Ryuu was in an stark endeavor to regain consciousness even as he half slept on Nino’s shoulder, and the dark haired man who kept him propped up was now somewhat irritated with the entire situation. However, Matsu in his ever smiling manner, addressed the group that had almost seemed to materialize before them. Emiko seemed to caught between looking at Ryuu who snoozed on Nino’s back to the girl that was crashed over Matsu. In the end, Matsu repressed a sudden laugh at the entire situation as he realized that it probably resembled some sort of darfk humored movie. Catching the eye of his dark haired companion caused the laugh to die within Matsu once more, and his face took on a more complacent look after a few more half seconds. Nino felt his arm twitch, and yet it made no full notion as the stark fighting spirit within Ryuu finally managed to force him into an almost awake format.
“What are you doing?” Emiko said sharply probably assuming that both men standing before her were now about to embark on the act of taking both Ryuu and the girl that was still half sprawled across Matsu’s lap.
“What is going on?” another voice said from the back of the group causing Nino’s eye to shift past a few faces and into the face of yet another new person that had come onto the scene. He repressed a sudden growl that was coming within his throat over the entire matter. More damn kids…. Was the only true thing that came to mind as Nino’s thoughts worked their way around the present situation. Dark eyes shifted down to Matsu who still managed to somehow hold a perfectly good smile.
“We were about to take him back to you, actually,” Matsu smiled lightly. “His expenses are not our joy to uphold.” However, Emiko seemed completely oblivious to this notion as her eyes shot straight at Ryuu and narrowed into a glare. It was then that Nino noticed the weight on his back was shifting.
“Look, he’s coming to,” Emiko said sharply cutting off a few other people behind her who were exchanging somewhat confused looks. “Nino, put him down.” Nino reflected a dark look back at Emiko as she demanded this but complied without a word. He moved carefully and placed the still half awake half asleep Ryuu on the ground. After another moment, Nino stood back and crossed his arms as the friends that Ryuu had acquired, namely Emiko and Aisling, seemed to make a sudden rush towards him.
However, just as Ryuu seemed to be coming to his generalized senses once more, the small creature that resembled a fairy came crashing straight into Ryuu. Matsu’s face turned scarlet as he repressed the sudden laugh that had formed its way into his stomach. Instead, he moved his head back to the others that were still yet newer faces to him. A girl with hazel hair was standing with her arms crossed almost appearing to survey the entire scene with a confused look. Behind her was a ghost boy who, after seeing the sharp yellow eye of the white haired man, backed up considerably and moved behind the hazel haired girl. Another girl with extremely dark hair was also standing on the scene as if new to it all. Raising an eyebrow, Matsu looked back up to see that Nino was looking down at him. Both men were thinking the same thing at that point and yet in two different lights. There are quite a lot of young people here Matsu thought to himself complacently. There are so many damn people here was the notion that had come through Nino’s mind.
Nino turned his head again and found that Emiko was performing some sort of pen maneuver in front of Ryuu who seemed to be only half complying with the full notion. The dark haired man said nothing but simply watched the scene quietly. Matsu continued to look at the girl that was still looking around almost half lost. When she noticed him staring at her, she seemed to flush for a moment and then stare back sharply.
“What?” she said keeping a steady face almost as Nino did.
“Why doesn’t his right eye move with the pen?” a voice said, and Matsu found that his eyes had moved back to the scene of Emiko testing Ryuu.
“It’s because I’m legally blind in my right eye,” Ryuu’s voice said sharply causing both dark haired man and light haired man to exchange a sudden look. An unquestionable amount of knowledge passed through the silence that both men held calmly in their hands.
“By the way, we didn’t get properly introduced earlier. I’m Hazel, and this is my partner Charleston,” the girl who was once standing back with the ghost said somewhat quickly. However, the other girl that was standing to the back made no motion of saying her name. Matsu gave a half smile at this.
“And you are, Miss….?” Matsu smiled as the girl seemed to stare at him as if half growing in anger by the moment of just standing there with a group that had formed more or less in the dead of night.
“Valeraine,” the girl answered sharply turning her head around as if to observe something unseen by both Nino and Matsu. “Where are the demons?” she asked after another moment, and it became obvious to Matsu why this girl appeared so tense.
“At present, they are not around,” he answered back which seemed to cause Valeraine to reflect a look of half hearted lack luster. However, at that moment, the white haired man had turned his head sharply and was now addressing Ryuu who appeared somewhat confused on the matters. Looking up, Matsu found that not even for a second had Nino turned his eyes from staring directly at Ryuu. Nino’s face was somber, and yet there was also an edge that would not leave him at the moment which caused Matsu to half sigh to himself.
“And I’m Matsu; it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Matsu half smiled to Ryuu as complacently as one without worries can. “Well, it looks as if someone is coming too as well,” Matsu’s eyes shifted to the irl still resting on him. It was as though for a while he had not even notices she was there, and yet her sudden movement had caused him to remember.
Nino’s eyes were still sharply on Ryuu even as the entire situation seemed to be shifting strangely along. Emiko seemed to be coming to her own conclusions on the health of Ryuu and patted him on the shoulder after another moment. The young girl that had followed Nino before, Aisling seemed to be nodding her head happy that Ryuu was not harmed in any other manner besides maybe some strain of pride. Nino let out a breath to himself and said nothing on the matter.
“Well,” the girl known as Hazel said as she looked around at the group that had formed somewhat strangely still. “I… guess…” however she broke off as the other new girl, Valeraine who seemed to be at odds with herself kept turning around debating what to do on the matter.
"Em?" Ryuu asked as Nino continued to stare from behind at Ryuu. The dark haired man had now started to lean up against a wall with his arms crossed. A cigarette was pressed between his fingers as though he were debating whether or not to really smoke it or not. Ever still, Ryuu appeared to be trying to ignore that fact for the instant and was addressing Emiko in the way close friends often do.
"She's my cousin," Emiko replied unaware that the dark haired Nino was watching the entire situation.
The strange girl sprawled across Matsu’s legs was now starting to wake up, and with a sudden motion, she gripped Matsu and began hugging him. The white haired man turned red for a moment and then resisted the urge to laugh. However, when the girl finally managed to awaken to the startled look of Matsu, she moved quickly away trying to get herself straight. Forcing herself up, she began to walk dazily until finally managing to walk straight into Nino.
“Klutz….” Valeraine blinked.
“Indeed,” Hazel answered back, and both girls turned their heads as if to survey the fact that they had both agreed on something. Matsu resisted a light laugh, but it came out anyways, and after a final moment, the light haired man stopped and nodded to himself as he regained composure.
"A headache is common," Matsu said after a moment as his voice dropped a bit, and in truth, the yellow eyed shaman knew this for a fact. Possessions often caused the soul to become stressed, and when the soul was stressed, the mind and body often felt the effects.
"Ow," the girl murmured as she continued to brush past a dark eyed Nino who remained like a frozen dark statue in the light that was now not only coming from the school but also through the windows of the school. As if understanding at that point that the obstruction to her was not about to move, the girl turned and seemed to force herself to look at Emiko. From the back of her head, Nino could not interpret what her visage was like, but he prescribed it mentally as some sort of anxious look that one gives after receiving an exorcism.
"What did you do to me?" the girl said in almost a shrill voice that was directed either at Emiko or Aisling from the way the girl was looking at them both standing there. It did not appear to be directed at Ryuu who just turned his head a degree and waited for some sort of response.
"What are you talking about? You were unconscious when I got here." Emiko retorted back, and the dark haired statue moved his head a fraction to look down at his light haired companion who was now digging his fingers into his knees.
“I’m fine… thanks for asking,” Matsu answered his dark haired friend’s looks with a careful and calm voice. “Just the negative emotion is kind of…. Making me a tad ill….”
“Thought so,” Nino answered back in a quiet dark voice.
“I'm only here to deliver a message. No worries about me getting in the way of your little slumber party here,” the girl said sharply, and both men came to know that they had missed part of the information.
~*~
A baby cried, and Matsu’s eyes darted sharply to the child that was still being held by Mari. She looked down at it for a moment as if unsure of what to do. Forcing himself up, Matsu walked over to Mari carefully.
“What is a baby doing here?” Valeraine said sharply as she eyed the child. Mari just stared back not ready to answer any questions on the matter. The two women finally seemed to make peace and turn their heads half way to each other. The young ghost that followed the girl now known as Hazel looked somewhat confused as well as he took one step forwards towards the baby and then backed up again. Hazel noticed this as well and looked at him for a solid moment.
“Now now,” Matsu began lightly as he took a full step towards Mari and served almost as a half shield.
Looking up at the knight who stood to Mari’s right, Matsu gave a light smile to him as well. “Would you be so kind as to let me?” Matsu asked more to the knight than to Mari. The knight, seeming to understand that there was no malicious intent involved, nodded after a moment and allowed Matsu closer still. Mari shot Matsu a half worried stare at him, yet the light haired man kept a complacent look.
“It’s alright,” he answered moving his hand up and placing it light at the child’s head. Several sharp images passed through the light haired man’s mind as he saw what was in the child’s mind. It did not make him recoil, and yet it made him feel something strange on the matter completely. “Someone just wants more sleep and maybe some food,” Matsu smiled after a moment. “The night has turned to day, and all this running around does not help anyone on the matters of wants and needs.”
Mari’s eyes seemed to drop a fraction as she looked down at the baby before her. Matsu kept a light face as he turned to Hazel who was now staring almost unsure of herself at the child in Mari’s arms. “Would you happen to mind sparing a few bottles of water, Miss Hazel?” Matsu asked carefully. The girl seemed to look at him confusedly but reached to the side bag that she carried and produced a water bottle.
Taking the water, Matsu put his hand to it and closed his eyes for a half second. The water shimmered for a second and then returned back to its clear form. Handing it outwards to Mari who gave it a confused look, Matsu kept his face calm as he began talking again. “I placed a bit of my manna into the water,” he began after a moment. “It’s not as good as food, but it will certainly give energy.”
Mari seemed to drop her gaze yet again and took the water bottle. “If this hurts this child,” she threatened sharply as though growing extensively fond of the child.
“And why would I wish to harm something pure?” Matsu answered back. His words seemed satisfactory to the moment, and finally Mari seemed to nod to herself and give the water to the child. For a split second, there was a cry of pure glee that escaped the child instantly causing several in the room to tighten just a fraction, and after another moment, there was peace once more. Mari seemed to breathe a sigh of relief to herself after another moment. Matsu turned to Hazel and gave a smile.
“Thank you for the use of your water, Miss Hazel,” he said after a moment, and as the girl seemed to reflect a look of shock, Matsu just smiled and laughed back.
“Just what in the world is going on here?” Valeraine who seemed to taking a few steps back as if to make leave of the school completely said.
“Too much, honestly,” Matsu answered back breathing out. “And still so much work to do… not to mention that the sun is coming up, and students still need to get to class…”
~*~
Nino had not completely ignored this entire scene as his white haired partner had gone to soothe the child, and yet his eyes were more focused on the present scene in which the woman was still talking sharply with Emiko.
"How did you even find me?" Emiko demanded. The girl just shrugged back at her.
"I have some friends in high places. Of course, you would know all about that, now would you? Oh wait, no, you don't have money since you were banished from the family name? How does it feel to be out on your own? It's what you have always wanted." The girl answered back with a strange smile on her face. Nino said nothing but found that he was already starting to drain himself of the emotional overflow that was awakening in him. It was a strange prospect for the dark haired man, and he couldn’t quite understand the anger that he was feeling. At least it was understood then who this girl was acquainted with.
"I didn't ask to be kicked out. We can't all be as spoiled and prissy as you!" Emiko shot back.
"Now now!" came Matsu’s voice, and it was understood at least to Nino that he was not talking about the present situation that he was watching but another one. Yet the words of the heartfelt Matsu had always managed to soothe even those that the words were not directed at. Emiko and this girl seemed to cross their arms and make a humph noise towards each other after another moment, yet Nino just moved his eyes down a fraction to himself.
"Why are you here..." Nino said somewhat startling the girl who quickly changed looks and found him standing there.
"I'm Elliana. Call me Elle. And I'm here because my family thought it would be the right thing to let you know an important piece of information. But, I don't think you quite deserve it," the girl now known as Elliana answered back sharply.
"What is it?" Emiko’s face seemed to shift sharply. “What's wrong?"
"It's your mum. She died a few weeks ago. The funeral was last Wednesday,” Elliana answered back.
There was a moment of complete silence, and in that, Nino bit back a sigh that was awakening within. She’ll cry…..Nino thought to himself darkly. More emotion…. Great. However, there was no stinging sound that coupled in the air. There was no sudden break down. There was no sudden question as to why. Instead the words came out of Emiko somewhat darkly “Oh. I see. Well, thanks for telling me." She answered back to Elliana. Nino allowed himself a breath.
Within that solid moment, the entire room had suddenly fallen into a state of iced sound. Ailsing, in her ever innocent ways, made a reach to try and take hold of Emiko’s shoulder, and yet the girl persisted and managed to avoid the sudden sentimental touch that one gives another. Mari, who had come to peaceful terms with the child now in her arms, seemed to make a sudden movement as if to give her own condolences. In truth everyone in the room had heard the voices despite the lack of true sound in the area. However, Emiko ignored them as well and continued to walk away.
“Emiko!” Aisling tried with her voice, and yet the last syllabol was fragmented in comparison with how she started it.
Just as Emiko started to pass him, Nino put one arm up as if to hinder her ability to leave. Yet the red haired girl made a sudden shove forwards and pushed passed him. Breathing out, Nino stared at Emiko sharply for another half second before allowing her to proceed.
“Emiko!” Ryuu’s voice was caustic in the silence. “Em, get back here and talk to me!” He had already moved straight forwards and seized Emiko by the shoulder. Emiko said nothing but just stared at Ryuu with a half suffering look.
Nino stepped a fraction away and caught sight of Elliana walking away but made no motion to stop her. Matsu, who had been looking at the other girls, now had his own eyes on Nino once more. Breathing out, Nino put a cigarette in his mouth and flicked the lighter on. A stream of smoke seemed to trail from the end of it.
“Emiko….” Ryuu said trying to find consoling words but failing in his attempts.
“I just want to continue and finish this case up,” Emiko said with a sternness in her voice. Yet even there, her voice quivered as if she could not control it.
“Actually,” Matsu cut sharply through the conversation. “It is nearly five thirty, and the students still need to go to school. I suggest we all leave the area, except of course you Miss Mari. Repose is something that we all need at the moment, and besides I doubt the students of the private academy would relish in the factors of so many unexplained people coming in and out during daylight hours.”
“I just got here,” Valeraine answered back sharply.
However, Nino’s dark eyes had already moved sharply to the girl’s face and were reflecting a hard glare back at her. The girl seemed to return the glare but made a half step back unsure of herself. In the end, Nino’s stare caused her to move her eyes away.
Hazel looked at the ghost boy with her as one often tries to confer with a friend and yet has no means as what to say upon anything of the matter. The ghost however, seemed to take this talk complacently and nodded up to the girl staring back down at him.
Mari, who appeared to be one of the more worn people in the group at this point, gave a half nod to herself as she realized that she still had to go to school that morning. She clutched the baby somewhat tiredly even as the knight still standing beside her made a motion as though to ask whether or not she wished of him to hold the baby.
“Right,” a voice said causing Matsu’s eyes to shoot to the face of Ryuu. The boy reflected a look back of somewhat strange determination as though there was more to gain by this action than was laid out on the table previously. Matsu let out a breath quietly understanding this notion that the boy probably wanted to use the daylight hours to interrogate Nino further on the matters that he had addressed prior. “The demons are gone for now, and the light is already coming in, so let’s all clear out,” he said sharply as though assuming the leading role while Emiko appeared to be trying to envelope herself in a void of lack of emotion. Matsu felt a pang go through his stomach for the white haired man recognized this void as what Nino often did when draining himself. It was a strange act that often came with consequences of its own but provided the user some internal peace of the moment.
“Hey!” a voice yelled from down the hall. “I can’t get out!”
Nino’s eyes narrowed sharply as Elliana came running down the hallway once more. A few girls jumps as though they had not known she had left and were surprised at seeing her back so suddenly. Matsu, in his effortless light demeanor, smile back at her. “Well welcome back, Miss….. Elliana, I do believe,” Matsu said after a moment.
“What is up with this school?” Elliana demanded sharply. “Explain!”
“What do you mean you can’t get out,” Ryuu said causing the girl to turn on her heels and stare at him. Emiko looked up and stared at Elliana sharply as though ready to give a sudden and sharp voice on the matter that she had been thinking on. However, Elliana cut her off curtly.
“The doors won’t open,” Elliana answered sharply looking straight at Emiko. “What did you do?”
“She didn’t do anything! STOP IT!” shouted a voice. Nino found himself half surprised for the bearer of the voice was none other than the quiet Aisling. “She didn’t do anything! How dare you go blaming her more!” Ailsing’s face was flushed with anger suddenly. “So stop it!” she repeated again.
Elliana seemed surprised by this as well and blinked a full moment before her eyes narrowed again. “Then explain what is going on,” she said sharply.
“Either you can’t open a door, or a ghost has locked it,” Nino answered back causing the girl’s eyes to shift straight to him.
“A what?” Elliana said sharply. “There are no such things as ghosts.”
“Then the prior is your answer,” Nino answered sharply causing the girl to leer back at him.
“Now now….” Matsu breathed again trying to lighten the situation even for a fraction of a second. “Why don’t we just go see this door?”
“Well….” Valeraine said as though ready to try and start talking once more. She had been quiet this entire time almost seeming to try and get a general view for the mix of ghost hunters in front of her, and it appeared as though she had finally come to a conclusion, herself. “I’ll go see the door. Not sure about the rest of you,” she said with a fire suddenly seeming to appear in her eyes. She seemed to want this sudden paranormal activity in order to account for her inactivity already explained prior. The girl known as Hazel seemed to nod at this idea and take a step forwards towards where Elliana had come from.
Matsu half laughed to himself as though finding something truly fascinating within it all. Ryuu just stared for a moment before nodding again and looking at Emiko. The red head with her emotions still trying to be properly disposed of on the subject of her mother said nothing but just stared half at the floor before her and half into a nothingness that none were sure they would be able to penetrate.
Almost in a pack, they all started down the hallway and towards the doors that were said to be locked. Matsu somehow nominated himself as the leader of this almost large expedition caught sight of someone entering the front gate through the glass door of the front entrance. Feeling himself compelled, he called out almost directly through the door.
“Hey! Little girl! What are you doing here?” Matsu asked lightly, yet his voice was loud enough to echo through the front door and caused the girl looking in to half jump.
“I’m not little!” the girl shouted causing Matsu’s face to slide into a half frown. “How’d you like it if I came up there and Ghost Hunted your arse!” In another second, the girl seemed to freeze and clamp her mouth. Matsu felt his face move into surprise. Yet another ghost hunter? And so early in the morning…. Shaking his head, Matsu clasped the front door and found it opened easily for him.
“Ghost hunter?” He questioned half sticking his head out of the door. The girl who had been on the other side of the door gave a jump unsure of what to do or who he was.
The party behind Matsu, seeing that the door indeed opened easily enough, now seemed somewhat agitated by Elliana raising their hopes. The sun was now starting its slow trek up into the sky, and with the door open, Matsu walked out past the newest ghost hunter and stood somewhat complacently in the court yard of the school. Nino, who had been at the back of this strange mob had also shoved his way through and gave a half yawn.
“Well this has certainly been an interesting night,” Matsu said as he turned to the group. “But my partner and I are somewhat tired, so we will be back later in the day. Good day all.”
“Wait a minute,” Ryuu said as his voice became caustic. Nino’s eyes moved up to Ryuu’s sharply, and both men stared darkly at each other. “I want answers,” Ryuu continued.
“I’ll be back,” Nino answered Ryuu before Matsu could. Seeing this, Matsu made a half laugh and then nodded.
“Hopefully we’ll see you all soon,” Matsu smiled complacently giving a dramatic bow before finally regaining his stance pleasantly. “And Miss Mari, you might wish to talk to Miss Emiko and Miss Aisling about what to do with the child. I am not good on these matters. Anyways, farewell for now.”
Matsu turned but found that Nino was already walking up the street. Catching up with him, the white haired man turned towards his dark haired companion. “I rented an apartment yesterday,” he said pleasantly, but his companion simply nodded back. “I had a feeling that we would be staying in town longer, and it seems as though the adventure is just beginning.”
“Indeed,” Nino answered.
“By the way,” Matsu half laughed to himself. “I left the apartment number in the pocket of ‘Ryuu’ you see.”
_____________________________________________________
Writer's notes:
The word count is approximately 4,620 words, and it took me quite some time to write this. I hope it is alright tat I had things mellow out a bit. This will allow new members a better chance of things as well as the actually school to get going as normal. If I made any mistakes in character flow, please feel free to tell me. That's all folks.
-KC
