Where Wandering Spirits Collide

’’Come out….Come Out….Wherever you are…’’

The shrill call of a raven responded to her call, the sound of beating wings filling the air as it launched itself from a tree limb. The once hidden form of its black body took to the sky, circling around the lone figure for a moment before landing again on its perch. Such a strange creature to be sure, resting in such a beautiful place. But it was not it's decision. It's master had taken to the peaceful paradise. The smells of nature easing his mind from the life he had come from. Another caw from the Raven woke Amato from his light, idle nap. Stirring within the shadows of the tree trunk, his head leaned back against the cool bark. "What is it now..." He spoke softly, almost to himself, though his words were directed to Kurayami.

It took him a moment, his sightless gaze turning up to the branches, "Well?" Through his companions vision, an eyebrow raised with curiosity. He gazed back down to himself, before it's sight shifted to a blonde haired woman, strolling casually through the hidden garden. He was surprised to say the least. The over growth of the garden had made him believe this place was long forgotten. He had only found it because of the scent of the flowers flooding over his senses while strolling through the halls of the university. Standing in an almost fluid motion, he strolled out slowly from the shadows and out into the starlight that shone from the silken sky above.

Fingers ran through his chestnut colored hair, the tips brushing over the cloth wrapped around his eyes. "I apologize if my feathered friend disturbed you..." He spoke to her, the Raven gliding down from the branch to perch on his shoulder, talons gripping the leather of his performers garb. He had yet the chance to change from it since arriving. Wanting to explore a little during the quiet of night. He let out an animated sigh, bare chest rising and falling with the action. "He has a mind of his own and doesn't notice his effect on others." Amato shook his head lightly, Kurayami lifting a sole wing, head disappearing beneath it to groom his feathers as if uncaring on what his blind companion had to say. "I will leave you to your stroll..." He bowed his performers bow, one arm stretched outwards to his side, the other folding inwards, hand resting against his chest as his torso bent forward. Some old habits were hard to break. When he straightened, his body turned, prepared to leave her to her late night exploration of the Gardens.

He paused in his exit, foot poised in the air before his head turned ever so slightly, as if to glance over his shoulder, back towards her listening to what she said. His head then turned to the Raven, seemingly giving him a disapproving look. "I apologize then for him frightening you so. He is a trouble maker..." Letting out an exasperated sigh, he shook his head before turning back towards the one he could only assume was a teacher through the ravens black eyed gaze. After a moments of silence, he seemed to remember himself and had a look similar to shock, or possibly disbelief. "Where are my manners... I am Amato. Amato Itzal." He again gave her the performers bow.

As he straightened, his hand flicked upwards, batting aside a long tail of his eye wrap back over his shoulders, the tattered end sliding itself along his chest when he bowed. "And this," He motioned to the Raven on his shoulders, the creature cocking his head to the side, eying the blonde haired woman. "Is Kurayami." The Raven let out a guttural Caw in response to its name being spoken. "I'm new to the school. Arrived not too long ago in all honesty." A corner of his lip curled upwards in a half smile, the moon and starlight shining down upon him from the heavens above. It was amazing that the sky seemed so... Peaceful here. Where as when he was forced into servitude within the dreaded Circus.

Then again. Way back when, he didn't even have the Raven or it's shared vision when he was enslaved there. Everything had its forms of terror there, especially when ones world was enshrouded in a constant blackness. A place where all others forced to be there had become as hostile as the one who trapped them. Amato shook the memories from his mind, pushing them into a dark corner and locking them there to haunt him another day.

Instead, his thoughts, and the eyes of his raven turned their attention to the over grown garden around them. "This garden may be for all... but it seems that been been a very long time since anyone has visited it." It was sad, truly. That such a place of nature and beauty, surrounded by the buildings of man was in such disrepair. It was then, he decided to spend what free time he had, returning it to it's former glory. A strange task for one like him. however, when one is surrounded by darkness, a little light is required to retain one's sanity.

Amato gave the Raven another disapproving look, lips thinned to a line but he nodded to Miss Chevok. Still, he would have to have a talk with Kurayami later on, when they had some privacy. After all, it was not too long ago that he would have found it ludicrous for anyone to talk to an animal the way he does to Kurayami, let alone have a serious discussion with one. The bird eyed him warily, as if realizing what was to come. They again returned their attention to the woman in their presence, the raven watching her curiously as her fingers played over the seemingly luminous white pedals under the moonlight, Amato viewing along with him.

A smile spread over his lips ever so slightly, his head shaking slowly at her idea of someone bringing the Garden back to its former glory. It seemed they shared similar thoughts on the matter. Though he would not reveal his own decision that he would do such a task. One never knew who another was just by their first meeting. He decided to play it safe, a hand raising slowly, finger rubbing along the neck of the raven on his shoulders. Sightless gaze never leaving her as she stood facing the roses.

"Surely... I would offer my services," He paused momentarily, letting out a soft sigh, his head shaking from side to side. "But I highly doubt I would have the...Qualifications for it." He said, fingers idly brushing over the cloth over his eyes before dropping down to his belt. Amato's thumb hooking behind the buckle, fingers resting on the skull covering it, resting there. How she responded would either pass or fail her on one of these seemingly menial tests. One could never be too careful, especially after the life he had lived. Before and during the 'Circus'. Especially in a place that seemed to pulse with magical abilities. He wondered in the back of his mind if he traded one prison for another, though the thought was more of a passing one.

Seemingly no longer part of the topic, the raven went back to grooming it's feathers, though one of his eyes never left the teacher. He felt no threat from her, but the bird did sense it's partner's unease.

Amato remained facing where she once had been as she stepped forward and did a little walk around him, the thought of a butcher inspecting meat passed through his mind, though quickly dismissed it The Raven's eyes followed her during her pass around them. His head leaning forward to briefly glance to her on the other side of Amato then Kurayami was on before deciding she wasn't any threat. At least one the Amato couldn't handle by himself if need be before going back to groom its feathers, no longer interested in the conversation that was taking place.

"But what sort of strength to empower the soul depends on ones heart, do you not agree?" An eyebrow quirked upwards, his head turning towards the sound of her voice since his companion was no longer focused on her. His body turned in a fluid motion, hands hidden deep in the extravagantly wide and long sleeves of his coat. Though if one were to pay close enough attention, the sleeves were not part of the main wardrobe. Rather connected by tightened bands of fitted metal, its design alluringly delicate, leaving a mere few inches of the flesh where bicep met shoulder to the elements around them. His flexible wrists bent, finger tips brushing the three cool pieces of metal hidden there. A comforting motion, no aggression there even if she could even see it before straightening themselves once again.

An open heart... He pondered this for the briefest of seconds in his mind. What kind of heart did he have? Amato always saw himself as one of the 'good guys' though the line between good and evil had been vague up until his enslavement. He swore to himself that he would never be like them even with all he has been through. Yes, he stole. But kill? With intent? Surely not without reason. But who was to say which murder was justified or not. As these thoughts past through his mind he only smiled at her words. "An open heart and a watchful eye." He quipped the words almost as if to intend them as a joke. His body turned towards the bushel beside them, a hand finally appearing from the deep sleeves, finger tips dancing along the stem of a rose, tracing the thorns delicately. "Even the most beautiful of things can be considered dangerous..." He spoke the words softly, intended for the air around them and for no one in particular.

A small smile spread over his lips when she spoke of light shining through darkness, even for the briefest of moments. He knew this to be oh so true. Though the darkness... Can be all consuming. A constant battle of light and dark waged in the hearts of all. In many, the battle is one sided, either the light prevailing, which, from what he could tell of Miss Chevok was the case. Or darkness. And that too, he knew a perfect example of. Then there were others. and Amato could rightfully say that there was where he lay. Constantly he was faced with choices, constantly he felt as if he was being tested. He was in that gray area and it was yet to be seen where he would go. "But what is one to do... When the heart tells you one thing, and the mind something entirely different I wonder. How is one to know which is the right path to take?" He asked aloud, more so for himself than her though he did turn his head some, as if to gaze at her.

Nodding his head, the stem of a rose resting between ring and middle finger, pedals brushing his flesh before pulling away. He walked over to join her on the grass beneath the tree. Kurayami lifting from his shoulders to glide along the air, perching himself on a low hanging branch near where she sat. Amato's hands smoothed the long tails of his performers jacket as he fluidly lowered himself to the ground, legs folding beneath himself. "Have you ever had such a dilemma?" An eyebrow rose curiously, "Where you had two choices to choose from..." His hands rose in front of him, acting as a visual scale, one lowering while the other rose and vice versa. "On one hand, you could follow path A, not knowing where it would take you, but only knowing that it is the morally 'right' thing to do... And on the other hand, path B, you know exactly where it leads you, or at least you believe you do. But you must do something that others view as wrong? an act against nature, or god, or whatever they wish to call it?" The question of course, was asked in a hypothetical fashion. Subconsciously he was always judging... Calculating those around him. Were they friend or foe? 'Good or evil'?

Once more, the Raven's interest went back to the two of them, his head cocking from one side to the other, watching them. Or rather, her. Chuckling, Amato shook his head, hands dropping onto the soft green grass beneath them, "My apologies... You don't need to answer if you don't need to." He finally said after thinking over what he spoke over in his mind. Perhaps it was too blunt a discussion?

Sitting in the grass, watching blades of leaves fall from the sky holding out her hand catching them one at a time. Listening to the way Amato spoke, like mysteries within rhymes speaking of hearts and minds like it was merely a chess game. Such a productivity to it more than just moving one foot infront of the other to follow certain paths. The light had so much to offer, but the darkness offered many more secrets and tempting tastes. Which this young man who now took a place at her side beneath the cool shade of the tree. With a soft smile caressing over her lips for a moment she leaned back against the tree letting her head tilt to the side as she looked over at the young man, watching his lips move as he spoke.

Sure, he was a strange one. From the bandage over his eyes, to the movement of the tails of material that hung from his wrists. She had a thousand questions for him, but held them in for fear that they might be slightly rude or too impulsive. She watched his facial features, only to raise her eyes up to the Raven that sat in the branches. He was the Overseer. The always looming, never brooding lord of the skies. What came next was his apology, almost shocking to her system as she straightened her body up from the tree once more. As he laid his hand down to the grass, she laid hers on top of his but only for a moment to reassure that his offer of conversation wasn’t weighing heavy on her heart.

’’The dilemma between the two sides, the two choices is always a difficult one. Even though one seems like the easy path, the path that leads to something better, perhaps its not the best for the person though…’’ She took in a deep breath and lifted her hands to her face, only to drag her fingertips through her hair pulling it out of her face. Then once again she turned to the young man on her side, she moved so she sat on her knees facing him. Her hands extended and grasped each side of the long tails of his performers jacket lifting the ends up in her hands. ’’In one hand, you have the beauty and knowledge of home, the comfort of knowing where your life stands…In the other you have dark secrets, mysteries and new opportunities around every corner.’’ She then closed her hands around the material of the tail ends and let her hands hide them. ’’Or you could go on with the rest of your life, not knowing what either side holds and continue on with but the voice of the wind at your back whispering sweet nothings…’’

With that she realized she was sitting all to close to this boy, her head raised up to look at the Raven wondering what it’s thoughts were on this sudden contact between the two people. With a deep breath she moved, letting go of the tail ends of his performers jacket and she settled back into her spot against the tree, letting a soft blush come across her cheeks as she stared at her hands that now began playing with grass blades. ’’So tell me Amato…Where did you get such a beautiful jacket?’’ There were hundreds of other questions that wanted to pour out after that one, but she bit against her lower lip to keep them inside.

Surprise washed over him as she lay her hand on top of his own. He was unaccustomed to such an act of kindness, no matter how small it was. Over the entire course of his life he could count how many people had shown him any on a single hand. Though he did not let the surprise show on his face Kurayami cocked his head to the side at her gesture. Apparently even he was shocked at the motion. A small smile appeared across his face as she grabbed the sleeves, manipulating his arms to act as scales. Usually he would not allow such a violation of his personal bubble. Though he felt as if he could trust her. She had the air of... Innocence, for a lack of a better word, about her.

Beauty and knowledge of home... He tried to think of such a place. But all of the places he had considered 'home' in the past were far from comfortable. The other hand however. Was something he was quiet familiar with. That was how he ended up here after all. The irony made him smile at how she explained it made him appear to be on the latter path. Though he had a feeling she may have been trying to show how the first was more preferable. "Sweet nothings hmm?" An eyebrow rose beneath the eyewrap, "Just close your eyes and keep walking?" No pun intended regarding his own sense of vision.

The raven continued to watch them. Curious about the blonde haired woman, seemingly unsure of what to think of her. The bird always seemed to act as his sense of judgment, deciding who was friend or foe. Generally foe, at least until he could choose otherwise. And Amato was rarely in one place long enough to switch his feathered companions opinion on someone. Rare indeed.

"Beautiful?" He asked, raising an arm, head tilting down to it, as if to inspect the garment in a new light. Actions like this often made people wonder whether he truly had sight. Wrap or no wrap. It was true the jacket was unique. The main piece being sleeveless in its design. The sleeves were actually held in place by fitted, intricately designed metal bands held around his biceps. The ends of the Sleeves extending further than his hands were, openings wide and deep. "I suppose it is..." He said softly. Shaking his head, a smile, void of joy spread over his lips. "It was given to me... In a place where no light ever dare try to shine else it be swallowed in an all consuming darkness..." His voice trailed to a whisper at the end and he was silent for a few moments. Wondering if he should explain further. Though he picked up on her wanting to ask more. A more friendly smile returned to his face. "Go ahead, I have no issue answering more questions." Chuckling, he continued, "I am sure you are quite curious about me. Most are, all others too afraid to ask." His hands fell to the grass, stroking the blades idly. "I will answer all you have to ask Miss Chevok. Do not hold back in fear of seeming to blunt."

He smiled as she told him to address her using her first name and gave her a formal bow of his head, "Very well, Mary-Lynn it is..." Chuckling, he wasn't very shocked at the request. After all, he was never familiar with the particulars regarding the student teacher roles aside from the fact that teachers taught, students learned. This would probably be the first school he actually attended. A sad fact to be sure though Amato was not lacking in intelligence. At the mention of himself, the raven glided down from his branch perch and landed on his more familiar resting spot. Amato's shoulder more interested in the conversation since he was part of the topic.

Smiling, Amato scritched along the Raven's throat Idly. "I guess you could say... A and B if this was a multiple choice question." He let out a soft laugh, his head shaking some. At first he was unsure how much to reveal. Early in life he learned not to trust. But... this was supposed to be a new beginning for him. A new life. "Kurayami shares his vision with me since mine is now nonexistent... Everything he see's, I see. That in itself I guess, you could say makes him my guardian as well. Along side his pessimistic nature..." Though soon, the subject moved to the purpose of the wrap over his eyes.

The smile and mirth disappeared from his face, a hand rose, fingers brushing over the cloth. "Not a what, but a who... A man named Drakar. Though many consider him more demon than man... When he see's something he likes, he takes it." There was a moments silence, a shiver running down his spine. "He liked my eyes." A sigh escaped his lips, tracing over the part that hid now scarred and empty sockets. "And once he has claimed something. Your considered his. Forced into servitude, to be used and held captive with his most loyal of followers as guards." He left the rest unsaid. If she asked further, he would answer. But he did not want to reveal something that she did not want to hear.

A sad smile spread over his lips, fingers curling, gripping the grass firmly between the digits. "It's not just that he took with no remorse or consequence. He believes in neither. To him they are merely words. And you could toss in kindness, love and righteousness in there as well. And any other word that involves a moral act." He shook his head, letting out a small sigh. "The man has a soul blacker than black. I spent years under his thumb..." His voice grew soft, as if his mind was lost in thoughts and memories but he continued on. "He made us performed in front of people. Families, lovers, sons and daughters. Just ordinary people. They all thought it was amazing tricks. Sleight of hand, mist and mirrors. But what we did was real. The blood... Screaming. The death."

He turned his head to her, as if looking into her very soul. "I was forced to torture... To bring pain and kill. All before Kurayami came to me. He made sure I knew every bit of the human body in vital detail. If I missed and killed before I was supposed to..." He left the rest unsaid, letting her use her imagination on the punishment. Even that would spare her the most twisted of details. After all, what else could a man, someone willing to rip out a persons eyes just because they fancied them, do to a person? Amato knew. And so did countless others that were in the Circus before him. And so will all those who will come after him.

’’Yet you are still here Amato, so that has proven enough of yourself for anything I could think of, with all the darkness you’ve encountered I’m sure doing a bit of gardening and pruning would be a breeze for you, especially since the deep scent of them are very alluring.’’

"I wonder if I truly am here in all honesty." He said aloud, "I sometimes go to sleep wondering if this is nothing but a dream. And when I wake up in the morning I will be back in that hell hole." A deep sigh escaped his lips, head shaking as his grip on the grass laxed. Finally a smile, small as it was, appeared across his lips. "But if this is reality. Perhaps you are right. Gardening would be a nice way to relax and forget about the worries and darkness of the world." His head fell backwards, face seemingly staring up past the foliage of the tree above them and into the starry sky beyond. "This place will be a new start for me. Hopefully a better start, but any kind I would accept at this point."

There was much more to his past that he left unsaid to be sure. One of which was his escape from that proverbial hell hole. Why hadn't he attempted it in the past? Or, if he did, what made this time so successful. Amato had tried to flee the Circus many times throughout his now blinded life. But He had been no match for the skill and abilities of those who ensured that all remained captive. In fact, if it wasn't for them finally pushing him over the brink, he would still be there today. That, he was sure of.

Kurayami and, through him, Amato watched as Mary-Lynn took his hand in hers. He felt her give it an almost reassuring squeeze before speaking and lifting it up, almost to cup the moon in the sky. As she did this, the deep hanging sleeve slid down his forearm to the crook of his elbow. Revealing black cloth strapped around the wrist and halfway u the length of flesh. Three slender 'spikes' of metal, color the same was their holsters, gleaming in the soft light of the moon. With the top of his head still pressed against the bark so his sightless gaze was pointed upwards, he turned, his face titling towards her. "Careful for sure... Caring is yet to be seen..." He said, the corners of his lips turned u ever so slightly. "They've never been considered 'Caring' before. But I guess theres a first time for everything." He gave a light shrug of his shoulders, a rolling motion he was accustomed to.

Amato was surprising uncaring if she noticed the weapons. It was obvious he meant her no harm. And given his past he assumed that it was to be expected for the blind man to carry some sort of protection on him. Aside from his feather friend of course. If she was to what they were, he would tell her. No point in calling a cat a dog when anyone could tell what it really was. A weapon was a weapon, what they were used for defined the person, not that they had them. At least, that was what he believed. Even as he tried to forget that the bo-shuriken were forever tainted by the blood of the presumed innocent. "Besides... I'm sure Kurayami would like a lace to rest when he is in a fit with me over one thing or another." He said, trying to lighten the somber mood that followed after he spoke of his past. The raven even gave a Call in response.