♢Noel♢
My heart is pounding in my ears still as Austin and Alexa sat down with us at the lunch table. ‘Don’t start having a nose bleed because you got to see Elena’s cleavage.’ Nori snickered in my head.
“It’s not a nose bleed I'm worried about…” I stated as I adjusted myself a little and pulled myself closer to the table.
‘Geez Noel what are you going to do if you see more of her body than just her cleavage?’
“It’s wasn’t helping that she was talking pretty sexual when she was asking,” I mentioned.
“What do you think Noel?” Austin’s voice broke through me talking with Nori.
“Hm? What do I think of what?” I blinked a few times.
“You thinking something dirty and not listening?” Austin smirked at me and I felt my face light up like an inferno. “HA! YOU WERE!”
“N-NO I wasn’t!!!" I buried my face in my hands trying to hide from the three of them.
“Austin stop picking on him.” Alexa said and I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and I peeked through my fingers to see that it was Alexa. “We were asking if you were going to go to the Halloween party on Saturday.”
“Oh um…I’m not too sure yet. I’m not a big party type person. I’d rather stay in and watch movies or draw and write.” I explained to them fanning myself trying to get myself to calm down.
“Well think about it. We’d love to have all of us hang out and have a good time.” Austin smiled at me.
“Well, then why don’t we just have a movie night all together at some point before midterm break.” I offered as I brought my necklace out from my shirt and started twisting it around my fingers absentminded. Since I’ve been wearing it I’ve started playing with it. Normally in class or during a test is when I will play with it most. If I’m working on a writing assignment, I’ll usually stick it in my mouth but then it get’s caught on my tongue piercing and It hurts. But I keep doing it for some stupid reason.
“That sounds like fun!” Alexa chirped smiling happily.
“I agree! It sounds like a lot of fun.” Austin nodded in agreement.
“But it has to be a Disney movie night!” Elena added in with a smile of her own.
I nodded in agreement. “Then it’s decided we’ll have to pick a date and stick to it for all of us to get together and want Disney movies all night.”
We talked about random things till we had to head out to our next classes. Then it was finishing up classes and going up to the meadow and Yun and I trained. He’s been pushing me to go longer and harder then we did when we started. It made sense with everything going on I needed to be in as good of condition as I could be. Nori and I even switched a few times and he went against Yun and was easily winning and pinning him down.
I had to look away a few times because when Nori was in control Yun would sneak in a kiss or two with him. There were a few times where I think Yun was letting himself get pinned just so he could do that. It’s not a big deal really. I’ve read plenty of yaoi stories myself because Natalee wanted someone to talk to about it. I don’t mind it at all, it was just strange. I haven’t seen Yun and Nori act like this at all since I’ve met them.
“Nori, can I ask you something?” I asked a bit timid as I walked down from the meadow.
‘Of course, what’s up?’ He responded.
“Has Yun been acting weird to you lately? He seems to want to kiss you a lot and then his comments with me…I’m not too sure what to do about it.” I said as I heard it start to rain so I picked up the pace.
‘Oh right. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. He starts to get like this when he’s getting ready to shed. Cotton Puffs shed once or twice a year. When they get close to when they’ll shed they have a tendency to easily be affected by the hormones of the people around them.’ He explained.
“So this is my fault because I was aroused earlier today?” I felt a cold sweat sneak up on me.
‘It’s not a big deal Noel, Yun can handle it. As long as your relaxed then he’ll calm down. So it’ll help with we both just relax. Let him make his comments and try not to overreact to them. It’s kinda funny when he does shed though because he’s stuck in his cotton form for 24 hours and it’s like snow falling off of him all day.’ He explained. But me trying to stay calm with him making comments like I should strip in front of Elena… It’s embarrassing and he knows how much I like her.
“That’ll be cute to see. When do you think he’s going to shed then?” I questioned as the rain was really coming down now and I was soaked as I finally came out from the woods, but now I had to make to the dorm.
‘It should be maybe tomorrow or then next day. Considering that I was pulling some cotton out of his hair earlier. Tomorrow seems like the better bet with that.’ I slipped going down the hill and ended up sliding down the rest of the way to the concrete on my butt. ‘You okay?’
I groaned and looked up at the sky as it poured. “Noel, I’m getting soaked. I can’t float around if I get too wet.” Yun mentioned his voice coming from inside my shirt.
“Right, I’m going, I’m going.” I sighed getting up but I had something wrap around my ankle and before I could do anything my leg was pulled out from under me and I was flung back towards the woods.
‘NOEL!’ Nori panicked in my head as I slid across the wet grass and stopped when my back hit the trunk of a tree. I hit with enough force to have my back in a lot of pain.
“What the hell was that?” I muttered looking at where I just was. A shiver ran down my spine when I saw a woman with snake lower half slithering towards me.
‘It’s a Nure-Onna, Noel switch with me quick.’ Before we could switch I got up and tried to get out of the way just to have the snake lady grab my waist and pull me close to her face. Every movement hurt like hell.
“You smell wonderfully delicious.” She hissed at me her tongue flicking my cheek.
“Well, you smell like you’ve been in a sewer for over 100 years,” I commented turning my face away from hers. I want to throw up from the smell she’s giving off.
“Fire.” I heard someone yell and then an explosion hit the back of the Nure-onna’s head and she dropped me. Before I could hit the ground someone caught me.
“A-Austin?!” I stuttered as he slid to a stop with me in his arms. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Is that really how you talk to someone who just saved your ass?” He snapped back at me as another explosion went off behind us.
“What the hell is going on? Can you see the Nure-Onna?” I asked him a bit in a panic.
“How do you know what it’s called?” But before I could answer Austin shook his head. “We’ll have this conversation back in the room.” He set me down on the grass and pulled out a talisman with something written on it. I couldn’t get a good look at it before he threw it.
I wasn’t too sure who the other guy that was helping was, but he looked to be an older student here. “Wait what are you two going to do?”
“We’re exorcising this demon.” Austin said in a flat tone to me as he brought out another talisman and held it out in front of him. It said banish on it. “Back from the darkness into the light. Ancestors help the weak and bring this monster to the light and atone for the sins they have committed.” Austin’s voice sounded like he was in a trance as a light blue light circled around his feet. “Now fly straight and true. Help this Nure-onna pays for what she’s done and purify the darkness.” He finished and threw the talisman at the Nure-Onna it hit it dead on and the blue light that is around Austin was the same color of the lettering that started to write in the air around the demon. Austin held his hand out open and once the lettering ended completing the circle Austin closed his hand and the Nure-Onna screamed and combusted into bright blue flames. She quickly turned to ash and before it could hit the ground it disappeared.
My hearts pounding. I’m terrified by what I just witnessed. Could that happen to Nori and I if we’re ever caught? What about Yun? I can’t let Austin see him. ‘Damn…’ Even Nori sounds a bit shaken up from that.
Austin sighed a bit relieved and then he turned back to me and held out a hand. “Come on, we’re both soaked.”
I took his hand and he pulled me up back to my feet. “Is this what you’ve been doing this entire time? You’ve been staying out till 2 in the morning because you’ve been fighting demons???”
He put a hand over my mouth and turned back to the older student, “I’ll have a talk with him. I promise he won’t say anything to anyone else.”
The older male sighed. “Make sure he doesn’t. The last thing we need is the cause a ruckus.” He said then walked away.
I could feel Yun clinging to my necklace under my shirt as Austin pulled me towards the dorm. “What about the girls? Is Alexa an exorcist too? Elena said she’s been coming in really late too.” I questioned and we stopped. I end up slipping from the sudden stop and fell pulling Austin down with me. “I’m sorry Yun” Austin fell next to me. “I’m sorry.” I quickly apologized.
“Can you not be a klutz till we get back to the room please?” He sounded a bit flustered. Did I get him in trouble?
I looked down at the ground. That stung a bit. Yeah, I was a klutz but I was getting better with it. I wasn’t tripping over at much as I was when the first week here. It’s also wet and we’re walking down hill. “I’m sorry Noel, I just never expected you to be in danger like that. And the fact that you knew exactly what that demon was called and you could see it.”
I put a hand on Austin’s shoulder and smiled. “I’ve been able to see that kind of stuff for a while now.” I answered and he seemed shocked. “But like you said we should get back to the dorm.”
“What are you two doing?” I looked from Austin to the direction where I heard Alexa’s voice. Both she and Elena were coming over to us with umbrella’s in hand.
We both stood up and walked over to them. “Where are you two heading?” I asked.
“You're soaked.” Elena commented and I laughed a little and rubbed the back of my head. “Yeah, I went for a walk in the woods to try to get an idea for my paper and didn’t’ bring an umbrella.”
Elena puffed out her cheeks a bit at me in frustration. “We’re heading back to the dorm and both of you are getting out of those wet clothes before you get sick.”
“Now with no buts.” Alexa cut in and Austin and I looked at each other and walked with the girls to the dorm.
Do you want to help us strip?” Austin teased Alexa and she pushes his face away from hers but she was giggling all the same.
“No, I’m not going to help.” She replied and I went over to the closet and opened it up. This gave Yun a chance to jump out of my shirt and land in the towel that was on the floor and buried himself in it. I took off my soaking wet shirt and grabbed an extra towel as I brought both out into the room with me. “I see someone’s not afraid to strip in front of girls.”
My cheeks heated up a bit as I set the towel on the back of my chair on the floor and draped my soaking wet shirt on the back of my chair. ‘I see what you're doing. Elena gave you a show earlier so now you're going to give her one~’ Nori comment.
“Well, you don’t want us to get sick so we need to get out of our wet clothes.” I smiled sweetly at Alexa and Elena.
“So if you want to stand here and watch us strip down, your more then welcome to.” Austin added in and held up his hand for me to high five him so I did as I rolled my eyes chuckling a bit.
I caught Elena with a slight blush on her cheeks before I went back over to the closet and picked up my towel from the floor. There was a light popping sound that came form the towel.
“What was that?” Austin asked and I heard footsteps coming over to me.
“It was nothing.” I answered turning around and Austin was practically right in my face.
“Why do I not believe you? Let me see what’s in the towel.” He went to grab the towel and I moved it away from him.
“I told you it’s nothing.” I answered quickly. I hope that Yun didn’t just get stuck in his cotton form, but at the same time it might help at this point and time.
“Then why won’t you let me see what’s in the towel?” He questioned and got a hold of the towel. We both pulled at the towel and a certain fluff balls bell jingled as he hit the floor. Oh god.
*♢*♦*♢*♦*♢*
♦Nori♦
This was not good. Why did Yun’s shedding process have to start now of all times??? “Elena get back.” Alexa said and Noel instantly dropped his side of the towel and picked up Yun from the floor. He looked wet still so he could float around.
“Is that a demon Noel?” Austin questioned dead serious.
“He’s harmless. He’s just a little Cotton Puff.” Noel responded quickly holding Yun.
“He’s a demon Noel. After what just happened earlier you have the balls to say that a demon is harmless?” Austin was pissed. I could hear it in his voice. “You could have been killed today.”
‘Everything would have been just fine if we switched before you got there. I can handle a damn Nure-onna not a problem.’ I commented in Noel’s head.
“But he really is. If you look up what a cotton puff is…” Noel was cut off by Austin pulling out a talisman. “No, Austin please don’t.”
“Austin please listen to him.” Elena spoke up which drew Austin and Alexa’s attention to her.
“Elena you too?” Austin questioned. “How long has he been here?” He instantly looked back to Noel glaring.
“S-since the first day of school. I found him when we were walking back from that meeting. I couldn’t just leave him. What if something else tried to eat him or something?” Noel was doing his best to come up with a cover story with Yun.
Austin’s facial expression went from being pissed off to laughing and putting a hand to his forehead. “How did I not notice? Noel, your too nice for your own good. He’s probably the reason why you were attacked by the Nure-onna today.”
“No I wasn’t.” Yun’s high-pitched voice squeaked out.
“The damn this talks!” Austin was shocked and I couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction.
“Of course I talk. And it wasn’t me that made the Nure-onna attack master Noel. If you know a Nure-onna’s lore you would know that they eat humans. Well they suck the blood out of their prey with their tongues. So it wasn’t me. It was more then likely master Noel’s sent that attracted her to him.” Yun tried to explain, but I don’t really know if that was helping the situation at all.
“His sent?” Austin’s voice was quiet.
“Yes, he smells like mint. I’m surprised you haven’t picked up on it mister exorcist. Aren’t your senses supposed to be heightened?” Well that was a smack in the face. Way to go Yun!
“Listen you little fuzz ball, I live with him. How do you think I’m going to notice how he smells?” Austin seemed frustrated by Yun because he got closer to him. Too bad Yun’s stuck as a cotton ball for 24 hours I’m sure he would have liked to get in his face.
“Master Noel picked up on your smell when he took your necklace off. You smell like a grape flavored pixie stick.” I snorted. This was like watching a drama. Though if I had to step in that I will force a mental switch with Noel to keep both of them safe.
I heard the girls giggle in the background as Austin looked shocked as he stood up and looked from Noel to Yun then back to Noel. “Who the hell do I smell like a pixie stick?”
“Everyone has a different smell. Elena smells like Vanilla.” Noel confessed his voice cracking as he shrunk down a bit still holding onto Yun. “B-but p-please don’t hurt Yun. Let him stay with us. He won’t hurt anyone I promise.”
Austin stood there in front of Noel for a minuet or two then sighed and rubbed his temples. “I’ll think about it.”
“You can stay Yun.” Noel smiled happily.
“I said I would think about it.” Austin correct. “Think of it as a probation. He he hurts someone I’ll exorcise him in a snap.” Noel moved Yun closer to his chest as Austin sighed and moved out of the way to let Noel out of the closet.
Things were a bit uneasy between Austin and Noel for the rest of the night. The girls decided to go back up to their room after Noel and Austin got their things together to take a shower. There was so much cotton every where that it was driving Austin nuts and he wanted to throw Yun out in the rain but Noel had to stop him and said that it wasn’t going to last much longer. When Saturday came around Austin had settled down a bit with Yun. And before I knew it Austin and Alexa were heading off to the Halloween party and Austin threatened Yun to not do anything tonight because all the exorcists were out with today being Halloween itself it was easier for demons to come here.
Noel did tell Elena that I’ll go with Eevie to the Halloween party. Noel did feel bad that I wasn’t able to roam around as much any more because of school and then everything with Austin going on. But after Austin left Elena and Noel waited about a half an hour and then they switched with us and I smiled and held out my arm for Eevie to take. “Shall we go have a fun night my lady?”
