Alison: *is walking to Shiko's house that same lovely afternoon* Alison: *seems rather happy, despite everything* Alison: *hums to herself as she walks* Icky Guy 1: *standing in an alley with some “friends,” calls to Alison* Hey, beautiful! Come an' play with us! Icky Guy 2: Yeah, pussy! Want some milk? Alison: *doesn't turn to look at them, starts hurrying away* Other Icky Guys: *snigger* Icky Guy 2: *following her, but not too fast* Hey, don't be rude, pussy! Icky Guy 1: Yeah, come back and play! *is following also* Alison: *hurries more* Icky Guy 1: We just wanna play, pretty thing. Come on back! Icky Guy 2: We might not ask so polite-like and all next time, pussy. Alison: *continues to hurry onwards* Icky Guy 2: *gets tired of chasing, goes back to alley with Icky Guy 1* Icky Guy 1: *follows* Alison: *breathes a sigh of relief, hurries on anyway* Alison: *reaches Shiko's door* Shiko's "Aunt": *is drunk and asleep at the kitchen table, as usual* Alison: *Decides to just go in and go to Shiko's room, hopes no one thinks she's rude. Is feeling kinda scared.* Shiko: *in her room, talking with Damien* Daemon, I know you hate lying. But I don't want her caught up in this. Damien: But Shiko-san... Shiko: She's a good kid. Alison: *barrels into the room, looks rather freaked* Shiko and Damien: 0.0!!!!!!!! Shiko: Alison?! Are you okay?! Damien: Miss Alison! Are you all right? *They look almost identical, with their hair and eyes and concerned expressions.* Alison: *realizes she's okay, manages to compose herself* I... I just met some guys, that's all... Shiko: And? What happened? Damien: Did they...? Alison: They didn't do anything... This time... Damien: *face turns hard as stone, fire dancing in his eyes* Shiko: *noticing* Daemon... Alison: *sits down, trying to calm her racing heartbeat* Alison: *still kind of freaked* Damien: *gets up from where he was sitting on Shiko's bed, bows to both of them* Please excuse me. Damien: I - have to go... Shiko: Daemon! Damien: *bows again* I'm sorry this happened, Miss Alison. Damien: *leaves* Shiko: *yelling after him in that strange voice again* Damien: *is already gone* Alison: *wonders what's going on and why Shiko looks so strange* Shiko: *growls* Shiko: *then, making a conscious effort, gives Alison a cheerful smile* ^-^ Alison: *needs comfort more than cheerfulness* Shiko: Why don't you stay here for the night? Shiko: *sits beside her and puts one hand on her shoulder* Alison: *has never come so close to being threatened in her life* I have to call my mom and ask... Shiko: Here, I have the phone around here somewhere... *hands it to her* Alison: *dials it with shaking fingers* Shiko: *puts one hand at her throat, concentrating* Alison: *tells her mom what happened, that she's okay and manages to convince her mom that Shiko's house would be the place to stay at, instead of walking home* Damien: *outside, walking fast and looking for the Icky Guys, and sees San lurking in an alley* San: *was about to do his daily patrol of Alison's house, noticed no one was home and decided to wait* Damien: *takes the initiative for once* San... San: *looks up* Nn? Damien: *still has the hard expression* Something happened - with Miss Alison... San: *instantly alert* What? Damien: *explains quickly* San: *glares at imaginary icky guys* Damien: Do - do you want to come along? San: -.- Yes. Damien: *keeps walking towards the place with the icky guys* San: *follows* Shiko: *tries to think of things she can do to soothe Alison* Alison: *still kinda freaked* Shiko: Alison? Do you need to talk about it? Alison: I... I think so... Shiko: *hands her an old stuffed teddy bear* Here... Shiko: *looks concerned and ready to listen* Alison: *hugs it tightly* I just... I mean, I've lived here a while, but... Alison: *hugs it tighter* I've never had that happen to me before... Shiko: *puts one arm around her* It is scary, isn't it... Alison: Yes... Alison: I knew if they wanted to, they could have caught me and... *doesn't finish, hugs the bear tighter and starts to cry* Shiko: *smiles at her, not a genki smile but a real smile* It will be all right. You're safe... always... Shiko: *hugs her, just a little* Alison: *looks up and sniffles* What (sniff) makes you say that? Shiko: You have Daemon on your side - and me, too - and Angelico... Shiko: We'll always protect you. Alison: *sniffles again and kinda smiles* That's sweet of you guys... Shiko: ^____^ *gives her some tissues* Alison: *blows her nose* Shiko: Well... *looks around at all her stuff* Shiko: This is going to sound a bit babyish, but - I've got a lot of jewelry and stuff, so... wanna play dress-up? ^-^;;; Alison: *smiles* That actually sounds kinda fun... Shiko: ^-^V *begins pulling out loads of expensive-looking Egyptian, Celtic, Chinese, Greek, Roman, and medieval jewelry, plus different kinds of makeup* Alison: @.@ Shiko: ^_____^V *hands her a gorgeous necklace of Isis with outspread wings, made of bronze, lapis lazuli, and some other precious gems* Alison: @.@! Alison: *puts it on anyway* Shiko: You can be an Egyptian priestess! Shiko: *looks for her supply of kohl and other Egyptian cosmetics* Alison: Okay... Shiko: *while she's looking, finds a beautiful silver torc inscribed with spirals, which has a flawless tiger's eye in the center of the largest spiral* Shiko: *looks at it, not really seeing it for a few moments while memories swirl in her head* Alison: *watches her* Shiko: Llan... *softly touches the tiger's eye* Shiko: *murmurs something in pre-medieval Celtic* Alison: Eh... Shiko? Shiko: *starts* Oh! Shiko: ^-^;;; I'm sorry, Alison... I was just... Shiko: *pulls out the Egyptian makeup, first putting the torc carefully back where it was* Shiko: Here, I'll make you up like a real priestess! Shiko: I don't have any of the robes, but it'll look neat anyway! Alison: Okay... Shiko: ^____^ *makes her sit down and begins applying kohl* *Scene fades to a couple hours later, when Alison is now a priestess of Bast and Shiko is a Celtic druidess.* Alison: *pretty much forgot all of her fears, giggling a lot* Shiko: ^-^V Shiko: *turns the TV on to the news, fearing what she might see* Alison: *watches intently, always watches the news* Announcer Lady: “Our news story tonight: A vicious murderer has struck at the heart of the suburbs, killing four men and leaving their bodies in pieces.” Alison: O.O! News: *shows footage of a room with ripped-up bits of Icky Guys strewn across it and Hebrew written on the walls in blood* Alison: *rushes to bathroom and starts throwing up* Shiko: *turns off the TV before anything else is said* Shiko: *begins muttering to herself, absolutely furious* Shiko: This is IT. I've HAD IT with those two! Shiko: Kal spoils them because she feels guilty, but this is TOO FAR! Shiko: I will NOT tolerate this! Shiko: *remembers Alison, goes to the bathroom* Alison? Shiko: Are you okay? Alison: *looks sort of weak* I'm sorry... I smeared my make-up... Shiko: No. I'm sorry. *gives her a wet washcloth and fills her up a glass of water* Alison: *drinks it and wipes her mouth* Shiko: This - this is just unacceptable. I should never have let them act like this... Alison: Let who? Shiko: *sighs, looking very old* I'll let them tell you themselves. Tomorrow. Alison: Let who tell me what? Shiko: Tomorrow. *gently reinforces the curiosity-dampening spell* Alison: Okay... Shiko: I guess you don't want any dinner, huh? Shiko: Not even nice green veggies? Alison: *shakes her head* Anything green is a bad thing right now... Shiko: ^-^;;; I was afraid of that. I can make peanut butter and Saltine cracker sandwiches if you'd like... Alison: Okay... Shiko: ^-^ *makes a batch for them both to eat* Alison: *barely touches hers, but nibbles a little* *Fade to entering Latin class.* Alison: *sits at her desk, still looking slightly sick, but well enough* Alison: *forgot to do her homework* Shiko: *looking at Damien, speaking in that strange, echoing voice* Damien: @.@ But you said... Alison: *all but asleep* Shiko: Damien: 6.6 Hai, Shiko-san... Alison: *in fact, falls asleep* San: *straightens up* Please turn in your homework, class. Shiko: *grabs Damien's and takes it up along with hers* Alison: *sleeps silently* Shiko: *to San, that same strange voice* San: B- but... Shiko: San: *nods* O-kay... Shiko: *sits back down, content* San: *decides to pardon Alison this one homework grade* *Fade to end of class.* Alison: *still asleep, slept through entire lesson* Shiko: *shakes her gently* Alison... you have to get up... Shiko: School's over... Alison: *murmurs* I don' wanna go to school... Shiko: ^-^;;; School's OVER. It's Friday. Alison: Nn? Alison: Over? Shiko: Yes. Alison: *sits up and rubs at her eyes* What? Shiko: ^-^;;; You slept through Latin. Alison: Oh no! Alison: *looks worried* I probably got an F! Damien: It's okay - I can give you the notes... Alison: What about the participation grade? San: It's all right. Shiko: 9.9 Shiko: *gives them both pointed looks* Now. Talk. Damien: *looks at the floor* Damien: Anouuuuuuuu... Shiko: *folds arms and taps one foot impatiently* Shiko: You can start any time now. San: *looking at walls, ceiling, anything but Shiko or Alison* Alison: *wonders what in the world is going on* Damien: 6.6 *traces designs on the floor with the tip of one shoe* Shiko: -.-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! San: 6.6 Damien: 6.6 San: 6.6 Shiko: -.-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! San: 6.6 Damien: 6.6 Shiko: If you guys won't tell, *I* will! Damien: 0.0!!!!!!!!!!!! Shiko: *opens her mouth to start spilling all* Alison: @.@ San: O.O!!!!!! Damien: Fine! I'll start! Damien: -.- You're MEAN, Shiko-san. San: *nods in agreement, fake tears* ;.; Damien: *sighs* Miss Alison... Damien: I'm - I'm not really human. Alison: O.O!!!!! Damien: 6.6 My - my true name is Shalohim. Alison: *shocked* Damien: I'm a - a - *whispering* - a - demon... Alison: O.O!!!!!! Damien: 6.6 Alison: *stares, shocked even more* Damien: *looks at Shiko* I don't like lying, but this doesn't seem quite right, either... Shiko: You've started. Shiko: San...? San: *sighs* I know... San: Alison... San: I'm not human either... Alison: O.O!!!!! Shiko: *keeps watching them* San: I am an angel. Shiko: As much as it shames certain other angels to admit it, sometimes. San: -.-!!!! Shiko: ^-^;;;;;; Alison: O.O!!!!!! Shalohim: 6.6 That's our big secret. Shalohim: Are you happy now, Shiko-san? Shiko: No. Alison: O.O!!! Shiko: Tell her the truth about what happened last night. Alison: O.O?! Shalohim: Oh. Shalohim: *smiles* I took care of those men for you, Miss Alison! Shalohim: They won't bother you ever any more! Alison: *realization dawns on her* You... Alison: Oh, GOD! Alison: *almost starts throwing up again* Shalohim: *looks scared and a little hurt* It - it doesn't please you? Shiko: -.- San: *mutters* I should have known this would happen... Shalohim: *looks almost ready to cry* Shiko: 9.9 Shiko: Anyway, the POINT of this exercise is that the both of you are out of control. Alison: *looks horrified and sickened* Shiko: I know they were scum, but that was still too far! Shalohim: 6.6 Shiko: Lord knows that Kal has spoiled you because she still feels guilty, and I've put up with it so far because you weren't actually blowing anything up, but this is TOO MUCH! Shiko: I will NOT stand for this any longer! You WILL behave as befits your cover, understand? Shalohim: 6.6 Yes, Shiko-san... Alison: @.@ Shiko: -.- San? San: *meekly* Yes, Shiko... Shiko: Good. Shiko: *turns to Alison* I'm really sorry about all this... Shiko: I didn't want you to get involved, but after what happened... Alison: I... But... This... Shiko: Well, I thought you had a right to know. Alison: I... He... They... Shalohim: 6.6 I'm sorry, Miss Alison... Shalohim: I didn't know it would upset you... Alison: *still kinda stammering* Shiko: *takes her by the shoulders* It's okay, Alison. It's okay... Alison: But... but... but... Shalohim: 6.6 Shiko: Please relax, Alison. It's okay... Alison: But... San: *puts a hand on Alison's shoulder* It's all right. We're not going to hurt you. Shalohim: *looking more innocent than ever* I wouldn't ever hurt you, Miss Alison... Shiko: *sighs* Alison: *looks not-so-comforted, but mainly because she's in shock* Shiko: I know this is a lot, Alison. Shiko: Maybe we should go somewhere else and talk about this... Alison: But... Shiko: It's hard. It always is. But you can handle it. Alison: No... Shalohim: *looking heartbroken* Shiko: Please, Alison. Just take a few breaths... there... Alison: *gets up, shaking off both San and Shiko* No, I won't just "handle" it! You're telling me you're all some kind of a supernatural trio, and you killed four men because they hassled me, and I'm supposed to just swallow this?! Shalohim: 6.6 *almost ready to cry* Shiko: Alison... Alison: I don't think so! *jumps up, grabs her bookbag and dashes off* Shiko: 6.6 San: 6.6 Shalohim: *starts crying, silent tears rolling down his face* San: *almost cries himself, but manages not to* Shiko: 6.6 Okay, I take it back. That was a bad idea. Shiko: I should let Kal take over - heaven knows I'm not doing very well... Shalohim: *would say something nice, but doesn't trust his voice* San: *just stands there, staring at the floor* Shiko: *sighs* I'll go after her and try to talk with her. Maybe she'll listen to me... Shalohim: 6.6 *mostly managed to stop crying* Shiko: *picks up her bookbag and stuff, walks after Alison* Alison: *already mostly home, not even noticing that she's all alone* Shalohim: *is now standing alone in a room with San, and for once doesn't even care* San: *sighs and slumps into his chair, staring at his desk* Shalohim: *trying to wipe his eyes without being obvious* I - I guess I should... San: *gets up, gets Shal a tissue and hands it to him* Shalohim: *takes it* Th- thanks... Shalohim: *gives him a strange kind of look that's wistful without being really blatant puppy eyes* San: *barely manages to keep from melting* Shalohim: *slightly more normal voice* I really ought to - to - Shalohim: *can't think of what he ought to be doing, but is sure that there's SOMETHING* San: I should... Uhm... *can't think of what he should* Shalohim: *gives him the strange wistful look again* San: *barely manages not melting once again, but his face softens* Random Student: *pokes his head into the room* Hey, Mr. Watcher... 0.0! Shalohim: 0.0!!!!!! *teleports to the door* San: *jumps about ten feet, turns to student, face beet-red* Shalohim: RightI'llseeyouonMondayandmaybeShikowillhavethoughtofsomethingbai! Shalohim: *disappears, leaving behind a trail of smoke* San: *blinks, stupefied* Student: Was this the wrong time to ask you about making up that homework I missed the other day? San: Uh... Uh... Sure, you can make it up... Student: Okay... just checking... *gives him a strange look, then leaves* San: *sits down hard* Shoo... *Fade to Shiko, knocking at the door of Alison's house.* Alison: *peeks out the window, notices who it is, refuses to answer* Shiko: *keeps knocking, determined* Alison's Mother: *opening the door* Why, Shiko! How nice to see you! Mother: Did you come to see Alison? Shiko: Yes, Mrs. Devar. Is that okay? Mother: Of course, Shiko. *smiles faintly* Mother: Please, come in. Shiko: *enters* Alison: *hiding up in her room* Mother: I believe she's up in her room - you can find it, right? Shiko: ^-^ Yep! Thanks, Mrs. Devar! Mother: ^-^ Shiko: *goes up to Alison's room and knocks on that door* Alison: *locks her door* Shiko: Alison, please. Let me in. Let me talk to you. Shiko: I have to explain... Alison: No! You're insane! Get away from me! Shiko: *hurt, but doesn't let it show* Alison, I'm not crazy, and neither are you. I really need to talk with you... Alison: No! Alison: Get out of my house! Shiko: Please, Alison. Alison: *refuses to budge* I'm not opening the door! Shiko: *sighs* Shiko: *seeing no other option, touches one hand to the base of her throat and then to the doorknob, releasing the lock* Shiko: *opens the door* Alison... Alison: *has her back to the door, looking out the window* Shiko: Alison, please, let me explain about San and Daemon. I know it's complicated and you're confused right now, but I can clear things up... Alison: *icily* I don't know any "San". Shiko: Fine. Angelico and Damien. Please, let me explain... Alison: Explain what? That you're all raving lunatics that live in your own little dreamworld together? Shiko: If I'm a lunatic, then why don't you explain this? *turns Alison around forcibly, displaying a ball of electric blue light in the palm of her hand* Alison: *stubbornly glares* Holographic projections. Shiko: Or this? *folds her legs up so she's sitting on air* Alison: *glares, but doesn't say anything* Shiko: Alison, please listen. What Shalohim did - he thought it would please you. And San - he can't refuse Shal anything, even when it goes against his better judgment. Shiko: -.- Not that San HAS better judgment, at least not most of the time... Alison: Well, it DIDN'T please me! Alison: He KILLED people! How's that supposed to PLEASE me?! Shiko: I know. Shalohim isn't a very good judge of what people like. Shiko: This is kind of hard to explain, but he's completely innocent. Completely. Alison: -.- Shiko: Good and evil mean nothing to him; what matters is what the people he likes want, or what he thinks they would want. Alison: *stares at her flatly* He doesn't care about anything else? Shiko: Not really, no. He's very simple that way. Alison: But... Alison: How could anyone just... kill people? Shiko: *shrugs* I don't know. But he isn't human, he said that himself, and that changes things... Alison: But how could he NOT be human?! Shiko: *sighs, looking very old* Because he is a Fallen angel. And even before that... Alison: But... But... Shiko: Even before that, he was the same way. Alison: But he CAN'T be a fallen angel! Shiko: Why not? Alison: I mean... I went out on a DATE with him! Shiko: *pokes her* Would you believe that was his first date? Shiko: I wouldn't have, if I hadn't known him for so long... Alison: His first date EVER?! Shiko: Yep. Alison: But... Alison: *is sorely confused* Shiko: ^-^;;; It is hard to believe, isn't it, especially with that face... Alison: But... Alison: How could he be a fallen angel...? What happened to him...? Shiko: *sighs, looking old again* Another long, long story... Alison: What could he have possibly done...? Shiko: He - revealed his identity to someone he shouldn't have... I don't understand it, either. Shiko: And neither does Shal. Alison: But that... that seems so trivial! Shiko: I know. That's the hardest part of all this, I think. Realizing that God is not interested in good and evil... Shiko: Just - free will. Alison: Free will... Shiko: And sometimes I wonder about that... Shiko: There have been too many times, too many points of interference for me to think that they were anything but deliberate. Alison: *Suddenly remembers something Shal said a while ago, when she first met him. "I like Buddhism. It’s almost the only religion I know that doesn't force itself on others, and that's very important to me..."* Shiko: You know why Lucifer fell? Alison: Why...? Shiko: He didn't think that God was playing fair. Shiko: He thought that God was claiming neutrality, but influencing events to its own satisfaction. Shiko: *shoulders slumping* Sometimes I think he's right... Alison: ... *ponders this* Shiko: There really isn't a big difference in the sides. Two different shades of light grey... Shiko: They barely touch human life at all, spending their time trying to prove each other wrong... Shiko: @.@ What a headache. Alison: *rests her head in her hands, trying to absorb all this at once* So... Alison: So everything that Mr. Watcher and Damien - *still isn't ready to call them by their real names* - told me is really true? Shiko: I'm afraid so. Alison: *sighs* Alison: I wonder if I'll be able to skip Latin homework tonight... I need to digest all of this... Shiko: ^-^;;;;;;;; I'm sure of it. Shiko: Do you want me to stay? Alison: No... no, not tonight. I just... need to think. Shiko: I understand. *touches her gently on the shoulder* Alison: Shiko... Shiko: ^-^ Take all the time you need to think. No one's going to rush things. Alison: Thank you for telling me. Shiko: You're welcome. I - thought you should know. Shiko: *gets up to leave* Well, I'll see you on Monday! Alison: See you then. Shiko: ^-^V *leaves, disappearing from the scene* Alison: *sits back and exhales, then sets her tired mind to thinking*