*Fade to a few days later. Rachel has not been in school lately, and Shiko has been on edge, both from taking care of Josh and from an itch in the back of her mind, like a premonition, though she can find no reason for it. Shalohim has been moping constantly, never looking up in class; he has even gone back to giving his homework to Shiko to hand in.* *At lunchtime, Shiko, Alison and Damien are sitting together; Kal has lunch duty and is busy, while San is simply avoiding them.* Alison: *eats a roll and looks around* I wonder where Rachel's been... Shiko: *shrugs* I don't know... I'm sure she's all right, maybe she went to visit some relatives or something! ^-^ Alison: She would have told me, though, she was at my house last time I saw her... Shiko: *cutesy thoughtful face* Hmmm... that is kind of weird... Shalohim: *mopes, not eating, since it's not necessary for him anyway* *A roll appears in front of Shal.* Shalohim: ?.? Shalohim: *looks up* !.! Shiko: *looks too, curious* Shunpei: *winks* You don't want to starve, do you? Shalohim: Shunpei-san! *smiles for the first time in at least a week* Shunpei: ^_________^ Alison: ?.? Shiko: ^-^ Hi hi! Alison: ?.? Shiko: *to Alison* This is Shunpei-san! He's an old friend of mine, I met him while I was on assignment in Japan a few hundred years ago... Shalohim: ^-^ He's a Buddhist priest. Shunpei: And now a substitute teacher, too! Alison: *smiles at him and nods, thinking that anyone Shal likes can't be bad* Shalohim: Really? What subject? Shunpei: Math, I think. Shunpei: *gets a puzzled look on his face* They didn't specify which one... Alison: *trying to be helpful* Our math teacher said today that she would be gone all week... Shalohim: That's right! ^-^ Maybe you'll be teaching our class! Shunpei: ^_____________^V Shunpei: *goofy grin* Shalohim: *smiles a big, real smile at him* Shiko: V^-^V Alison: ^___^V Alison: *blushes and pretends she didn't just do that* Shiko: *laughs at her, not in a mean way of course* Shalohim: ^-^ Alison: *shrugs and smiles* Shalohim: *eats the roll from before* Shunpei: ^____________^V Shalohim: ^-^;;; Shiko: Anyway, Shunpei-san, what brings you here? Shunpei: *looks serious, a rare occurrence for him* I came here to warn you. Shiko: ?.? Shalohim: ?.? Alison: ?.? Shunpei: Several shades have made a nest in the city somewhere. We don't know where yet, but they're here, and their numbers are growing rapidly... Shalohim: !.! Shiko: !.! Shiko: So THAT'S why... *rubs the back of her neck* Alison: ?.? Alison: Shades? Alison: Nest? Shiko: Shades are - they're sort of like demons, I guess, what most people would think of as demons, not like Daemon here. Shalohim: ^-^;;; Alison: Oh... Shiko: They're the source of most legends about vampires and werewolves and things like that. They're not - they're not really alive or aware, not like we are, or even like animals are... They don't have sparks, the way we do. Shiko: A long time ago, when Lucifer first fell, there were only a couple of other angels who fell with him - not nearly enough to keep tabs on everything the way God was doing. Shalohim: *jumping in, since he knows a lot about this* There are a lot of angels who aren't aware the way San and I are - they're kind of like idiot savants. They can observe a lot of the little things that one of us in human form might miss, and they can be places we can't be, but they can't - participate in things. They aren't intelligent like that... Shiko: Exactly. So of course none of them Fell, and Lucifer was really handicapped. He tried making beings that would be almost the equals of angels, but they didn't work out. At ALL. They were sparkless and annoying as anything - none of the Fallen angels would work with them, and God's would exterminate them on sight. There are virtually none left now, and good riddance... Shiko: Anyway, before they were mostly wiped out, those things got together and did a little creating of their own, and they came up with the shades. Shiko: Shades are even more dislikable than the original demons, but unfortunately they've got an advantage - they can breed, and not just among themselves. Pure shades are actually fairly weak - they're vulnerable to sunlight, water, certain metals... But they can latch onto people and make them into - well, vampires and werewolves. Things that only want to kill, and are much stronger and harder to get rid of. Alison: *suddenly freezes* Rachel hasn't been in school for two days... Shiko: ?.? Shalohim: ?.? Shunpei: Who? Alison: What if she... and those things... Shiko: *pats her on the shoulder* Oh, I doubt it. I'm sure she's just fine! Maybe she just caught the flu or something, I heard it was going around... Shalohim: *nods* Alison: What would happen... if she was...? Alison: *is having trouble speaking, horrified at the thought* Shiko: I'm sure she isn't. Don't worry about it, okay? Shiko: *is rather obviously avoiding the subject* Alison: Okay... *Of course, will continue to worry about it. Has begun to care about Rachel.* San: *happens to be passing through, not looking at anything but the other end of the cafeteria* Shunpei: *notices him* Hey, Shiko, what name is San using? Shiko: Angelico Watcher... 9.9 Lord, he's got AWFUL taste in names. Why? Shalohim: He does not! Shalohim: Um... *blushes, goes back to looking at the ground* Shiko: *pokes Shal* Lighten up already. Shalohim: o6.6o Shunpei: *Something in the back of his eyes flashes, but it goes mostly unnoticed. Raises one arm.* Yo! Angelico!!! Over here! San: ?.? San: *looks around* Shiko: ^-^;;; Oh, wai wai. Shalohim: o6.6o!!! San: *catches sight of Shunpei* !.! San: *due to the amount of attention that Shunpei's yell has gained, has no choice but to acknowledge it* San: *walks over to their table, carefully keeping his eyes on Shunpei* Shalohim: *keeps firmly looking at the ground* Shiko: @.@ San: It's been a while, hasn't it, Shunpei? Shunpei: Not nearly long enough. *grins, but is only half-joking* Shalohim: 6.6 San: What brings you here? Shiko: *jumps in quickly* News from CHAD - it looks like there's a nest of shades somewhere in the city, and it's getting bigger really fast... San: !.! Shiko: *sighs* It'll probably take more than one of us to get rid of it... San: That's bad. Shiko: 9.9 No, really. San: *blushes and feels stupid, which is something only Shiko and Shal can make him do* Shalohim: 6.6 *is resolutely silent* Alison: *can see there's something between Shunpei and San, and it's not necessarily a pleasant something* Shiko: Anyway, we're going to need to meet and figure out exactly what to do... San: *nods, not trusting himself to say anything* Shalohim: *keeps his eyes down, barely speaking at all* There's half an hour of lunch left... is that enough time? Shiko: *bonks her forehead* You know, sometimes I wonder about people who say age brings wisdom... Shunpei: *shakes his head* I don't think so. Shalohim: 6.6 Okay. Shiko: No, Shunpei-san, I think he's got a point. Do we need that much time to figure out who goes out to hunt shades and who sticks around protecting - um - yeah... Alison: ?.? Shiko: *briskly* Anyway, we could settle it with a coin toss or something. And this way it'll be over with and we can get started right after school... Shunpei: *goes chibi and sweatdrops, one hand behind his head* I gotta go find my classroom, though... Shiko: *bonks forehead again* Did I say something earlier about age not bringing wisdom? Let me repeat it... That saying is full of it! Shiko: Anyway, when should we meet, then? Shunpei: After school? Shiko: Sure. Shalohim: *nods* San: *nods, then leaves* Alison: Uhm, am I part of this meeting? Shiko: Oh... *thinks* Alison: *at San's back so no one can see it* -.-! Shiko: Anou... Alison, this is really dangerous stuff. CHAD members have died trying to fight too many shades at once... Alison: Well, I'm not stupid. I don't want to get myself killed. Alison: I was just wondering. Shiko: *thinks* I guess - I'm sorry, I guess you aren't... You should go straight home after school and stay there. When we attack the nest, some may get out and go after people, and it'll take us a while to hunt them down... Shalohim: *nods* I don't want you to get hurt, Miss Alison... Alison: *gives him a smile* Don't worry about me. Alison: Like I said, I'm not stupid. I don't wanna die just yet. Shalohim: ^-^ That's good. Shiko: ^-^ Alison: ^-^ Shiko: You had better walk with Tamisha, too. Safety in numbers, no da! ^-^V Alison: *nods* Okay! Shunpei: Ja, gotta find the room now... *goes off, still chibi* Shiko: Bai! Shalohim: Bai! ^-^ *Fade to the Latin classroom after school. Shalohim, Shiko, San, and Shunpei are gathered to discuss plans for dealing with the nest of shades.* Shalohim: *is quiet, not having any suggestions* San: *corrects tests while they talk* Shiko: *shoots both of them occasional glares* Shiko: Now, at least one person has to stay and protect Alison and Josh. They'd both be at high risk from the shades, since they're so closely associated with us... Kallahandra: *stumbles through door* Wah! Sorry, guys, I didn't mean to be so late... Kallahandra: *goes chibi* Those kids in my last class wouldn't leave me alone about my swords! Shiko: ^-^;;; I told you you shouldn't bring those in... Shalohim: o6.6o Kallahandra: Oh, well. *goes over to Shal and ruffles his hair* ^______^ Shalohim: *half-smiles at her* Shunpei: I don't know either of them very well... Shiko: Okay... Shal, why don't you go with Alison? Shalohim: ?.? San: *silent, corrects tests* Kallahandra: Yeah, why not? Shiko: You know where her house is and everything, so it makes sense. *thinks* I suppose I could send Josh there, he does know her at least a little... Shiko: That means you'll be going into the nest with me, San. San: *nods* Right. Shiko: *thinks a little more* Kal, Shunpei-san, do you mind terribly if you're on cleanup duty? I don't know how many shades there are, so a lot might escape, and someone's got to be ready to get them... Shunpei: No problem! Kallahandra: *predatory grin* Now I get to use those swords again... Shiko: ^-^;;; To your heart's content. Let's go, then. Shiko: *goes chibi* But first - I have to take Josh to Alison's house... Shalohim: 6.6 Shalohim: *knows damn well what closely associated means* San: I'll meet you at the front of the school when you're done. I have a few more tests I need to correct. Shiko: Okay. I'll be there as soon as possible! *zooms out the door* Kallahandra: *grabs Shunpei's arm* Come on! Come look at my newest swords! Shunpei: *is dragged off* Waaaah! Shalohim: *stands up and starts walking out the door so he can go over to Alison's house* San: *corrects tests, not looking up* San: *still has his head down* Shalohim... Shalohim: *stops* N? San: I'm sorry... Shalohim: *quickly wipes away tears* I'm - I'm sorry, too... *swallows, then says something that's been on his mind for a while* I know twenty- five hundred years isn't really very long for us, but it seems like forever when you're l- lonely... *flees out the door before he can really start crying* San: *still looking down, but tears begin running down his cheeks, and for the third time in a week, he begins to cry* Shalohim: *arrives at Alison's house looking mostly in control again, knocks on the door* Alison: *opens the door* We don't want - *sees it's him* Oh! Alison: *smiles* Hi! Shalohim: Hi. Shalohim: 6.6 Anou... Shiko: *comes running up, dragging Josh behind her* Hi hi! Alison: Come on in! Shiko: *comes in with both Josh and Shal* I really hate to dump Josh on you like this, but I don't have much choice... Alison: My mom's working until midnight tonight, so we're all alone. Alison: It's no problem, really! Shiko: ^-^ Thanks! Alison: We can watch movies and stuff... Or something... Alison: *sweatdrops* Josh: *is staring at the ground and resolutely ignoring Shal* Shalohim: *doing the same to Josh* Alison: Want anything before you go? Alison: A drink or something? Shiko: Nah, I'm good! Take care of yourself! *zooms off* Shalohim: 6.6 Josh: 6.6 Alison: *waves* Good luck! Alison: *closes the door and looks at both of them* Shalohim: 6.6 Josh: 6.6 Alison: Oh, lighten up, both of you. *smiles* As long as we're stuck together we might as well have a good time. Josh: *shuffles his feet* 'Nkay... Shalohim: 6.6 Alison: Now, I've got tons and tons of movies we can watch, and I like to think I'm not a bad cook, so just choose something and I'll make us some snacks! Alison: *points the way to the living room* The tapes are in there. Josh: *curious about "movies," goes into the living room to examine them* Alison: *looks at Shal pointedly* Shalohim: ?.? Alison: Go on, get in there. Shalohim: 6.6 Alison: *gives him a look* You can't hide from him forever. Shalohim: Demo... Alison: Are you afraid he'll bite? Shalohim: No... it's not... 6.6 Alison: *pokes him* Stop feeling so bad about everything. Pretend he's just someone you don't know, which is pretty true, and try to get to know him! Shalohim: 6.6 I'll try... Alison: Good, cause I don't like people in my kitchen! *smiles* Shalohim: *looks at her, then smiles a little; goes into the living room* Shiko: *after dropping Josh off at Alison's house, zooms back to the school to meet San* San: *Has changed from his normal teaching clothing into a pair of grungy, loose jeans and a long white shirt with paint stains on it. Doesn't want to ruin any more perfectly good clothes, after all.* Shiko: *still wearing her normal grungy black Goth clothing, but has taken off all her silver jewelry* Shiko: Ja - ready to go? San: One moment. Shiko: Gotcha. San: *Pulls his hair into a ponytail and takes out a grungy baseball cap. It's obviously really, really old (like maybe from when baseball caps were first invented) but well-preserved. Puts the cap on and pulls his ponytail out through the back.* Ready. Shiko: Right... *closes her eyes for a moment as she rests her hand on her throat, then opens them again* Towards downtown. San: Hmmm... I thought I heard about some kind of raver thing going on tonight downtown... Shiko: Bet that's it. *half-joking* I've always been suspicious of that raver crowd... San: *shrugs* There's people like that every time period. Ones who don't fit in anywhere but with each other, and sometimes not even then. San: Kinda sad, when you think about it. *shrugs again* So, shall we? Shiko: *nods, sets off towards the raver thing* San: *Follows, acting completely cool and calm. Manages this by thinking about puppies.* San: *nothing else* San: *just puppies* Shiko: *as they get within a block of where the rave is supposed to be held, suddenly stops, rubbing the back of her neck* Meh... Can you feel them? Lord, it's strong... San: *rubs his own neck* Wow... There are tons of them... Shiko: >.< Shunpei wasn't kidding. Shiko: I hope we can manage them on our own... San: *gives her a cocky grin* Don't wimp out on me, Shiko. You know we can handle anything they throw at us. Shiko: =p Easy for YOU to say, o immortal angelic being. *sighs* Well, no point in holding back. We might as well go straight in. San: *nods* Shiko: *taking a deep breath, walks towards the raver joint* San: *follows nonchalantly* Shiko: *pauses before the doors, which are locked tightly* Shiko: *Touches the lock with one hand; after a moment, it falls off. She opens the doors, revealing something that is definitely NOT a normal rave.* San: *Having seen many things in his time, is not all that shocked. Disgusted, maybe. Shocked, no.* *The room is large, and dark but for a sickly pale glow-in-the-dark green lighting, which flashes at random intervals. It provides little illumination; what is visible during brief moments is a mass of nothing human. Creatures vaguely wolf-shaped, vaguely batlike, or simply demonic weave among each other, feeding on one another or worse.* Shiko: *feels sick* San: *be's a comforting presence at her back* Shiko: *shocked, murmurs* So many... Shiko: *face hardens* San: *nods* Shiko: *raises her left hand, white light gathering in her palm and reflecting in her eyes* Shades: *some look up, inhuman eyes widening* Shiko: *releases the light, which forks out and strikes several shades at once, scorching through the areas where their hearts should be* Stricken Shades: *scream and disappear, dead* San: *Leaps forward, closing the distance between himself and the nearest shade quickly. Rips through it with no effort, his momentum carrying him through a couple more without even trying. He come to rest between two bat-shades, who reach towards him, but his hands flash outwards and they, too, have holes in their chests.* *One particularly demonic shade makes a snaking grab at Shiko, aimed towards her throat.* Shiko: *snatches it out of the air first, closing her hand around it tightly; its head falls off, and she tosses the body away contemptuously* *Another one, wolflike, slinks towards her while she's dispatching more shades with the white light.* San: *Whips around while dispatching shades, notices the wolf approaching Shiko. Narrows his eyes.* San: *in an instant, he has the thing around the middle, and just squeezes* Wolf-Shade: *dies, its body falling into two pieces with its death* Shiko: *after an age of destroying the shades, has one final survivor pinned in a cage of light; nearly all of the shades who were there are dead, and the few who successfully fled are injured and demoralized - easy prey for Kal and Shunpei* Shiko: *in a strange, hard voice* San: *stands and looks like the merciless angel that he is right now* San: *even with the outfit he's wearing* Last Shade: *cringing away from the white bars of energy, but still manages a mocking smile* More than you can dream of, pitiful little mock-angel... San: *face hardens in anger, but doesn't say anything* Shiko: *clenches her hand, bringing the bars closer to the thing; is being rather un-Shiko-like* Shade: *hisses* You have but ssscratched the ssssurface! Shade: *form becoming more and more ophidian* Twice thissss many live yet, and hunt thosszze you have touched! They will not ressssst until thissss massssacre isss avenged! Shiko: IYAAAAAAAAA! *clenches both her fists, making the cage smaller and smaller until it disappears into nothingness along with the shade* San: Shiko! *alarmed* Shiko: *sways on her feet, face looking drawn as the strange hold the other voice has over her fades* Alison... Josh... Shiko: *turns to San, paler than normal* We have to - to check on them... San: *realizes the implications of what the shade said* Yes. Right now. *Fade to Alison's house, a few minutes prior to the end of the battle. Things have been peaceful; after their initial wariness, Shal and Josh are becoming good friends - first with shared funny stories of Shiko, and then the natural bond formed by watching a movie together. Now is the final forging: mutual San problems.* Alison: *in kitchen, making more snacks for the ever-ravenous Josh* Josh: ... and when I found that stuff in his closet, I practically threw it out the WINDOW. I mean, BLECH. Shalohim: True, but did he ever try... *whispers in Josh's ear* San: *has fit of sneezes during the battle at this point* Josh: *snigger* Nope. Sounds like fun, though. Shalohim: ^-^ *There comes a knock on the front door.* Alison: *calls from the kitchen* I'll get it! Shalohim: *feels the back of his neck prickle* NO! Miss Alison, wait -! Josh: ?.? Alison: *takes caramel that was simmering on the stove off and goes to the door, opens it* Shades: *are at the door in large numbers, though of course not as many as the last shadow claimed; begin thronging in the door, reaching for Alison, as others swarm at the living room windows to get Josh* Alison: *retreats, horrified* Shalohim: !.! *jumps up, throwing one hand out towards the windows and momentarily pushing the things back; appears instantly in front of the thronged door, holding his other hand out in a stopping gesture* Shades: *mill about in the foyer, temporarily stopped* Josh: *backs out of the living room, runs into Alison and jumps about a foot* !.! What the FUCK is this?! Alison: *grabs Josh and pulls him as far away from the shades as she can* Josh: *more than happy to be pulled away* Alison: *in her own fear, is hugging Josh tightly, trying to protect him, an instinctual reaction she gets whenever she stops thinking because of over-strong emotions* Josh: @.@ *does not protest* Shalohim: *eyes burning blacker than ever, and voice thick with rage* Lead Shade: *also rather reptilian, shrithes closer to Josh and Alison* Little demon, it issss ordained by your massssster... *smiles, showing very snakelike fangs* Lucifer hasss ssssssaid these two musssst die... Josh: @.@!!!!!!! Alison: *hugs Josh tighter, eyes widening* Shalohim: *falls back a step, eyes widening* That - that can't be true... Lead Shade: *slithers closer* Believe, little demon. It isssss indeed true... Will you oppose the old Lightbringer? Shalohim: It - it cannot be true... *angrier than ever, makes a quick, sharp hand gesture* Lead Shade: *thrown back into the crowd of shades, breaking into pieces with the contact and shattering the other shades it falls against* Josh: !.! Alison: *covers Josh's eyes, even though he's probably seen worse* Shalohim: *commanding, almost yelling* Shades: *instead of retreating, try to rush past Shalohim; the ones who were at the windows begin prying at them, trying to make their way in* Alison: *Is slightly frightened by such a violent Shal, but is greatly relieved (not surprised, but relieved) that he didn't just turn them over to the shades. Then notices the shade that's halfway through the window next to her and Josh, and screams.* Shalohim: *throws back the first wave of shades, shredding them, then turns at Alison's scream* Alison: *is frozen with fear* Shade at the Window: *looks quite familiar, hesitates a little herself* Shalohim: *without looking behind him, destroys another wave of shades, then another* Josh: *be's quiet and frozen and scared out of his mind* Alison: *finds her voice, a pale whisper* R... Rachel...? Rachel-Shade: No... no... no... NO! *almost unwilling, makes a swipe at Alison and Josh with a hand that's more like a wolf's paw* Alison: *is knocked into the opposite wall, still holding Josh* Shalohim: *throws one hand out frantically, and a silver slash of energy cuts through the Rachel-shade's arm* Rachel-Shade: *howls, semi-withdrawing* Alison: *miraculously, is not unconscious; sits up, loosening her grip on Josh* Josh: *is curling up slightly, trying to put his hands over his ears and pretend nothing is happening, nothing at all* Alison: *notices this and tightens her grip again, being comforting* Other Shades: *sensing Shal's distraction, surge forward, knocking him over* Shalohim: *is momentarily lost from sight* Josh: *tries to hide against Alison* Alison: *instinctively covers Josh's eyes, cries out in horror* Damien! Shade in Front: *opens its mouth and snarls at her, revealing teeth that could not possibly fit into its mouth but do* Alison: *shrinks back* Alison: *buries her face in Josh's hair, praying for a quick death* Shade: *falls into shreds not three feet in front of her* Alison: *after a moment of nothing happening, and not finding herself dead or dying, looks up* Shalohim: *has burst out of the mass of shades, leaving many others (mostly the ones closest to Alison and Josh) in pieces; hovers above the horde, silver webs forming vague wing-shapes on his back* Shalohim: *seems slightly unreal, somehow, as if another shape is trying to make itself known beneath his skin* Alison: *gazes up at him in wonder; never thought a being could look so beautiful and so terrifying at the same time* Shades: *begin falling back as well as into pieces, though there are not many left to retreat, as each glance of Shalohim's destroys another one of them* Alison: *Even though the creatures are so terrifying, she can't stand seeing them die so horribly. Buries her face in Josh's hair again.* Rachel-Shade: *in the mass panic, begins sneaking towards Alison and Josh again; now looks very little like Rachel, instead resembling an ash- gray wolf with a snake in its ancestry* Rachel-Shade: *when she is close enough, begins whimpering* Alison... Alison... Rachel-Shade: *is crouched to spring* Alison: *still has no idea what's going on, wishes she has two extra arms so she could cover her ears as well as clutch Josh* Rachel-Shade: Alison... Alison: *hears Rachel's voice* Rachel...? Rachel-Shade: Alison... help me... *sounds completely hurt and pathetic* Alison: *looks up, as if in slow motion* Rachel-Shade: *is just beginning a leap for Alison's throat* Alison: *eyes widen in horror* Shalohim: *swoops down, silver lines burning through his skin; crashes into the Rachel-shade, knocking it well away from Alison and killing it most thoroughly in the process* Rachel-Shade: *screeches a little as it dies* Alison: *watches her friend disintegrate before her eyes, helpless to do anything but watch* Shades: *have finally had enough, disappear; only a few are still left alive for Kal and Shunpei to hunt down* Alison: *stays frozen in the same place for several seconds, trying very hard to process in her mind what just happened* Shalohim: *on hands and knees where he hit the floor, not breathing at all* Alison: *comes back to herself slowly, notices Shal* Damien...? Alison: *keeps her eyes on Shal, but separates Josh from herself and takes his hands from his ears, to show him everything's over* Josh: *looks around* 0.0 Shalohim: *finally looks back at Alison, the last few silver lines disappearing, forced back; has begun breathing again* M- Miss Alison... are you all right? Alison: *Nods, speechless, but not scared or shocked. Just speechless.* Alison: *after a second, finally finishes processing what happened and lunges forward, wrapping her arms around Shal's neck* Oh, Damien... *starts to cry* Shalohim: *holds her, carefully* I'm sorry... I know she was your friend, but I couldn't - there isn't anything anyone can do after a human becomes one of them... Josh: *standing up and feeling acutely alone* 6.6 Alison: I... For a second, I thought they... had you... Alison: *Is completely ignoring the Rachel thing for now. Will remember and mull over it later, but for now, focuses on Shal.* Shalohim: I'm fine... they can't hurt me... *hugs her tighter, voice almost cracking* But if they had gotten to you... Alison: I was so afraid they'd hurt you... *is incredibly relieved, obviously, and not ashamed to show it* Shalohim: *shakes his head* They couldn't... I was just worried about you... Josh: *feeling out of place and unnecessary as usual* 6.6 Shiko: *with the worst/best possible timing, as usual, runs through the door* ALISON! JOSH! ARE YOU THERE?! San: *feels his heart seize up as she asks the question* San: *has followed her inside, of course* Josh: *just barely audible* Yeah. Alison: *separates herself from Shal* Yes... We're okay... San: *heaves an ENORMOUS sigh of relief* Shalohim: *separated, carefully stands away* San: *can only assume, of course, that if those two are okay, then Shal is okay too* Shiko: *appears in the kitchen as if by magic* Are you SURE?! What happened?! Yikes, this place is a MESS!! Alison: *half-smiles* Shal protected us. Shalohim: o6.6o Shiko: V^-^V *gives Shal a hug* Alison: R... *voice breaks slightly* Rachel was... Shiko: ?.? Rachel? Alison: Was... *can't seem to finish her sentence* Shalohim: 6.6 I'll - I'll explain later... San: *looks at his feet* Josh: *edges sort of closer to San* Shiko: *collapses at the kitchen table* Yokatta... Shiko: *is very obviously worn out* Alison: I'd better put the caramel away... *goes over to the stove, grabbing a tissue as she goes* Josh: *edges sort of a little closer to San* San: *leans against the kitchen counter* Alison: *catches sight of clock* Oh, no! Shalohim: *sits at the table with Shiko; is tired, not physically but spiritually* Shiko: e.e? Alison: It's 11:57! She said she'd be home at midnight! Shiko: !.! Josh: ?.?! Shalohim: !.! Alison: *has had too much for one day, finally just collapses into a heap on the floor and sobs* San: !.! San: *helps Alison up and leads her to the table, so she can at least sit while sobbing* Shiko: *puts an arm around her* Sssssh... sssssh... it's okay, Alison, it's all right... Alison: Sh- she'll b- be home any muh-minute... Josh: *almost as if by accident, has now managed to be almost right next to San* Shalohim: *gives Josh and San a glance, then says, quickly* I'll clean up. Shalohim: It'll only take me a few moments... San: *looks down at Josh, with a questioning and slightly suspicious look* Josh: *looks up at him, innocently and very Shal-like* Alison: *has managed to calm down a little, feels more comforted by Shal helping* Shalohim: *closes his eyes; for a moment the silver lines show again along the lines of his face, a sign of how tired he is* San: *goes cross-eyed from the innocent sweetness* Josh: *sensing that it won't work, looks away* 6.6 Shalohim: *when he opens his eyes again, the house is clean and looks untouched by the shade attack* Alison: *Embodying the deepest desire of her roleplayer at this moment, falls asleep from sheer exhaustion, even though she hasn't actually done anything. Sometimes stress can lead to exhaustion, after all.* Shiko: *sighs, resting her own head on top of Alison's* San: *Be's a teeny bit obliging, puts an arm around Josh's shoulder, in a brotherly fashion. Mostly.* Josh: *does not currently give a f**k for brotherly-fashioned things, buries his face in San's side, not saying anything* San: *sighs and accepts it, too tired to care* San: We should probably go... Unless we want Alison's mom to be suspicious as to why her Latin teacher is dressed in grunge... And her cheerful friend looks like her puppy was run over... Shiko: ;.; No... not - want - move... *is almost asleep, leaning on Alison* Shalohim: *touches Alison's shoulder gently, once* We really should go... San: *envies her, just a little bit* Come, Shiko... Sh- Shalohim... *pauses, then looks down and continues* Josh... Josh: *still leaning on San* N? Shiko: *reluctantly gets up, softly takes Josh by the shoulder* We do need to get out of here before Mrs. Devar comes home... San: *immediately removes his arm* Yes. Josh: *yawns in spite of himself* 'Nkay... *pulls away from San and goes with her* Shiko: See you two at school tomorrow, 'kay? *yawns herself* Kal and Shunpei can take care of the rest alone. I'm beat. Ja ne... *disappears out the door and down the street towards her house, Josh in tow* Alison: *shifts and talks sleepily* But Mr. Walker, I swear I have my Latin homework... Shalohim: *smiles a little despite the night’s events* San: *smiles at the sleepy mumbling* Shalohim: *touches her on the shoulder again, then, on impulse, kisses the top of her head* Sleep well, Miss Alison... *goes towards the door* San: *Watches him head for the door, then goes over to Alison and brushes back a stray lock of golden-red hair. Whispers to her.* And may a flight of angels watch over you as you sleep. *turns to go* *Fade out.*