*Fade to a week or so later, at the grocery store.* Alison’s Mother: *standing in the checkout line with a half-full cart, looking pale and overworked as usual* Alison: *stands next to her, using a small calculator to make sure they're not going over their budget limit* Mother: Are we okay so far? *brushes her hair back nervously* Alison: Yup, just fine. Alison: Don't worry, mom. Mother: *smiles, relieved* Alison: We got plenty of coupons. Mother: That's true... Mother: *pays for their groceries in coupons and exact change* Checkout Lady: -.- *rings everything up and bags the groceries* Mother: Thank you. *puts the bags in the cart* Checkout Lady: *grudgingly* Welcome. Checkout Lady: *goes to the next customer* Dave: *Staggers out of a bar, sloppy drunk, and climbs into his car. Turns it on, accelerates to unsafe speeds, and starts driving home.* Alison: *helps carry groceries to car* Mother: *puts the bags in the back seat of the Toyota* Mother: Ready to go home, Ali? Alison: Yup. Mother: ^-^ *gets in the driver's seat and carefully pulls out of the parking lot, looking both ways but seeing nothing* Mother: So, fried fish is okay with you? Alison: *is in passenger's side, also looking* Fried fish is great, mom. I like fried fish. Mother: Good... Mother: *has the radio on to a rather staticky mix station* Alison: *always feels a need to reassure her mom about everything* Mother: *half-listening to the radio* Is school going all right? How's your new teacher working out? Alison: He's really nice. Kinda strict, but nice. Mother: Well, a little discipline never hurt a teenager... *smiles a little* Mother: And your friends? Alison: They’re doing good too. Mother: That's nice... Alison: *suddenly spots car coming towards them at unsafe speeds* Mom, watch out! Mother: 0.0! *swerves and hits the brakes at the same time, panicking* Dave: *sees blurry object, decides to plow right through, speeds up* Alison: O.O! Mother: *tries to avoid the oncoming car without driving into another lane* Dave: *realizes it's a car at the last instant, hits the brakes, but...* *SMASH!* *SCREEEEEEEE* Mother: AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Alison: AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Dave: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! *The two cars collide dramatically - supply your own sparks, or just watch a Lethal Weapon movie. Then - fade out to a hospital room.* San: *sitting next to Alison's bed, having just called Shiko* San: *was the one who found her and her mom* San: *had assumed Shiko would call Damien* Mother: *lying in the bed next to Alison, not awake but not fully asleep, either* Mother: *not ready to talk* Shiko: *flies into the room, not looking genki at all* Damien: *following her, not as energetic but just as worried* Alison: *still unconscious, has a mild concussion* Shiko: SAN! *speaking Latin out of habit* "What HAPPENED? How'd you find her? What's wrong? What should I do? Do we need to interfere?" Damien: *also in Latin, looking at the floor* "She called me..." San: "Calm DOWN, Shiko. It was only a car accident." Shiko: ;.; "But - but..." Mother: *thinks they must be doctors, since she can't understand them* San: "The doctors say Alison has a mild concussion. It's nothing major. Her mother is fine, but for some scratches and bruises." Shiko: ;_; *wipes her face* Yokatta... yokatta... San: "I noticed them on my way home. They were hit by a drunk driver." Damien: !.! Shiko: Where's HE?! Damien: *thinking* If I find him... San: He was fine, and they released him. Shiko: Grrrrr... *stomps her feet* Damien: *literally growls* Mother: *deciding now is a good time to wake up* Excuse me, please... San: *looks at her* Yes? Mrs. Devar? Mother: Pardon me, but - are you the doctors? Can you tell me what's happened? Is Alison all right? Damien: *to self* Everyone asks him everything all the time... can't they give him a break? San: *smiles nervously* Actually, we're not doctors, but the ones I spoke to said she would be fine, she just had a mild concussion and she'll need to rest in the hospital for a few weeks. Mother: Oh... *looks upset* San: You were hit by a drunk driver. I was the one who found you. *holds out his hand* I'm Angelico Watcher, Alison's Latin teacher. Mother: *takes it* A pleasure, Mr. - Watcher... Shiko: I'm Shiko, Alison's friend... and this is Damien. Angelico called us as soon as he could, and we came right over! Damien: *bows* An honor to meet you, Mrs. Devar. Mother: How nice to meet all of you... *looks rather overwhelmed* San: *smiles reassuringly at her* Alison will be fine, Mrs. Devar. Mother: I'm sure... but... *doesn't want to say out loud that there's no way they can afford the hospital bills* San: *winks at her and whispers* It's all being taken care of... *doesn't say by who or why* Mother: 0.0? But... Shiko: *covering up* Perhaps we should come back later, ne, Daemon? Shiko: Mrs. Devar probably needs to rest... Mother: *definitely overwhelmed* Yes - a little rest would be nice... Shiko: ^-^ See you later, Mrs. Devar! *grabs Shal by the scruff of his neck and begins dragging him out of the room* San: *nods in agreement* Damien: *waves* Bye, Mrs. Devar... Mother: *waves back distractedly* Bye... Shiko: *drags Damien down to the hospital lounge, the one with all the snack machines and stuff* Shiko: *sits down in one of the chairs and wipes away sweatdrops* Oh, man... Shiko: I was so worried there... San: *takes his leave and goes outside, just meeting a doctor, who confirms what the other doctor told him before, then he heads to the lounge also* Damien: *sits down beside her* I was worried, too... but San said everything would be all right... Shiko: *smiles at him tiredly* San: *goes to a vending machine and gets some soda, then sits down a little ways away, letting it get flat in his hands* Shiko: *looks at the two of them and sighs* I want to say "MEN!" here, but it wouldn't be very appropriate... Damien: ?.? San: *blushes* Shiko: 9.9 I mean, I know that the last time you two were in this gig, you ended up turning the place into a war zone, but this is just ridiculous. Damien: 6.6 San: 6.6 Shiko: And you two can't blame it all on Kal, you know. She does her best, but she DID start out as a merc. Damien: Yes, but - Shiko: But nothing. At least turn in your own homework, for heaven's sake... San: *blushes again* Damien: 6.6 Shiko: 9.9 Oh, why do I even bother with you two... Shiko: *smiles at them* I'm going to the gift shop - think you can manage to spend ten minutes together - using that term VERY loosely - without burning the place down? Damien: Anouuuuuuuu... Shiko: ^-^;;; I'm choosing to take that as a yes. *leaves for the gift shop, which is on another floor* San: *puts the flat soda on the table next to him* Damien: 6.6 *sits very, very still, rather like a prey animal who's just seen a T. Rex* San: *wonders what to do* Damien: *unconsciously touches his breast pocket, where the very tip of a bedraggled white feather can be seen poking out* San: *looks up* Shal - Shiko: *browses in the gift shop, being easily distracted and often going into ferret shock* Damien: *gulps* Un? Damien: *doesn't look up* San: I'm sorry. Damien: M- me, too... *touches the pocket again* San: I've been acting stupid... Damien: *blushing* Anou - I haven't been very sensible, either, lately... Shiko: *poings around the gift shop* Oooh! Oooh! Oooh! Damien: Demo... after what happened last time... Damien: I was a little scared... San: To tell you the truth... So was I. Damien: *finally looks up* R- really? San: *nods* Mmhmm. Damien: *blushes, looks down at the floor again* San: *blushes and looks away* Shiko: *poings back into the lounge* Look! I found the CUTEST little stuffed bear! Isn't it ADORABLE?! *holds it up proudly* Damien: Geep! San: *looks up* It's... very cute, Shiko. Shiko: Oh, and check it out! The hospital's still here! Shiko: ^-^V I'm so proud of both of you. San: *sweatdrops* Damien: *sweatdrops right along with him* Shiko: Let's go back up and give it to Alison! San: Sure. Damien: *has gone back into silent mode* Shiko: *happily poings back to the room* Hi!! San: *follows her* Damien: *follows, eyes glued to the floor* Mother: *waking up* Oh - Shiko, you're back... and Mr. Watcher and Damien, too... Alison: *Opens her eyes, has blurry vision. Shakes her head to clear it, and moans as her head aches.* Shiko: *nods happily* Yep! Damien: *miraculously materializes right beside Alison's bed* San: *stands behind Shiko* Shiko: We just brought Alison a get-well gift... Alison: *closes her eyes again* Mother: That's - very thoughtful of you... Damien: *stands around looking awkward* Alison: *takes a few deeps breaths, then opens her eyes again* Mom...? Mother: *tries to stand up* Alison! Alison: *winces* My head hurts... Damien: *almost whispering* The - the doctors s- said you had a con- concussion... Alison: Oh... That's probably why... Mother: *not really up to standing, settles for sitting upright* Shiko: Un! *goes to Alison’s bed* Shiko: There was a car accident... Shiko: Look, I got you a get-well gift! *presents the teddy bear with a flourish* Alison: *smiles weakly* Thanks... Shiko: ^____________^ Damien: o6.6o Mother: Ali, I'm so sorry - I tried to avoid that other driver... Alison: It wasn't your fault, mom... Shiko: *senses impending family togetherness moment* Well! Anyway! Shiko: Perhaps we should just be going... San: *nods, barely said anything anyway* Damien: *nods vigorously, despite a strong desire to stay and try to track down the drunk driver* Shiko: Well, then... *takes Damien by the back of his shirt again, starts dragging him away* We'll come back tomorrow! Damien: *waving* Tomorrow... Alison: *calls softly* Bye... San: *waves also, then retreats after Shiko and Damien* Mother: Good-bye... *Fade to lunch the next day, where Shiko and Damien can explain everything to the others.* Shiko: *sitting at a table with Damien, looking for T, V, and J* Damien: *sits with her, idly checking his Latin homework* Tamisha: *shows up first* Hey, guys. Where's Alison? I didn't see her this morning... Damien: *looks at the table* Shiko: Let's wait till everyone else gets here first... *looks upset, but smiles anyway* Tamisha: *shrugs* Okay. Tamisha: *sits down opposite the two* Valentine: *appears and sits down with a tray of food* Hi, everyone! Valentine: *looks around* Where's Alison? And why's everyone look so glum? Shiko: Can you wait till Judy gets here? I don't want to repeat myself a billion times... Valentine: Sure! *starts eating* Judy: *appears with ever present salad, sits* Hi guys. Valentine: Hi! Tamisha: Yo. Judy: I haven't seen Alison today. What's up? Shiko: Anouuuuu... Damien: *sulks at being called "glum"* Damien: *prefers the term "angsty"* Shiko: Um... bad news... 6.6 Shiko: Alison was in a car wreck yesterday... Judy: *drops her fork* Tamisha: !.! Valentine: !.! *stops eating* Judy: !.! Valentine: No way! What HAPPENED? Damien: *almost inaudibly* 6.6 There was a drunk driver... Damien: *still hasn't managed to hunt him down and kill him yet, but is working on it* Tamisha: Speak UP, cutie, I can't understand a word you're saying. Shiko: *firmly* A drunk driver ran into their car... Valentine: Is she okay?! Judy: *stares* !.! Shiko: Yeah... she had a little concussion and some scrapes, but nothing too serious... Shiko: She should be back in a week or two! *gives them a half-hearted victory sign* Damien: *looks at Latin homework* Tamisha: Damn... Tamisha: That's scary. You SURE she's okay? Damien: *nods* Judy: Man... Valentine: *goes into a little huddle, looking freaked out* Shiko: But she'll be back! ^-^ San: *at other end of cafeteria, breaking up fight in lunch line* Tamisha: Well - that's something, I guess... Tamisha: Alison really got off lucky. Damien: *happens to look up from the Latin, sees the fight and San* 0.0 Judy: Comparatively, yeah... Valentine: *looking that way, too* Hey, Shiko, isn't that your Latin teacher? Shiko: Yeah... San: *having some trouble, one student just won't stop* San: *gets hit in the face a couple of times* Damien: *jumps to his feet, black fire in his eyes* Shiko: *notices* Daemon! Damien: *ignores her, runs to the line* Judy: Ouch... Shiko: Kuso... *runs after him* Valentine: They sure like their teacher, I guess... @.@ San: *trying unsuccessfully to restrain said student, gets hit some more* Tamisha: *shrugs* Judy: That looks like it hurts. Damien: *rams one arm into the student's face, breaking his nose and many of his teeth* San: *blinks in surprise* Damien: *hits the top of the student's head, knocking him out* Shiko: *pulls Damien away* SHALOHIM! Damien: *blinks himself, looks at the unconscious student* San: *blinks again* Damien: Did - did I - Shiko: 9.9 YES, Shal, you did. San: *stares at him in wonder* Damien: *looks around, sees wide-eyed students and San* Damien: !.! *blushes furiously, wishes for a black hole* Shiko: *sighs* Damien: *tries to sneak back to the table* Random Teacher: *grabs him by the collar and starts lecturing* Young man, are you aware that students are NOT allowed to intervene in fights? Furthermore - Damien: ;.; San: *interrupts her* Leave him be, Mary. Damien: ?.? Shiko: ?.? San: It wasn't his fault. Damien: *blushes* Mary: *huffs, but storms off to deal with the students in the actual fight* Shiko: *sighs in relief* Thanks, Angelico... Damien: *looks at the ground, still blushing* San: *blushes slightly himself* It was nothing... Shiko: Riiiiiiiiiiiight. Shiko: 9.9 Well, at least we didn't get TOO flashy... San: *on an impulse, leans down to Shalohim and whispers* "Thanks." *then hurriedly straightens up and goes out, making some excuse to a fellow teacher about cleaning up* Damien: *turns completely red, scrambles back to the table* Shiko: *rolls her eyes, but smiles and follows him back* Judy: *eyes them both, but says nothing* Valentine: ?.? What was THAT all about? Tamisha: Yeah, really. I thought you were gonna kill that kid, Damien... Damien: *hides face, but is still red* Shiko: Nothing! Don't worry about it! ^-^ Tamisha: ~.- Really... Valentine: Well, we'll take your word for it... *looks doubtful all the same* *Fade to a week and a half later, lunchtime again.* Alison: *walks into lunchroom, blanches at the idea of fighting through the lunch line, and just sits at the usual table instead* Shiko: *sits next to her* Damien: *comes in and sits on her other side* Shiko: ^___^V I'm so glad you're back! Damien: *blushing slightly* Me, too... Alison: *smiles slowly at both of them* Thanks... I'm pretty happy to finally be out of the hospital... Damien: *smiles a real smile at her* Shiko: ^_______^ Valentine: *finds them* Hi! Valentine: Alison, it's so good to see you back! *would hug her, but isn't sure if it's okay* Shiko: ;.; It's such a shame that Tamisha's not here today... she caught a cold, and her parents wouldn't let her go to school... Alison: Aww... That's too bad... I hope she's better soon. Valentine: Me, too. *sits down opposite the others, starts eating* Damien: Miss Alison? Would you like me to go get in line for you? *had noticed her look at the lines earlier* Alison: Oh, no, that would be a lot of trouble for you, Damien... Damien: ^-^ It's no problem, Miss Alison. Shiko: ^-^;;; You might as well let him - he won't stop bugging you till you do... Damien: -.- Shiko-san... Alison: *smiles* Well, if you think it won't be too much trouble, that would be very nice of you, thanks. Damien: *smiles* My pleasure! Damien: *leaves to get in line* Valentine: *eating* That sure was nice of him... Valentine: Oh! That reminds me! Valentine: Ally, the STRANGEST thing happened while you were gone! Alison: Oh? Shiko: ^-^;;; Anou - Val - maybe that's not a story Alison wants to hear right now... Valentine: *ignoring her* Really! There was, like, this huge fight in the lunch line, and your Latin teacher - I forget his name... Alison: Mr. Watcher? Valentine: Yeah, I think that's it... Anyway, he was over there breaking it up, and this one student, like, hit him in the face a couple of times... Alison: *looks concerned* Was he all right? Valentine: Yeah, yeah, but the weird thing is, Damien just got up and RAN over there - *illustrates with gestures* - and he beat up that kid! Shiko: *sighs* Valentine: It was AMAZING! Alison: *eyes widen* Damien? You have to be kidding! Shiko: *hanging her head* Nope. Valentine: No, for real! Valentine: I guess you guys really like that teacher, don't you? ^-^;;; Alison: Damien would never hurt a soul! Why'd he go off like that? Shiko: Anouuuuuuuuuuuuuu... Damien: *comes back from the line with an actual decent meal, courtesy of demonic powers* Is this okay, Miss Alison? Valentine: *decides to shut up now* Alison: Yes, that's great, Damien. Thanks so much. Damien: ^-^ Shiko: *looks at the food, then at Damien* ~.-? Damien: *nods at her slightly* Valentine: *concentrates on her food* Alison: *eats happily* :d Damien: ^-^ *Fade to Latin class.* Shiko: *sits and doodles on her homework before she has to turn it in* Damien: *checks and re-checks his homework* Alison: *working hurriedly on late work* Shiko: *whispers to Alison* Want any help? Alison: *nods, looks slightly harried* Shiko: ^-^ *helps her* Damien: *helps, too* Alison: *is helped* Damien: *points out a mistake that Shiko made, earning himself a glare* Shiko: -.- Damien: ;.; Alison: *looks between them* Shiko: ^-^;;; Damien: *semi-smiles* Random Student: *sitting behind Damien, pokes him* Hey. Hey, new kid. Damien: *looks at her* Yes? Student: Are you really that good at Latin? Alison: Shhh... Student: -.-!!! Damien: It's okay... yes... Student: *looks at him flirtatiously* Want to help me with MY homework, then? Alison: *doesn't like girl's tone, just because she feels like protecting Damien, since he arouses that instinct in her* Damien: Anouuuu... *looks confused* Student: Come on, we've still got a minute... Damien: @.@ Shiko: *at the random girl* -.-!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Student: *gives Shiko an evil look, but leaves Damien alone* Damien: *whispers to Shiko* Thanks... Shiko: *smiles grimly* My pleasure. Literally. Damien: ^-^ Alison: Shhhh... Damien: *goes back to helping Alison, quietly* Shiko: *same* San: *dutifully ignoring the three* *Finally, all the late homework is done.* Student: *is still struggling with her homework* Alison: *triumphantly goes up to San's desk and hands it all in* San: *smiles at her and sets to correcting it* Shiko: ^-^V Damien: ^-^ Shiko: *looks at Damien* Your turn, Daemon... Damien: *gives her a pitiful look* Shiko: -.- Damien: ;.; *takes up his homework and hands it in, carefully holding it by one edge* Shiko: 9.9 San: *takes it, somehow managing to brush Shal's hand anyway* Damien: *inwardly* !.! San: *blushes and looks down at his desk, continuing to check Alison's late work* Damien: *outwardly, manages to remain calm and walk back to his seat without falling flat on his face* Shiko: *pats him on the back* Alison: *puts her head on her desk and sleeps, feeling somewhat exhausted* Damien: ^-^;;;;;;;;;;;; Shiko: *shakes head sadly* Oh, Daemon... it'll get easier... Shiko: *thinking* At least, I HOPE so... Damien: *nods, uncertain* Random Student 3(female): *whispering to another student* I'm jealous... Mr. Watcher doesn't blush like that when *I* turn in MY homework... Student 3: *sighs sadly* Random Student 4(also female): *nods in commiseration* I know... Student 4: And that kid never even looks our way... *Both students make crying faces.* Damien: *blushes, has to hide his face again* San: *overhears this, blushes also, hides behind the papers he's correcting* Shiko: *whispers to Alison* Ne, Alison - want to come over to my house on Friday night for a sleepover? Shiko: We can watch girly movies and gush and just hang out... Alison: *whispers back* Sounds good. *Fade to Shiko, Damien, and Alison walking home on Friday; Alison just needs to pick up some of her stuff from her house before going to Shiko's for the sleepover.* Shiko: ^_____^ This is going to be so much fun! I have a ton of mushy chick flicks we can watch... Damien: 9.9 Shiko: *pokes him* Girls's night. Shiko: No one with a Y chromosome allowed. Alison: *giggles* Damien: *in Hebrew* "I don't suppose I could... well..." Shiko: *looks as if she's seriously thinking about it for a minute* Shiko: *then -* "Nope. Too risky. Some other time, Daemon." Damien: *going back to English* Okay... Damien: *makes a note to patrol outside Shiko's house tonight instead of Alison's* Alison: What movies are we watching exactly, Shiko? Shiko: Um... *thinks* Shiko: "Chocolat," "First Wives' Club," and "Dogma." Damien: *at the last* 0.0!!! Shiko: *smirks at him* Alison: I've never seen Dogma, but I heard Chocolat was good, and I love First Wives' Club! Shiko: That's great! Shiko: You'll like "Dogma," it has angels in it! Damien: *goes into a coughing fit* Alison: Really? Shiko: *pokes Damien, trying to make him stop acting so suspiciously* Shiko: Really! It's a neat movie! Alison: I can't wait! Shiko: ^_______^V Damien: *gives Shiko a dirty look* Alison: Well, I'll be right back. *goes into her house and gathers stuff* Shiko: *smiling at Damien* Relax about "Dogma" already. It's just a movie, she won't guess a thing - at least, not unless YOU clue her in... Damien: 6.6 I just don't want anything bad to happen like - like that time... Shiko: *in that strange, subtly different voice again* ... Shiko: *touches his cheek gently* Damien: *looks at her hopefully* Shiko: *back to normal* Now don't worry about us, okay? Go have a nice night with the rats in your house... Damien: @.@ Shiko-saaaaaaaan... Alison: *comes back out* Okay, I'm ready! Alison: ?.? Shiko: Okay! Let's go! Damien: *bows* I will see you later, Miss Alison, Miss Shiko. Shiko: Bai! Alison: *follows Shiko, having never been to her house before* Bai, Damien! Alison: Have a nice weekend! Damien: Good-bye... *disappears down an alley* Shiko: *walks with Alison* Shiko: I'm really glad you were able to come over... I was worried your mom wouldn't let you, because of the accident... Alison: She knows I wouldn't get in trouble with you, Shiko. Alison: She trusts you. Shiko: ^_____^ That's me - trustworthy all over! Alison: Why was Damien acting weird about the movie? Shiko: ^-^;;; Heh... Shiko: Oh, he saw it once and he didn't really like it... Alison: Oh. Shiko: ^-^;;; *They reach Shiko's house, a very battered and ramshackle place with trash and weeds in the tiny front yard.* Shiko: Anou... 6.6 *looks ashamed of herself* Alison: *being polite* What a nice house! Shiko: 6.6 Um - it's nicer inside... *leads the way* Alison: *follows* Shiko: *inside, the house is cleaner and less in disrepair, but still not very nice* Shiko: *quietly* The TV's in my room... Alison: Okay! *trying to be polite, but not overly so* Shiko's "Aunt": *wakes up from a nap on the kitchen table, where a bottle of beer is sitting next to her* Uhn... Shiko...? Shiko: *gives Alison an unreadable look, goes into the kitchen* What is it? Alison: *stays where she is and pretends she doesn't hear a thing* Aunt: Wha’ you doin’ wid a guest? Shiko: *quietly* She's my friend from school who's come for a sleepover. Remember? Aunt: Yeah... Aunt: Hav' a nishe time... *puts her head down again and goes back to sleep* Shiko: *comes out of the kitchen, looking deeply shamed* My room's upstairs... this way... Shiko: *leads Alison up the stairs* Alison: *is lead, politely mentions nothing* Shiko: *Opens the door to her room, which besides a TV with VCR and a bed contains shelves and shelves of - stuff. Old stuff. In some cases, VERY old.* Alison: Wow... You have a lot of cool stuff... Shiko: *in a slightly more normal voice* Thanks! ^-^ Shiko: I've worked hard to keep it... *Some of the stuff looks as if it could be very valuable to the right people; on the whole, the room is the nicest part of the entire house.* Shiko: *rummages around, looking for the tapes* Alison: *carefully looks over a pair of earrings* Shiko: Here they are! *holds up three tapes triumphantly* ^-^V Alison: *smiles* Shiko: ^___^ *turns on the TV and pops in "Chocolat"* *Scene fades to roughly two in the morning; the two girls are half-asleep as they watch "Dogma."* Shiko: e_e I wuv Loki and Bartleby... Alison: *yawns* They're pretty cool... Shiko: *half giggles, flops down on her bed* Alison: e.e They kind of remind me of Mr. Watcher and Damien, for some reason... Shiko: Funny - me, too... *gives her a sidelong glance, but decides not to worry* Alison: There's one thing that's been bothering me, though... Shiko: Un? Alison: Why did Mr. Watcher pay the hospital bills? Shiko: Ah... *thinks for a minute* Alison: My mom tried to hide it from me, but I saw a copy of the bills on the table. Shiko: He's just a nice guy, I guess... e_ev Alison: Where would he get the money? Alison: Teachers don't make that much money... Shiko: *thinks evil thoughts in the direction of San* I don't know... Shiko: Maybe he got an inheritance? Shiko: *shrugs* Alison: Then why would he be a teacher? Alison: *looks slightly puzzled* Shiko: *thinks even more evil thoughts* I have no idea... Alison: *shrugs* Well, it isn't bothering me enough right now to pursue it... Shiko: I could ask him, if you're THAT curious... *knows the answer, but really doesn't want to tell the truth OR an outright lie* Alison: Nah, that's okay. Alison: I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth anyway. Alison: But tell me, what exactly happened in that fight in the lunch line? Shiko: *thinks evil thoughts in the direction of Damien* It was just a fight... Alison: But Tamisha said Damien acted like he was possessed. Shiko: *sweatdrops* Well, you know Damien was in Tokyo... Shiko: He picked up some karate there, and I guess he just wanted to try it out - you know how guys are.. Shiko: ^-^;;;;;;;;;;;; Alison: *pulls her legs up to her chest and rests her chin on her knees* But Damien doesn't seem like that kind of guy to me... Alison: He's so sweet, and cute... Shiko: ^____________^ Yeah... *mentally still wants to beat him over the head with a stick* Damien: *innocently unaware of these evil thoughts, patrols around Shiko's house* Alison: *out of the blue* Do you think I should ask him out on a date? Shiko: !.! Shiko: *tries not to have a heart attack* Alison: *doesn't see the look* He's a great guy... And I just know if I don't do it when I have a chance, next thing you know he'll be taken... Shiko: Um - heh - anou - well - uh... Shiko: *really, really hates to think of what would happen if San caught Shal on a date with a girl HE was interested in* Alison: I mean, if you think it's a bad idea, I won't do it... *sounds a little worried* Shiko: Anouuuuuuuuuuuuu... *thinks furiously* Shiko: Well - I mean - well, you've only known him for a couple of months, right? Shiko: Why rush? No hurry, no worry! ^-^;;; *looks a little frantic* Alison: Well, yeah, but it's only a date. It's not like I'm proposing... Shiko: Heh... that's true... Alison: *sighs* But if you think it's a bad idea, I guess I won't. Alison: He's nice to have as a friend, too... Shiko: Oh, I don't know... if you really want to, go for it! Shiko: *mentally prays for forgiveness* Alison: *looks a bit less worried* You really think so? Then I will, next time I see him! Shiko: ^-^;;;;;;;;;;;;; Okay! Shiko: *hopes that the next time the city makes headlines, it won't be as a smoking crater* Shiko: *plays with a small stone figure that she's had since she was a little girl* Alison: *yawns* Shiko: *yawns also* Movie: *credits begin to roll* Alison: *ho-hum* That was sad, how it ended... Shiko: Yeah... Shiko: I've always wondered... what happened to them when they died? Shiko: Did they get redeemed? Did they go to hell? What happened to them? Shiko: *holds the stone figure close* Shiko: Silly thing to worry about, I know... but... Alison: I think they got redeemed, but I don't think they'd go back to heaven. Alison: God is supposed to be forgiving, right? Shiko: Yeah. Yeah, that's what people say... *looks very tired and very old all of a sudden* Alison: But they couldn't go back to heaven, so what if they became humans instead? Like, reincarnation? Alison: *is facing away from Shiko, so she doesn't see the look* Shiko: e_____e I like that idea... I hope that is what happened. Alison: It's an interesting thing to think about... Shiko: Yeah... *yawns again* Alison: When we're not so tired. Shiko: *takes the movie out of the VCR* e_e Exactly. Shiko: *flops back onto her bed* Alison: *yawns* e.e Sleep... Alison: *crawls into her sleeping bag* Shiko: *starts singing in Japanese, softly* Shiko: *a quiet, lullaby-type song* Alison: *is lulled to sleep by the song* *The scene slowly fades on Shiko staring up at the ceiling, still holding the figure.*