or maybe... maybe it was her own shortcomings, her inexperience in the world, both this one and the one she was originally from, that made it impossible for her to understand what was going on with him. It... wouldn't be the first time, she thought to herself, and it certainly wouldn't be the last time either, not with how “The World” and those she met seemed to work.

“I killed someone by blowing their brains out over a year ago. I got shot in the side at the same time. I could have held back, I could have stopped. Something broke then. Something changed. Gwyneth was there, suddenly, but she was only there for me. Nobody else. A month ago she died, vanished, for my sake because I was going to die.”

There was that name again, this Gwyneth person who died- or disappeared?- for some reason- for his sake? She frowned. Was he being threatened by someone? A gang or something? She assumed he was

“How did that make sense if, now Ondine is here? You can’t see her either, but she’s here and I can see and talk to her and she’s supposedly Gwyneth’s sister. But the explanation I got for why Gwyneth had to die doesn’t work out if Ondine is here.”

Who were those people he was talking about? And... wait; she couldn't see them? Her eyes darkened in confusion, the sudden, harsh desire for someone, anyone to be there right now that might have understood in the least what he might be talking about, what might be wrong with him.

“I’m close to crumbling and the rationality is gone and there are these thoughts that are coming from some place I can’t identify. There’s an edge that I’m about to go off of somewhere, maybe it’s my mind, maybe it’s my body, something, and I can’t do that because if I do that I…I’m doomed is how it feels. But I can’t even identify what that edge is, so how can I stop myself from going over it?”

As it was right now, she didn't know what on earth to think; he'd killed someone apparently and had been wounded in the process- self-defense perhaps?- and then someone named Gwyneth appeared but only for him and no one else. Then... this person died and disappeared- weren't the two subsequent? When one died, didn't they also disappear?- and then someone named Ondine appeared saying she was Gwyneth's sister but the explanation didn't make sense with how Gwyneth-san apparently died and then there was some edge he was falling off of either with his mind or his body and-

Something in her brain seemed to snap and throbbed painfully, giving her one massive headache that made her whimper slightly. So confused...

'I wish Kira were awake, or that Zan or Nii-san was here, someone has to be able to know what's going on-'

“I'm here.”

Kira's voice, though low, echoed like some sort of powerful deity's message throughout the hall and spacious area. The robe, so pale blue that it was nearly white, glowed in the everlasting light pouring through the windows and against her skin. Her silvery-blue hair was down, an unusually common occurrence as it seemed to be becoming, and rather than the fierce and lazy cruelty of Asorain, it seemed to make her look... younger, somehow more human than the stern facade it appeared to give her when she held it pulled into her trademark bun.

Amber eyes, though still holding more than a trace of weariness and exhaustion in their brilliant depths, stared at the anxiety riddled face of her beloved little one to that of the agonized, tear stricken one of an all too familiar Wavemaster she was personally getting tired of seeing every damn waking moment, or so it seemed.

Then again, she wasn't necessarily the best of people when she was harshly woken by the sound of hysterical sobbing, especially when, for an instant, someone or something had intruded to harm her little one again.

She'd heard... most of what he'd said, knew the majority of what he was talking about but, the same thing that was confusing Sekai bothered her to an extent too. She hadn't sensed any kind of spirit following him around or haunting him, neither had Sekai; her little one especially prone to sensing when something was there that didn't either used to be or wasn't supposed to be around.

No. Something was definitely off and, for the moment, there was nothing that could really be done by any normal means. A brief message was sent off, subtle and quiet as she knelt beside Sekai, bumping shoulders with the girl as a form of reassurance as she settled her hands in her lap and stared expectantly at the sobbing Wavemaster in front of her.

She looked every inch the High Priestess she had formerly been, despite the ice-blue robe being tied lazily with her shoulder wrap and exposing a bit of her chest, as she settled herself into place, tilting her head to one side slightly and with her hair falling over her shoulders before she spoke calmly.

And he'd said he could handle what those people were going to throw him into.

Panicking would do no good in these kinds of situations, especially not when the individual in front of her, the boy was on the very edge, by his own admittance even, of a point he didn't know the consequences of falling off of.

I have taken steps to handle this, little one. Do not panic, it'll make things worse than they are already..

“Are Gwyneth and Ondine familiars of yours? Perhaps the spirits of someone deceased who was close to you?”

Naturally, and as she'd expected, Takua'd frozen up when he'd heard her voice. Good. Meant he wasn't too far gone not to care about the danger she represented even in her calm state of mind. A response was given from her earlier sent message and she inclined her head slightly in satisfaction. Good. Perhaps she was going to do the little shit a favor after all in the long run, not that he deserved one at the moment but, she was feeling rather generous at the moment and that was all that anyone needed to know.

'Softy.'

Kira scowled at that, sending her clear disapproval and denial of said description down their link.

Shut up.

“I…shot and killed a guy in the Real World after he had shot me in the side. It was maybe a week later that Gwyneth first appeared, when I was…stressed out enough that I collapsed in my chair while playing The World and went to the hospital. She always explained herself as another person, someone else inside of me. A part of me that hadn’t been there before. That was…maybe a year ago. More.”

An AI? Kira thought, instinctively drawing a conclusion to the possibility, her eyes sliding over to Sekai for a long, temporary moment before returning to the boy himself.

“Just a month ago…things happened and she died. Or she just vanished, I’m not too clear on that. This morning, I dreamed…right before you found me Sekai, that she had left me a message about what really happened. I thought I had killed her, she said that it hadn’t happened that way.

Sekai's low gasp hit Kira's ears and part of her wanted to wince. Then again, it was something that she'd have found out in the long run anyhow. Self-defense, Kira thought to herself, murder in self-defense... or was that manslaughter? Dammit, she should have paid more attention to those damn interesting shows Mika liked to watch late at night. Well, not the really interesting ones but, the other interesting ones. Why the hell was he so gut torn about defending himself when the other guy had shot first?

But she said that it was because my mind couldn’t handle her as well…and then, in the Templum Krake, Ondine appeared while I was exploring and said that she was Gwyneth’s sister.”

Ugh, stupid human conscience and stupid freaking Temples, they were never any good and always had something freaky happen there.

“But if my mind couldn’t handle Gwyneth, then how come there’s a sister who comes out over a year after she was born? They’re both supposed to be…either parts of me, or they’re things that only I can see, and talk to, and feel as well. But that explanation is wrong, has to be wrong. Because it doesn’t make any sense.”

Sekai and Kira exchanged looks of surprise, though Sekai's pained expression lasting merely a moment before she tried to smile again.

Time went by swiftly, that was for sure.

“I’m missing something, because that dream might well be a lie. So I lost Gwyneth and Ondine’s now here, and they’re both able to read my thoughts, and can take control of my body if they wish so. Hell, it happened in Juk while I was in the Mines. That’s nothing I can categorize and it makes no sense at all…”

Kira listened, frowning. By all accounts, it sounded like a typical AI possession, most of her kind were liable to pulling shit like that if the sync ratio was high enough and the host was compatible enough to do some extraordinarily incredible things. But, something was still off about the whole thing and she couldn't figure out what exactly it was.

The smile disturbed them both, the women exchanging glances, Kira's wary and Sekai's troubled, as he stared right above Kira's head and spoke.

“Yes Ondine? Would you please stop standing on Kira’s head and get down from there, that’d be wonderful, because if I start laughing, I’m not going to stop, and someone’s going to want to kill me.”

The reactions were immediate and comical; Sekai gasped and looked sharply up, golden-brown eyes searching for any sign of... someone standing on top of Kira's head, confusion flickering over visibly on her features followed swiftly by distress as her inability to see, feel or sense anyone there revealed itself naturally.

Kira, on the other hand, did what any former High Priestess would have done in her situation and remained calm. Reaching up with one hand to where she believed an ankle would be and sank her fingernails into air. Yes, she felt stupid doing so but, if there was someone there...

A flash of pale blue light and a crackling sound echoed as she sent a bit of frozen energy at the area her fingernails had closed in- on nothing she could feel anyways- and she may as well have just been zapping air for all she knew. Still, if there was something there... the sentiment and her opinion of said individual would be well known by the gesture alone.

“There's more than one way to kill a spirit, I know several and am sure I can investigate several more. If this Ondine doesn't get the hint, I'll remember to seek her out later and make another example out of her the same way Nemera and I did of Saol.”

Her voice was easygoing, even good natured in tone, though the threat was unmistakable. Another voice chimed in, along with the sound of something padding with an occasional click, clack against the marble and stone floor. This one was deeper than Kira's own, with a light accent and an aura of power that filled the area, brushing against Kira's own aura and crackling before backing down in small, diamond-like bits of ice against the marble.

“A common enough threat out of the likes of you, I have heard it myself at least seven times each time I see you.”

From around one of the booths came a very familiar- and likely not unwelcome face- as she sauntered forward lazily with a yawn. A hint of mischief was in her pale eyes as she swatted at the space above Kira's head easily, like it was child's play and moved to Takua's side to sit, taller than he when she did so and gazed upon the former Ruem High Priestess for a moment before inclining her head and turning her attention to the boy beside her.

Now this would have to get a reaction out of this so called spirit, even if she herself couldn't sense or scent the presence. Her head lowered slightly as she butted against his shoulder, giving him a rather queenly, insulted glower before resting a paw, claws not entirely sheathed, against his leg.

“This is what happens when you young ones go without training and supervision for too long. Well? I believe you are to be scratching my ears now, especially since I've come to this accursed place to find where you were at this time.”

Kira smothered a smile and Sekai stared fascinated, the AI beside her explaining that she'd tell her everything later but just to enjoy the scene as it was right then. After all, it wasn't every day one impressive specimen of a snow leopard had a tendency to just waltz in, talking as if she owned the entire world and was bored with it, and sit right beside the currently... unwell Wavemaster and demand he do as she says.

The fact that Takua did exactly as she wanted to had Kira torn between two completely amusing and conflicting emotions. She settled on the one that made her shake her head and stifle her grin all the more. The poor bastard was so totally whipped and didn't even realize it.

Vesica, looking extraordinarily pleased with herself and just as haughty as Asorain tended to get in the middle of the courts, shifted and stretched herself out with her head against the Wavemaster's knee, as if she had all the right in the world to be there and dared everyone to say otherwise while the conversation continued. Her own conversation between her mistress and her own dignified self was taking place on the side as she was 'filled in' essentially on what had the boy's feathers so ruffled this time.

Neither one of them really knew what to do, Kira only requesting that she keep an eye on the kid for the remainder of the break and, for the love of God, to keep him out of their way for the next little while so that they could rest.

Speaking of rest, the kid stood and fell completely over, neatly sprawled in half over Vesica's back as she calmly rose and moved between the two groups as if about to demand all of them work on paying heed to the honor she bestowed upon them all by merely being there. Her eyes met Kira's own as she inclined her head in acknowledgment and understanding, allowing her and Sekai to adjust the kid into an easier traveling position.

“I suppose I should return with this one and see what can be done with him for the time being.”

She inclined her head again in Kira's direction.

“I shall speak with you later, Asorain.”

“Vesica.”

Kira replied lightly, somehow not in the least bothered by the way the feline addressed her by her true name and watched her old familiar vanish in a trio of ice rings that would take her to her field, leaving a bit of snow and melting ice behind in her wake. She yawned and stretched herself out with an audible series of crackling noises along her spine and turned to complain to the worried little Archer.

...and found her staring utterly transfixed in the direction her goddamn cat had gone.

“What's with you?”

“Peace is not only better than war, but infinitely more arduous.” - George Bernard Shaw



Sekai's face flushed with embarrassed color, caught at having been absolutely enthralled with the close encounter she'd had with such a beautiful animal and shuffled away from the curious woman staring at her. Such a big weakness against animals of most kinds, reptiles... not so much, insects either but... most things with fur or feathers? She couldn't help but stare and watch in awe at the often graceful, fluid and powerful movements that were as natural as breathing to them.

But... never, until this world, had she ever been able to get so... so close to so many wonderful animals; even some from actual legends were around to be awed over. How could she not be impressed and, as rude as it may have been, stare?

“I-it's nothing.”

She denied immediately, avoiding the woman's intense gaze for the moment. Shoot, she thought , sulking a little because she'd been caught in the middle of a rather silly moment on her end. Drat and bother, she wailed within her mind; Kira was surely going to tease her for being such a child about animals and then she'd never hear the end of it and-

“Little one,”

Sekai's head snapped up at the odd note strung along her nickname, tawny eyes suddenly growing to ridiculous, dinner plate sized proportions as she caught the malevolent glint within the amber depths of the woman grinning not too far from her. Something that might have been a squeak escaped as she backed up, both hands in the air as she tried to placate the AI at the same time she was looking for an escape route that wasn't going to get her immediately caught by the faster woman.

“L-Let's be rational about this; y-you don't always tell me everything and it's only fair tha- eek!'

Whatever she was going to say was drowned out by her shriek as Kira darted forward, reaching out to catch her by the arm- and missed. Eyes wide and startled, she bolted behind a pillar and peeked out from behind it with a rapidly pounding heart. A slightly less than sane, maniacal and predatory grin was on the AI's face and her broad shoulders were shaking with silent, wicked mirth as she stalked the girl slowly, deliberately letting her know what her intentions were with every move she made.

Sekai, naturally, did not approve of this in the least and continued to protest, begging and whining at Kira to knock it off and be nice until the woman made a move to try and get her around one side of the pillar.

Which resulted in the nimble little Archer bolting like a startled deer down towards the entry/exit to the Cathedral.

“Kira~!”

She half wailed, half breathlessly laughed the woman's name as she gave chase from the other side of the pew. Sekai paused just before the end of the last pew, glowing at the woman with her hands on her hips- something that the apparently too frisky AI decided to mock openly and imitate with a none too innocent grin on her face.

Amber eyes danced in anticipation as she waited for the girl to make her next decision, curious to see how fast this game would be wrapped up and in which direction it would turn. Yeah, she was still tired as hell and wanted some sleep- better quality this time and with that damn little slip of a girl kept in place- fairly soon.

Got her, Kira thought victoriously as the girl decided against whatever second plan she'd had and bolted immediately for the perpetually opened stone door that lead to safety.

She cut the girl off at the knees- sort of literally by tripping her with a well aimed throw and placement of the wrap she'd put to close off the robe she wore- and caught her when she stumbled. Grinning in victory despite the shriek of protest reverberating in her ears thanks to the acoustics within this damn place, Kira spun around, fingernails digging immediately into her shoulder as Sekai scrambled for some sort of hold on her silk clad form in an attempt stabilize her balance.

Goddamn this was fun.

“Mou, I'm not a sack of rice! Put me down, Kira!”

Her demands remained unmet, tawny eyes narrowing in immediate annoyance as she gave weight to a few different options she had left to her. Two of which would be taken the complete wrong way but, might be worth it purely for shock of a lifetime that it would give the currently over-arrogant and proud of herself AI carrying her around like some war trophy. But did she really have any other choice than to get her to drop her in surprise?

Sekai eyed the ground below her suspiciously. This might end up being painful, in which case, she could totally pin it all on Kira and make it her fault that she'd get hurt. On the other hand, she'd probably counter with a 'serves you right for not being obedient' comeback.

“Just sit tight and be a good gir-ow!”

Screw being a good girl.

She hit the ground with an audible oof on her back, managing to knock the wind out of herself but, successfully managing to get herself out of the obnoxious hold Kira'd been carrying her in for like five or ten minutes. Kira, on the other hand, was currently trying to see if the little shit had left any marks on her lightly tanned skin, rubbing the place that'd been bit with a scowl on her face as she loomed over the girl in an all too threatening manner.

“You bit me.”

The former Ruem High Priestess informed her, with no small amount of chagrin and disbelief in her voice, as she tapped her foot beside the girl's side. Oh the promise of retribution was positively visible in the air around the woman; Kira merely waiting to see just how bad she'd have to seek revenge on the little shit before making up her mind. Sekai, feeling rather bold after everything that had happened- not to mention all too self-righteous in her belief that she'd managed to shock Kira for once and that the AI had totally deserved it- merely stuck her tongue out and did her best to look perfectly dignified in a rather good impersonation of a court noble's typical expression.

Kira's eyes narrowed, a grin on her face as she pulled the stubborn girl to her feet and mock-glowered down at her. She'd figure some sort of suitable punishment for her cheeky behavior later; right now, she just wanted to enjoy the fact that the girl looked the least bit troubled and haunted than she had in... quite a long time really. She stretched, making the girl stand on the tips of her toes just be obnoxious by refusing to release her hand and mussed the girl's already unruly white hair.

“C'mon, let's go stock up right now. That way we'll have more time to sleep 'n such afterwards.”

After a long, thoughtful moment- and remembering that the goddamn Knights were probably prowling like the assholes they were- Kira examined Sekai a bit curiously, a critical eye going over her appearance with a nod as she helped the girl readjust the kimono back into place and asked a rather odd question.

“Can you change your hair color to black and your cheek marking to... I dunno, red or somethin'? I have an idea.”

Ten minutes later...

Sekai blinked, the left side of her hair held back by some jeweled white flower as she looked at Kira. She'd changed her hair, temporarily, to black and the... she thought it might have been a lotus blossom, had been put in as a sort of clip to keep one side of the longer part of her hair out of her face. The small stripe curving towards her cheekbone had been turned the same color as the burgundy kimono for the time being as well, leaving her looking like she was some Vak affiliated child or the daughter of a samurai lord or something like that.

Kira herself had turned her hair a rather pale shade of blonde, made it thicker, more unruly and pulled it into a high ponytail before... changing her clothing to something blue, white and with a very, very high slit on either side of the 'skirt'. It looked like some kind of karate gi crossed with a Chinese dress, she thought to herself in baffled admiration. She still held the icy appearance... just looked more ready to jump in like Chun Li or something, that being the only fighter from a game Sekai could really remember at the moment.

“It's basically a disguise; the Knights should at least have to do a double, maybe even a triple take before they come trying to hound us.”

The AI explained, looking like she was having a good deal of fun with this as the two of them walked out and let the faint sunlight drifting through the eternally partially cloudy sky warm what was exposed of themselves... which wasn't much on Sekai's end and what was, as Kira considered, decent amount without being too terribly sluttish.

Mac Anu was bustling as usual, still filled with chattering newbies and the occasional annoying person who spoke robotically that usually wound up killed in the next twenty seconds by some ripped off player or another.

Be calm and don't worry; you're cute as hell and I'm sexy. We won't attract much attention if we act normally. Let's get items first, Magic stuff is over there, I'll look at Healing Items on my end.

Sekai nodded, the tiny wooden sandals on her feet, emblazoned with red, faded with a hollow, wooden sound as she headed for the store- hopefully not accosted by anyone she'd have to kill later on- and vanished into the crowd. Damn little thing was so cute, Kira thought to herself, frowning at the fact that the rich color looked rather good on the girl and made a vow to see her in her Wave's color to compare how they looked later on.

Now, time for some actual good old fashioned item hunting. She'd tell the merchant to hold until Sekai found her over where she'd told her she'd be- unless permission was given or Sekai said she didn't need anything else. Passing by a stall, the cold loving Long Arm in disguise paused, doing a slight double take at the person sitting behind the stall with a none too obvious eyebrow raise of amusement.

Baron? The hell was that kid doing out in the open where the Knights could get him and- hello,what was this he was selling?

Water Magic. Someone she knew could probably use that... after she was doing watching Talal dent his skull a little, that is.

Kira paused, eyeing the rather... interesting item being sold and grinned in private humor. Because the two of them were in disguise to keep their identities hidden in the root town- safer and because it was fun to play pretend sometimes- she didn't have to worry about being recognized by any of the Eventide Crescendo members... or those in the Army of Darkness. Reaching over and hefting the book in one hand, the currently pale blonde ponytail swung forward over a blue and white furred collar as she smiled at the boy behind the cart.

"How 'bout 5250 for this thing? Bit of extra for the trouble."

This was going to be a hell of a lot of fun if she did this right. Why not take the opportunity to have a little fun every once in a while? Shit was going to get serious enough here real soon and she wanted to at least have something fairly light hearted to keep herself- and later on Sekai as well- from going insane from the violence and insanity that was going to probably hit the fan.

"I'm sorry, m'am, but with those rare markings on the side, I'd have to raise the bar to at least 5,500 GP. Of course, with a kiss from the pretty lady, I could be tempted to lower my prices a little more."

Rare markings her ass; if those were rare, she was Vulcan's personal bed slave. With a heavy, almost melancholy sigh, mournful jewel colored eyes rested on the book before drifting up to the Twin Blade's face. Sex appeal should work on this one, poor kid couldn't quit blushing whenever a hot spring was mentioned- or something in his brain made some connection to said occurance.

"You must have worked so hard for this, it's really a shame that I'm not able to afford that 500 you're asking for..."

She was going to win an award for best fucking actress ever. Flattery, she thought to herself with glee, thy name was bullshit. The arctic blue clad woman shifted closer, leaning with both hands on the table, seemingly unaware of the way the garment parted in just the right way in the front.

"Lower it to 5,250 and I'd be more than willing to accommodate you, if you know what I mean."

Kira-in-Disguise shrugged one shoulder flirtatiously, a coy wink adding to the suggestive comment... and almost broke into hysterical laughter when he went ass over end off his stool to smack into the cobblestone below. Oh yes, this was definitely going to provide her with some light hearted amusement later on. Watching him play pissy old-young shopkeeper was almost even more entertaining.

Almost.

"You're not like most blondes, miss. I almost thought you had planned that in advance, but that might be giving you too much credit. However, between the rare volume there and my new medical bill, I might have to raise the price to 5,500 GP and the kiss."

Oh sure, blame the woman for the male's natural instinctive reaction. Kira thought with a mental roll of her eyes and smiled sweetly, disarmingly, and fluttered long dark lashes in his direction, angling herself to perch on the edge of the table and examined teal colored nails a moment.

"You'd blame lil ol' me for an unstable stool?"

Not that she'd admit that it had kind of, sort of... in some small way, been a little bit her fault.

A gratuitous amount of hurt and pout went into the incredulously asked question, tapping her fingernails in a careful, idle manner on the wood of the stand, she tried to look like she was thinking hard- when in all actuality she was ready to shove the bag of GP in a place where the sun didn't reach without encouragement- before a bright idea seemed to hit her a good thirty or so seconds later.

How's he respond to getting' hit on by some weird woman who seems several elements short of a full circle of priestesses? Kira wondered with a bit of curiosity... and a good deal of ill-intent behind her plan.

"Ooh, I know what I can do to make it worth your while!"

She gushed with... a somehow naughty sounding giggle at the end. One hand pressed to her mouth, as if she were trying to stifle the sound, before she removed it to speak and shifted her weight a little more. One foot gently perched on the far corner, exposing a length of shapely leg and revealing that there indeed was a slit on the side of that dress-like karate wrap she wore.

"I could... kiss your boo boos too in addition to the 5,250 I'd be more than willing to pay you."

She smiled coyly, looking demurely at him from half lowered lashes as she awaited his response.

Take the bait, Kira willed him mentally, wondering if there were such things as psychic abilities and shit like that. Time would tell certainly here in a moment or three.

"Well, alright, m'dear, I guess that's fair. One little peck on the cheek should make all of my aches and pains go away, if you're so inclined."

Kira was going to kill him for this, but it was so worth it. Part of her wondered at her own shamelessness in purposefully using what she had to, ahh, get what she wanted. The rest of her kicked that guilty-feeling part of her's ass and stole the rest of her GP. She wasn't human and thus she didn't play by human rules.

Peck on the cheek huh.

For a moment, Kira almost felt it was a damn cryin' shame that the kid wasn't able to feel anything about to happen. More because she liked playing with her fo-err-prey, yeah, that was it, her prey a little too much. Ahh well, might as well give him something else to blush about. It'd be fun giving him hell about it later.

"Sounds like a good idea to me! Lean forward a bit pleaaaaaase." "

When had she had this much fun again? Oh yeah, not in a long freaking time.

So when he leaned in, Kira had to resist the utter temptation to revert to her normal, more than dominating self, and grab him by the collar to drag him closer. Part of her wanted his reaction if he really did go through with it. The rest of her? Was grinning her ass off wondering how far he was going to play the game.

Watch him turn pale, a rather immature part of her shouted with sadistic glee- fucking hell, was it possible for one's own mind to get drunk off of nothing?- and proceeded to laugh at the look on the poor kid's face.

"You're very good at this, Kira. You must have had a lot of experience with a special someone, hm? And here I thought you had a heart of ice."

Well, on one hand? She was pretty damn impressed with the kid for actually going through to it. On the other? Never again would she do that with someone not in "The World"; it was just spine shivering; and not in the pleasant way either. There wasn't a name for the feeling either, like they were there but not at the same time. Definitely on the side of creepy feeling.

After drawing back, fluttering her eyelashes and about to make a shy, silly comment, when she heard the comment. Son of a bitch, he'd figured it out had he? Well, she was gonna give him some serious shit about it.... right after she made him feel like a complete and total dumbass. Hurt and an angry flush immediately covered her features as she made to slap him, open palmed, across the face with an indignant huff.

"You dare?! You- you big jerk! I offer to be nice and everything and you just, just,"

Indignant court female role played better than Niarosa or any of those other stupid twits brought to you by, Kira thought, snarky by nature and almost damn near rolled her eyes at her own bullshit.

The blonde haired woman buried her face in her hands and proceeded to burst into loud tears.

"You call me by another woman's name and have the nerve to say I've done things with others?! JERK! Meanie!"

Could she kill herself for this? Yes, yes she could, Kira thought grimly. There was such a thing as killing ones self with too much acting and she was definitely going for that.

"Pardon me, miss, but I believe it's simply a case of mistaken identity. You remind me of a friend. As for the other remark, I was complimenting you on how well you kissed, since it was so natural and well done it seemed like you were experienced. I deeply regret my mistake, but that's no reason to attack the shopkeeper. Keep up this naughty attitude and I'll have to raise prices again. Now, we've decided to settle at 5,500 GP. Let's end this little transaction, shall we?"

Like hell he was getting the full amount he wanted just for a little sweet talking; fuck that noise. She sniffled, glowering at him suspiciously as she wiped at her eyes with a corner of her dress, revealing more leg than should be considered proper as she replied.

"You're not a nice person if you would say something like that, especially if it's to another girl."

More sniffles as she tugged her wrist free and cradled it like he'd hurt her, shoulder slumped and her lips settled into a hurt pout as she shook her head.

"For being a big meanie, I'm only going to say 5,350. No more."

Kissing ass would so not save him from the ass kicking she promised to give him for 'no apparent reason' later on. Ugh, this was something bad, she thought in well hidden disgust as he kissed her hand. Bad, evil memories of the courts flickered at the surface, disgruntling her and suddenly making this transaction end as quickly as possible seemed like a good idea.

"I'm sorry, young lady, if I made you upset or offended you in any way. Please accept my sincerest apologies for anything I have said and done. I meant no harm, and I hope you can see it that way. How about I let the price stand at 5,500 GP, and then I'll see you out, at very least? Does that sound reasonable, to begin to show the depths of my sorrow at causing tears to flow down your beautiful face?"

Kira made a mental note never to let him near any of the women she knew; and definitely nowhere near Sekai if he was going to pull this kind of crap. Sniffling and quite clearly still pulling off the 'I'm very insulted and mad at you" attitude most blondes she'd seen were more than proficient at, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the rather gentlemanly gesture.

"Even if you escort me out, you really hurt my feelings and were a big meanie. If I wasn't so low leveled, I'd teach you how you should, like, really teach a lady!"

She seemed to think for a very, very long moment before sighing, slipping into a sulking pout of a stubborn girl probably more around the age of 13 or 14 than, well, whatever Kira was.

"5400. Not a GP more."

Had she mentioned she was actually rather good at playing different roles? No? Good; this one wasn't one she was wanting to play again any friggen time in the future. She gave a brief half-assed looking American-ish wave at his bow, at least, she thought it might have been American looking, before disappearing into the crowd with the book safely being given into Sekai's care for the time being.

“Better item selection over in Lambda; let's head over there. We can get some stuff done and relax before we head back to that cathedral of yours.”

Kira remarked dryly as she looped her arm around the small kimono clad girl's waist and sauntered off towards the Chaos Gate. Sekai selected the server, closed her eyes- as per habit, she hated the white-black nothingness of going in between fields and root towns- as they were whisked away to their final destination.

It was still just as pretty as before- the sky that is- Sekai thought to herself somewhat happily as Kira's arm slipped away from her waist, arm brushing against hers as the two of them, for the moment, kept their disguises on for the time being and walked hand in hand through the nightlife bustling through the vendor-lit streets.

For a while, they just browsed, neither one of them really actively sure what on earth they should be buying or looking for- probably some Gan based items, armors and the like as well as things to improve the group's defense against what... well, whatever might come their way with a nasty tolerance against the Juk element itself.

They'd just begun to examine some rather good looking equipment when a very familiar, very loud chime startled the everliving hell out of the smaller of the two women into jumping half a foot into the air.

Was... was it time to go back already? Sekai wondered, a pained, anxious expression crossing her face as she braced herself and checked the sender.

On one hand, this sounded rather important. On the other... her eyes flickered to Kira's patiently waiting for an explanation as to why she'd suddenly stopped in the middle of their shopping trip. What should she do? She wanted to spend more time with Kira, just a bit more before they went back to sleep a bit more, to regain their strength to as full potential as possible before their return...

But....

“Something come up?”

“Though we carry on our back
the burden time always reveals
The lonely light of morning
and the wound that would not heal” - 'Fallen' by Sarah McLachlan


The look on her face was answer enough without having to ask, Kira thought to herself with a bit of a wry twist to the corner of her lips. Damn girl needed to learn to quit being so indecisive and stop worrying about the reactions of the people around her already so she could stop tearing herself apart.

“What's it say?”

Get her to talk and she might just spill what was going on, Kira thought with a bit of a mental eye roll. Sometimes, it was harder to get that girl to talk than it was to get her into a fight and actively participate in it. It was mostly guess work until you had her figured out well enough... or hit too many wrong buttons and watched the explosion as a result.

Sekai fidgeted uneasily in place, looking clearly like she didn't know quite how to say what was going on without either hurting or offending the woman in front of her. With a heavy sense of guilt and frantic misery shooting between their link, the Juka blessed Archer bowed sharply in apology, the flower nearly falling out of place from the force of the action before the words tumbled out of her in a messy storm.

“I-I'm so very sorry. Um, B-Baron-san... Baron-san has something, it sounds important, to speak with me about and there's a place I'm supposed to meet him at but I don't know entirely what I should do or if I should go because I-”

If it weren't so busy and not in a place that'd probably attract unwanted attention, Kira would have kissed her just to shut her up and prevent her from hyperventilating. Instead, she reached out and silenced her with a combination of adjusting the crystallized flower back into place and with a soft reprimand to calm down through their link. Good lord the girl turned frantic at the drop of a Fortune Wire, she thought ruefully, somehow bemused by the reaction and indecision.

“Can't be helped, I suppose.”

She was going to kill him for this.

“Get done what you need to be done; I'll wait for you in Theta. Let me know when you're on your way and I'll pick you up.”

Anxiety ridden expression and eyes stared uncertainly at the rather calm AI, it was no small surprise to the younger girl that she was taking the sudden interruption without swearing or throwing some minor cursing about and being well behaved. Kira scowled indignantly at her, leaning close enough to knock their foreheads together despite the height difference and tapped her nose with her finger.

“Don't give me that look, I fully intend to monopolize your time after this. Don't be too long or I'll pull the keywords from your memory and track you myself to spirit you away.”

There was the smile she'd wanted, Kira thought in smug satisfaction at the light blush that accompanied the shy, whole-hearted smile that she'd never seen the girl give to anyone else. With a hasty reset of her character's coloring and the removal of the kimono, Sekai was back to her normal, armored self with the snowy hair and the green, brown and gold color scheme that suited her much better than anything else she'd seen so far. Remembering to be polite, she took a small moment to compose and send a flashmail in response to the one Baron-san had sent to her.

She noticed- with no small amount of pride- the pale pink, white and gold lotus she'd given the girl as a minor decoration was carefully stored as a key item of sorts, or rather, what players called “important” items within their inventory. Well, apparently she'd chosen well on what the girl liked, or at least, had been more than a little lucky at guessing. With everything back in order, Kira herself returning to normal as well, Sekai bowed once more in apology before running for the Chaos Gate like the demons of Hell themselves were on her heels.

She watched the girl's faint form, barely distinguishable due to her pale hair coloring, reach the gate and vanish in a trio of gold rings rimmed in blue light- and felt herself slip into a mild sulk.

Baron had better have some damn important news or so help his God, she'd have her spear jammed so far up his ass that he'd give Saol's disembodied head a run for his money.

*

Fresh air in Theta gave her a moment's pause, her eyes closing as the winds ruffled through her hair. A light shiver swept down her back as she recalled, very, very vaguely the first time she'd ever been to this server... and the last time she'd been there as well rather unhappily.

'My behavior was unbefitting of someone in the Army of Darkness; I must rectify this in the future and apologize to my fellow clansmen for my poor and unprofessional performance the last time we interacted.'

Entering in the keywords seemed easy enough- but when she arrived to the level twenty-six... field she'd never seen around before? Something told her she had the wrong area. She didn't think Baron-san had gone into a jungle type field... not yet anyways, not something that would have reminded him of Juk and where they'd be returning to anyways.

Warping back out with red staining her cheeks in embarrassment, Sekai rechecked the flashmail and carefully put the correct words into the generator before they whisked her away to where, hopefully, Baron-san wasn't too impatiently waiting for her to get there. Sweltering heat embraced her to the point where she whimpered audibly from the shock. A kiln, she was in a kiln of some sort, there was no other possible explanation for what was taking place around her. Gasping as sweat began trickling down her face and back, seeping into the leather and darkening it as well as sending uncomfortable sensations of beaded moisture in an almost alluring drop down her spine, Sekai shook her head and began to run for where she hoped the dungeon would be.

'That's right; there are many fields I haven't been to yet. This is one of them... how will I fair in the others?'

An eerie whirl followed by a sound of gusty release came from somewhere to her left gave her cause to spin around, eyes wide and blurring from the heat as the portal released a trio of monsters that quickly caught either her scent or presence and headed for her.

She remembered one of them from a prior encounter; the terrifyingly oversized blades of the Amor Shogun seemed to be... bigger now that she was in a clear mindset and more imposing since she was on her own in the field. The two Lead Snakoids were nothing in comparison to the damage their larger ally could have done.

The small girl ran, having to leap over the cracks of lava that wanted to dissolve her flesh and rend her defenseless and in a good deal of pain from the temperature alone, not to include what kind of permanent damage it might do to her if she wasn't careful about where she set her feet. Whirling around and pulling the Daikyu Bow from her inventory- a beautiful curved specimen of blue-black wood gleaming orange-ish in the heat of the fire field's light that reached at least a foot taller than she herself stood- and gripped the bowstring determinedly in hand.

This was not the place she would die at, nor would she allow these monsters to intimidate her after everything she'd been through.

'I have people I need to protect; I cannot allow myself to be felled here in a place like this!'

“Ice Arrow of Mist!”

The bow's size added to the sheer amount of power within it, her eyes widening to considerable, impressed sizes as the arrow shot forth like a miniature missile, a crackling, hissing whistle zipping through the air as the projectile sank its icy talons deep within the chest of one of the approaching lizardmen and actually exited out the other side.

The look on her face probably would have even made the rather serious Sidhe crack a smile in amusement, as if she couldn't believe that it had been her arrow and her attack that had done such a thing.

Said expression turned even more comical when she watched the monster turn to nothing but data particles and fade to nothingness in the suffocating heat.

In much the same way, the other two Lead Snakoids were dispatched, swiftly, efficiently and with no less amount of humorous disbelief and shock value for the gentle spirited Archer. A blade directly across the back, followed up with by a second searing pain sent her rolling, a decent size of her HP completely obliterated by the sheer force of the physical attack. Ashes and embers burned, somewhat cauterizing the wound but leaving it painful in a number of other ways as she focused first on smiting out the smoldering embers threatening to set her on fire and backed away, ducking beneath another strike that threatened to open her throat and a second partner strike that would have bisected her had she not been watching for it.

No skills on this one meant that she'd have to play hard, firing three arrows of normal type before he even stopped swinging and left her aching, stinging and burning with a throbbing back and burning skin. Never before had she thought reaching a dungeon would feel better than trying to explore and make sure she was going in the proper direction, not to mention test her current strength and ability in case she needed to improve.

It seemed easier to breathe once she'd gone away from the overwhelming heat of the field. Taking a moment to rest outside of the dungeon, the small white haired girl shuddered after a moment, the very distant, faint memory of another such field stretching itself just out of her grasp. Somehow chilled despite the temperature of the area around her, the tawny eyed girl quickly slipped into the dungeon.

After her initial surprise and admiration of the almost comforting ember-orange glow that held enough heat not to be uncomfortable but was still in the tolerable range of being able to breathe and move about easily, Sekai followed the long hall until it opened into a wide open space that had her feeling her distinctive lack of height. Had crystals within the cavern-like dungeons always been so very pretty? The high school girl wondered to herself idly and wandered through the smaller hallway into the next room with an awestruck expression in her eyes.

Realizing that she was meeting Baron-san, alone, and without knowing what it was that he wished to speak to her about, however, threw her back into a rather solemn, nervous mood. Swallowing hard and feeling rather more timid than usual, she slipped into the main area and glanced around, wondering if she'd made a mistake or had gone to the other dungeon entrance by mistake.

“Baron-san?”

She called out uneasily, eyes shifting around as she tensed, trying to sense if anyone or anything was about in the near-silent dungeon and took a step further into the foyer of the massive cave-like structure. Most of the time, when she'd need to meet someone, they were usually standing, not sitting on the ground. Wonder when that had changed, she thought to herself with a bit of surprise. When had she stopped keeping her eyes on the ground and begun looking at the world with a raised head?

Putting that thought away for latter dissection, she watched Baron rise from his seat and stay where he was. Maybe she was supposed to come over there? Or should she stay where she was for the time being?

“Ah, Sekai. I’m… glad you could make it. Thanks for coming on such short notice.”

Indecision ate at her before she took a few more steps forward, closing the distance just a little more before stopping and looking around the area again. Something about the hesitant, odd note in his voice caught her by surprise, the young woman blinking a few times before looking at the somehow different Twin Blade.

His clothing and appearance had changed. Curiosity displaced indecision as she closed the distance even further, studying his new look and recalling the old one within her mind to compare the two.

The jacket was vaguely familiar, she thought she might have seen something similar to it before but, wasn't terribly sure as she took in the scheme. The symbol on his shirt was familiar too, something kind of like it was on Kira's left bicep, maybe she should ask about that when the time was right. All in all, it wasn't a terribly drastic change, but, it wasn't subtle enough not to escape her notice and seemed appropriate, at least, from what she knew of the person in front of her.

'I wonder if my arms looked like that back in the days when I was a Twin Blade...'

“It was no trouble at all, is... everything alright?”

She asked, finally responding to the greeting in her usual soft spoken, gentle manner, arms at her sides and her posture unusually straight and proper for someone her age. Old habits died hard and things she'd been taught growing up didn't fade as quickly as she might have wished; being polite and always having proper form were two of such habits.

He seemed to look for someone, who else was meeting them? Sekai wondered vaguely, as he spoke and inquired about Kira's whereabouts, whatever hesitant note she'd thought she'd heard wasn't there anymore.

Maybe... maybe she'd imagined it?

“I’m alright, Sekai, though I appreciate your concern. However, I only wanted to speak to you about a few things, if that’s alright. I’d imagine Kira’s gonna be listening in, am I right?”

Sekai blinked in confusion, one hand coming up to bite nervously at her thumbnail out of habit before she cautiously responded. Maybe... maybe her flashmail hadn't gone through for some reason? It would be a question to ask later on, after he said whatever he needed to say. For the moment though... Sekai shook her head at first before attempting to keep eye contact while she spoke, the hours of rest she'd gotten had done wonders- despite the incident with Takua-san within her favorite place and a few other things that had happened along the way- for her ability to communicate and, well, interact on a somewhat normal basis now.

“Um... maybe my flashmail hadn't gotten back to you after all. I was under the impression that it was just me you wished to speak to.”

Anxiety lingered quietly in her eyes as she slightly ducked her head, looking like she wasn't sure suddenly if she'd done the right thing or not. After a moment, she quickly spoke back up.

“If... if that wasn't the case, I'm truly very sorry, she can be here in a few minutes if I call her. She stayed back at the Cathedral to wait.”

Had she done a bad thing by not having Kira come with her? She wondered, suddenly anxious that she'd entirely screwed everything up. Her fretting was soon calmed, at least a little bit, by the words he said next.

“Alright, I need to first explain that, while Kira isn’t here, there is another watcher present, only he is, in essence, like Kira is to you, without the ability to manifest, etc. Well, maybe not the same, but he is there. Actually-”

A pause and his character seemed to stiffen up for a long moment as his character's eyes seemed to turn more... inward in a way that Sekai recalled all too well that Mika had pointed out a few times to her when they'd been playing in the earlier... older days before she'd gone comatose.

An AI? She wondered suddenly, curious and- wait.

Someone who was like Kira was to her? She blinked, adjusting to the information and an odd feeling that, well, things were about to get just a little complicated because, well, she didn't quite thing Baron knew just what kind of... position she and Kira were in and-

“Actually, Libra himself can explain. One moment.”

It was an AI!

Finally, some familiar ground on which she had some prior knowledge to and could be of use for! Her eyes lit up as she tried her best not to fidget with excitement, tawny depths almost expectant, though patient as she kept herself on her best behavior.
Se
“Hello… Sekai, is it? My name is Libra. I’m glad that I have the opportunity to talk with you.”

The deeper, still obviously male voice completely threw her off. Tawny eyes widened to comical proportions as two and two connected to make four in her head. Oh. That kind of thing, well, she wasn't one necessarily to, ahh, judge considering her own... situation with Kira and all. But... it was still quite the surprise to the small white haired Archer. It made her slightly happier though, now she had someone she could definitely connect with and talk to about that subject without having the awkwardness she believed would follow from anyone else.

'Familiar territory at long last! Maybe Baron-san needs advice on how to handle AI of a different nature than oneself; I know I wished I had help back then!'

She was quick to bow, deep and respectful, for a long moment before rising up to complete her own greeting. Formalities were something that she was almost unnaturally good at, especially when making introductions.

“Haji- I mean, it is a pleasure to meet you, Libra-san, thank you for treating Baron-san kindly and guiding him.”

“Goumo, Sekai-san. I haven’t been with Baron all that long, actually, so he’s done everything up to this point himself. However, I’m afraid I’ll have to dispense with formalities for a moment since I’m only speaking through Baron to give you the opportunity to meet me. He didn’t want to be rude with an unknown third-party listener around. I hope you don’t mind my presence.”

She blinked, more than a little surprised and- as it showed for an instant on her face- relieved that she wasn't the only one who knew her native language, Kira not exactly counting considering she was fluent in English and Japanese. Nii-san had been picking the language up fairly well the last time she'd spoken with him so... maybe eventually she could take a bit of a break from practicing trying to speak so much of the other language and indulge in her own some time in the future.

“I have, um, grown used to there being at least one individual with an, as you and he both have called it, unknown third party around.”

Sekai gave a shy smile, a rare glimpse into the sense of humor the girl possessed revealing itself as she shifted her weight from one foot to another, apparently unfazed at the appearance of Libra and the knowledge that he existed... which probably said a lot for what kind of experience she'd had within “The World” thus far. Not to mention she seemed... almost comfortable around another AI's presence rather than the usual nervous, almost anxious fiddling awkwardness she generally had around other individual players; both comatose and not.

“So, um, it doesn't bother me, if that is what Libra-san and Baron-san are concerned about. It... it's actually a bit, um, how does one say... normal? For me at this point.”

“Not at all. See, what I believe Baron wants to talk to you about is a matter of the hea-“

Curiosity at whatever Libra had been about to say was quickly, and politely, tamped down so that her attention and concentration was solely focused on the conversation between herself and Baron. There wasn't even a pause or the blink of an eye when the two returned to their former places, was this how it had been at times prior to when she and Kira had their bond as it was now? Her expression was patient, still lightly curious, and attentive, hands properly folded in front of her as she listened.

“Sorry about that, Sekai. Libra, unfortunately, misunderstood why I intended to speak with you. See, though he is an AI, and can feel the full range of emotions and such, he hasn’t had experience with a good portion of them, being what he calls ‘completely neutral.’ So he misunderstood my pleasure at being able to meet with you as… something more. I apologize.

She wanted to shake her head, to tell him that it was alright and not to worry too terribly much about any of it until he continued, fully intent on apparently saying what he needed to. Had... he been preparing this for a while? Sekai wondered curiously and refocused her attention back on the black dressed Twin Blade.

After a moment, something suddenly clicked in her head so clearly she wanted to wail in horror with what she'd nearly wanted to talk, and thus, give him advice about.

Realization flooded her cheeks with embarrassed heat, she'd completely misinterpreted what had been said about Baron and Libra's bond. Oops, rather good thing she'd kept her mouth shut and not said anything, might have been a bit more awkward at that point.

Now, for the real reason I asked you to come here- I wanted to discuss something with you, to clear up why I’ve been so… well, distant with you since the lighthouse at the Juk Prison. I feel sort of guilty for letting it continue so long, but this is something better spoken in private.”

Embarrassment faded at the mentioning of the Juk field- and what had happened after the mines. Whatever that might have been aside from the lingering suspicion that the memory had been purposefully taken from her... leaving her only with the sensation that she'd been violated in more than one sense of the word and that it had felt all too familiar.

“To be honest, it may seem strange, but you remind me dearly of a… long-departed friend of mine. Her name was Marissa, and while you two don’t look alike physically, you’re very much alike in spirit and strength. When I saw you, standing through your suffering after whatever had grabbed you when we left the mines, you reminded me strongly of her, something I had tried to forget.”

Definitely not earning any points in the cool department, she thought with a mental groan at the mention of that event.

Her eyes lowered for the moment, unsure as to how she wanted to address that particular sore spot and hint that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong- and quickly found a reason not to think of it for the time being in the explanation behind his behavior.

“You see… I had loved Marissa. I was there when she died, and I thought a part of my heart had died with her. However, that moment revealed that it wasn’t yet gone, and it began to linger, and fester. Unsure of my feelings, I tried to remain distant, until I sorted it out. But I think I finally understand it, now. You’re not Marissa, but my mind tried to use you to fill that void I felt.”

Grief for someone she didn't even know filled her expression- pity nowhere in sight, merely a genuine regret and sorrow- as a hand came up and covered her mouth at the news. It... it wasn't something she could understand, not by any means, not really anyways but...

It was still painful to hear.

“However, I’ve come to terms with that. I… I just wanted to make sure you understood my aloofness of late, and not take it wrong. I value you as a good friend, and I don’t want anything to cause that to end.”

Restraining the tears that had immediately sprung forth at the thought, the small white haired girl took a moment to absorb it all in and swallowed hard before answering, a definite catch in her voice and the expression in her eyes still strong.

“I-I'm so very sorry for your loss, that... that must have been such a painful moment and to have been reminded of it...”

She bit her lip, struggling to find the words that might have been okay to say, trying to figure out what the wrong thing to say would have been before shaking her head and looking back up. Her hands were once again folded in front of her as she tried to do her best to convey... whatever it was she could to the Twin Blade in front of her.

“I... I was troubled, a little, by what I thought was some kind of inner struggle, especially there near the end of the battle with Saol-san,”

Polite even when it came to her enemies.

“But I... how do I say it. I'm not... I'm not glad that such an event happened and caused such painful memories for Baron-san, far from it. I am, I believe, glad that Baron-san was able to get everything resolved and get, um, closure? I think the word is.”

Her smile was a little teary, the lingering brightness in her golden eyes still telling.

“Um... I'm sure Marissa-san is Baron-san's, um... guardian spirit? I'm not sure if that is the proper term for the position but, I believe she is guarding over you and that your feelings have reached her.”

She smiled again, a little less watery this time and definitely a good deal more shy with a telling coloring of her cheeks.

“I... um, I value Baron-san as a good friend too, and I don't... I don't see why that would change at any time in the future.”

His smile told her that she hadn't said the wrong thing after all, relief mixed in with a sense of release, of one less thing about someone she needed to protect, to watch out for, faded quietly into nothingness; the issue resolved as much- or completely- as it was going to this day.

“Thank you, Sekai. You have no idea what that means to me, really. And yes, I’m sure Marissa is out there, watching over me somewhere. In fact, I know she is, and she’s waiting for the day where we’ll be together again. Anyway, I think we should get going now- Gyl could call at any moment, and we’ll need to be ready.”

He headed for the doorway, passing by her to exit back into the sweltering heat that she herself was nowhere near looking forward to returning to- not even for a second- and paused, turning around to face her with a rather interestingly amused grin on his face. Or at least, what she thought was an amused grin on his face, the light around him made it hard for her to tell.

His words, however, carried his amusement more than well.

“Oh, and the next time you see Kira? Tell her she looks good as a blonde, alright?”

Sekai stared after him, absolutely dumbfounded as she tried to comprehend exactly what those words were supposed to mean exactly, and when on earth he'd managed to be able to see the normally silvery-blue haired woman as a blonde-

....

Ooh she was going to be in so much trouble and have some explaining to do when she got back to Lambda server!

“You're the only one I ever believed in; the answer that could never be found
the moment we decided to let love in
Now I'm bangin' on the door of an angel
The end of fear is where we begin; the moment we decided to let love in.”- 'Let Love In' by the Goo Goo dolls


Kira stared at the starry sky above her, arms tucked behind her head as she tried to figure out if there were any constellations up there that might have been within the human world as well. She'd have more luck if someone friggen sent her some kind of example on what to look for but, gazing like this, searching like she always seemed to be doing as of late, kept her mind from going to places that were ugly and unwelcome at this time.

Also kept her mind off the fact that there was no soft spoken little source of warmth right beside her either.

There wasn't a whole lot of time and yet, so much had gone past already. Only yesterday it seemed, maybe it was her distorted sense of what humans called 'time', like she'd been wandering her world, endless and empty field after endless and empty field that gave her nothing but satisfaction lasting mere moments before fading.

Before that restlessness, that undeniable, uncontrolled instinct to keep looking for something she couldn't put a name to or describe, would seize her in a vice like grip and send her on to her next conquest. War did not sustain her for long, the atrocities she'd committed were numerous and several had met their unfortunate end as the Juka Sprites had- or appeared to- at her hands and those of the armies she'd led before.

It wasn't something she was proud of- by no means did she enjoy what she'd done even now- but, neither was it something she agonized and spent so many sleepless nights over, ruing the day she'd ever been “born” if her only purpose had been to be the catalyst to destruction.

Kira shifted, rolling on to her side for a moment as she studied a chunk of quartz embedded within the stone in front of her eyes. The roof of the building the same stone as everything else as she frowned at the oddity. That was something she didn't understand in the least; was it something about the emotional voices and enthusiastic 'playing' that these humans did that attracted her kind? Was it merely a desire, subconscious, to be just like them in some ways?

And why was it that she was having such a difficult time with adjusting to the new things she could practice and further use to her own means? Why did it seem like the others of her kind seemed to have a distinctive edge and- dare she say it- lead on how to best use it to their advantage?

It's all just imitation and playing pretend; a 'game' the AI kind play in the same way that the humans play in our world; roles reversed and whatnot.

She thought at the fleck of quartz with a concentrated frown furrowing her brow. That hollow feeling she'd held for so long within her breast was filling- slowly but surely- and whatever it was? It was filling in a different hole, a different part of her that she hadn't even realized had been missing to begin with.

“It doesn't feel fake though.”

The Ruem princess confessed after a long moment's worth of contemplation and heavy thought. It was true; something about the way she'd noticed the other AI react- especially those she knew personally like Torvald or Jadin- in comparison to how she herself acted with the data received and assimilated into herself. The only one she could think of that was remotely like her and- with as much hatred and disgust as it brought her to admit to such a thing- was that motherfucking asshole that she had yet to slaughter completely in battle.

Trent.

A small part of her chewed on that nasty piece of thought for the moment, turning it over and examining it the same exact way she'd generally turn anything that bothered her or was of great dislike in her mind. How was it that she saw him as similar to someone such as herself? He was one of the human made ones; not born from anomalies like those she knew- at least, as far as she was aware anyways- and yet, in comparison even to her own opposing wave and dungeon twin?

Trent was still the one who seemed the least...

She frowned. The least... what exactly? Tame? That was for shittin' sure, slimy bastard was about as easy to catch, corner and kill as one of those Named Goblins covered in Burning Oil with an Ap Do cast on them. Merciful? No, that wasn't it; that fucker had a cruel streak about as wide- if not wider- than her own well hidden one.

Son of a bitch, what was it?

Fake.

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the quartz sticking out of the stone as if it personally had given her the answer... and probably had a tone in its nonexistent voice that told her that this answer should have been more than a little obvious.

But, that was it exactly; Trent didn't feel fake- ugh and that was a gross way to put it- when she sensed his presence and during their few encounters with one another. Amber eyes darkened in confusion, there was something there; an answer that would solve so very many of her questions if she'd only just reach a little further.

Not fake; he didn't seem fake, didn't speak fake and didn't act as if he were fake. What in the fucking hell was it that those points she saw in herself and in him as well that had to do with this answer right on the tip of her tongue?! What separated the two of them- as much as it pained and disgusted her to lump herself in with the likes of his soon-to-be-dead ass- from the rest of those who called “The World” their own?

Come to think of it; someone else had that vibe too, that very same one that she got off of Trent, the one she got when she was face to face with herself when no one else was around to see or hear it, but who was it exactly?

A face started to appear in her mind, the name on the tip of her tongue along with a sense of knowledge, of instinct, telling her that this person held all the answers. If only... if only she could just remember their name-

“How does Baron-san know you were a blonde today?”

Merrows be damned and may Vulcan and Wryneck get theirs in the form of one of Yarthkins' and Krake's goddamn gender neutral mindfucks, Kira swore vehemently as a strangled noise that sounded rather suspiciously like a shriek being throttled halfway by what should have been a yelp of surprise. Sekai nearly fell off the roof; startled by the reaction just as badly as Kira had been startled by her presence and voice coming from motherfucking nowhere.

Glowering at one another for scaring the ever-living bejeesus out of each other, Sekai was the first one to break the annoyed tension between the two of them with a soft laugh. The sound itself relaxed the lines in Kira's scowl as she grinned in response and chuckled for a moment or two along side the girl with a shake of her head.

“That was fairly quick, no trouble along the way I take it?”

The girl looked like she was feeling better, some residual heat pouring off of her as her body attempted to readjust to the much cooler air in the open city-like server and she took a seat next to her, head resting heavily against her shoulders as she gave a solemn look to the AI and narrowed her tawny eyes.

“You don't get to laugh at me if I tell you. Promise?”

Her voice sounded sullen as faint color began to darken her cheeks. Oh good Gods, Kira thought to herself, staring at the girl in dismay as she tried to figure out what the hell she should say or do in this kind of situation. On one hand, the smart thing to do would be to promise that she wouldn't laugh no matter what insane bit of trouble her little one had gotten herself into. But on the other hand, she was a rather firm believer in not making promises that she knew there was a really crappy chance she'd be able to keep.

So, in the end, she gave a slight nod and braced herself for what kind of trouble she'd run into on the way to meet that damn Twin Blade within her clan.

“I went to the wrong field at first; I've never been to a Jungle based field before and got the keywords mixed up and-”

She lied.

Laughter echoed out amongst the rooftops and streets, hollow places bringing the sound to the air as Kira wept with sheer amusement; flopping on the hard stone without a care in the world as she clutched her sides. Sekai fumed, her bright red cheeks nearly glowing in the dimly lit area as she clenched her fists a moment before swatting Kira indignantly.

“Mou, Kira! You promised you wouldn't laugh if I told you!”

She complained, whining as she smacked the girl's shoulder a second time in embarrassed annoyance and pouted at her when the AI only laughed harder. Glaring at her only seemed to make it worse, Sekai resigned herself with a grumble and stood up. Screw this, she was going to go back to the sacred ground and go get some well deserved sleep.

With or without Kira.

Walking over to the edge of the roof, Sekai started to crouch down to grab on to the edge and lower herself down when two arms dragged her up into a rather familiar hold. Growling indignantly, she bit the wrist holding her and felt an answering bite at the base of her neck. Yelping and one rather brilliant shade of embarrassed and shocked scarlet, Sekai found herself swept off her feet, held like a child- or a bride- and screamed as she grabbed on for dear life as Kira leaped nimbly down to a small roof and then to the ground in a crouch after that.

“You suck!”

The tiny Archer yelled, fuming and terrified half out of her mind as adrenaline rocketed through her system from the two sudden drops in height they'd done. Her legs barely supported her, forcing her to cling on to Kira's arm with huge golden-brown eyes as the chuckling AI continued to walk them both towards the Chaos Gate. The nighttime surroundings turned into a bustling, on the edge of either dawn or twilight town with the peaceful, busy sound of water running through channel in the center and of people running across the bridges and to one another for that day's adventure.

For a minute the two of them stood there as they were and spent a quiet moment watching their town go on as if nothing darker, nothing more serious were happening below the surface. Sekai's arm hesitantly, shyly imitated Kira's own, winding carefully around the taller woman's waist as she leaned against the strong arm and shoulder. Kira herself felt a soft, gentle feeling that she didn't know how quite to explain... but didn't find that any trouble, as odd as that was. She was just content to stand there and watch for a while.

Sometimes, doing nothing was better than doing too much.

“Ne, let's go.”

Sekai said quietly, smiling up at Kira. The rings transported them out of the Root Town, leaving nothing behind but a faint trace of blue embers that slowly snuffed out into nothingness before touching the cobblestone beneath it. The dead silence that covered the portal-less field had them breathing easier somehow, despite Kira's intense dislike and discomfort within the sanctified ground. Their footsteps were swallowed by that silence, by the clouds that shifted forever, caught in an unending loop and forever preserved in whatever sense of “time” that “The World” had within it.

Soft music played within the Cathedral's hall itself, strains of it softly playing out through the eternally kept open door as Sekai released Kira for the moment and jogged over to give a prayer for whoever the chained girl was; and offer words of peace and swift journey to the spirit that may or may not still be lingering around the place. Kira shook her head, a wry sense of deja vu slipping into her mind for a moment as she watched the light filter in and around the young high school girl's still form.

Stupid girl, the AI thought to herself with a shake of her head as she continued, bare feet against the cool marble floor as she smiled at their bench, left the way it was when they'd gone out for a little while and stretched herself out with a jaw cracking, silent yawn that threatened to split her head in two. Something whispered behind her, silk or something heavier, against the marble floor as Sekai timidly stood there, wrapped in the untied kimono that pooled about her feet and over her tiny hands in wave after wave of burgundy fabric.

“Tired?”

She asked, though she knew it was a stupid question, as the girl shyly nodded and made her way over to where she stood. Her prayers and whatever other ritual she had whenever she came to this place finished, the snowy haired Archer was definitely looking on the hard side of sleepy, to the point where she was fairly sure that the poor thing'd fall over if not put to rights soon.

With a yawn of her own and her own robe covering her loosely- and comfortably- Kira stretched out on the bench first and beckoned Sekai to join her. Without too much hesitation, the small girl gladly took her place beside Kira and snuggled in, wiggling a little to find a comfortable position before almost possessively- much to the former High Priestess' amusement- throwing an arm over Kira's stomach and side. She curled up close and nuzzled her beloved's shoulder sleepily before claiming it as a pillow for her own use and murmured a soft 'goodnight' in her native tongue- too softly for the automatic translation services within “The World” to catch and translate- to the woman with a very, very strong and soothing heartbeat beneath her ear.

Kira slipped her hand into Sekai's, holding it close to her side as she loosed a deep, almost peaceful sigh and closed her eyes. Sleep wasn't too terribly far for either of them, claiming both almost instantaneously and leaving behind only a minor shadow over both of their thoughts for entirely different reasons.

This is where the beginning of their entwined destines had begun; the place where a choice had been made, seemingly at random and on a whim, on a slim chance that one could be saved with another's interference. A place where a small, lonely Japanese girl who should have been in her second year of middle school rather than her first year of high school had collapsed with a broken spirit and a fragmented mind out of psychological shock and horror.

This was the place where an AI notorious for being self-serving and a lone wolf who relied and cared for nothing had taken the girl's life within her own hands and forced herself- and the girl in question- to co-exist, rely on one another to survive and help each other out in the worst time in both their lives.

And this place...

This sorrow filled, melancholy place...

This was the place where their hearts joined as one for the first time; and certainly not for the last as they rested, breathing deep, even and peaceful as lines of strain, stress and worry eased and faded from their faces. Now and in the future; this would be the place where honesty was the only thing between the two of them and where there would be just “them”; no one else.

That was all she could ask for in the very end; a place of peace and solace that she could come to, that she could bring other people whose hearts hurt as much as- if not more than- her own had both then with its fresh, ragged wounds and now with the slowly healing scars placed upon there by a world that held no love for the kind and the gentle anymore.

This place of peace, she felt, would become a place of very great importance later on. Where and when wasn't important at the moment; though in her heart Sekai whole heartedly believed that the statue of that bound girl with sorrowful sightless eyes knew what was going to take place.

But for the moment, her last coherent thoughts drifted to the surface of her mind, all that mattered to her was that she kept the heart beating steadily beneath her ear alive and next to her for as long as time and the Gods of both worlds allowed it.

'I will protect you.'

Kira's own thoughts echoed the sentiment in their own way, in the manner that suited her determined, willful personality the best.

I won't let them hurt you again.

Beneath the sightless, sorrowful eyes of the chained girl, a sense of... almost quiet admiration seemed to settle over the entire area, as if some mysterious spirit was surprised- yet pleased- by the thoughts that set themselves firmly within the two sleeping hearts. A long moment of silence and one of the rays of light quietly, almost imperceptively, moved just a little further up and to the left, shining on the burgandy and ice blue fabric that covered the girls as if to provide a small bit of warmth to encourage and protect their dreams for that small amount of time alone.

Until they would need to wake and face the dangers that were going to tear their hearts to pieces and leave them nearly broken.

Sekai --> +2 Levels - +Golden Royal Bow - +Mage's Souls x2