Overcoming a fear

She couldn't help but be a little offput by Kouichi. Her crystal eyes watched him carefully. He was her new found friend, but that didn't mean that she wouldn't give him a piece of her mind if she felt like he was being rude. Although, she hadn't needed to do that yet, so hopefully the boys would keep themselves from arguing with one another. Mikel was what he was, there wasn't a way to change it, so there was no use in belittling him or insulting him. Some people and their predjuices.

She frowned at Kouichi and shifted to hold onto Mikel a little tighter. She wasn't sure what was wrong with Kouichi or why his sparks intensified, but she hoped he was okay. Static electricty was bad for her just like her cold was bad for him.

Quickly she looked back up at Mikel and grinned. "Do you want the honest answer, or the answer you want to hear?" she ask him playfully, sticking her tongue out at him.

Of course she thought he looked like a Prince. Darkly handsome, and that wicked smile that spread over his face! Who wouldn't find that handsome? Well, she supposed that some people might, but she was happy to swoon for it. She grinned up at him, and only turned to look at their electric companion when Mikel did. Her crystal eyes watched him carefully, watching the sparks.

He followed at a safe distance. His lips still smirking. Though he managed to close his eyes. It at least gave him something to squeeze. It wasn't like he was going to explode, in fact it was more like he needed to expel all the built up energy. "I'd rather wait till we pass the dorms... It'd hardly be fair to deprive others because I wanted relief." His tone was shaking. An attempt at being civil.

"Pari'e?" His brow perked. Was that some big city? His left hand still gripped the sheath for dear life. His thumb actually pushing the sword loose from it's restraints. Still it lay dormant in the sheath. His head hung now, focusing on the steps ahead of them. His right arm hung lazily. As though it was stunned and immobile.

"Remind me to ask about that when my mind is much more focused." His voice shook once more. They had to be getting further from the dorms. If not someone just may end up having to be woken up. There was really no other option. Still, he pushed on to stay close. Not wishing to leave his new friends' sides.

Crystal eyes nearly bugged. Pari'e...he'd never heard of...Pari'e...the most romantic city in the world? Were the Japanese really so behind the times that he'd not been educated about Paris? She didn't see how that was possible though, considering they were the leaders of the world, when it came to education. It was amazing that Ireland had been able to hide such an amazing place as Caislin from the rest of the world...else news reporters and scientists would be camped outside, just dying for an interview.

Her eyes lingered on Kouichi now, observing. Perhaps he was just so far beyond tired now that he'd forgotten basic information such as Paris. After a moment of silence between everyone though, she drew her eyes away from her electric friend, and back to the handsome Vampire at her side. The way he held her arm was a little surprising. Surely he was capable of such intense strength he could crush her, but he was being so gentle...like he was afraid she might break.

She searched him for a moment, her crystal eyes focused on just him for the moment. Why would someone like to him? It hurt her to think of someone doing that to anyone, especailly him. She tilted her head to look up at him and gave him a sincere smile.

And then, words spilled from her lips, in the best accent she could muster, "Oui, bien sûr tu ressembles à un prince. Grand, beau, sombre, charmant, drôle ... est-il un os unroyal dans votre corps?" she ask him with a giggle. Her french was good, but the accent was a little harsh in places.

It seemed they mistook his words. It wasn't that he didn't know OF the city of lights. It was that he wished to know what it was like. They both seemed so offended by it. Yet it wasn't their faults for merely listening and not understanding.

Kouichi was left baffled that a vampire did not understand the meaning of true pain. The hallway seemed endless, like some path of hell that he somehow found himself lost on. What sadistic freak thought of building such elaborate maze of a building? It had to have been some sort of prison before hand.

Just as he was about to give up on finding a spot away from the dorms. There it was. His chance now. The main entrance was wide enough to allow him the space needed without waking anyone. His left thumb flicked against the hand guard. Sending the hilt away from the sheath. Pulling the blade with it. His entire left elbow bent and its palm grasped the hilt. Drawing the blade. Fingers wrapping the hilt loosely. He held the blade invert. The tip of the blade aimed at the floor.

"Konbon wa..." He spoke, though his gaze was locked on his sword. A bad habit of his. To believe his sword had a soul. That it was not just a part of him, but it's own being. Carefully he set the tip against the stone floor. No pressure was allowed to be applied. It was merely allowed to rest. "Shall we begin partner?" He whispered. His lips spread into a wicked grin. Sparks beginning to crackle off his entire right hand. And in return for release the charge, his skin began to smoke slightly.

His eye stayed closed. It was as if all his pain was burned away, as the electrical charge began to surround his entire hand. Once more in a whispering insanity, he spoke. "Iku ze." The charged up hand pressed its index and middle fingers to the metal blade. A blue lightening bolt slithered its way onto the blade and danced along it. Like a carnival of electrons. The static charge seemed to be swallowed up by the metal. Then leaked it into the stone below, where it became harmless.

It was interesting, watching Kouichi. Her head tilted and she watched, barely watching where she was going. Strands of freshly dried hair drifted over her eyes, and she quickly pushed them away, so that nothing would obstruct her view of what he was doing...

Her crystal eyes took on a child like curiousity, slightly troubled. He said he had to do this often, so that he could actually stand still or sleep. But it still worried her...would she and Mikel feel a blast of electricty? Even at the safe distance that Mikel had escourted her to.

She glanced up at him, and smiled. This felt strangely normal now...even though she'd never been escourted around with her arm slid through someone else's either...but with her friends, on a stroll through the school at 3:30 am...what a strange life she was beginning to have!

She blushed when Mikel leaned so close, but her crystal eyes lit up. She shivered a little and turned to look at him better. She knew that he'd speak French, but she wasn't sure if her accent was good enough to convey what she meant. He obviously got her meaning though. "Qui aimeriez-vous donner à ces étoiles d'?" she leaned up to whisper back, grinning playfully. Again, the accent was bad, not as bad as the first time, but still off.

Darkening coloration began to spread, as his blue bolts of lightening began to turn white. The very steel of his blade beginning to vibrate from such a charge running through it. It was like draining a car battery, but the time period was extended. Stray fluttering spark danced within the air, and then seemed to disappear. This was indeed the easier part of the now ritualistic habit. A need to get rid of accumulated energy.

A slight ting began to ring out, as if the very blade was crying out in pain. Yet Kouichi's eyes merely opened. Lifeless in the presence of his own optics. His lips fell from their natural smirk, into a rather displeased grimace. His head fell, yet his eyes stayed wide.

The electricity seemed to be gone. Indeed, no more harmful than a car battery. Not when focused at least. Wild energy was always dangerous. That was still, the easy part. His hair laid flat back, and his body seemed limp. His breathing remained calm, as though trying to control it. Which gave signs to much more energy. The steel song began to come to a close, but how long was the rest?

Once more a jolt began to flow. This time it was a much more wild burst, white to begin with, and erratically jumping out in every direction. The pain within his eyes now swallowing his entire being. As he shook and cringed. His knees bending to gain better balance. "Suzaku..." His left hand released the hilt, and the blade stayed balanced. "Seiryu..." The blade began to elevate. A result of the electrical charge in both the stone and the blade. "Genbu..." Kouichi drew the sheath from his hip. Glaring at the steel blade with a murderous glare. The sheath beginning to swallow the blade up within its safe confines. "Byakko." The hilt clicked firm to the sheath and the electrical charges were gone. The katana safely back within its home.

Kouichi fell limp against the sword, using it as a crutch. "It seems much less painful from the outside." He chuckled, just glad not to have caused damage to anyone or anything. His eye lids had seemed to close on their own on instinct. Leaving him that stupid smirk. "Are you two ok?"

She could plainly see that darkness should have reined supreme in this front hall, but Kouichi was like a piercing ray of light through the clouds. She watched, rather intently, the bright lights and random sparks. It was probably the most beautiful display of lights and colors that her crystal eyes had ever lain eyes on.

Her mouth formed an 'o'...how painful it looked to release so much enegry in one bound...and he was still standing! And the noise that accompanied the release...she was glad that they were far enough away from the dorms that no one else would be woken up. It didn't really hurt the ears, but it did make her uncomfortable enough to feel the need to tune it out, even if only for a moment.

Mikels whispering made her flush again though. If her french was correct, he'd said that he and his stars were hers if she wanted them. She looked him over again, and leaned aganist him, and wiggled her hand into his and let her fingers interlace with his. And even though her heart was thumping in her chest, she still looked up at him and smiled. And then her crystal eyes slid away, and back to Kouichi, to watch the display of magic and power.

When the whole scene ended though, she felt a certain sadness for the loss of lights and various colors. The other side of her was extremely happy though, to have it over. The heat and electricty was enough to fry her.

She gave Kouichi a smile when the whole thing was over, and fought the urge to help him. Could he even walk now? So much enegry had been expelled, and he'd probably endured more pain than she would ever know, but still he had the strength to ask if they were okay. She grinned, fighting the tears that whelled in her eyes. "Yes, I'm fine. But are you okay?" she was sure that he didn't need a little girl, running after him to make sure he was okay, but the question was ask with all sincere emotion at heart. "Do you need help?" she ask, squeezing Mikels hand just a little.

"No help needed here. Mikel is correct. We must overcome pain everyday. Thank you though." The curved blade was like a walking stick now. Not the most accurate use, but it was still useful. His smirk grew into a grin. Happy to see he did not scare or hurt them. "Good, no harm... No foul." Taking a step, he faltered. The sword twisted and fell to the side, which made him stumble to a single knee.

"Yoi yume o, Oji-san..." His fingers traced the very blade within its home. Speaking to the sword once more. His left hand pressed to the cold stone floor. Pushing him up to sit on his knees. Then up to his feet, his blond hair falling over the bandanna some. Still his bright grin showed his concern.

"Are you sure? While we still have room between us. See if your abilities are working fine. I'd feel bad to disrupt your power."

He made no effort to pick up the sword, it seemed he used all he had to stand and stay still. Standing there, with limp posture. Head fallen forward, arms like noodles at his side. From his physical appearance, he gazed down at the floor, though any person with a sense of self could feel the intruding eyes of another from Kouichi. This in fact was aimed at Mikel. The Asian's mind was clear.

"Now then, my mind is clear..." Pushing the hair back up and behind the bandanna blockade. "I know of the city. Though I hardly can say I know anything about it. That tower always seems to catch my eye.... So much power, electricity... I'd love to visit it some time. Though I always wonder, is it there for some job? Does it ward off demons, or maybe keep mischievous and evil spirits away? Does it draw in the good, while destroying the bad?" He was like a young child all of a sudden. Questions and theories running in his mind at a million miles a second.

With the display of lights gone, the front hall seemed to implode upon itself with darkness. At least for her it did. It took her crystal eyes a moment of dialation to adjust to the sudden change. That and a lot of blinking.

Once she could see alright again, instead of just make out shapes, she studied Kouichi. His posture, the difference in the way he could somehow stand still now, but not before. She chewed on her lip again, wondering if his display of power had somehow disrupted her ability to create and manipulate ice. She let go of Mikels hand, a little reluctantly, and stared down at her hands.

She did feel differently, but it was hard to tell if that was because of the electricty in the air, or if it was Mikel. He seemed to have a strange effect on her. She nodded and began trying to form another ice blade, like she'd done before. The result was a little different, but it wasn't any harder to do. The ice blade that manifested in her hand was a variety of different colored ice. The base started clear, and then as it moved up it changed colors from blue to red, from red to green, from green to purple, then to yellow and finally back to clear again.

She marveled for a moment, barely hearing anything either of her two companions said. Her mouth hung open a little, and she blinked. "Uhm..." she whispered softly.

This was amazing! She'd been trying to produce colored ice for awhile now, but with no sucess. Was Kouichi's expesnion of power just the boost that she needed to make producing the color easier? She held the blade up to Mikel for him to see. "This is...unexpected..." she seemed dumbfounded. And even though she was thrilled, she wasn't sure what to say...or do for that matter.

Kouichi's gaze shot to Angelica as she formed the ice blade. His grin fading. "You can still form ice, good." He chuckled. His sandal stepped on the sword. The two small wooden blocks under the heel and ball of his foot fit perfectly around the sword. Then lifted it for him.

Repositioning the sword sheath at his hip, he chuckled. "The Yuki-onna would be jealous of such ice." He was lazy now. Much more than before. He didn't sway, didn't stumble. He walked straight. Slow, but straight. Each step took a moment to register. Each breath was in perfect sync with his steps. In on the lift, out on the step down. Until he reached his companions. "A marvelous blade indeed. May I?" His right hand lifted to take a hold of the blades grip. Still he didn't take a grip until given the ok.

His attention then shot back to Mikel. No childishness in his voice or actions. "Glorious as it sounds, it also sounds rather foolish. You'd think some sort of defense would be built. Such a large target." A strategic statement if ever he said one. "Are there guards? Camera? Turrets? Such a prideful monument must have defenses." How could they not he thought.

All she could do was stare at the colorful blade in her hands. It was...so unexpected that after a few blasts of enegry from Kouichi's discharge could alter things so quickly. She'd been trying for so long to work the color in with the ice, but until now she'd been left with only a light blue blade, and even that had been a complete failure.

She let them pass the thing around, missing key elements in their strange conversation. She should have noticed the strange look on Mikels face or the way Kouichi seemed stronger than he had been before...she missed it all, her crystal eyes set on the blade.

It did occur to her though, that it could just be a fluke...a one time messup. But she wouldn't know unless she tried it again. She stared down at her hands again. Her crystal eyes closed and she concentrated on clearing her mind and focusing on her breathing. After a moment, her hands came apart, slowly, exposing a thin tublar piece of brown ice. The longer it got, the more the color deepend, and finally became a rich earthy brown. At the top she produced the petals of a red rose, completely budded, full and open. The color of red deepend too, as it got bigger.

Her crystal eyes opened and she blinked again. What on Gaia's green Earth had Kouichi's discharge done to her!? Something she'd been working on for near a year suddenly became so easy, it was like breathing. Her small fingers pulled slightly at the top of the stem and produced a little leaf, which color moved from the deep, earthy brown, to a forest green.

She chewed on her lips for a moment, and finally a smile pulled over her lips. It was probably the most beautiful rose she'd ever produced...color dazzled in every facet as she twirled it around between her fingers. A pretty ornament, but that was all. And in the heat of summer it would die unless kept somewhere cold, like a freezer. And what could a pretty rose do in the freezer?

She sighed and looked up at her companions, between Kouichi and Mikel and then back again. "I've been working on this for months...and now suddenly I can do it perfectly...like breathing..." She still seemed to be in shock, but at least she was smiling now. "Thank you so much...I have no idea what you did, or how you did it, but thank you!" Excitement rose in her voice and tears whelled in her eyes. This was one of the happiest moments of her life...

"It is the midst of war, that reason and logic come about. From the seeds of intellect, sprouts young love. From young love comes hard lessons. War has its place. Just as the stars and the sun." An idle comment lofted at Mikel like he lost interest. It mattered not, if it was for war or love. The awe inspiring tower didn't lose its luster. Turning his gaze to Angelica with a chuckle.

"I'd be glad to be of service." Head bowing some before handing the ice sword back to Mikel. "It's no more magic than science. Though I have no control over what colors appear, or how well it works." Slipping to her side opposite of Mikel, his arms lifted behind his head and crossed like a head rest. "I do apologize if it is discouraging for everything you have worked for to happen in mere moments."

His smiling face and friendly behavior was only surface deep. In all reality of the moment. Mikel's lecture rubbed Kouichi the wrong way. Speaking of romance and peace. There were many things he could have replied with. Instead he offered mere silence. If the good vampire had any sense of the world at all. He should know better than anyone. Kouichi knew the hard truths. Hate exists only because love exists. Ignorant ideals such as romance without disaster, merely dreams that may never become real.

"Seeing such results on a chance happening. Angelica-san, We should conduct an experiment some time. Seeing how my electricity conducts colors within your ice. I wonder, can you freeze on of my sparks in the air, simply by chilling the room?"

Crystal eyes shifted between her two companions again, and then fell to the rose in her hand. Then the blade was handed back to her...what was she to do with these now? She admired the colors again, and shattered the ice, watching it dissapate into nothing. Next was the rose, it was harder for her to destroy this, because it was so beautiful, but she could always make another. The colorful ice shattered, and like the other, disappeared.

She shifted a little and shrugged. "I suppose I could try to freeze them, but it wouldn't be like freezing the whole room, it would be more like an ice blast." she thought on this for a moment, concentrating. It was worth a try...but what other amazing things would a discharge from Kouichi do for her abilities? She studied him for a moment, only turning away when Mikel announced that he was leaving. She smiled and waved. "Good night Dark Prince. Hope to see you again soon..." she murrmered, more to herself than him.

She looked around again, holding back a yawn...who knew she would be so tired already? "Actually Kouichi...I'm rather sleepy too. I think I'll go back to sleep now...but we have to get together to let me try that." she commented and gave him a slight bow at the waist, her hands folded together. "Thank you for everything." she grinned now, strands of white hair over her face. "Come find me so we can try that..."
She waved again, and hurried off down the hall towards her dorm room.

"Sweet dreams to both of you. Safe travels to the worlds of sleep, and grand discoveries in the forest of dreams." Waving to them both, Kouichi turned. Facing the exit of the entrance hall, he snickered. That out of place clicking started once more. Yet it was brief. For he was out the large doors to the entrance. beginning to hum a soft tune. Waving back to the two who had accompanied him til now.

"Oh, I wonder if this new day will bring new toys." He snickered to himself. His stupid smiling face seemed to become much more serious. Though it never lost its smile. His closed eye lids didn't hide the stern gaze from under them. "Or perhaps I should sleep myself..." He sighed out. Sleep sounded boring. He wanted more excitement. More thrill.

Ideas swirled in his mind as he disappeared into the still dark areas of the school grounds. "Hmm, I never see any birds... Maybe I'll go see Owl and Caw-kun later..." He spoke to himself. "Maybe I'll buy them some fish."


[Exit]