Yoh: Mouse? *pokes Mouse* Mouuuuse.....
Mouse: Snorkle snirk....
Yoh: *pokes Mouse again* Mouse????
Mouse: Snorkle snore snk drool drool.
Ren: *blows foghorn in Mouse's ear. Everything on the computer desk flutters at its majestic call.* WAKE UP.
Mouse: *hangs off the ceiling fan* Don't DO that!!! O-O *twitches*
Ren: Fool.
Horo-Horo: Heh heh- Your hair looks good like that, Mouse!
Yoh: But her hair is standing straight on end....
Ren: *Glare* Well, why do you think he SAID it if it didn't look that way? Do you think he gives a rat's ass about her hair otherwise? What the hell is wro- *Mouse is about to land on Ren* AAAAUGH! *Mouse lands* .....Ki....sa...ma......
Mouse: Tag!
Ren: Go hide in hell. x_-
Yoh: O_O
Horo: O__________O
Mouse: Giggle giggle giggle!
Yoh: *catches giggletitis* ...........heh heh.......
Horo: *catches the heaves* HAHAHAhahahahahah!
Mouse: *giggles like a maniac* *snorts* HAHAHAHahahahahahahaha!
Yoh: *laughing*
Horo: *laughing harder*
Mouse: *choking on spit*
Ren: *covers his ears* Could ANYTHING *POSSIBLY* be more annoying?!?!?!?!
Mouse: *snaps fingers* *changes appearance to Ren's* *continues to choke and laugh* Giggle giggle choke giggle giggle choke!
Yoh: O . O
Horo: *is heaving with laughter on the floor*
Ren: AAAUUGHHH!!!! SHUT UP!!! *shoves off Mouse and points his Kwan Dao down at her* God! What's wrong with you?!
Mouse: *takes her own appearance* *smiles (insert adjective)*
Yoh: *still smiling* Horo's fainted!
(Horo has passed out from laughing. He has a giant frozen smile on his face*
Ren: *eye twitch*
Mouse: *sits up* Okay, we took up enough time.
Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King, whoopitie deu, lets eat a sheu.
Mouse: One thing to everyone: I'm sorry I didn't update for, oh, two months? (I dunno.) I've started school, and I actually need to work harder now. Plus, lots of other stuffies. Oh, and I dunno if you'll like this chappie or not, cause to me it's pretty frikin' boring. But I'll write a much better, much more interesting, and- yes- much more yaoi-ish chapter....next chapter. Please forgive me.
Ren: What's to forgive? The fact that you're writing yet ANOTHER chapter? (').(') (rolling eyes)
Mouse: XoX Hey! Shut up! *Ren points Kwan Dao at Mouse* ......I mean...... uh....... geez.......... o_o
Lyserg: ^_^ Hey Mouse! When are you going to do your introduction to Chapter 5?
Yoh: ....oh dear.....
Mouse: Uhhh.........in a little bit, buddy! Lemme just add some finishing touches to it! *frantically starts writing chapter 6*
Lyserg: ^_^ ???
______________________________________
"Do you understand?" Yoh asked.
Manta gaped at him. Just a moment ago, he had been struggling to juggle five languages to talk to this thing, and now he could understand him in no time flat!
What had happened? Why was it that this sudden, dramatic change had undergone? What was with this person? Who was he? Who was it? Manta looked straight into Yoh's eyes- Yoh's eyes, which were previously filled to the brim with tears of fear, frustration, confusion. They had been narrowed with passion but ten minutes ago. Now, they were relaxed- no emotion seeped from them to make Manta cringe, nothing seemed to penetrate from his expression.
Realization slowly deformed Manta's face. Nothing......... except............
....nah-nah-Na-NAH-nah............
....nah-nah-Na-NAH-nah............
"You were.......t-..toying with me!" he put out quietly.
"Excuse me?" Yoh asked politely, and confusedly.
"I can't believe it!" Manta babbled. "You're my best friend! Why would you do that?"
Yoh cocked his head to the side. "I don't fathom...." he said, quietly and carefully.
Manta quivered with anger. He realized now. The whole thing..........it was all a trick. From the very beginning....it was a trick. All of it. Every bit.
Flames grew in the dark pit of his body. But as well as burning torment, Manta could feel his eyes grow wet. It was Yoh, at least part of him, after all. How could he do this to his best friend? He grew overwhelmed. "Stop your act already, Yoh!" He started toward the door of the stall. "You can just....*sniffle* just stop now! *sniff* 'Do you understand?'....Feh! I should have understood! Playing a prank on me the....the whole time....."
Yoh looked "frightened." "What do you mean, sir?"
Manta unlocked the door and put a foot out. "I *sniff* mean that you can *sniff* stop pretending!" He rubbed at his eyes. "*Sniff, sniff* You got me. I know that you *sniff* .....speak perfect Japanese!"
"Since when, may I ask?"
"Oh, come off it, Yoh!" Manta's sobbing voice crescendoed as he ran out of the men's room. "Since right now!"
Yoh sat in concentration on his face as he thought out what Manta could possibly have meant by that.
Many minutes later, his head shot up and froze. He turned his head to the door, and then ran out of the restroom.
--------
Manta walked somberly past the shops. His reflections in the shop windows showed his raw face. But no reflection could mirror his heart. His chest was encased in ice, and his head was heavier than a soaked towel. He hardly saw where he placed his feet, and much less cared.
However, that proved to be not quite a good thing...
"OW!" he cried out when someone ran into him. He fell back and, wincing, he looked up to see the assailant.
It was none other than Yoh, the almighty comedian, who had also fallen backwards and was rubbing the back of his head. He was, as well, panting. When HE realized who he had run into, his face broke out into one of his typical huge smiles.
Fake, Manta thought. It's just another fake.
"Manta!" he exclaimed.
"What?" Manta responded shortly.
Yoh hadn't caught on the shortness. Or perhaps he does, and he just refuses to share that he's on to me, thought Manta. Yoh immediately started to explain his peril. "Manta, you wouldn't believe what happened! See, Ren went deranged because something that looks-"
"Yoh, I don't want to hear this one." Manta interrupted him, glowering like the furnace of Mephistopheles. He stood up and brushed himself off, and then stared down at Yoh where he sat.
Confused, Yoh tried agan. "You don't understand! This thing is still loose! And it looks just like-"
"YOU don't understand, Yoh." Manta cut him off again. "I said, I don't want to hear your stupid stories again."
Yoh was dumbfounded. "Again-?"
Manta turned his face. The sun caused a dark shadow to shade his pained eyes. "Very funny. You're a good actor......a brilliant actor, in fact ......But, I'm not falling for that again."
"Huh-?! Fall for what?" Yoh called to Manta. But he was already running down the
sidewalk. He had gotten pretty far in the very short time span that he had been provided. Yoh heard him snivel miserably. Liquid beads cascaded down to the sidewalk like a falling veil. Their splashes echoed in Yoh's ears like Taiko drums.
He was just about to jump up after him, when suddenly....... it happened. What had brought him into the frenzy and here to the street; What had put Ren into a gray, endless torpor; What had brought Anna such physical and emotional strain; And, what had shattered Manta's trust into a thousand pieces.
The straining vibrations.
The headache.
The madness.
Yoh clutched at his head, his head going affray, echoing. It was laborious to try to control himself, the ailments ricocheting within his vast inner realm.
....nah-nah-Na-NAH-nah............
....nah-nah-Na-NAH-nah............
Yoh put his hand to his forehead, in an impulsive attempt to soothe his vexation. But the buzzing wouldn't quit. The beats were constant, unstoppable; They crushed him with every strike of their generator. His heart was racing the shadow, the shadow of what was there. But despite the complaints, Yoh forced himself to squint up and look around.
Because he knew that it would be there again.
The other Ren.
His eyes watered slightly from the bright sun and his anguish, but he kept his awareness. He looked around at the
buildings, the trees, and particularly, the alleys. The complaints were picking up speed. His heart was bolting back and forth, and his head was like electricity.
His head swerved around again to face out into the open street. Searching for his opponent, he found nothing. All he saw were people going about their normal lives: A business man with his briefcase, a woman riding her bike, a boy going for a run, a girl eating an ice pop...-
"Wait." he said to himself with a cringe. The thing was somewhere around. The senses were stronger yet, and slowly but steadily growing. He looked around.
But the Ren wasn't there. Yoh looked around once again, and then....he couldn't put his finger on it.....he sensed something new- something very, very out of place.
The running boy....
"He looks familiar...."
The boy jogged closer. He appeared to be ignorant to the fact that Yoh was staring at him. He continued to jog, though, his job was rather odd in itself. It was quick and springy, like a newly-trained colt's; His arms, rather than bent and pumping, were straight and, though low, still stuck out somewhat behind him. His legs were straight except for when he impacted the ground. His toes here constantly pointed. His form reminded Yoh of a dancer, or a martial artist. Or both.
But what........
....WHAT?!............
The boy caught Yoh's eye.
He looks.....just like me! Yoh spluttered in his head.
And he did. His swinging brown hair was the same length. His limbs, somewhat sinewy, were the same. The same dark
skin was encased in shredded, but beautiful, glossy blue silk. Their hands were equals in gentleness. And his eyes....they were the same as well. The same dark sienna eyes, celestial in their bounds, yet they probed the world with curiosity.
It was another one. Another one of....those copies.
The copy Yoh was about to pass by. The real Yoh was about to call out to him when, abruptly, the other stopped running and stood upright. His eyes grew wider, and his muscles started to twitch slightly.
His head dropped and his eyes followed a delicate hand, which reached up and placed itself, spread fingered, against his chest.
He's feeling his heartbeat, Yoh thought. He waited, not saying a word.
Two eccentric eyes turned to face him.
Two calming eyes returned the glance.
The two stood like that, in a glaring face-off. The copy's eyes grew narrower, and the rippling muscles tensed up, ready.
Yoh, on the other hand, stood calm, with only his complaining heartbeat, cool, smooth sweat, and a buzz in his ear to suggest otherwise. He had to be calm. Any little movement would set this....thing, off as well....most likely with the will of Ren's copy, or stronger. The aura was equally as strong.
The aura! He had to decipher the aura! Yoh concentrated hard on bypassing the nausea and head buzzing, because there was a chance that the key to this particular creature was hidden in its spiritual pharamones. After all, everyone had an aura- this one in particular just happened to be smothered in a thick imitation of one. And everyone could read another's aura like an open book, if trained in reading them well.
Yoh had to read this aura. It was vital that he did- to get through the steely outer ambience to see what was inside.
But...perhaps, could he read what was already there?
The person was standing tall, straight. The eyes were intimidating. They were narrow. A gripping hand, baring normal nails- his, in fact- but looked ever threatening when clenching at his chest.
But other things were happening too: the muscles, though tense and ready for anything unexpected, were shaking. He was trembling; his whole body pulsed to his erratic heartbeat, and nearly threw him off balance. Although narrowed, Yoh could see that his eyes were bloodshot.
He was running before. And, though looks could be deceiving, he was very weak. What was he doing before? He was very nervous, that was apparent now.......very frightened......... confused.........
And then it hit Yoh like a botoku. The outer aura- it was only emotion. All of the dark emotions of this person, strong, -he could decipher that they were fresh- they had built up around this person after a short time period, and had very recently just been aroused again.
"You're the one who angered Manta." Yoh said. There was not a drop of anger in the way he said his sentence, and little of any other emotion.
The other's brows scowled in confusion. The body turned smoothly, completely, towards Yoh. The hand, still pressed against his chest, loosened slightly.
Yoh smiled. There was no way that this thing, dangerous or lamb-like, would ever be able to hurt him at the moment. Because both of their complaints were lessening. The outer ambience was And he was developing trust.
The copy's eyes had relaxed open slightly, and his head cocked to the side slightly. But the same puzzled expression resided on his face. One blue slippered foot coiled itself around the back of the other leg.
Yoh started to carefully advance toward the copy. It backed slightly at the approach, but didn't move.
The complaints started again. Yoh paused for a second, adjusted to their effects, and approached again. They grew
again, with each step, until he was right up against him. Blood rushed through their veins, and a loud hum withstood within their heads. Yoh put out a shaking hand, grabbed the other's, and held it up. Closer....to his mouth.......and closer.
The copy's eyes grew wide with confusion....fear.....
The buzzing was thunderous.
Yoh gave an assuring little grin, and looked back down at the hand.
The hand was palm down, the back within the inch of his mouth. And, with a quick look up in uncommon courtesy, a kiss was produced upon the skin.
All eccentric ambience fell and shattered.
The copy looked at him with wide eyes, and a tiny, questioning, vulnerable smile. Yoh's lips immediately stretched into a wide beaming smile, proud of solving the puzzle.
He could almost hear the crystals twinkle.
____________
In the dismal shade of a nearby alley, a figure huddled nearby the stone-bleak wall. Shivering and weak. Bleeding, wounded. Dehydrated. It clutched tightly around it's knees, keeping the shaking legs close to the torso of the body. It's head was tucked into it's lap like a ball, trying to keep fears out, and emotions in. The whole body rocked and swayed, like a kinesthetic lullaby. Mumbles came from between the parched, beautiful lips, and served as the lyrics for this grotesque gentle chant.
A faint sense- perhaps a scent, or a sound, or a graceful melody- wafted into the district of the huddled creature. It had no color or appearance, but its body was full and whole. It entwined itself around the body and seeped in to the center.
The creature stopped rocking and chanting. A slight shiver was the only movement. It lifted its head, so that only stained eyes appeared. Angered eyes, scowling in extracted strength.
Their golden sparkle echoed in the darkness of the alley.
Mouse: Snorkle snirk....
Yoh: *pokes Mouse again* Mouse????
Mouse: Snorkle snore snk drool drool.
Ren: *blows foghorn in Mouse's ear. Everything on the computer desk flutters at its majestic call.* WAKE UP.
Mouse: *hangs off the ceiling fan* Don't DO that!!! O-O *twitches*
Ren: Fool.
Horo-Horo: Heh heh- Your hair looks good like that, Mouse!
Yoh: But her hair is standing straight on end....
Ren: *Glare* Well, why do you think he SAID it if it didn't look that way? Do you think he gives a rat's ass about her hair otherwise? What the hell is wro- *Mouse is about to land on Ren* AAAAUGH! *Mouse lands* .....Ki....sa...ma......
Mouse: Tag!
Ren: Go hide in hell. x_-
Yoh: O_O
Horo: O__________O
Mouse: Giggle giggle giggle!
Yoh: *catches giggletitis* ...........heh heh.......
Horo: *catches the heaves* HAHAHAhahahahahah!
Mouse: *giggles like a maniac* *snorts* HAHAHAHahahahahahahaha!
Yoh: *laughing*
Horo: *laughing harder*
Mouse: *choking on spit*
Ren: *covers his ears* Could ANYTHING *POSSIBLY* be more annoying?!?!?!?!
Mouse: *snaps fingers* *changes appearance to Ren's* *continues to choke and laugh* Giggle giggle choke giggle giggle choke!
Yoh: O . O
Horo: *is heaving with laughter on the floor*
Ren: AAAUUGHHH!!!! SHUT UP!!! *shoves off Mouse and points his Kwan Dao down at her* God! What's wrong with you?!
Mouse: *takes her own appearance* *smiles (insert adjective)*
Yoh: *still smiling* Horo's fainted!
(Horo has passed out from laughing. He has a giant frozen smile on his face*
Ren: *eye twitch*
Mouse: *sits up* Okay, we took up enough time.
Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King, whoopitie deu, lets eat a sheu.
Mouse: One thing to everyone: I'm sorry I didn't update for, oh, two months? (I dunno.) I've started school, and I actually need to work harder now. Plus, lots of other stuffies. Oh, and I dunno if you'll like this chappie or not, cause to me it's pretty frikin' boring. But I'll write a much better, much more interesting, and- yes- much more yaoi-ish chapter....next chapter. Please forgive me.
Ren: What's to forgive? The fact that you're writing yet ANOTHER chapter? (').(') (rolling eyes)
Mouse: XoX Hey! Shut up! *Ren points Kwan Dao at Mouse* ......I mean...... uh....... geez.......... o_o
Lyserg: ^_^ Hey Mouse! When are you going to do your introduction to Chapter 5?
Yoh: ....oh dear.....
Mouse: Uhhh.........in a little bit, buddy! Lemme just add some finishing touches to it! *frantically starts writing chapter 6*
Lyserg: ^_^ ???
______________________________________
"Do you understand?" Yoh asked.
Manta gaped at him. Just a moment ago, he had been struggling to juggle five languages to talk to this thing, and now he could understand him in no time flat!
What had happened? Why was it that this sudden, dramatic change had undergone? What was with this person? Who was he? Who was it? Manta looked straight into Yoh's eyes- Yoh's eyes, which were previously filled to the brim with tears of fear, frustration, confusion. They had been narrowed with passion but ten minutes ago. Now, they were relaxed- no emotion seeped from them to make Manta cringe, nothing seemed to penetrate from his expression.
Realization slowly deformed Manta's face. Nothing......... except............
....nah-nah-Na-NAH-nah............
....nah-nah-Na-NAH-nah............
"You were.......t-..toying with me!" he put out quietly.
"Excuse me?" Yoh asked politely, and confusedly.
"I can't believe it!" Manta babbled. "You're my best friend! Why would you do that?"
Yoh cocked his head to the side. "I don't fathom...." he said, quietly and carefully.
Manta quivered with anger. He realized now. The whole thing..........it was all a trick. From the very beginning....it was a trick. All of it. Every bit.
Flames grew in the dark pit of his body. But as well as burning torment, Manta could feel his eyes grow wet. It was Yoh, at least part of him, after all. How could he do this to his best friend? He grew overwhelmed. "Stop your act already, Yoh!" He started toward the door of the stall. "You can just....*sniffle* just stop now! *sniff* 'Do you understand?'....Feh! I should have understood! Playing a prank on me the....the whole time....."
Yoh looked "frightened." "What do you mean, sir?"
Manta unlocked the door and put a foot out. "I *sniff* mean that you can *sniff* stop pretending!" He rubbed at his eyes. "*Sniff, sniff* You got me. I know that you *sniff* .....speak perfect Japanese!"
"Since when, may I ask?"
"Oh, come off it, Yoh!" Manta's sobbing voice crescendoed as he ran out of the men's room. "Since right now!"
Yoh sat in concentration on his face as he thought out what Manta could possibly have meant by that.
Many minutes later, his head shot up and froze. He turned his head to the door, and then ran out of the restroom.
--------
Manta walked somberly past the shops. His reflections in the shop windows showed his raw face. But no reflection could mirror his heart. His chest was encased in ice, and his head was heavier than a soaked towel. He hardly saw where he placed his feet, and much less cared.
However, that proved to be not quite a good thing...
"OW!" he cried out when someone ran into him. He fell back and, wincing, he looked up to see the assailant.
It was none other than Yoh, the almighty comedian, who had also fallen backwards and was rubbing the back of his head. He was, as well, panting. When HE realized who he had run into, his face broke out into one of his typical huge smiles.
Fake, Manta thought. It's just another fake.
"Manta!" he exclaimed.
"What?" Manta responded shortly.
Yoh hadn't caught on the shortness. Or perhaps he does, and he just refuses to share that he's on to me, thought Manta. Yoh immediately started to explain his peril. "Manta, you wouldn't believe what happened! See, Ren went deranged because something that looks-"
"Yoh, I don't want to hear this one." Manta interrupted him, glowering like the furnace of Mephistopheles. He stood up and brushed himself off, and then stared down at Yoh where he sat.
Confused, Yoh tried agan. "You don't understand! This thing is still loose! And it looks just like-"
"YOU don't understand, Yoh." Manta cut him off again. "I said, I don't want to hear your stupid stories again."
Yoh was dumbfounded. "Again-?"
Manta turned his face. The sun caused a dark shadow to shade his pained eyes. "Very funny. You're a good actor......a brilliant actor, in fact ......But, I'm not falling for that again."
"Huh-?! Fall for what?" Yoh called to Manta. But he was already running down the
sidewalk. He had gotten pretty far in the very short time span that he had been provided. Yoh heard him snivel miserably. Liquid beads cascaded down to the sidewalk like a falling veil. Their splashes echoed in Yoh's ears like Taiko drums.
He was just about to jump up after him, when suddenly....... it happened. What had brought him into the frenzy and here to the street; What had put Ren into a gray, endless torpor; What had brought Anna such physical and emotional strain; And, what had shattered Manta's trust into a thousand pieces.
The straining vibrations.
The headache.
The madness.
Yoh clutched at his head, his head going affray, echoing. It was laborious to try to control himself, the ailments ricocheting within his vast inner realm.
....nah-nah-Na-NAH-nah............
....nah-nah-Na-NAH-nah............
Yoh put his hand to his forehead, in an impulsive attempt to soothe his vexation. But the buzzing wouldn't quit. The beats were constant, unstoppable; They crushed him with every strike of their generator. His heart was racing the shadow, the shadow of what was there. But despite the complaints, Yoh forced himself to squint up and look around.
Because he knew that it would be there again.
The other Ren.
His eyes watered slightly from the bright sun and his anguish, but he kept his awareness. He looked around at the
buildings, the trees, and particularly, the alleys. The complaints were picking up speed. His heart was bolting back and forth, and his head was like electricity.
His head swerved around again to face out into the open street. Searching for his opponent, he found nothing. All he saw were people going about their normal lives: A business man with his briefcase, a woman riding her bike, a boy going for a run, a girl eating an ice pop...-
"Wait." he said to himself with a cringe. The thing was somewhere around. The senses were stronger yet, and slowly but steadily growing. He looked around.
But the Ren wasn't there. Yoh looked around once again, and then....he couldn't put his finger on it.....he sensed something new- something very, very out of place.
The running boy....
"He looks familiar...."
The boy jogged closer. He appeared to be ignorant to the fact that Yoh was staring at him. He continued to jog, though, his job was rather odd in itself. It was quick and springy, like a newly-trained colt's; His arms, rather than bent and pumping, were straight and, though low, still stuck out somewhat behind him. His legs were straight except for when he impacted the ground. His toes here constantly pointed. His form reminded Yoh of a dancer, or a martial artist. Or both.
But what........
....WHAT?!............
The boy caught Yoh's eye.
He looks.....just like me! Yoh spluttered in his head.
And he did. His swinging brown hair was the same length. His limbs, somewhat sinewy, were the same. The same dark
skin was encased in shredded, but beautiful, glossy blue silk. Their hands were equals in gentleness. And his eyes....they were the same as well. The same dark sienna eyes, celestial in their bounds, yet they probed the world with curiosity.
It was another one. Another one of....those copies.
The copy Yoh was about to pass by. The real Yoh was about to call out to him when, abruptly, the other stopped running and stood upright. His eyes grew wider, and his muscles started to twitch slightly.
His head dropped and his eyes followed a delicate hand, which reached up and placed itself, spread fingered, against his chest.
He's feeling his heartbeat, Yoh thought. He waited, not saying a word.
Two eccentric eyes turned to face him.
Two calming eyes returned the glance.
The two stood like that, in a glaring face-off. The copy's eyes grew narrower, and the rippling muscles tensed up, ready.
Yoh, on the other hand, stood calm, with only his complaining heartbeat, cool, smooth sweat, and a buzz in his ear to suggest otherwise. He had to be calm. Any little movement would set this....thing, off as well....most likely with the will of Ren's copy, or stronger. The aura was equally as strong.
The aura! He had to decipher the aura! Yoh concentrated hard on bypassing the nausea and head buzzing, because there was a chance that the key to this particular creature was hidden in its spiritual pharamones. After all, everyone had an aura- this one in particular just happened to be smothered in a thick imitation of one. And everyone could read another's aura like an open book, if trained in reading them well.
Yoh had to read this aura. It was vital that he did- to get through the steely outer ambience to see what was inside.
But...perhaps, could he read what was already there?
The person was standing tall, straight. The eyes were intimidating. They were narrow. A gripping hand, baring normal nails- his, in fact- but looked ever threatening when clenching at his chest.
But other things were happening too: the muscles, though tense and ready for anything unexpected, were shaking. He was trembling; his whole body pulsed to his erratic heartbeat, and nearly threw him off balance. Although narrowed, Yoh could see that his eyes were bloodshot.
He was running before. And, though looks could be deceiving, he was very weak. What was he doing before? He was very nervous, that was apparent now.......very frightened......... confused.........
And then it hit Yoh like a botoku. The outer aura- it was only emotion. All of the dark emotions of this person, strong, -he could decipher that they were fresh- they had built up around this person after a short time period, and had very recently just been aroused again.
"You're the one who angered Manta." Yoh said. There was not a drop of anger in the way he said his sentence, and little of any other emotion.
The other's brows scowled in confusion. The body turned smoothly, completely, towards Yoh. The hand, still pressed against his chest, loosened slightly.
Yoh smiled. There was no way that this thing, dangerous or lamb-like, would ever be able to hurt him at the moment. Because both of their complaints were lessening. The outer ambience was And he was developing trust.
The copy's eyes had relaxed open slightly, and his head cocked to the side slightly. But the same puzzled expression resided on his face. One blue slippered foot coiled itself around the back of the other leg.
Yoh started to carefully advance toward the copy. It backed slightly at the approach, but didn't move.
The complaints started again. Yoh paused for a second, adjusted to their effects, and approached again. They grew
again, with each step, until he was right up against him. Blood rushed through their veins, and a loud hum withstood within their heads. Yoh put out a shaking hand, grabbed the other's, and held it up. Closer....to his mouth.......and closer.
The copy's eyes grew wide with confusion....fear.....
The buzzing was thunderous.
Yoh gave an assuring little grin, and looked back down at the hand.
The hand was palm down, the back within the inch of his mouth. And, with a quick look up in uncommon courtesy, a kiss was produced upon the skin.
All eccentric ambience fell and shattered.
The copy looked at him with wide eyes, and a tiny, questioning, vulnerable smile. Yoh's lips immediately stretched into a wide beaming smile, proud of solving the puzzle.
He could almost hear the crystals twinkle.
____________
In the dismal shade of a nearby alley, a figure huddled nearby the stone-bleak wall. Shivering and weak. Bleeding, wounded. Dehydrated. It clutched tightly around it's knees, keeping the shaking legs close to the torso of the body. It's head was tucked into it's lap like a ball, trying to keep fears out, and emotions in. The whole body rocked and swayed, like a kinesthetic lullaby. Mumbles came from between the parched, beautiful lips, and served as the lyrics for this grotesque gentle chant.
A faint sense- perhaps a scent, or a sound, or a graceful melody- wafted into the district of the huddled creature. It had no color or appearance, but its body was full and whole. It entwined itself around the body and seeped in to the center.
The creature stopped rocking and chanting. A slight shiver was the only movement. It lifted its head, so that only stained eyes appeared. Angered eyes, scowling in extracted strength.
Their golden sparkle echoed in the darkness of the alley.