The patters of water from a faucet that never quite shut off. The stale, uncirculating air that filled an apartment living room. A bakery that found itself accumulating loafs of melonpan. A drink shop that started to ebb its specialty lemon soda from its menu. These were signs of absence. The inattentiveness of those surrounding events that unfolded in a snap of fingers was baffling, but warranted. It was intended to occur in a split second, and leave no remains.

Justified in its own rights, it was meant to bring end and rise to new dawns.

Strewn wreckage claimed the premises of a once-bustling warehouse building, flowing with business that kept trade sailors on the high seas during the warmest time of year.

That specific line of business, unmentioned and as important as a speck of dust on an armoire, was unstuck. Picked up and moved, the ruins would remain as a symbolic example of whatever transpired beneath its once towering scape.

Yet, none but the four prime figures that allowed such sturdy features to transgress into a state of disarray; of nothingness, would be privy to those actions. To what rattled the foundations of mortal coils and spiritual existences, and shattered boundaries that were fixated and clenched.

What was once a building was now a grave for two of those four. Sunken into the spirals of time, utterly and totally forgotten.

(Attached to this post as a conclusion of transpired events.)

"Oi, Masaru!" Jirobi stuffed his finished stack of ofuda papers into the collar of Zenny's top before he leapt forward, sailing through the air only to latch onto the boy's white yukata. "Yer not s'posed to run away from the enemy! C'mon, turn yourself around, we get to keep'em away from Zen-chan."

"Yes!"

Masaru turned on his heel, the blade of his sword already glittering in the light as he drew it. He blocked the incoming claws with its business end..and kept slicing through all the way up to the demon's shoulder. Purple blood frothed from the open wounds as he wrenched the blade free, sending it cleanly through the demon's thick neck. Its head flew one way, body crumpling another. Jirobi, attached to the boy's shoulder, whooped in victory.

Zenny smiled and returned to the task at hand.

The elapsed time had done nothing to lessen the blow of dormant evil pent up in the warehouse ruins. It had been exceptionally sealed, she figured, ever since the night that those lights pierced the sky.

Something had transpired here, something drastic. She stretched her hand out toward the pile of bricks before her, blocking out the sights and sounds of battle and the smells of rotting flesh.

Beyond all of the horrid death and decay, something else lingered..a faint sensation, one that she just barely recognized.

"Indeed, this place is not what it seems. Several deaths took place here, and I can only assume that just as many souls are indeed trapped." The closer her hand got to the rubble, the more her skin felt alive. Blue sparks danced between her palm and the pile of bricks and metal, reacting so much so to her proximity that she had to pull away or risk being charred.

"Amazing. Sensations such as these," she murmured, that same hand sweeping out in a gentle arc. A number of bleach white ofuda papers, as thin and sharp as razors, shot out from her sleeve..rocketing through the air and any demonic resistance they met, hulking bodies reduced to wisps of blue smoke.

"Oi, watch it with those things, Zen-chan! We like our heads where they are!"

The ofuda papers circled her and the warehouse ruins, glowing white as they outlined an unseen barrier. Zenny's hair and clothing stirred like she was withstanding heavy winds. Loose dirt sifted up into the charged air, crackling and popping noisily as it was reduced to particles too small for the naked eye to see.

Chunks of the ruins broke free when she raised her arms, flung aside at her command into the band of bright white ofuda cards. They exploded on impact with the sound of screaming metal, raining sapphire sparks. The invisible walls of the barrier shimmered and shook.

"If we knew you were gonna use that technique, we wouldn't have bothered with this small fry!"

"You need the practice. Though, indeed, I didn't know I would need this ritual. I am unable to touch the ruins in any other fashion. Moreover, there is a collection of spiritual presence trapped within," she called, her brow creased in concentration. Large piles of debris peeled themselves away, firing off and erupting one by one. "Before we do anything else, I must purify this location. And if what I'm sensing is indeed correct, I will need to do it quickly and efficiently."

"What do you suppose happened here, Katsutoya-sama?" Masaru's voice came from her right, tight with exertion from the continued battle.

"Indeed, I'm still not sure. I'm beginning to see why our mysterious culprit used as much power as they did. Perhaps it was merely to seal this location's evil from the outside world, or a single being..one of these demons. Have you figured out what they are yet?"

"Negative. Hup!!" The meaty thunks of dismembered limbs falling to the ground were drowned out by the explosions within the barrier. As she continued, the pile before her began breaking apart..great masses of metal, cement and brick suspended in the charged air. Hiding beneath them, white orbs blinked like dying lightbulbs. They zoomed to and fro, seemingly trying to keep out of sight. "They're demons, no doubt about that. From what I can tell, they seem to share characteristics with the samples that you took from that boy."

"Thirty-seven, thirty-eight.." Zenny's brow furrowed further as she counted each soul she saw. They were skittish, wary..never in sight for more than two seconds at a time. She had a sinking feeling that there were more that she had not yet seen.

"Watch your left, Masaru!"

She splayed her fingers, tilting her hands so that her palms faced the sky. What was left of the debris parted like water and was swept aside into the barrier for an explosion that rocked the ground beneath her, forced her to stumble to keep her balance. Blue sparks glinted fiercely in the sunlight, falling upon her in a relentless shower. They blocked out everything else she was possibly able to see. She closed her eyes.

"Katsutoya-sama!"

"Zen-chan, you alright?"

"Come to me." Her voice, though soft, echoed soundly throughout the perimeter, beckoning the twister of souls that was rotating over what she would now deem Ground Zero. "Do not be afraid. Whatever, or whomever, was responsible for what you had to go through... is not here. I am, indeed, not that one."

"Lookit all them poor souls! She's crossin' them over."

"No way.. She's never attempted with so many before."

"Come to me. Through me you will indeed find peace." She gently shook her arms, coaxing more power into her call. Her hair and clothing whipped around her as the glittering souls began drifting away from their cyclone, instead circling her. Her face tightened as they touched her outstretched hands, carressed her cheeks and neck. She tried not to block out the images that suddenly flooded her mind, the souls' last moments: a combination of a dark shadowy room, binding chains, laughing eyes the color of steel and yellow, serrated teeth.

One by one, souls sunk into Zenny's chest, passed out through her back and shot up to the sky as if nothing would stop them. She attempted to keep a talley, but lost her sense of purpose after she counted eight. Her head rocked back until it could go no further. Vaguely, she felt her body leave the ground, the toes of her boots hovering a few inches above the stained cobblestones.

"The seigyoku kado. A way to purify trapped souls by takin' their burdens into oneself. If anyone other than Katsutoya-sama attempted this--"

"They'd go bonkers..that is if they survived. Start warmin' up, Masaru, you're gonna have to counteract some of this when the barrier falls."

"Right."

Eyelids flew open, her irises gleaming aqua blue in response to everything flowing through her. Pain wracked her body from head to toe, but still, she held her arms aloft, beseaching those remaining timid souls from their places.

As the last touched her hands, her face..sunk into her body, the band of ofuda cards withholding all of the circling spiritual power burst into a violent orange flame. The invisible wind and shower of sparks still dancing around within the perimeter overflowed like water would a glass, spilling into the surroundings..sticking to bloodstains and fallen demons and eating through them until there was nothing left.

"Katsutoya-sama!" Masaru rushed forward, his arms wrapping securely around Zenny's middle as she made her quick descent. Her chest heaved, she stared straight ahead at the now empty space where the destroyed warehouse once stood. She was only just aware of Masaru's own spiritual energy flowing through her, enveloping her. She leaned her head back against his chest with a sigh of relief.

"That was..indeed..trying."

"Zen-chan, you're not supposed to try things like that, you're not as young as you used to be." Even Jirobi's slight weight felt heavy. Zenny didn't try to grab a hold of him when he slid down the front of her silk and leather clothing and hit the ground with a squeak.

"Did you find anything out, Katsutoya-sama?"

"Indeed. This place was a scene of horrendous carnage over several months. Only lately as it been escalating." She coughed softly, wiping her brow with the tips of her shaking fingers. Her skin felt clammy as if she was going to be momentarily ill. "It is the work of many..ones with silver and golden eyes, akin to these demons, actually.

"I indeed also saw..that boy. Mayu's friend. The last of the souls..was ordered to do him harm," she said, grunting as she leaned against the firm hold Masaru had fixed around her middle. He let go instantly with muttered apologies. "He seemed to be one of those many trapped here..for a time. But I did not read his soul."

"Pika pika-chan?! Where art thou, my sparkling flower of crystaline co--ACK!!"

"It seems he was a part of this."

"Indeed." Zenny forcefully brushed off her clothing, ran her palms back over her hair. She was not entirely pleased with how drained she felt, or how much concentration it took to maintain an upright posture, though she didn't believe it to be her fault in the slightest. Those responsible had created a festering pool of dark emotion that had been kept alive for several days inside of a seal.

If Mayu's friends were involved in what transpired, she could only assume her cute little apprentice was also, in fact, a key player. Other than herself, she knew of no one who was able to detect and direct spiritual energies, or who even had the potential.

The idea, however, was even less pleasing.

"There is still something odd about this location. Even though the spiritual presences have indeed vanished and it has been purified, I am still sensing something. It's faint, but..ethereal."

"Like what, Katsutoya-sama?"

Zenny grunted, fingering a couple of her slender hairpins thoughtfully. "We will do some investigation before I answer that. I must also regain a little more of my strength. Indeed, I believe we are only getting started."

Evening, August 23rd..

Zenny's fingers unfurled the tiny scroll for the seventh time, her eyes skimming over the neatly penned words. It was not the first such missive she had received. Sighing, she tucked the paper up into her right sleeve and slid the hairpin it had arrived on back into her hair.

"It seems that indeed nothing has changed. I had wanted to give the children some time to search, as well as Mayu to return should she so wish it.."

"Things ain't lookin' good, Zen-chan."

"Indeed, they are not." Zenny frowned, an expression that was more often than not becoming the norm, and turned away from both of her assistants. Masaru's face tightened as he fought to keep the lotus position despite Jirobi crawling all over him and perching on his head and shoulders. His mouth moved silently, forming the words of a chant as white spiritual energy sporadically crackled around his body.

"Mayu's friends have been looking to get in contact with me for several days. Indeed, I think it is time to answer their call. For we have found nothing here that we have not already known."

She tugged a fresh hairpin from her hair and scratched a simple note upon the scroll with the tip of a sharpened black nail. When she snapped her fingers, the entire miniature contraption disappeared.

"I will return. Make sure you maintain the barrier. Indeed, we do not need this rift breaking open any further."

"Ryoukai!"

She swept from the location without another word, her steps firm and swift..carrying her through the marketplace with purpose.

Katt's player. Thanks! ]

"So it seems that all of this began with the kidnapping of that boy by.. Hmm." She cleared her throat, shaking her head. Her right index finger curled, touching her chin as she thought. "By your explanation, it does indeed look, to the outside observer, that this girl you speak of is Mayu. There was nothing left of the warehouse save debris, trapped souls and several demons. When I let the souls cross over, only one seemed to possess valuable information..and it did not include that girl.

"Might I borrow your eyes for a moment, Katt?" Her brows rose, she peered over at the girl..delicately avoiding her question for the time being.

Her brows twitched and that ache of worry stretched more. There was a little nod as she pushed from the seal and moved closer. "Of course.."

He leaned against the fridge when he got to the kitchen, pressing his forehead up against the cool silver exterior. He was supposed to be back there with them..talking about it. He wasn't supposed to 'need a moment' like this.. He didn't think Katt even wanted anything to drink.. He growled, slamming both of his palms up against the fridge.

"It's not a painful process, I assure you. Physically, anyway. Close your eyes for me?" She stepped to meet Katt halfway, the index and middle finger of her right hand stretching out..waiting for her to do so.

"It's fine either way.." If it provided the means of answers and hopefully answers to debunk her fears. She paused a moment, seeming to think of something but decided that it would be okay. Her eyes slipped closed.

"I would like you to picture this girl in your mind, if you could." Her fingertips just barely touched Katt's eyelids, her own eyes remaining open..staring dead ahead. Clear blue flickered to vibrant green and the appearance of her pupil disappeared.

He sighed, shaking himself. He was supposed to be getting drinks too. If anything, he could just drink them himself.. He tugged the fridge doors open, his left hand closing around the only bottles there..two sodas, one water. He kicked the door closed, starting back toward the room.

That in itself was easy enough. She picked a moment in the hall when she and the girl were in clear vision of each other. Unlike the times at night, at the hall meant clearer details which came to form the mental imagine.

Zenny latched onto that single image..teal hair, flaming red eyes and the familiar outfit of a priestess. The ears and tail were something she had never seen before, at least not attached to someone who claimed themselves human. The images began shifting as she finished obtaining the link with Katt's mind she was seeking. Her battle with Tylor, especially, flickered by..the man's face hovering in pristine detail. Then to the warehouse..the girl's conversation with Tylor..skimming over Katt's murder of the Yoma, her freeing of the bound and hanging Toby. Phantasneko's image repeatedly took over the forefront.

He paused in the doorway, his mouth closing with a snap as he watched. He felt..like he should be quiet.. Maybe he could just put down the bottles and go back to the kitchen..

She allowed the free roaming of her mind's eyes but at the same time monitoring so that Zenny did not end up backlashed from the altian barrier. Her lips twitched, curling into a soft frown. Just remembering Toby hovering there..well now that she had to look back on it. Both hands twitched, curling in.

Her attack on Katt with the spiritual sword..the weapons sinking into Toby and forcing him out through the back wall. The dimming attack on Katt that had her sent outside to meet him. The images short circuited. Zenny grunted, easing her fingers from Katt's eyelids and touching her own. "I see.. I can only assume by that..that that girl was indeed the cause of the spiritual lights. Toby, you may enter now, I could use that drink."

"Mmph.." He straightened, slowly stepping into the room..his muscles tensed and ready for the flight he knew he wasn't going to let himself take. He settled a soda bottle into Zenny's waiting palm.

"Hhh.." Her head rocked forward once the touch was gone and her own hand rose up to rub at her forehead. She didn't say anything for the moment, more or less allowing herself time to remember what had happened.

"What did you do.." He eyed Zenny tightly, then touched Katt's shoulder..offering her the bottle of water.

"We simply shared experiences and nothing more. Indeed, she is unharmed." She waved the soda bottle dismissively before popping it open and taking a long swallow. Then she swept the bottle across her brow, cooling it. "I'm glad you returned, boy, I would only like to say this once. As to your question, Katt, about whether or not this girl and Mayu are one and the same..I cannot answer that. I can also indeed not answer your question about her well being. For I've not been able to locate her either."

Her eyes opened at the touch, her gaze paler then it should be. She glanced over to the bottle of water and took it softly. "Thanks." Her lips twitched into a small frown when she heard Zenny. "What of that girl that Mayu was with when she left the church. Do you know of her? Maybe Mayu is still with her.." She hated sounding like she was hoping too much for a single thing. Hope..Hope laughed at her while kicking her around. She tugged at the bottle cap, struggling with opening it.

"Mmph.." He watched Katt's hands, then looked over to Zenny. Her eyes looked weird..no pupils, trying to darken to blue. He rubbed his forehead with his knuckles.

"I don't know of her, no. Mayu had explained to me all the people that she had been in contact with since her arrival in the city. That included you two, a couple other females that have since disappeared, and a pale male character with red eyes." She took another sip of soda. "This pink haired girl..is a new acquaintance. I had been giving her leeway lately, I'm sure she had several acquaintances that I knew nothing about. The girl does not seem dangerous to her.

"This situation is indeed troublesome. Had the details been any different, I would be able to tell you both that you needn't worry." She ticked her fingernails along the outside of the soda bottle. "When Mayu first began studying with me, I placed wards on her person for all manner of things to guard against influences, physical harm, possessions and such. Some of those were devices so that I may be able to locate her. They are no longer in effect."

The bottle crinkled and the pop flew at the sudden force it couldn't handle. She tried not to focus on what was said or the particular of the one who she hated with a deep sensation. The cold rushing water over her hands caused her to loosen her grip, realizing what she was doing. There was a slow blink and she looked up to Zenny. "No longer in effect.."

"Ah.." He jumped, blinking at Katt and the dripping water. He reached to touch her hands, but drew back after a couple more moments of thought. He didn't know what to do with what he was hearing. The words were floating around him, not sinking in..

"Indeed. I have been in this area for several days investigating the scene in question. The warehouse where everything transpired was nothing but a pile of rubble, inside of which was a rift connecting to some location on the spiritual plane. Up until I saw your face, boy, in the soul of one of the victims of these events, I had assumed that the two things were entirely unrelated." She took another drink of her soda..twisted the cap back on afterward.

"Apart from myself and Masaru, Mayu was the only one able to use spiritual energies, or to even have the potential to do so..or so I thought. Your input, Katt, has made things seem exceedingly grim. I do not know where she is, and I can no longer locate her via the wards. Every single one I have placed has been dispelled and that can only happen in one of two ways."

"Don't.." She squeaked out the single word, trying very hard not to spill the threatening tears. She better dare not say Mayu was dead. She better not. She stared through Zenny, no longer really seeing her and while she was thirsty she couldn't bring herself to drink the water that was right before her.

Meanwhile? The Continuance

Traveling the Bamboo Thicket that acted as a guardian to the Shrine of Grassy Knolls was something of a task. Short of first-hand experience, if not being the one that grew the stalks themselves, one would find the adventure eternally damning, lost in its winds and weaves.

Thankfully, for one such as Etsuko, Master took care of all the knowledge she required.

The stalks climbed the heavens like ivy on brick, the air a building block until even the trained, ghastly eye of the denizens of the Land of Spirits could no longer spot their thready peaks. Even in flight, Etsuko found the daunting travel tedious and unnerving. Countless eons couldn't support her sanity, lunacy clutching her mind like a chilling, sinew-riddled hand of bone and seeping marrow.

"Turn away?"
"We see you?"
"?hunger?"

That was the intent and purpose of the Bamboo Thicket, after all. Mystifying as the one that she was intent to meet with. And to think, this was all simply a social call?

A parting straight ahead was like a cut through thick, raw flank; light pooling into Etsuko's vision before she had barely a chance to adjust to the change. What was dank and bleak, death's solemn tatters, became warm and inviting; welcoming her into the shift of scenery with barely a chance to gather her breath. She fluttered, like a butterfly on the currents, into the breach of bamboo stalks, and broke into the opening.

There before her, a single building that was without a Honden, open most times of the year to the general spirit populace in times of need, or in times of festivity, was the Shrine of Grassy Knolls. True to its name, with only a vast mountain range far off as a backbone to its pure existence, it was enshrouded in lush green, tall grasses that could easily leave a tiny one like Etsuko wondering if she'd escaped one range of bamboo stalks, and entered another.

The shrine's occupation was obvious, given the fact that a single ruby gem, layered with greens darker than that which surrounded her, stood out. Seated on the canopied steps that overlooked the thicket, her attention rose immediately toward the approaching figure, gracefully rising to her feet with naught a word to be spoken. She awaited Flora's attendant with an invigorated smile.

"Oiiii!" Etsuko called with a wave, lowering to the chiseled dirt pathway to take the final, out-of-style old fashioned approach. "You know, we need to design a special kinda entry thing? ie? er? thing, so those of us that have already made it past the Thicket don't have to do it again!"

The Maiden of the Grassy Knoll Shrine nodded once in understanding. A tilt of her head so soon after sought the reasons for Etsuko's visit. It wasn't often the attendant to The Flowering Princess made herself known. Unless she were excruciatingly bored. Oh, no?

"Oh, why I'm here?" Etsuko was reminded by the Maiden's look, withdrawing the earth-crumbed book that Flora provided her with. "Master mentioned that you didn't do the thing? with that stuff? and stuff?" The book was handed out, her attention clearly distracted by what stood beyond the Maiden; a plate of English Muffins with a complete spread.

The book was handled with care, as though it were a fragile piece of glassware capable of shattering in even the most gentle of grips. Confused, the Maiden gave a perplexed look to the attendant before flipping through the pages to her section of the log.

Garden Manor's registry was a staple to Flora's ability to keep up with the denizens. While most considered it a way to provide one another with news and gossip, were any to even surface, it held a much deeper meaning that nobody outside of the intended party was made aware of. Of those, the Maiden that held the item considered it the former.

"I know, I know?" Etsuko agonized as she tried without merit to steer her attention from the breakfast goods. "You already did it this week. Pretend you didn't, all right?"

The Maiden's brows furrowed as Etsuko shifted from her view, making for the table where several plates were lined up for the taking. The mischievous spirit wasted no time preparing herself one of the delights.

A sigh came from the Maiden soon after, pulling the pen from the book's binding to fill out her sheet a second time around.

"Mmfh! Sho gud," Etsuko blurted, a mouthful of warm muffin gnashing between teeth as she spoke. She minded herself, if only this one time in the blue moon, swallowing before going any further. "Mayu? Why is it that you don't ever say anything?"

The Maiden glanced up from her writing, brows dipping further inward in contempt. The question didn't hold sway on that look; for it was present well before words dripped from the attendant's mouth.

"I mean? I don't think I've ever heard you say a word since you came here all those years ago. How is it you got to be in the Shrine here? Did Flora talk to the Ruler? Or??" The look managed to get to Etsuko. She quieted, plate lowering to the table; muffin stuffed in her mouth to contain herself.

Returning to Mayu's side, the attendant was handed the completed registry. Much to Etsuko's dismay, Mayu's log came with a mentioning of her scorn that she had to fill it out a second time in one week.

Etsuko wouldn't forget to strike it from the record. Yet again?

"Thanks!" she said as the muffin was plucked from her mouth. "Sorry for the mix up! I guess Flora's got her hands full with the flower season around the corner!" It was a lie even the Maiden would know. But Etsuko felt confident in her explanation. At the very least, there was no audible mentioning that she was at fault.

She hopped down the steps, glancing skyward for a moment to judge distance before she'd take flight. However, her retreat from the angry Maiden was put on hold as something caught her eye. Even the muffin found itself disregarded, tumbling to the ground like rubbish. Surveyed eyes ran laps about the crystal blue heavens. "A-Ah? hey, Mayu? What's that?"

Mayu, at the table to clean up Etsuko's bountiful mess, was distracted by the attendant's words, glancing foremost to the mischievous spirit, then up where she indicated. Large pools of lush green parted wide like twin, splitting canyons, horrified by the display that had eluded her prior to Etsuko's perception.

In the pristine cerulean ceiling, like an unfortunate accident to a dress moments before its walk on the runway, was a rip. An atypical hole that stretched the length of sky for what must have been miles. There was no beginning, and there was no end. It was like an inverted rainbow; metaphorically out of reach despite its closeness. The sizable hole, a rift of sorts, swelled and clenched like arteries of a heart, its vast innards exposed and circulating with unknown elements that sloshed deep royal purples and a miasma of jet blacks.

"It? It's like a wound in the sky?" Etsuko commented in awe, unable to tear her gaze from the rift before her. "This? This must have been here for some time? b-but? I never saw it until just now. H-Have you??"

The question came without response, the Maiden's attention also devoid of reaction to what Etsuko had spoken. Surely, she must have seen the rift before this very moment. However, she was as marred by the image as the attendant was. Neither was given grace. Neither understood its purpose.

"We should? report this? pr-probably?" Etsuko continued, knowing full well that anything she were to question, or vocally collaborate on with the Maiden would be a losing battle. Such were the faults of dealing with a mute.

Etsuko's mild theories on how she could take full credit for the display, as silent as they were, were interrupted . "Tha' won't be any bit necessary," came a strong and powerful voice, blaring as though it were from a megaphone. Cascading from the thick bamboo shafts, like a raring bull that had just seen red, was a montage of colors that, unlike the void ominously looming above, wasn't like an inverted rainbow. Seated comfortably atop a cloud that rumbled quietly like a thunderstorm in the making was a slight woman, dressed in a vintage mix of blacks and whites; offset by golden, shoulder length hair and equally amber colored eyes.

"Sophia?" Etsuko quietly addressed the woman. It was as though she'd been hit by a concussive blow, incapable of reacting to the visage of the woman that just made her presence known in a flurry of majesty.

Sophia was something of a false hero in the Land of Spirits, usually in the company of her companion Melissa, the Sparkling Rainbow Girl. While often lazy, finding circumstances that would threaten stability of the spirit plane troublesome, Sophia was still a formidable, if not hazardous, aide. When trouble was on the horizon, it was she who was first on the scene. Unless the troublesome Reporter Team was capable of beating her to the punch. God help anybody who got in that crossfire?

Mayu's inquisitive stare garnered Sophia's response. "Melissa an' I are both equally aware o' this rift, an' 'ave been fer some time," she explained, lowering down before the shrine and the women who stood on its grounds. "We were gunna simply wait 'er out, but I'm guessin' it decided ta' show up now 'cause of those meddlin' upper-people."

Etsuko chirped in horror. "U-U-Upper-people?? You mean? s-sky gliders?"

Sophia offered Etsuko a look of pity. "Mor'als, ya freakin'?" she answered glumly, silencing herself before she got vulgar. "I'm guessin' somebody's tryin' ta' cause a bit of a stir. No tellin' what fer," she continued, turning aside to inspect the ceiling of their world. "While I know Manami 'andles some o' tha' nonsense with the Mor'als, fer her ta' open a rift 'ere is?"

Mayu's hand rose in the air, as though she were in class and wishing to question the situation more directly. Etsuko spoke precisely what the Maiden was wishing to convey. "Manami wouldn't open a rift here? in fact, I don't think she even has the power to do it outside of the gateway to the mortal realm."

"Ya may be onta' somethin'," Sophia answered, finger brandished in a 'Right on, kid' fashion. "Judgin' from ya two, I'm guessin' no mor'als have shown themselves?"

Etsuko shook her head, the Maiden in tow. "Not one? It just popped up now," she added.

Sophia cupped a hand over her face, pulling at the dips of eye sockets in frustration. "Flora's gunna 'ave a field day with this 'ere one, I'm tellin' ya?" Turning, Sophia returned to the cloud she rode in on, mounting it without delay. "We're gunna get a closer look, eh? Etsuko, ya better return ta' Flora 'n try ta' stall 'er fer a bit. Maiden, yer comin' wit' Melissa 'n I."

"W-Wait! You can't send me in the lion's den alone!" Etsuko protested, as though she had a choice in the matter. Sophia ignored her momentary refusal outright, while Mayu quickly ran the few yards to climb up onto Sophia's cloud. A meek smile was the supposed support.

"If she asks anyt'in', tell 'er somethin' good. Like, er, ya did it. I'm sure she'll believe ya real quick like," Sophia added with a laugh. A quick strike to the cloud's tangible surface, and the pair were quick to make for the sky.

Etsuko was left to fend for herself. At least she had english muffins and tea?

Although the bamboo shafts were as tall and far as the sky itself, Sophia's method of travel made short work of their towering heights. It felt like only minutes, but the ground that Mayu was comfortably comfortable with became shrouded in haze. She couldn't judge whether miles was a sufficient distance to measure with or not.

"I'm sure ya wanna know why I asked ya ta' come along fer th' ride, eh?" Sophia called aloud, speaking only a miniscule level higher than the squealing snaps of air that they slashed through on ther ascent.

Mayu's nod was felt; the Maiden's arms coiled tightly about Sophia's dress like she were a handlebar. "Yer tha' latest resident o' the Land o' Spirits. Although ya been 'ere fer several 'undred years, I'm gettin' a funny feelin' about ya. Not a bad one, 'er nothin'. I'm bettin' yer gonna be a bit o' use to dealin' with whatever's causin' this bit o' trouble!"

The Maiden's response was just the opposite, her head shaking in denial of that fact. "Ya dun think so? I know yer an ordinary shrine maiden o' the Grassy Knolls 'n whatnot, but I got a knack fer this kinda thing. Yer definitely gunna be a bit o' use 'ere. I promise ya!"

(Adapted live play with the help of Toby's player.)

"Katsutoya-sama.."

"Hold it steady, Masaru. Indeed, I know I've taught you how to erect and hold a simple barrier such as this, you should not be having such troubles." Even as she spoke, however, she was shuffling paces away from her assistant, arms folding across her exposed middle. Jirobi chittered on her shoulder before calling 'HIT THE DIRT!!'

An explosion that rivaled the initial events that took place at the location shook the ground beneath her. Zenny was forced back and into a wall several feet away, kept there by forceful winds. Her clothing and hair whipped around her as if it was trying to carry her away. Masaru, on the other hand, had been turned into a human kite and shrieked in his journey across the evening sky. "'ttaku. Go see to it that he hasn't died, will you, Jirobi?!"

Cause and reaction; such a primitive method of understanding the reasons why events transpire the way they do. Upon the needlepoint entry way, the focal point of exuberant disaster, stood three figures of various heights and of boundless colors. Darkly-clad, the presumed blonde leader and middle woman took an immediate take to her surroundings, followed evenly by another blonde. The shortest, shrouded in ruby reds and a large, overdone ribbon that kept shortened hair even shorter, appeared slightly delirious by the arrival. However, by that note, they all carried such an aura about them.

"Oi. Some kin'a place this be," the darkly clad female commented, the back of a hand dabbing her brow to express her discomfort with the atmosphere in which she was thrust into. "Jus' wha' th' 'ell is it?" The nearby blonde, who was quick to check on their shortest companion, spoke between her assessment.

"It was mentioned this is the mortal realm... A little awkward looking, if you ask me."

"Jirobi. Now."

"Right-o~ Masaruuu!! If you've been decapitated, start lookin' for your head before I get there 'cause I don't want to~" The raccoon slithered down off of Zenny's shoulder and kept up close to the wall as it scurried out of sight, cursing about the wind.

Zenny frowned, watching what used to be a small collection of spiritual energies to something that could, if she was not mistaken, fill an ocean. She coughed, and waved a hand before her nose, peeling herself from the wall once she felt it was safe to do so. Such an occurrence could only prove one of her many theories.. "So it was indeed not a tear in the fabric of time and space as we know it..but a dimensional rift, or something of that nature. And to produce spiritual beings. Very interesting indeed."

"You're all right," the lively colored blonde informed her shortest companion, glancing aside and up to the darkly clad lead. "Sophia, we should quickly draw a conclusion to these events and be on our way. If this is the mortal realm, it's hazardous to keep to it for very long." Sophia nodded in agreement.

"Yer behin' me, Melissa. Oi, ya mor'al thin'," Sophia called over, noting the woman that was some meters away from their present location. She was placing guilt merely by association. Or in this dramatic case, approximation. "Wha's this thin' doin' 'ere, 'n why'd ya make it?"

Melissa left an arm curled at the shortest's shoulders, head shaking as she uttered under her breath for her counterpart, "I don't think that's how you approach them, Sophia..."

"Indeed, I do not know why it is here, nor did I make it." Since she couldn't see said rift, her gaze fell upon the three before her, primarily the one who spoke first. She was studied quite openly, clear blue eyes running from the top of her head down to her very toes. Zenny closed the distance one step every few seconds. It was a slow process. Her skin was prickling now not only from her own power, but that of those she was feeling. Mirroring Sophia's attitude didn't seem wise. "Might I ask who you are?" Dark brows climbed right up her forehead.

Sophia's hat, which was more like a large ebony leaf rather than conforming attire, was plucked from atop her head. "Natur'lah, we're from th' other end o' this 'ere 'ole," motioning behind her to the violet and jet black miasma that was an undoubtable rift. "Sh' be Melissa, righ' 'and of myself. 'n tha' be a res'ndamnable shrine maid'n called Mayu. W'o're ya ta' be hangin' 'round a dangerous lil' 'ole like this one 'ere?"

Melissa chimed in immediately, "Er, I think you mean 'Residential', Sophia." Sophia scoffed, not going the length to correct herself.

Sophia was granted with a very flat, very blank stare. "Of all the accents that I have indeed come across..Sophia," nodding aside to Melissa in gratitude for the introduction, "yours is..the most interesting." Zenny cleared her throat, her eyes passing over Mayu, settling on the rift, and then returning. The brunt of her study went to the smallest girl then with the least care directed at the very obvious gaping hole. Cogs turned in silence. For the time being, she held off on answering Sophia's question.

"'ah see," Sophia observed for herself, shifting posture to sink hands into the confines of her attire. Pockets and large gaps alike were fished through almost thoroughly. "Yer a bit o' a supa'titious person, eh." A thin rod that resembled true cast iron piping was procured and lifted.

Melissa's attention was busy on the tiny Maiden, merely offering corrections when seemingly fit. "I think she means you're 'suspicious'..." glancing aside, spying the rod. "Sophia, wait a second!" Lifting up to her feet, she quickly approached her partner. "Blasting first and asking questions later isn't going to solve the problem here! Mortals die!"

"Asking questions. Am I indeed correct in assuming that you think this..rift, we shall call it, is as unnatural as I do?" Her eyes hadn't left Mayu the Maiden, even seemed to narrow, though Melissa's somewhat timely warning was enough of an alert. Her left hand settled on the hilt of the katana riding her left hip. She only looked somewhere else when she realized that such an action could be taken the wrong way. "The only assumption I can make at the moment is that it leads directly to your place of existence, realm, land. Etcetera." She waved her free hand as if the word wasn't important to her. "And you are here to repair it. That may prove beneficial."

The risen rod fell lax in Sophia's hand, which had Melissa's coupled across it to ensure nothing drastic happened until absolutely necessary. "Tha's righ'," the dark-clad woman nodded. "We're 'ere ta' put a stop ta' th' fuss. 'n as it stands, yer th' one ta' be 'ere when we be steppin' out." Sophia shrugged Melissa's grip from her, but refrained from outburst, tucking the rod away with barely a hesitation. "Far as I know, mor'als 'nt tha' type ta' know much 'bout dire't rifts like this one 'ere. So, either ya not much o' a mor'al, 'er ya th' cause o' this kin'a ruckus."

"As I have indeed already claimed, I am not the one who tore it open, so I shall leave whatever else I may be to your capable judgments." Her hand briefly tightened on the hilt of her sword, but soon after let it go. She continued nearing the rift, and the now solitary Maiden, her attention split between both. "Indeed, I do have knowledge of it only after several days of investigation. And had your arrival not blasted the 'bejeesus' out of my assistant, you would have seen that he was trying to keep it contained. Even though the method now seems primitive."

Melissa stepped forward, allowing herself to take control of the situation before Sophia found ways to create another rift that would leave those in charge back home mighty unhappy. "We're not what you would call 'delegates' from our residence; but it is within everybody's keen interest that we find resolve to this situation as quickly as possible. The rift has already caused a stir back home, and there's no telling before the lament of passed, uncontrolled youkai traverses the pathway into this realm. We would have more issue than a mere... hole... to deal with."

"Youkai." Zenny blinked, the single word stealing a rather heavy gaze from the Maiden, making it swing around to Melissa. Her opinion of the girl, even from their brief meeting, was very high. She couldn't place her own reasons. "Indeed, you have such things in your land? May I ask what it's called?"

"Eh? Th' place don' really 'ave a name 'er nothin'. Bu' I thin' some refer ta' it as a Land 'o Spirits. Real simple 'n all," Sophia subjected her response with a twirl of a finger. It was easy to presume she wasn't fond of the name. It didn't carry the kind of spunk the woman's attitude matched.

Melissa expanded on the initial wording. "It's mostly a pocket for more profound spiritual powers that be to congregate. It's something beyond an, 'afterlife', if that appeases your interest."

"Indeed.." She nodded to the pair, the gaping hole and octopus tendrils of miasma glossed over for her eyes to return to Mayu. "And one obviously does not tear a hole in such a place to get into it. I'm curious to know how you, my dear, have come to such a land." Zenny's head tilted, the question directed to the little Maiden before her who'd yet to say a word.

The Maiden's head tilted, but no words came to be. The answer instead came from Melissa.

"To put it bluntly, we are incapable of explaining our methods of arrival. I believe mortals are familiar with an understanding of 'Past Lives', yes? Much like you, we are incapable of recognizing them. ...and on that note, speaking with her is mostly pointless. Since we've come to know her, she says nothing."

"Ah, indeed. Knowledge that is in your bodies, but not available to your mind, I understand. An innate method of travel. Interesting." Given the darkness of their surroundings, Zenny opened her left hand, a small, blue white flame glistening into existence. It was soundless and lacked nearly anything in terms of essence. It was, essentially, a night light. She leaned down and openly stupid the Maiden as she had Sophia. "Since you have come to know her, you say?"

"Several hundred years, or so," Melissa estimated.

"'ah oft' visit 'er, bu' li'e Melissa says, 'ah've not 'eard a word from 'er. ...wha' does it matter? We've got a rift ta' deal with fer th' time bein'."

The Maiden, under her heavy scrutiny, did very little besides stand tall and prepared. As if she was being studied by a possible Master for the taking. Her aloof expression did give insight to how little she was currently understanding the situation.

"Indeed.." She muttered, but didn't seem to heed Sophia's urges. At least not right away. Two separate yet equally plausible conclusions were building in Zenny's head, and she had trouble choosing which one she believed. The Maiden's initial spiritual feel, not to mention her looks and name made it seem that this was the same girl she had come to know. But the mere demeanor she was presenting counteracted that. Completely. Zenny straightened, snapping her fingers. The blue flame was snuffed out instantly.

"You are right. Unnatural tears between realms first. It's just that the girl, indeed, greatly resembles someone very dear to me..and others I have come to know," serenely smiling aside to the pair. "The most I can tell you about this rift is that it was torn open by an immense, and I am talking *immense*, amount of spiritual energy. Enough to light the skies for several minutes. Since then, I've gathered that it was done at the hands of someone who seemed to be battling a great evil." Zenny stepped away from the Maiden, finally nearing the rift as she was supposed to. Considering all three traveled through it without much harm, she was confident.

"Immense spiritual energy?" Melissa glanced aside to Sophia, who immediately lifted her hands in the air to claim innocence. As much as she wanted to take credit for such a tale... "To be conjoined to our plane of existence, that couldn't be mere coincidence. Could it? If anybody would be familiar with that, I would want to say Manami's the one that would be made aware of such things. But she's as clueless as we are..." Now speaking mostly to herself.

Sophia took charge, "Immense, ya say? Great evil, 'n all? Sounds like a kinda fairytale, 'er somethin'."

Her eyebrows rose and she glanced to the pair behind her, but her surprise at the single name spoken didn't hinder her actions. She produced several thin ofuda cards from her sleeves and a simple brush. "From what I've deduced about this location, that wasn't the intent of whomever tore it open. They were just wishing to get rid of the, indeed, great evil that was present here." The activated cards were released where they began to float loosely in no particular pattern around the rift.

Melissa reached over to tug the Maiden close to her, keeping her out of the way and relatively protected. Not that there was a feeling within that suggested the woman required such. "That does shed insight to our investigation. I will admit that we were aware of the rift when it first appeared, although Sophia and I were incapable of concluding a point of entry. However..." she paused, glancing aside to her partner. Like she was cued, the tallest continued the explanation.

"Some time ago we foun' somethin' o' a great disturbance 'n our realm. 'course, 'cause it be a place wher' youkai oft' come 'n all shapes 'n sizes, we din't put much o' a though' onta' it. Now, 'owever..." She paused, judging whether the mortal plane be a place to speak of their business. She could judge the one they were speaking with was anything but a normal, clueless mortal. "...we're left ta' assume 'e be th' cause o' this bit o' trouble."

"Youkai are in possession of considerably different sorts of spiritual energies than the one who caused this. Indeed, many demons were present in this location," she gestured wildly, indicating the rift. One by one, the darkened ofuda cards returned to her outstretched hand. "This place used to be a warehouse. When I first found it, it was indeed buckled around the rift. However, the rift itself was only the size of a needle prick. Several souls were also present, though they were not the cause of any disturbance and have since been crossed over. Long story short, my knowledge of the situation is not that much more vast than yours, but I am working to change that. As are my assistants, if they ever return from putting themselves back together." Chuckling.

"Tha' would es'plain it qui'e right."

Melissa nodded in accordance to her assumptions. "Then what we felt following the rift's initial appearance in our Land relates to that strange fellow that was bound and gagged. Although he has no longer stirred any problems, being that he's been formally put away, I believe anything related to him in this world would be a direct explanation. Although I do not foresee it being any concern. Our job is to solely discover the cause, and then correct it.

"We had assumed it were a mortal cutting a passage into our realm. And judging from the size, we presumed it an extreme danger. As it would seem, that isn't the case... although the rift is growing on our end, as soon as a patch is administered, everything should be squared away."

Sophia shared the thoughts, "Hah, tha's mah girl."

"Strange fellow that's bound and gagged?" The last of the cards made it to her hand and she tucked the stack up into her sleeves, turning to face the pair afterward. "He..hmm." She glanced aside to Mayu. "What do you know of this strange fellow? Indeed, I had only thought those that were involved were..the demons, the boy that was trapped here, his woman, my apprentice.. Was there something I missed?"

The Maiden blinked once, glancing upwards to Melissa. Words were on deaf ears, it did seem.

"Not very much," the middle of the trio answered, hands up to adjust her hairband absently. "He was already out of commission. And shortly after the rift appeared along with him, it was gone. We had considered it our 'Keepers way of disposing of him randomly, but it would seem even she's unaware of his existence; a very awkward thing, considering how well she safeguards entry way to our Land."

"'e's not much ta' lookit, if tha's what'cha talkin' 'bout. But 'e's fer certain some kin'a youkai from a mor'al realm. Bets bein' this th' place 'e originated from." Sophia chimed in after the fact.

"Indeed.." She frowned, fully turning her back to the rift. As the only male she knew that was involved aside from Toby.. "Not much to look at. Shaggy, brown hair, silver eyes?" She gestured to her head, indicating it. "I see," she continued, assuming she was right without the need for the pair's answer. Mayu received another glance and then her eyes traveled off to a random location expectantly.

"Tha's th' one," Sophia answered despite the lacking requirement that befell it.

"I'm not sure how he managed to break through the barriers that we have, or how he eluded Manami's eyes. If he is in fact playing a part in why the rift is present, it might be more suitable that we relinquish his presence back into the rightful hands."

"Indeed."

"Zen-chan~ I found Masaru! Intact an' everything, ain't that lucky. Had a hell of a time wakin' him up though."

"I can't form a conclusion on that, but I will tell you that whatever tools you have in your land to use for disposal or restriction for beings such as him, use them. He is indeed heavily involved." She began to move toward where she had heard her assistant's voice. "His name, as I have come to learn, is Tylor."

"There's little to worry over. As I've come to understand it, he is in very capable hands, and short of them desiring his release, he will be incapable of doing much of anything." Melissa and Sophia equally turned her attention toward the calling assistant, aside to each other, and finally down to the still Maiden.

Zenny eyed the ground where, inching over it, was Jirobi. A half conscious Masaru rested on the raccoon?s back, his legs and arms flopped over and dragging on the ground. She cursed under her breath and hoisted the boy to his feet as if he weighed no more than a child. "Incapacitated as he is, keeping an eye on him is essential. Indeed, he was the direct cause of all that transpired in this location..*except* the rift. As far as I understand it, he does not possess such abilities. But he was," she paused to better arrange Masaru against her, his head tucked into her shoulder where he nuzzled and cooed.

"Na-Nadeshiko-sama.." Zenny groaned aloud.

"He was the great evil that was fought here. Many deaths were caused because of his actions," she finished finally, calming the urge to send her assistant through yet another wall.

"We'll personally ensure that he remain subdued until we can come to a complete conclusion." Sophia turned aside to nudge at Melissa, and then reach for the quiet Maiden.

"'n 'ah thin' it be time ta' do jus' that, 'er at least let Manami know wha' th' fuss be 'bout, eh?"

Melissa complied. "It would be wise to confer with her at the very least. Should you find means of putting an end to this rift prior to another meeting, please do so without delay. As shall we."

"Indeed. I must find Masaru's correct brain and implant it before he proceeds to climb me like a tree. Please send my regards to Manami-san as well, from Zenny." She nodded, puffing jagged black bangs from her eyes. "Will you be returning to this location at any point later? If I know that, I can erect a different sort of barrier to keep it contained while avoiding a serious explosion," smirking.

"It would most likely be advisable to not restrain it, as our end is continuing to develop at an astronomical rate. Should it choose to collapse on its own, that would be satisfactory. Otherwise, as this seems to be the point of origins, we will be returning here once we have updated information to work on." Sophia and the Maiden shattered as they stepped past the gaping maw of the now ruptured rift, returning home. "We will be in touch, I am sure."

Melissa turned from the small gathering in the making, noting the other two had already departed. Quick and true to her earlier assessment to ensure they not remain in the mortal realm for long, she departed without delay.

Katt's player. Thanks!! ]

He gulped and it felt like the inside of his throat was stuck together. His hand drifted from Katt's and curled around the front of his neck. He was glad he hadn't really eaten much, it would probably fighting its way up and out of his system if he had.

She sighed, frowning deeply at the news of Matilda. "Damn.." That frown vanished and was replaced by what could pass for a very cold state of a expression. Her eyes narrowed. Oh death would run from a stare like that! "Do they know he poses a danger? They should kill him and be done with it." 'Or' hanged on her tongue but what she had to say about that she wouldn't say in front of Toby.

"Indeed, I've let them know that he was the sole reason why what transpired at that location *did*. Those of the Land of Spirits don't take kindly to beings that do not belong there, and even less to those that are there without permission." Her eyes moved from Katt to Toby, a light smirk still on her lips from the former's expression. "They are very capable of taking care of it and have assured me that they would do so. We have no reason not to believe them, they're seeking onto to close the rift between our worlds that is now present and growing on both our sides."

"He's not..dead..but incapacitated.. In the same spot as that girl you don't know if it's really May..?" He whispered it to his knees, idly. His eyes closed, he shook off a shudder.

"Rift..There is a tear." She was struggling to kill the glare. Her expression slowly softened. Her lips thinned after hearing Toby and her head rocked back, eyes staring skyward. She was thinking..hard.

"Yes. You are indeed the brighter of the bulbs on the tree, aren't you?" Zenny chuckled, claiming her smoothie again, though merely stirred it around with the tail end of the straw. "The lights that night were created by a massive amount of spiritual energy, so massive, it seems, that it was able to tear open a hole from this world to the Land of Spirits. I can only assume that's what happened. Nothing else seems likely. I don't think it was that magical girl's intention, but as I hardly know her, I can't be sure. For all we know, that was indeed her plan, knowing that those of the Land of Spirits would be better prepared to deal with Tylor's evil."

Her expression was blank. Slowly her head lowered and she stared at Zenny. It was quite a focus in target. She decided not to explain how she understood the tear but rather jump into her thoughts. "Tylor. Would he also be considered a spiritual being in those lands?"

Her gaze moved from Toby to Katt and she gave the gentlest shake of her head. Even that small motion caused the several hairpins hiding in her hair to shake and make quiet music. "Initially, no. Spiritual beings are, essentially, dead. Had he died in what that girl brought down on that warehouse, which seems likely, then yes, he would. That was something I hadn't thought to ask, I will indeed when I speak to them again."

"Are you positive...that this girl you claim looks similar to Mayu is a spiritual being? I am..assuming you would be able to tell if she was or not?" That was an assumption in itself and something she knew she shouldn't ask with Toby there after just hearing what Zenny had said.

He looked slowly over to Katt, but didn't say anything..which wasn't any different from what he had been doing up until this point. That was a heavy question.. His eyes dropped back down to his knees.

Zenny's eyes narrowed as she considered the question. She glanced between the two before her and finally nodded. "If she was not, then I'd very much like to know how she survived in a realm such as that for a century or more. Yes, I am able to tell."

"May's *not* dead. She's just not." He shook his head, pressing his fingertips up into his forehead.

Her tongue ran across her teeth and she dropped her gaze. She was going to speak until she heard Toby. Her hand dropped from his shoulder and curled up to her side. "...."

"The boy is right, our thoughts must be trained in positive directions. I am still unsure whether or not the girl *is* Mayu, and I am working on that angle as well," her lips closed around the straw. She sucked down the smoothie, wetting her mouth and throat after several minutes of speech. "I'm to remain in contact with the Land of Spirits, or at least closeby for their return or a message from them. Shall I contact you if this girl comes along with them so that you may judge for yourselves?" Her eyebrows rose as she asked.

He grunted, pushing off of the bench, walking around the end of it. His hands curled tightly around the edges of his sleeves.

Her head jerked slightly at hearing Zenny's words. Mayu's words..the promise..rolled on in. Swallowing she fisted her hands and raised her eyes to Zenny. Nodding a single time she glanced to Toby then to Zenny. "I want to say yes but I am not fully sure if that would be appreciated by them. So please make sure that it is alright with them before you send word to us." It was easy to see that saying that was a strain. She did want to see. Wanted to know. But pissing people who the 'maybe Mayu' was staying with would prove to be a bad thing. Caution. She could do it..

"If you are indeed there to only look at the girl, I hardly think there's any cause for that much caution, but I'll exercise it." She pushed up from the edge of the fountain, waving her free hand. "These spiritual beings, Sophia and Melissa, they are on another scale all together in terms of power. When they arrived, there was a large explosion that shook the earth and turned Masaru into an involuntary bird. Indeed, I'm unsure whether that would have gone better had he not been trying to keep a barrier around the rift. In that regard, Sophia seems to be the shortest tempered of the two of them. She is blond, her eyes golden. Melissa is also blond, but with blue eyes." Her hand waved again. "For future reference. I doubt they would send the Maiden here on her own. They seemed protective."

Names and descriptions were placed to memory. For some reason a little twitch of her lips, as if she was going to smile. She was..protected. If it was Mayu she would want it no other way. "Yeah." Shifting her arms she pressed one arm around her waist with the other bent so that she could chew on her thumbnail. "Send word to us if it is possible. We would appreciate it." Though she wasn't sure if she would be going alone or not. A glance was made to Toby and she sighed softly.

"Indeed. As I'm still unsure whether it is Mayu or not, I'll keep my lines open throughout the city and various points beyond. As well as for Matilda. I'll advise you again to keep searching. Also," she stepped close to Katt, producing a stack of ofuda cards that had small ink paintings of a face that looked quite demonic. Their cat's eyes, however, were familiar. "I was wanting to wait until I had semi-perfected these seals before offering them over. Should that boy lose control again, and cannot get a handle on himself, one of these cards on his forehead should put a stop to it. Do not exceed three on his entire body, however. The results would indeed be less than favorable. Not to mention messy."

He put a hand to his mouth, rubbing hard, his brow furrowed in thought. Another girl that looked like May, that had the same name, that could be May. Tylor, alive, incapacitated in the same place.. Something about a rift. There was a lot to sift through. He paced back and forth behind the bench, not paying attention to their voices.

She had to stop herself from glaring daggers at Zenny. Instead she focused her eyes on the cards which was better in this case. She gave a throaty grunt and offered her hand. "He won't." But she would take the cards if only so not to be rude. "And even if he does..He has me.." Even though she questioned at times..if that was enough. Sometimes it seemed like it was..sometimes..

"Indeed, that's why I did not say 'when'. It is a failsafe if even you cannot reach him as you did the night I removed his seal." Her eyebrows raised in challenge, but she lightly touched the outside of Katt's shoulder with fingers that felt positively alive with static electricity. "I'll hope that you don't need to use them." She stepped away from Katt and the fountain all together, still calling over her shoulder. "And you, boy, remember what I told you the last time we parted ways. Indeed, it's still the case."

He paused, jumping at the word 'boy' more than anything else. His head turned, he watched Zenny as she casually waved over her bare shoulder. He sighed a moment later.

She twitched at the touch or was it the feeling that came with it? She tucked the cards away and looked over to Zenny. A ..failsafe. It could..happen. It made her sad to know she wasn't the only one who thought so. She gave a single nod then looked over to Toby. She moved over and stretched out a hand to him, trying not to and failing. Not wanting to seem sad.

He only looked down at Katt when he couldn't see Zenny anymore. He wasn't sure what to do or say. He swore that his head wasn't even connected to his body..not letting him process something that should seem terrible.

Sad little sound followed her hand lowering and she looked away. She knew what was going on. She ..couldn't let herself think it. Why..couldn't of been good news. She blinked a few times before glancing off after Zenny.

"Mmph.." He looked down at the hand she had lowered. He was supposed to take it or something.. His hands lifted to the zipper of his hoodie, he drew it down..shrugging the whole thing off and swinging it around her shoulders. The cold air felt funny on his back, but he could deal with it. "What did she say to you afterward?"

She held a somber expression that didn't fade even as she looked to the hoodie that was drawn around her. Why..was he giving it to her? "Don't..you will get cold.." Her eyes drifted up to his face but stopped before making it and dropped to the ground. "Mrmm.."

"No, I won't. I'll be okay.." His palms settled on her shoulders. He sighed softly, giving soft tugs to try and get her into a warm hug. "Sorry.."

She allowed the hug, stepping forward into it but her eyes remained low. "Why are you sorry..?"

"I don't know. I just don't know what else to say.." He shrugged slowly, watching the fountain behind her. It seemed to happy looking for some reason.

Her arms rose up, circling his waist in attempt to his back. Rubbing softly in attempts to warm him up. "Or you just don't want to say why.."

"No, I'm serious.. I don't want to just stand and be quiet, but nothing else seems right to say." He felt her arms, but not her hands. It was awkward..

"If it is okay for us to be there...do you want me to go alone..?" Her head dipped faintly but didn't make contact with his chest.

"Why would you want to?" He toyed with the hood, softly pulling and twisting it around his fingers.

"If you don't want to ..or can't. I can go for the both of us." She nodded softly. She swallowed softly and closed her eyes. She hated..seeing him like this. So distant.

"Or can't.. No." He shook his head softly. "This..doesn't seem like something you should do by yourself. And not wanting to see if it's May..just makes me sound like a dick. I'll find out regardless, so we should just be there together.."

"Does not make you sound like that. But you could barely .." She grunted quietly and sighed, nodding gently as she gave in and decided to accept his decision. "Okay."

"I'll be fine. Whatever any of this is, it's not about me." He shook his head slowly. "Would you want to do it alone?"

"I ...didn't mean it like that Toby. I just..I don't..I ..was just worried about you that's all." She whimpered weakly.

"Alright..I believe you. But don't be, it'll be okay." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'll go with you. You're not supposed to do something like this by yourself anyway."

She nodded meekly as if it would disturb the kiss on her head. "Okay.." She couldn't say any more. She could keep things to herself. Even if she felt like..crying. She could do that later. "We will still search. And..And ..." Her hands curled into fists against his back.

"Yeah.. Yeah, we will."

(Adapted live play with the help of Katt and Toby's players.)

She didn't say anything just listened and after she looked away from Zenny she found her eyes back on the one called Mayu. Swallowing she murmured a quiet little sound. She wanted to speak but was biting her tongue, listening to the information provided with as much respect as she could muster. She wanted to admit that Zenny's gesture meant something but it had been hardly felt.

The mid-sized blonde shared her appreciation with an easy smile. "I see you are with good company. It will play a critical part in helping us understand the situation should they have seen these figures for themselves. Especially considering our lackluster ability to remain within your world for very long."

Her eyes snapped from Mayu and landed on the blond. They were going to take Mayu away? Fingers curled up in the hoodie and she looked back to the smaller female. "Mrmmm.."

The shortest tugged at Sophia's held hand briefly, lowering to the ground to chase the crawling critter with several fingers. What else should one do when they are completely in the dark on what was being explained? Melissa uttered something to the small one, who glanced up with several blinks. The chase would have to be put on hold...

Masaru emerged from the building carrying a half asleep raccoon like it was a football. Jirobi rubbed at his eyes with his paws. "Wuss goin'--? Is Pika-Pika nee-chan here?" Zenny eyed the pair with an expression that, on the outside, looked like complete apathy, but she heard Masaru's noisy gulp and he dropped the raccoon flat on his stomach, causing Jirobi to sputter and choke. "Lackluster ability. I indeed wonder. If they've discovered exactly what this thing is, I'm also left to assume they're intelligent. Or daft. Whichever," her hand waved, then she pointed at Masaru. "Go."

"I-I..I have already reported to you what I have seen, Katsutoya-sama. Nothing would have made it out of the rift without my knowledge, and whenever I was unable to stand guard, Jirobi was here." Her eyes fell heavily onto the raccoon.

The two standing point at the portal were too busy to realize others had converged on the scene. Sophia continued to utter incoherence to the other, who was nodding or responding with various forms of motions. Melissa chose to ignore them; an eyeroll evident she disapproved of whatever was being discussed. "Each of us carries a certain affinity with the corporal realm, although we are uncertain where it originates from, or the cause. Some can last years, others mere seconds. We're somewhere inbetween... possibly a few hours. For them to be gone, and yet continue to disturb the rift as they have, Manami considers them highly attuned to your place of residence."


Swallowing several times Katt just sort of watched, the urge to break down being stuffed so hard down that it break eventually in the form of a small grunt. Her eyes finally tore away from the small figure to follow after the raccoon.

"It's just like he says, Zen-chan. 'Cept for the time I found him passed out before his turn was up and I smelled somethin' all wonky comin' from the rift an' headin' that way." Jirobi pointed with a paw to the east and Zenny turned her head.

"Why did you not seek to inform me of this earlier? Masaru." Her voice heavy like he had committed the worst crime against her imaginable. Her eyes flicked over to Melissa, then returned to the pointed out direction. "I-I-I..I don't know what he's talking about, Katsutoya-sama, I swear to you!"

"That's what he keeps sayin'. No~ I was up all night~ All vigilant~ Found him passed right out again even after I'd woken him up."

Melissa lowered her gaze to the raccoon, her miniature copy raising a fist in angry shakes to it. It would seem one or both of them were a little displeased with the results. "It would seem we have some investigative work cut out for us. But where to begin? Without these renegades returned, the rift will most certainly remain open. And the longer it is..."

She knew it was a bad thing to think it but she was fine with it. If it didn't close that meant..Her eyes raised back to Mayu. "Mrmmm.." A step was taken towards her without realizing, followed by two more.

She leveled a flat look onto Masaru that sent the slender, too pale man to his knees. Jirobi brandished his fists and then swiped playfully at the little doll. Her head turned sharply to the ladies, the sight of her assistants presently repulsive. "Indeed. I think I would start with gathering anyone who has an immense amount of strength and have them begin trying to aid Manami in any way that they can on that side. Does Mayu, being a maiden, possess any special skills? Have you seen any since her arrival?"

The incoherence that swam about the duo at the rift was silenced, Sophia lifting her attention toward the approaching figure. The smallest glanced aside, then back, then shimmied a few inches over to tuck herself away behind the blonde. "'is 'kay. Like 'ah said back 'ome, ya dun got nothin' ta worry o'er 'ere. Nothin' they can do, ya'see?" Returning her attention to Katt entirely, she awaited to see what precisely was unfolding. She was confused, for sure.

"To be honest," Melissa started, a shrug accompanying her words, "I do not know. The Maiden must have some power given that she is in charge of our only shrine and oversees many lost spirits. But that would rest on Flora's observations, not ours. We speculate something. We have noted that she does carry an affinity to this realm; her strength rarely diminishes upon return, unlike ours."

Her eyes drew slightly wide when Mayu moved away and the lump grew to the point she released a shaken sound of stress. "Mayu~nyan?" Catching herself she drew her head back and turned it sharply away and quickly stepped back. Her head shook side to side slowly but she said nothing more. Just listened. She would ask Zenny a few questions..later..

"Indeed.." Her brow creased. She remained frozen in stoic thought to several moments. "Is that position an important one? There is a point to these questions, I assure you. I shall be sending Manami another missive to let her know there will be a few added beings sent her way for aid. As your side of the rift seems larger, I'm placing priority on it."

Fingers clasped over an arm as Melissa debated the position amongst herself. The hovering copy thunked the blonde on the noggin, attempting to help out as best it could. "The position itself often handles with rebel lost spirits who regain a sense of themselves following being forgotten. They're often so fierce, even Sophia and myself struggle with them. The last Maiden disappeared some time ago... and I do not know whether or not this current one has ever handled with those kind of situations. But again, Flora would know best."

The pair at the rift eased back and forth in an idle sway, attention devoted to Katt's presence until she retreated from place. An exchange of heightened, confused glances were in order, followed by a return of position on the woman. They were intrigued, at the very least.

"I see.." Her eyes opened, a light somewhere in the angry, flat color they were holding now. She was oblivious to Katt's movements, Masaru's grovelling, or Jirobi's attempts to jump at the flying doll. Even after he had crawled up onto her shoulder and held on, paw outstretched. "By that simple definition, she seems to be the most ideal candidate to remain here and deal with these three unknown beings. She can already handle this land longer than the both of you as you have stated, and her occupation seems to coincide, indeed, swimmingly. With Manami preoccupied, I can hardly see her being as vigilant in her duties of trafficking beings to Shamanista was it..?" brows raising. "Her resources will be on this, trying to make sure there *is* a land for those beings to live in.."

"Is that a prudent decision?" Melissa asked, turning aside to Sophia's confused, glazed over look. A snapping of fingers brought her back to the present, shrugging her shoulders with indifference. She didn't put consideration into the question asked, or the subject being discussed.

"Wha'ever's good fer ya, kid. 'ah don't 'ave any problem wit' it." Mayu didn't seem to understand the situation any greater than Melissa did.

"...Great. Well, I don't see any problem with it personally. She's situated to handle most anything spiritually. With a little configuration, I'm sure she'll be capable of returning these problems back to our residence, and with it, bring a stop to this dramatic escalation. I trust she'll be under your care until then?"

Sophia, only then, realized the card that was unfolding. Like a pop-up that decked her in the mouth, she cried out, "Oi, now wai' jes' a second. Ya gonna leave 'er 'ere?! Insanity!"

Zenny sighed as she curled her legs beneath her, settling down on a wide, flat stone in the dead center of the still lake. Her eyes closed, her fingertips formed a relaxed V on her knees. She sighed so deeply, her shoulders sagged. The clanking sozu and the faint chitters of birds, as always, was relaxing.

"Zenichiro..you're troubled again.."

She hadn't heard the approach of the water spirit, but when she opened her eyes, Nadeshiko's frigid looking blue arms were folded on the edge of her rock; the rest of her was still submerged. Her head was tilted in curiosity, sapphire blue hair rippling and joining seamlessly with the water around her.

"Indeed, that is an understatement." Zenny smiled wryly and sighed again, but not in relaxation. "I need you to do some things for me."

"Anything.."

"Even in your lake, I'm sure that you've indeed felt some..disturbances lately."

Nadeshiko's blinks looked like mere liquid ripples. "Does it have anything to do with the woman who--"

"No, not entirely," Zenny shook her head as her brow creased. "In a way it does, but that isn't my primary concern."

"Do tell.."

"It seems..that my apprentice has gotten herself into some sort of trouble as of late. I've just been able to retrieve her from Shamanista and it indeed took a little bit of creative prowess."

Nadeshiko giggled, it sounded like lonely raindrops. "Shamanista..? That is a name I have not heard in some time.. But I fear that you are selling yourself short.."

Zenny pinched the bridge of her nose with one hand. "It seems that she was the cause of a rift from this land to that, and it has created some..issues..for Manami-san."

"What is it that you would have me do..?"

She smiled gratefully down to the eager water spirit, laying her palm across Nadeshiko's liquid smooth arms. "Your willingness to assist me is indeed refreshing. I can count on you more than any one of my assistants combined."

The water spirit smiled serenely, but stayed silent, still waiting for orders.

"First, I will need you to fashion several more hairpins for communication beyond these lands. I've already used three in this incident alone."

Nadeshiko nodded and drew away from Zenny's rock. A wide lilypad floated away from its fellows and positioned itself in front of her. She rose her right arm, armed with a pen seemingly made out of clear, bulbous glass. Blue ink shined within it. She quickly began to scribble.

"How many are you requesting..? You know how long it takes for me to make them.."

Zenny nodded. "I would indeed appreciate it if you did not stop, and simply kept your kiln working, supplying me with the finished products whenever you are able."

Nadeshiko's pen skittered across the lily pad.

"Secondly, I will need for you to rack your brains for any spiritual beings that you know of who are strong and able to lend assistance to mending space."

The water spirit's smooth brow furrowed, but she kept scribbling dutifully.

"Send them to me, and I will make sure they understand what it is they need to be doing and send them on their way.

"Is this mission they will be going on dangerous..? I'm afraid if I specify that, the number of volunteers might change.."

Zenny grunted as she stood and brushed herself off. The silk of her skirt rippled, but it didn't match the graceful movements of the water spirit. Nadeshiko's head lifted, her blue bangs tickling her eyebrows.

"Mayu has once again taken residence here, although it doesn't seem to be permanent," Zenny said as she folded her arms. "I do not wish you to be startled by the presence of indeed another person on the grounds."

Nadeshiko's falling rain giggle sounded again. "I recognized her when you brought her by.. And it was not like I was startled by Matilda's presence.. Perhaps a little, but it is only because she has not visited in some time..

"I was meaning to inquire..how much time are you willing to give her..?"

Zenny frowned darkly and waved one hand. "Indeed, I'm not sure. She has been stewing in her own juices long enough though, hasn't she?"

"Zenichiro, your tendency to orchestrate and protect will get you in trouble again, you know that.."

She scoffed, but didn't say anything. It bothered her that she couldn't fashion a suitable response in a short amount of time. She had been good at that for as long as she could remember.

"Also..if you'd think further about anything that can aid with catching renegade spiritual beings that you know I have no thought of..your information would indeed be valuable.

"If I think of anything else that I need for you to do, Nadeshiko, I will tell you. I need to go and chase someone out of my grounds and bring her back where she belongs. If you'll excuse me.."

"Of course.. Please use the stones to exit the lake.. And tell little Masaru that I miss his company.."

Zenny laughed and waved over her shoulder as she navigated back to the shore. "Indeed, I'll do that. I'm sure the boy has missed you as well. He tried something physical on me that was most unpleasant. I nearly skinned him."

The only response she received was the bubbles of that rose from the depths of the lake. Once she was on the lake bed, Zenny changed course and disappeared into the thick foliage. Whatever smile she had been wearing on her mouth was nowhere to be seen.

(Adapted from live play with the help of Katt and Toby's players.)

The drop-off point was the Hall, the whimsical essence dressed in carmine reds showing face outside of its perimeters. A creature, blue eyes, blonde hair, and a dress that was far too expensive in appearance alone, revealed itself hovering mere inches over one shoulder, neon cerulean wings flapping vigorously to keep itself afloat. They were more prominent than much else, like teensy glowsticks that were in a raver's capable hands. "Next stop. Although we're far from the border. I am not certain I can discern a readout. I'll be basing my instincts on you here, Maiden," the small creature spoke; although it's doll-like features failed to mimic the suggestion that it were, in fact, speaking of its own will. The one accompanying the doll took the necessary few steps, sliding effortlessly through the door's presence as though it weren't there. The doll, although crafty, crashed into the frame with a pathetic thwap. "...great. Door, please!" it called in dire assistance.

"I wish I'd just never dream. I haven't had a good one in a while, I don't think I can anymore. I'm not even sure I've had a good one in--" He blinked, looked over at Katt, then the door and what sounds were coming from it. He clamored unsteadily to his feet and stumbled forward, his eyes locked on May. She must have walked through that door too..

She blinked and tilted her head, sketchbook and case dragged up her stomach as she too stood. Blinkity. Mouth eased open to speak but closed right back up. The case and sketchbook were lowered to the floor to give her hands free space and she glanced back to Mayu. A handful of worries began to creep up but she realized something..Mayu wasn't the one who issued the sound against the door. A sad little smile was offered to Mayu then she gave a curious look to the door. "You..didn't do that did you?"

The carmine-dressed female turned toward the door, retreating to aid the doll in her required entry. It buzzed inside like a frantic bee. "We're going to need to work on that... my dolls are incapable of intangibility in this rea- Oh," the doll's head creaked as it took notice of two occupants. "We meet again, it seems," it acknowledged, hovering with a hummingbird's grace midflight.

"Wh--they..they, uh.." He frowned, his fingers pushed up against his forehead. Sighing, he shoved at his reluctance and took a shaky step forward, followed by another. "Oh.." He blinked at what looked like..a fairy..dizzy from looking between it and May too quickly.

Her head tilted to the side and she idly scratched at her ear, tugging softly on the earring. "Melissa?" Stab in the dark there but as far as she remembered Melissa was the only one she had seen with dolls. Her eyes dipped over to Toby as he moved and she chewed on her inner cheek before looking back to Mayu and the doll. She managed a little smile, even if it was a sad one.

"She..you, you saw that, right.." He pointed at May, but turned to look curiously at Katt. "She..opened the door, she touched it. I'm not nuts..?"

The maiden drew her gaze onto the doll questionably, but was otherwise aloof. Turning away, she traipsed without sound toward the back; inaudibly just as quickly as she had entered disappearing through a wall as though it were not there.

"That would be correct," the doll answered, somewhat in followed pursuit of her companion. Since she couldn't fade through walls, that adventure was short-lived. The doll swayed to one side, then turned toward the two.

She blinked at Toby and she smiled meekly. "Don't your remember what I told you?" She looked after May, the smile fading some. Slowly her eyes dipped to the doll and she craned her head curiously. "You two aren't out and about looking for one of those thingies that got loose are you? Is..it safe for her to be away from the safety of the church without Zenny?" Granted she was unsure what the doll ..err...Melissa..could do while in that state? Her brows twitched in a mild sense of confusion but also a worry.

"Ah.." His head turned, catching the motion of a little, moving red thing out of the corner of his eye. "Wait.." His face fell as he watched and he gulped, squeezing his eyes shut after May's figure sifted right through the wall. His fingers returned to his forehead and pressed almost like he was trying to drill his own skull.

"We are, in fact, currently investigating their disappearance. Any results have eluded us up until now," the doll explained, unwilling to drop down to the nearby couch. Tiny booted feet dangled centimeters from its surface. "As for trouble, it is gracious of you to concern yourself with the Maiden's safety. But I believe she is much more of a shield than the exorcist would provide."

He sniffed, shoving his hand back into his hair. His cloudy eyes fell onto the little fairy, if only because of its wings. He had a deep feeling that he was missing a lot of what was going on. "Things that got loose..you guys didn't let go of Tylor already, did you.."

"Of course not," answering Toby with a shake of her jointed head. "As I've mentioned, we would be turning him over to somebody in charge here. You implied you would be willing to handle him."

She glanced over to Toby. He seemed to be having..trouble. She wasn't really all that surprised. She was too just a little better at forcing herself to be supportive. Her eyes drifted from him and to the direction that Mayu had disappeared to. Her attention dove off and away, landing on the doll with a firm nod. "Yeah..Oh. Sorry. Melissa this is Toby. Toby..this is Melissa. Uhm. Sorta?"

"Alright.." He sighed in obvious relief. "Melissa. Just checking. 'Cause if that dick gets out, no one's going to be able to get a hold of him again for a while. And that'd just be a big ass mess.." He squinted at the little fairy, his head tilting. "When Zenny told us about you guys, I thought you be..bigger.. And not..fairies.."

"Oh, I see," neck popping as the head twisted aside to him. "I should assume you are caught up on details, seeing that you are already up to date with this man, 'Tylor's' position." The doll's wings slowed, tiny feet making contact with the couch's back support. "Fairy? Oh, you must mean my doll. No, it is not a fairy. And for that matter, neither am I."

She bit her lower lip trying not to find amusement in that comment. "I am guessing you are using a doll so you can stay in our world a little longer then normal? To uhm..explore with the Maiden?" She glanced over to Toby and slowly moved over towards him but also keeping a certain, small distance.

"Really..?" He didn't have that big a problem with small things..and it was probably the only reason he was able to near the couch and squat down before Melissa's..doll..and study her. "Wow..you look like one, though. With wings and being tiny and stuff.." He glanced back at Katt.

"That is correct," she confirmed, tiny hands dropping to her waist, tugging on her dark azure dress to occupy mobility functions. "Although I am attempting to perfect my range to an unlimited level, this allows me to remain in Shamanista yet keep an eye on the Maiden. We are still responsible for her in the long run, after all." Still wings fluttered at Toby's analysis, seeking to make his inspection somewhat more difficult. "That's a rather discriminatory thing to say, Mr. Toby."

He was in the process of holding up his hand at Melissa's side just to measure how big she was, but he gulped at the sound of his name, his arm yanking back. "U-uh..sorry, just..I've never really seen a doll that moves and flies and talks before.." He smiled nervously.

She managed a somewhat smile at Toby but her eyes kept flickering off in the direction that Mayu had gone. "Do you have any news or changes? I haven't really spoken with Zenny since..well..it's been a while.." Her lips twitched, fighting to frown. Looking over she watched Toby's arm fly back from the doll. It was nice to see him..curious about something. She almost said something about his comment but simply shook her head and chuckled.

She was approximately six inches tall. Give or take. Enough of a size that a butter knife could be deemed a greatsword in her petite hands. "They are considered a specialty of mine. This is one of my top models, but not a sole creation."

"So..this isn't what you really look like..? Um.." His brow furrowed as he got comfy before the couch, trying to remember the word. "But you control it..from somewhere else. Like..a puppet, that's it," nodding. He turned to look back at Katt and finally decided to shut his mouth.

Neon wings slowed their momentum, leaning aside Toby to watch Katt. "The investigation is still open..." apron centered, arms then crossing atop it. "We don't really keep in contact with her, either. She seems busy as it is. As are we. That, and I do not believe the Maiden makes for very promising conversation. As she does not speak, that is."

Its head tilted at Toby. "In fact, I look remarkably similar to this. Sans the exposed joints, of course."

"Mmph..?" He blinked out of his thoughts, turning back to the doll, two fingers lifting in a peace sign that looked tired. "Gotcha.."

"And taller." She nodded and moved to collect her sketchbook. "Uhm. I have a drawing of Melissa..err..her..body? Uh..You know what I mean! And Sophia." The book was flipped through as she moved over. Stopping she peered at the doll. "Have you found anything that I.." She glanced at Toby then to the doll. "We..can do to help?"

"I do not believe so. Manami received Zenny's aid, which has prolonged the period which we have to work with. Until the time becomes dire, I am certain we will discover the location of our renegade spirits. The Maiden is quite proficient in sensory, as I have mentioned," frozen doll eyes fixated on Toby as she spoke. As most of the facial construction was void of expression, it was definitely an eerie, creepy appearance.

"I haven't..seen May since that day at the church.. She's busy with this investigation thing that's going on..?" He clicked his teeth softly together. "Katt said people got loose, and I remember something about some sort of..rift, or whatever.." Information was flying at him from several directions. He took a moment to massage his temples, squinting for a moment at the doll with a pained look.

The doll's wings fluttered a moment, reacting when the name "May" came to ears. "Mai...ooh?" As if correcting him. "I do not recall seeing you before now... although I've only recently sent this doll to by my representative. But we have been busy, yes. There is no sense in relaxation while things are urgent."

"People..I wasn't sure what they are. Spirits yeah. Uhm. Melissa I wanted to ask. Is there anything you can tell us about the spirits? Persons...things. Can we see them?" She glanced at the two of them and shuffled a little as the sketchbook was passed over to Toby.

"M--Mayu..yeah.." He frowned, his hands dropping into his lap. "I haven't called her that in a while, I always called her May." He glanced back at Katt again, his mouth closing around his own questions.

"That would depend if they wish to be seen," turning her head toward the wall where the Maiden vanished. She'd since returned, and without sound. "I do not the specifics of this realm, but I do not notice anything different from the others we've visited. In which case, we can hide until the time is prudent to appear. And considering we're not certain of their motives..." she turned back toward Katt, head snapping at Toby at one point to acknowledge them both. "...she could remain hidden indefinitely. Which is why we'd prefer to search ourselves. Originating from our residence, they send off a very specific wavelength, if you will. I believe this is familiar amongst you, in which you can smell differences between one thing and another."

"They sound like..ghosts. I suppose spirits *are* sort of ghosts..or..maybe they're not..?" He clicked his teeth together again, rapidly, thinking.

Her expression grew sadder and she lowered the sketchbook to her side. Moving the sketchbook against her torso she listened to Melissa silently, nodding a few times to show she understood. Which she did. Sorta. "Oh. Uhm..Okay." Her eyes lowered to the floor, using that as a focus point for now.

She decided to humor Toby's observation. "Spirits, ghosts, oni, youkai... even fairies. They are all residents. As we're uncertain what left, I cannot tell you their abilities. But it is highly possible they're a variation of something that remain hidden, considering we've not found them as of yet."

"Do you know who they are..?" He pulled his sleeves over his hands. "And..maybe they *will* show themselves.. 'Cause if you guys can find them when they're hidden, it's sort of useless to *be* hidden, right..? Knowing what they look like wouldn't be so bad.."

Joints creaked as the head shook. "Not presently. I mentioned earlier to Katt and Zenny; it is not as easy as providing a headcount and discovering who's gone missing. It could be anybody."

(Adapted from live play with the help of Katt and Toby's players.)

She looked after Toby with a sad look. It took a lot not to follow. Turning her attention back to Mayu and the doll she shook her head. "It's..difficult for us. Mayu was someone important in our life, as you have been told. It's..difficult..very.." Her eyes lowered to the ground so that her sadness wasn't as visible. Even if the kitty ears were folded low at the sides of her head expressed it just as much as anything worn on her face.

Arms lowered to their respective sides, wings buzzing to provide lift for the doll. "Of course. And I'm certain you'll find her eventually. We can always keep an eye out during our investigation for her. We need to scour the city, anyway."

He coughed and spat, sitting back heavily against the door that he hadn't fallen out through, his chest heaving as he tried to calm his pulse and stomach.

"You...don't..I mean.." Her hand rose up and she shook her head. She managed a small sigh before glancing off after Toby then back to Melissa. "Other methods involved?"

The doll turned to regard Katt with a solemn tone. "It's more involved than simply acquiring a body that reality can accept. Although the body exists, what makes it alive is still a 'figment of the imagination', I suppose you could say. I believe I recall hearing at one point that one rogue resident would feed from the living, counteracting her faltering existence by taking theirs. It did succeed... but I do not know what happened to the one she inhabited. That is a very... confusing process, for me."

Her brow twitched a number of times. "F-Feed..What exactly?" Her attention was more on the doll now then before, ears twitching upright to their original position. "What would 'she' feed on exactly? Their..body?"

He spat one last time and tipped over first on his side, then on his hands and knees. His head weakly lifted, he grabbed the door handle to haul himself up the rest of the way, shoving his palm across his mouth to make sure it was clean. His color had hardly returned by the time he'd stepped inside and pulled the door shut behind him.

"Naturally. Its presence exists in the reality they are attempting to make residence in. A living being is something worth siphoning," she answered plainly. It was not an unnatural occurrence for them, even though it was a forbidden act.

Her head jerked towards Toby then to the doll. "Is there anything more you can tell me? I..mrmm." She didn't want to jump to conclusions. That tended to kick her rear in a really hard way. But..it was at least worth investigating.

He headed for the bar instead of the couch, wanting to find something to rinse the taste out of his mouth before he even thought of sitting down near them again. He kept his ears open and his body silent as he vaulted over the counter and touched down on the tender's side. He grabbed a large mug and filled it with water from the minuscule sink back there near the tea and cocoa packets.

"I'm not sure what else there is to explain on the matter. They require it to sustain their existence in this world, at least until they are capable of merging with the body they inhabit. I believe..." the doll hesitated, tiny hands lifting so to count out on thin digits. "...A month to you is the required timespan for a body to be fully taken. From that point, they've completed their requirement and can... well, exist, I suppose."

Katt chewed on her inner cheek. She nodded a few times, mouth opening then closing to swallow back her most of her questions. "Okay thank you.. I uhm...Sorry for getting suddenly curious in the conversation. We had encountered a body a few days back and while it could be from anything..information is good to have just in case, you know?"

His eyes over the rim of the mug when he was halfway back toward the small group. He swished the water around in his mouth, gulping it down. "That has something to do with this..? I thought it was just..a fast Yoma."

"Anything, of course. I believe Mr. Toby himself said that you have spirits and ghosts and fairies... I imagine others as well. And the chances of this rogue spirit feeding on the living is exceptionally low. Most times it's as simple as inhabiting a body and biding their time until the process is complete. It's only the dangerous residents of our world that go to such... extreme measures, from my understanding," the doll explained in a hushed voice, as if there were prying ears seeking to make off with classified information.

"I am jumping to conclusions. You know me..being.." She stopped herself from saying the word she was going to. She nodded to Melissa. It could of been anything really and she scolded herself for being stupid and jumping the gun. She managed to move herself back to the spot where she had been sitting and repositioned herself.

He snorted. There was something extremely funny about being called 'Mr. Toby' by a very little doll. He dropped down onto the surface of the table facing the couch, his hands loosely curled around the mug, fingers caught in the handle so it wouldn't fall. "These spirit people..can *eat*..people..?" He swallowed thickly again, reminding himself he had nothing left to throw up. "I didn't..I thought the only things that did that were Yoma, and vampires..and animals."

Mayu swayed like a branch caught in the currents of a brisk autumn breeze, attention dwindling to the point that she appeared to have zonked out all together. The idle, incoherent conversation between the involved parties was more like a bedtime story. But, she hadn't need to sleep, her status as a youkai not requiring such restrictive needs. She glanced over toward Katt and Toby, staring as if she'd just now noticed they were present.

"They can, in fact, eat people. It's not a dire requirement for many. Those with a heavier impact in Shamanista require it, however. Mayu here would without question, as she takes up a prime position in our chain at Flora's shrine. But a natural resident requires much less, as the transition between realms is relatively seamless. ...I don't think that's a clear explanation. But it's rather difficult to enlighten you on the methods," the doll rambled, gracefully guiding through the sky as she spoke.

"Mmph.." He pressed one hand, once more, up against his mouth and closed his eyes, trying to get that image out of his head as quickly as possible. Thinking better of it, he downed another gulp of water to quiet his stomach.

"It is okay. Thank you for your attempt, Melissa. It helps better understand the situations." She offered a meek smile up to the doll then lowered her gaze towards Toby. Eventually her eyes landed on Mayu and she stared at her once again.

Blink blink. The Maiden could do little else beside continue to provide that same, desensitizing stare. The doll waved a hand in the air, her clear version of a nod. "Of course."

He was amazed that his mind still even worked. "And s-since you.." he cleared his throat. "Since you don't know who got out, there's a possibility that someone like that *did*.."

The doll's arms crossed, fingers curled at its pointed chin in deep contemplation. "Well, I suppose it's possible. But I still am certain that those chances are nonexistent. Were somebody important to go missing, we would notice it immediately. It's as if saying... oxygen wasn't a factor in your world. You would recognize its absence, no?"

He snickered weakly. "Yeah, we'd all be dead.." He took a small sip of water. "But..since you don't know who got out, that could be somewhere to start.."

"...take oxygen?" clearly not following what he meant.

She smiled ever so faintly but just stared at Mayu until her eyes finally lowered and her chin dipped to her collarbone. The smile grew sadder.

He grinned. "No. Start by seeing if anyone important is gone, or even slightly.. But I guess from all of this right now, that hasn't happened. So we're just assuming someone..normal..got out."

"Oh, we've already done that. Our next course of action was to come here. Everybody that is supposed to be accounted for has been. Which is why I'm most positive that they would not be feeding on your people. You can count on that," hands waving. The effigy lowered to the two, "But, you seem to be extra concerned on the matter... where was this body you saw? "

He gulped down what was left of his water and wiped his mouth clean, setting the mug aside. "In the market, sort of in an alley, sort of not.. Near a big square with a big fountain in the middle.."

Blinking from her thoughts she nodded slowly and drifted her eyes up to the doll. "It looked as if it had been torn into and eaten greatly upon. It was a rather bloody scene."

The doll twirled to face Mayu, eyes of artistically perfected workmanship aimed at the Maiden. Silence swelled between the two, the pair deadlocked briefly. Carmine attire kicked up as the girl nodded, stepping away from her placement and heading in the direction of the door. She vanished without trace before even reaching the location, dissipating into nothingness. "I see... we'll discover whether or not the body shows traditional signs of spiritual consumption."

"There's really only one thing that I know that does that to people..but there weren't any Yoma around. The thing must've just," he waved his hand. "Eaten and ran.." His eyes lifted, he watched May disappear for the second time that night, grunting low in his throat.

"There were footsteps on the ground too..bloody ones, about.." he measured with his hands a distance that wasn't quite a foot long. "...this big. We probably just missed them, and whoever did it.."

"The fact that there are remains doesn't sound like what is natural..." Melissa analyzed, joints creaking as the head shook with vigor. "There shouldn't be anything left. If it were from us, and I'm not saying it is... that is very sloppy."

She didn't correct Toby finding that the particular correction wasn't all that important. Her head tilted and she seemed to be watching off in the direction that Mayu had went. But..she was still listening! Honest!

"Then it might just be a Yoma. It's not really..heh." He grinned sadly. "It's not really unheard of for them to hide in kids, or some young people to blend in with everyone.." He could only hope that none of them felt anything and were good and dead first.

It was fast. Sickeningly fast. With an accompanying chill like an air conditioner had gone into overdrive out of the blue, the ghastly, girlish figure returned. Twin necklaces, one of golden origins and another of a sea blue with asian patterns lining the surface clashed together in metallic chimes as she made herself visible. Melissa's doll turned to regard the girl, who nodded once. "...now that's a twist. It would seem I was wrong. Although still... very unnatural, for them to leave remains. Any at all."

Tranquility that filled the atmosphere was an unnatural one; the kind where storms brewed behind the horizon of setting suns. Where the crisp, night time air was refreshing and tantalizing all in the same stroke of Mother Nature's artistic brush. An apartment complex that had not seen many precious days since its construction was like any other, where it housed several dozens of citizens that struggled to make a living for themselves. It was not the proverbial slum; such areas were far more dangerous and challenged the weakest of hearts on a near daily basis. But it could compete with the worst at several given moments of a month. The stale silence that lingered like a blanket of chilling perplexity was an unnatural occurrence. The smells of evening cooking was absent; as was the warm glow of luminance in windows that stretched the various floors. The lone entry way was ajar, urging and inviting those that passed a solemn taste of reasoning why this building, unlike so many others on the block, lie barren and without sentient essence.

On stepping within its walls, questions could be answered. Worn, soiled blue carpeting was caked with thick pools of carmine, smeared along the walls like a child's finger painting gone awry. Doors were slashed and marred, ebbed with feral notches that sank deep into wood, and ruptured plaster until it was ground into a fine dust. The air was heavily stained with pungent death, the reasons clear when examining what lie behind each door: once lively bodies. Countless, endless stacks bodies. The building was a makeshift morgue, chests mauled, organs that would be encased behind curling, crushed ribs, void of once being.

The familiar building was no longer familiar, and the lone staircase that would carry willing adventures to the next floor, and there on, would act as a highway of demise, leading upward until the faintest of sounds, resembling scratches and tearing, could be perceived.

On the third story, the throne of grotesque abomination, a singular figure rested. Spindles of ivory digits clutching in bare hand the helm of once a man. Now no longer. Distraught by his shortcomings, and his eagerness to aid. He was but a victim. Now a towering number. Insurmountable.

"Mistress," called a voice, erupting from a sliver of shadow in the dank recesses of the forlorn cavern once deemed a suitable living compartment for attached lovers. "I have returned."

Dribbles of red oozed from her oral cavity, releasing the severed cranium. Its essence sucked dry, it was forgotten, rolling away into the dark. "What do you have to offer me, Emma?"

Emma Exire, a servant to Ria Diabulus; once a knowledgeable weaver of magical artifacts, had joined Ria's grand escape once they were capable of fleeing Shamanista without ward. Dark indigo like bruising trauma and equally bruised eyes offset a pasty complexion of a woman that barely saw the light of day. One could infer she were allergic to its magnificent aura. One would be precisely on the money.

"They are indeed looking for us as we speak," Emma answered, hands clutching a book that she rarely tore her gaze from. "The Maiden is in the company of Sophia's Number One, Melissa."

Ria spat the congealing blood from her mouth in thin streams, disgusted with the report. "Filthy bitches. They caught on, did they??" The devilish woman refused to shift from her comfort on the cold, blood-laden floor. "Are they? aware?" she groaned in question, irritated to have been so close yet seemingly so far from her goals.

"No, Mistress. They are currently investigating the living counterparts of the woman's body which you consumed," snapping the book shut as Emma answered her lead. "They are incapable of making the connection, however. You should be able of fully converting to a living being."

That was true. But it hadn't happened. A month passed, with little result. Where was the plateau originating from? "Even with these? feedings, that isn't? the case." Ria rose her attention to Emma. "I'm not forgetting anything? with the many souls I've gorged on, it should have come? to pass."

The book Emma clutched parted with her grasp, fading into oblivion as though it found a pocket to hide itself within. Another replaced it. "My research is indisputable. It is necessary to feed on the living to become alive yourself." She parted the binding of her newly acquired book, skimming various pages with due haste. "There are no exceptions to this rule. Absolutely none."

Ria hissed, "Then it should have come to pass already? this building is now my hive of demise?"

"I agree, Mistress. Unfortunately, as it has not been?" Emma grew quiet, focusing on her research to help provide a stronger hypothesis.

Clambering to her feet, Ria ambled toward the direction of the door. "We should? feed again. I must be close? the ascension must be near?"

Emma cleared her throat, "'A host can only find itself executed should the spirit be severed fully from its origins. Should it clutch strongly enough to something it lived for, or should the spiritual essences remain intact, the Host will be unable to be converted by the claiming body.'"

A slow turn of Ria's head suggested she not understand what Emma meant. The knowledgeable one required to summarize. "Basically, something from her life is keeping you from taking claim. We should probably consider finding that source first, and neutralize it."

The bloodied woman denied the suggestion outright. "I have done my research on this girl when under that humiliating 'guise of Phantasneko. The person she held on for is no longer here. Nor will she be, should I understand the circumstances." A snake's grin met her lips. "This girl's essence must be around? that is what the other half of your? research suggested?"

Emma offered a sagely nod. "Yes. Should she remain somehow, the corporeal body would urge for it rather than collapse to the will of your possession."

Troubling, meddling insects. "We're short on time? if we do not find her remains before the transition is complete, this body will dissolve. This progress will be lost?"

The indigo woman laughed merrily, "Do not fret, Mistress. I have a backup plan should this body be destroyed. You will exist. As will I. We will not be oppressed by the Ruler any longer."

Ria sighed, distraught. She collapsed on the caked floor in a messy heap, spindles of white threading light lavender and ocean green in misery. "Find this new Maiden and Melissa. I wish to? feed again?"

Emma nodded, tapering off immediately following the order. "At once, Mistress?"

(This post is made with thanks to Marjorie and Katt's players. Assistant editor credited to Toby's player!)

"Can you not see that we need to enter?! You follow my orders, Marco, it is not the other way around!!!" Marjorie stomps as hard as she can on the toe of Marco's shiny right shoe and shoves her way into the dank, bloody cave of what used to be a much lovelier building. To her own eyes. "Thank you for protecting me, but there is nothing to fear!!! I will, EEP~" landing face first in a pool of dried blood did not deter her. Nor did tripping along over buckled stairs and feeling the strewn and rotting remains on her only free hand. She gasps as once more, her arm is encircled in a sure, tight grip and even in the sparse light, she is able to see the outline of her butler, guiding her up the stairs despite her harsh words. "Thank you, Marco."

Unlike the first two floors, where bodies were neatly stacked and maintained within rooms that kept them from line of sight, the third floor was carelessly tended to. Like finished manga in a bedroom that the Asian girl rarely kept up with, a continued display of ripped and maimed bodies were stretched across the floor, dressing the walls, and slung over railings that would immediately precede the hallway of origins.

A sickening trail of gore and unfinished guts sank like a capsized ship into the carpeting of the once tidy floor. Everything that made the grotesque scene possible... it all lead to a central focal point: Mayu's apartment. With no door in sight, it was eerily requesting any that would pass by to take a moment and welcome themselves into the gruesome macabre. That was disturbingly absent beyond the threshold.

She blinked and shook her head. Smiling sadly she kept at flank, an unknown shadow in their wake. Maybe she could, to some extent, provide answers once. She sighed quietly and flinched as she entered the building close at hand. The building stank of old vital and more. It reminded her of things she'd much rather forget. Lifting her gaze she attempted to keep both in sight, regardless if she was spotted or not. Wasn't like she was trying to hide anyways. She had questions of her own after all.

"I do not understand this..." The girl clung to her butler as they ascended, her neck craning in each and every direction. "I can pick out her scent in this, this... oh, there is not a word fitting for such destruction!!! But I know that she has been here, even if her scent is muddied. It is all this blood getting to my nose, I am sure of it, I am..." Marco's foot suffers the same treatment once Marjorie's eyes lands on the wide open door and the light spilling across the gruesome third floor decorations with a shriek of recognition.

"MAYU!!!" Periwinkle stained little claws grip into the doorframe of Mayu's apartment and she gazes within, wonder clear on her delicate face. "Oh, but... everything is normal here, Mayu?!" tentative steps forward.

The name echoed the walls and her eyes squinted softly then relaxed. She felt sad for the girl. A few steps more had her behind the..butler? Blink. Well..Okay! Bulter it is! Peering around him she tilted her head at the doorless entrance and after the girl. "Fearless that one is.." Mayu had said..she was a good person. That she would..like her. She genuinely seemed worried too.

She was lain out, partially in the fetal position to prevent herself from being maimed by the voice that was calling for her. The marring of blood was absent in the fresh apartment, coaxing any or all to hurry and find shelter in the sanctuary of the only room without fatal destruction that the rest of the complex shared. A meek glance was given toward the source of a frilly voice. "M-M... Marjorie?" she questioned, dumbfounded. The girl was not quick to pull herself from the protective position she was held within. "Y-You... W-What are you... doing here?"

Marco had stepped within the small apartment, only a light limp indicating that Marjorie's attacks had done any damage, and his grey head turned toward a voice that he did not recognize. Behind reflective lenses, his expression was half unreadable.

Marjorie, careless of the state of her clothing and the astonishingly clean surroundings, continued inside with many arm flaps and squeaks until she had settled down upon the ground near Mayu and sought to lightly grasp the girl's cheeks for inspection. The whole of her slight frame trembled, sapphire blues seemingly growing in size. Her shiny, pink mouth bunches together.

Dull greens rounded as wide as they could go at the sound of the voice. Everything fiber of her body wanted to hit floor but she refused. A quick glance was shot up to the man and she eagerly pushed forward, attempting through the door and around him. She had to see for herself! Barely past the man's side she saw the girl with..She shook to a standstill, a hand raising to her mouth followed by the other to clamp it in place. Behind those hands her mouth was gawked wide. Speak again... She wanted hear that voice again. Her voice.

There was no mistaking the pristine clarity of the voice that was the girl's own. A moment's glance was given to Katt, then back to Marjorie with a rapid fire set of blinks. She was chilly when Marjorie took her by the face, and it was viable given that there was no source of heat in the dark building. Her nose scrunched to the contact, eyes squinting as she was mushed. "Mmf! W-What... a-are you d-d-doing!?"

"EEP!!! Oh, it is you!!! Oh..." little shakes to Mayu's face. "What was the m-m-meaning of worrying me like that?! Marco!!! Blankets, now. And some water, and... and... Just go!!!" Silently, the butler moves away from his post and begins to procure, or attempt at doing so, the requested items. Marjorie settles the back of one hand against her friend's brow. "You have not answered my letters in some time, and I have even sent packages with souvenirs, and then I find the state of your home like this. Have you not been outside of your apartment lately, have you been ill? Why are you not covered up more so than you are, it is freezing in here!!!"

She didn't budge out of the butler's way. He'd have to go around! Her hands shifted, fingers lacing over her mouth that was at this point quivering. It was her! Tears simply out of joy spilled and by the time the girl had stopped talking Katt was already in motion to draw closer. "M-Mayu..."

Never had she been assaulted by such a barrage of questions in all her life. Narrow greens squeezed closed, mulling each over like she were in the final round of a horrendous game show. Pointed teeth were thankfully hidden away as she delicately chose her responses to Marjorie's many questions. "I... I d-don't know. Y-Your letters m-mustn't have arrived b-because of... of..." she choked on her words. What a star. Lunging forward, she sought Marjorie's embrace. "I'm s-sorry!"

"Oh!!!" falling back onto her bottom once again, but her thin arms wrap in turn about her friend, attempting to pass some of her own warmth onward. The soothing motions of her hand to Mayu's hair might have been more effective had it not been encased in a gigantic, puffy hand warmer. "N-no, it is... it is not your fault, you could not have known!!! I begged Father to agree to let me travel back to our estate here with Marco, but he forbid it... Damn him and damn the inter-realm postal service!!! Marco, where are those blankets?! The important thing is, Mayu, that you are all right, if not a bit chilly. I had not noticed such a thing in the summer," watery giggles.

There was a million and one questions in her mind. Why as many times as she and Toby checked the building that..she wasn't there? Why..didn't she search them out? Why did this happen? Was something keeping her there? Or had her leaving to save Toby really upset her so much she didn't want to see either of them again? No..No..She wouldn't let that thought rule. Mayu wouldn't do that! Her limbs shook but she steadied herself not to collapse. Instead she took step to the other side. She had considered sitting but if she did there was no telling she'd be able to get up. It was really..her..Haa! Hoping worked! She just watched the reunion between the two in what was stunned silence. Blinking she lowered her hands and started to work off the navy blue hoodie she was wearing. Squatting down she attempted to gently lay it against Mayu.

Feline eyes rise and narrow at the new figure and despite her feeble strength and size, she tries to scooch herself and her friend along the floor... away from the unknown woman. "Who are you? What are you doing here?!" As if by magic, Marco's tall form appears next to his charge and he glowers down on Katt behind his glasses.

If the fact she was trying to provide warmth for the small Mayu wasn't enough proof that she meant no harm the tear filled eyes that turned to Marjorie stealing away Mayu might of. Oh right..she was hiding under the cloak and they had thought her a nun. Heh. The hoodie was lowered a bit and she looked up to the man then down to Mayu. He could huff and puff and the whole nine yards. She wasn't moving! Please..remember me too? That single thought made her lips purse in fear. Slowly her lips relaxed to release a single word. "Katt.."

She nuzzled up against Marjorie's frame, a girl obtaining her favorite stuffed animal. A glance here or there was offered to Katt from behind squinting lids, but she didn't offer more than that. Feeling the tension ease as the queries lightened their load was a welcoming event. She only needed to bide her time until the moment felt precise. The spiritual residue that enabled the apartment to appear "normal" wasn't going to last indefinitely. "Why are... you t-two together...?" She didn't accept nor neglect the offered hoodie. The chill wouldn't subside by its cotton fabric alone. Not that she would forfeit the masquerade by shunning its warmth.

"Katt," Marjorie's cheeks puffed out, but her displeased expression stayed frozen on her doll-like features. "You are her friend, are you not? Then why, pray tell, would you let her remain in this position. In these surroundings. With... with blood and no security and no heat to speak of. How dare you enter this place..." hissing, her arms tightening about her friend, pressing her against a hidden, but probably non-existent, bosom. As much as she repremanded the woman, Marjorie did not refuse the hoodie either. Thin arms shift just enough to let it fall on Mayu's back prior to wrapping around her in their former place.

"Hhhh?" She blinked at Marjorie and quickly scowled. "As if!!! She's been missing for a long time! Don't you think I've searched for her?! Don't you dare go spouting off like that when you've no clue what I've been through searching for her. Being told she's dead. I have every right to be here. We came here countless times hoping she'd be here. Left notes. I would never..allow this.." She scowled more and gently covered them both up since they were curled like they were. "Hell I had a fit when there was no water." She scowled again but it became softer. Mayu was okay.. Her head throbbed painfully with the joyous fact.

"She may very well be dead, having to survive in this... this wasteland of a home." Her cheeks round as she huffs, continuously patting the back of Mayu's head with the hand muff. "This settles it, dear, I am taking you to the estate with me where you shall have every comfort your heart desires. With plentiful heat and water," pointed, narrowed glance at Katt, "and more. All of your things can moved immediately."

Moved. Her nuzzle relinquished from Marjorie's bosom, slit greens observing the girl with indifference. She refused to outright be jarred from location, holds still aplenty. What to do about that guard... "Perhaps... y-your m-man thing c-can... take s-some things n-now...? My c-clothes would be e-enough..."

The look on her face was as if Marjorie had outrightly slapped her. "B-But.." Her eyes turned to Mayu. "M-Mayu say something. You know that this isn't right. Tell her." She struggled out a pleading sound. Mayu hadn't even so much as spoke a word in her direction. Mayu was the one who insisted on staying there. Didn't want her to do anything about the water. Why was this, of all things, coming to bite her in the ***? Shoving her knuckles against her lips she scooted back and sobbed. All that mattered was ..that she was safe..right? She bit to tear the flesh of her knuckles, trying her best to stop herself from crying.

"Oh!!! My man thing," musical giggles, "yes, I suppose he is. Marco, if you would please, see to it. I am in no danger, if Mayu knows this... woman... then all is well. Begin packing her things." Marco's white gloved hands ball into fists for only a mere moment. One last assessing look is given to his charge and the unknown woman and, lastly, Mayu. Where it lingered. He did, however, heed his orders, and disappeared from the room with a purposeful stride.

Another glance was given to Katt. A fleeting one. Those memories of hers were intact. Intense. She couldn't hold down and suppress the scowl that marred her girlish features. Aside to Marjorie, "I'd like to be alone with you... f-for a little, at least..."

"Yes, if you wish," brightly smiling down to her friend. A look of polite dismissal is given to Katt a moment later. The girl had no intentions of moving from her spot.

She stared at Mayu, her mouth slowly opening. Choking out a sound of disbelief she shook her head. Marjorie was given a pained look but she knew..where she wasn't wanted. "P-please...t..take..g...good..c..care of her.." It was a plead as she pushed herself up and shakenly turned herself towards the door. One arm wrapped to her waist while the other remained bent, shoving her knuckles so hard against her lips she could of broken her teeth. As much as she didn't want to, she forced herself to the door.

"We have been at this for weeks now, Maiden," Melissa voiced her concern through the doll that took her place, its tiny wings hammering the air frantically. Melissa was worked up behind the void that separated her from the present corporeal realm. "We should activate an unrestricted method and scour the city that way."

The Maiden blinked, her steps faltering. She stared at the doll with an unwavering gaze. She was against the idea.

"I understand it puts most of the populace at risk," Melissa explained. She understood all the risks involved with invoking such a powerful seal. "But with the world paused for our eyes to assess, we can find the missing residents much faster."

Mayu's head shook. She was vehemently against the idea. There was much in terms of expression riddling the woman's face. Desire flooded her, to provide insight; to share the extreme dangers should they neglect the fundamental purposes of why they possess the power to seal in the first place.

These were all things Melissa knew, but could not fully acknowledge. Her companion was a mute, after all.

"I know what you're wanting to explain to me, Maiden," Melissa acknowledged, capable of reading those painful expressions and hesitant considerations. "But these people are going to die if we do this the slow and methodical way. Those two delegates have already told us what we need to know concerning the deaths. We have no other option."

The Maiden frowned outright. To activate an unrestricted method--specifically a seal--in a large city such as this was a disaster. It was exactly as Melissa spoke: Effectively hitting the pause button on the very world they occupied. It would put a halt to true casualty, as death could not bud when they were not streaming through time to embrace it. But it was inviting lamb to the slaughter. There was no means of self-defense. The two visitors would be fully responsible for all death.

Melissa's doll took landing on one of Mayu's narrow shoulders. "We can rebuild those deaths. Construct copies to fix Ria's wrongdoing--and anybody that happens to be killed during our seal's activation."

Like gluing an airplane model back together after it's descent to the floor during a terrible accident. Only, those "copies" Melissa spoke of were fakes. They weren't people so much as mannequins mean to represent those people. And even then, in time, they would deteriorate. So long as they could trick reality into believing nothing was wrong, that was all that mattered. Was that all mortal people were to them? Obligations and obstacles simply to replace and move on? The Maiden glanced away from the seated doll, free shoulder lifting in a shrug. Melissa had a viable option to completing this task.

The doll's hands clapped, plastic snapping together, joints cracking in painfully sounding pops. "Excellent. Thank you for understanding." Melissa wasted no time in formulating her plans. "We've already placed sealing traps at the rim of the city, which has limited our search. Given that she has not tripped those, we can surmise she's in the town's limit."

The neon-sapphire wings that provided the split replica of Melissa with utmost mobility kicked up, sharing Melissa's frantic thought analysis. "If we bloom the seal here, and allow it to blanket the city as a whole, we should be able to find our missing spirits?"

There was a thick, warm wind that brushed past the pair as Mayu began silently to recite the words of power necessary to activate their unrestricted method. Its origins were not of the Maiden's actions. Melissa turned aside to the woman, "Hold it."

Mayu fell still, eyes trailing aside to Melissa. She felt it, as well. Its presence was as ominous as the calm before a terrible storm. It was deathly. The cries of souls pouring out their anguish into them.

It was Ria.

"That's her," Melissa confirmed, the doll's wide, makeshift eyes charmingly fitting the scenario. "The origins are? hard to tell. It feels like she's? all over."

The Maiden nodded, hands clasping at her lap. Her gaze was aimed at the slots among cobblestone, grooves acting as a trail for her mind; tracing the path, feeling the source.

"She's consumed a large quantity of mortal essence. It's? staggering," Melissa continued. "Is she? becoming sentient?"

Mayu's head shook, grounding Melissa's concern. Ria was close to completion. Her perfect conclusion was on the horizon. But something was off. Barring her from finishing what she craved. Glancing skyward, Mayu swept a hand through the air. A single ribbon of thick blue sliced vertically in the Heavens above, broad and wide like coalescing cloud cover. It was luminescent, core riddled with zounds of runes, all active and commixing.

A second soon erupted the skies, intersecting the first horizontally.

Melissa followed the strikes. "?cutting to the case, Mayu? Such an unrestricted is certain to damage your being." The doll's wings came to a stand still. "You've been here a tremendous period of time. There's no telling how long you have left before you give out."

The Maiden refused to listen to Melissa's concern. A third joined the first two, and then a fourth, crosshatching.

Dull carmine hues flowed like blood from an open wound, originating from the seals Mayu constructed, their reality filling like a veil. Shadows of the night congealed, becoming a shade of red that encompassed all their reality.

Their seal was effectively put into place; the world now paused for the Shamanista residents.

"Quickly, Maiden, we haven't much time with the seal active. She'll be aware of it in moments!"

(This post is made with thanks to Marjorie and Katt's players. Assistant editor credited to Toby's player!)

Katt's eyes tilted up to the doll on her head. Pretty doll~ Shiny shiny. "Nuhh.. Nooo?" Ahem. Blink. "Let me help. I've stood idle for too long. And that..Why does she look like Mayu?!" Oh wait..she had no spirital know how what so ever. Pout issue..go!

The doll watched the indicated. "Does she?" A pop of joints, lowering her head to examine Mayu Maiden. "Hmm. She's a little more red, don't you think?" Mayu watched Mayu-Ria. "This is who you were talking about all along? I suppose I see a similarity, but I can't imagine they're the same..."

Ria glared outright at the Maiden, pointed teeth gleaming as she shared a sinister smile. "Now I get it... I get it!" Ria proclaimed with a senseless cackling. "This is perfect... too perfect!"

"Nnnn..No! That is not my Mayu~nyan! Mayu would never of hurt her friends! She would of never..." Katt whined. "That isn't Mayu. But..She masked herself as Mayu. Our Mayu. She had memories of.." She blinked and looked over to poor Marjorie. Her lips pursed and glanced back to Ria. Uhoh. Someone went loopy.

Oh, right. Heal the wounded. The aura faded as Mayu leapt into action, a miasma of green swarming over either petite hand as she made her approach to Marjorie and Marco. As she could not speak, she indicated at Marco to allow herself access to the bleeding one. As well as quietly presume he would guide her to the various injuries that were present.

Melissa tapped Katt on the head. "You are correct. That is definitely not anybody you would know. Isn't that right, Ria?" A hand waved in the air to her. "This is where you've been hiding yourself? Eating mortals to make yourself alive? I wonder what body you took in order to sustain yourself this long?"

Ria was still lost on her amusement, cackling through Katt and Melissa's words. "The game is up, I take it," she answered solemnly, between snorts and giggles. "I believe Truth and Love will have to fight another day, don't you agree, Katt?" Sneer.

From the side of his vision, behind reflective lenses, Marco glances aside and upon seeing that there was no readied blast of energies, he unfurls himself from his charge, but kept his arms as a protective shell.

Marjorie's dead eyes roll, fighting to focus on Mayu number two. All concepts lost upon her strained mind, she merely squeaks as Marco peels her matted fur coat from her body. The open wounds, not as large as they had been when they appeared, were obvious against the pure white of her clothing. Marco sat back, a firm, studious eye kept upon the maiden.

Oh the flat look Katt got was soooo hard not to miss. "You!" A return sneer was shot back and the only thing keeping her from bolting at the figure was that Melissa was sitting on her head. "You took Mayu from us!" Her hands curled up tightly at her sides. She didn't want to hear that phrase. Not right now. Because that would make her question things that were best meant for later. "Melissa. This is one of those beings that left your world isn't it? How do we...you get her out of that body?"

The girl was a majestic aura of tranquility through the raging flames of distraught anxiety and trauma. She lowered herself to her knees, forest green hands that flickered like they were bearing flame stretching outward to seek out the area of damage that Marjorie had. Her one hundred years of training taught her that to inject the miasma of healing energy and mix them with regenerative tissue meant she had little to do besides give the host a fighting chance. She carried out the plan without delay.

"Took her from you? Oh, no, no, no. She was merely an instrument. A stepping stone to a much larger plan," shrugging herself up to her feet were she not already there. "She gave herself up after that stupid woman she fell for decided to leave. She hadn't a thing left; desired to be ridden from the world and no longer feel the pain that destroyed her heart and ate away her rational. I only... welcomed her end by providing her mercy." An evil grin cracked the foundations of bloodied innocence.

"Get her out of the body? Well, our goal is to obtain her," wings fluttered as she picked herself up from Katt's head and carried through the currents of the air to meet up at the Maiden's side. "We will destroy the body and return the spirit to its rightful home. This damage is extensive, judging from her coherence."

Marjorie's strange little murmurs gain coherence as the miasma from Mayu number two finds its way into her system. "Friend... my... kill... Icechips..." Unneeded, the darker force that propelled her small body to change recedes. Feline ears and tail shrink, claws and fangs, and cyan slash marks on either cheek slip away from view.

An eye closed, the maiden staring at Marjorie with bewilderment. Not a single thing made sense to her. But, for that matter, would it have even if she spoke and understood corporeal languages?

Katt offically wanted to kill Evelyn. "N-Nothing left.." What about her? Toby? Marjorie? All the people who's lives she touched. Her hand rose slowly and locked place center of her chest. "Nhhh.." Her lips thinned flat. She didn't know what to say. Mayu was stronger then that. Mayu could of ..came and talked to her. Her tongue traced along her lips after she drew them in. "D-Destroy...the body? T-There .." If Mayu wanted to leave.. "You can't..bring her back?" She shuffled and looked over to Marjorie and..

She swallowed at the Maiden who looked like Mayu. She felt..so bad for Marjorie.. Katt attempted to follow after Melissa, her eyes shifting at Ria to keep a close eye on. "She has people here who love and adore her." Sure they had their rough patches but that didn't mean she love Mayu. That girl had placed a firm hold in her heart!

"Icechips... kill... barrier... zombie..." Marjorie's head lolls to the side, chin resting on a dainty shoulder. A single bead of red dribbles from glossed lips. Marco slips a hand up near one of his charge's wounds, glove shimmering with the same pink hue that seemed to be the color of his power.

"You all paled in comparison to the wretched feelings she carried following that woman's leave. When it was confirmed, she gave up on everything. ...not that I feel even a shred of sentiment. I gladly took her life when she desired a farewell by rescuing you dimwits from that idiot man," that smile failing to falter as she spoke. "And in the end of this... I still win. They destroy this body, and they lose their precious maiden in the scheme... how perfect this really is!"

"A body that is taken by the possession of one of us has a certain period of time that it requires to feed on the living. There's no other option here," Melissa answered Katt, but was taken by Ria's explanation. It shared more insight than she thought it would. "Then... what you're telling us is that she is who you transferred with...? No wonder you were able to escape without us realizing it. You replaced her essence with your own, while you took over her living body that you had already begun to eat at. I must admit Ria, you thought this through rather expertly." Tiny wings flapped feverishly, lifting higher into the air.

"Of course we pale in compare. She loved Evelyn." Duh. Didn't mean that..she still didn't care. Her stomach tightened. Danced with struggle not to cry out. So Mayu had..indeed..saved them. As a farewell. To make sure they were safe. "(vsw) Mayu~Nyan..." There was no way to disguise the pain behind the endearing nickname set between..'sisters'.

"It doesn't matter now. What do you plan to do, Melissa? Without Sophia, are you even able to make a decision here?" Ria smirked, lifting a misshapen hand upward. "Or should I use my final strike here and now? I can put us all on a level playing field with nothing but a flick of a finger, after all."

Melissa fluttered back several feet, glancing downward toward Katt. "You mentioned needing something to do? I need you to take this girl and her companion out of here. I can't be held liable for your kind. This does not concern them."

Katt nodded weakly and glanced to Melissa. "Will you be able to find me after all this is done? I..don't know if you will have to leave immediately after but.." She turned away and moved towards Marjorie. She could do this.. She could help Marjorie cause that is what Mayu would of wanted. She paused, looking at the maiden then to the butler. "(vsw) Please allow me to pick her up. We need to go.."

Marco's grey head turns finally to the sound of Ria's voice, his own posture unsteady from the damage he had sustained and was transferring to his own person.

Marjorie's eyelids flutter like wings of a butterfly, unable to stay lifted, unwilling to remain closed. "My... friend. Mayu..." Mayu number two's foggy image granted enough information to her drowsy mind. A small hand falls to the ground at her side, having not even begun the journey toward the maiden's face as was her intention.

"I'm afraid we will not have further contact following this event..." Melissa lowered herself downward, jointed arms stretching outward. "I'm your opponent, Ria." The doll shuddered, wracked with spasms that would be entirely unnatural for a doll. In an explosion of brilliant ivory light, the doll itself tumbled worthlessly to the floor, presence utterly replaced by the physical presence of the woman who controlled the mirror doll herself.

Marco's arms stiffen about his charges delicate form. He glances to Mayu number two, assessing if she was finished with her work. His response to Katt's offer was to simply rise to his feet, a stern expression aimed down at the woman.

Ria's slitted red eyes examined the various ongoings with immense amusement. Everything was a hilarious comedy act to her. Especially the final bit. "Very well, Melissa. I'll allow you to take them. I've already discovered who really needs to die here in order for me to exist, anyway. You'll regret sharing that information about this stupid Maiden!"

(This post is made with thanks to Marjorie and Katt's players. Assistant editor credited to Toby's player!)

"NO!!!" Marjorie's wail sounds, periwinkle claws now half the size of her own digits slicing at the woman's arms and anything else she could reach in an attempt to rend muscle all the way to the bone. "WHAT KIND OF HEARTLESS MONSTER ARE YOU?!"

Marco nods curtly at the events within the small apartment, completely void of anything resembling understanding and leaps in the direction of the stairs. Landing with a grace befitting his feline ears, he turns to face the oncoming woman who had, once more, stolen his charge. "DOING SUCH THINGS SO FORCEFULLY, YOU ARE NO FRIEND OF MAYU'S, SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER CONDONED SUCH HARSH ACTIONS!!! UNHAND ME THIS INSTANT!!!"

Unlike Melissa, Mayu Maiden was entirely lost on the reasons people were yelling and fighting in the hallway. All she could make sense of was the fact that Melissa was there with her. But not any longer. She took a meager step forward, a hand lifting to reach for the person that had been with her the entire time they'd known one another... then stumbled. She felt weary. She felt sick. She felt delirious. That stumble enhanced, and she was soon on her knees, arms crossing over her stomach in silent agony.

Katt accepted it with a few flinches and she looked to the man who was essentially blocking her path. "Please..keep better hold of her this time." Slowly her eyes, riddled with sadness, settled onto Marjorie. Those words stung so deep. "I am the sort of monster who Mayu risked her own life for. And I am trying to protect your life. I am the sort of monster that adored and loved Mayu deeply. She was ..the only person who was ever family to me.." Ever so gently she released Marjorie, making sure the smaller figure was on her feet and stable before fully released.

"What I did..was not easy. Taking you and leaving. By no means. But..it would of made Mayu really sad if something were to happen to you. Do..you remember at the church? That nun you saw when you left with Mayu? That was me..(vsw) I was glad to see she was so happy with a new friend.." Rubbing her face she looked over her shoulder. It was quiet now. Was..that a good or bad sign. "She told me..I would like you..that you were a good person.." She looked back to Marjorie and nodded. "She was right.."

"THIS IS A GRAND WAY TO HONOR THE DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER!!! DENYING THE FRIENDS OF SAID MEMBER ANY SUCH INFORMATION ABOUT HER DEATH!!!" continuing to slash at the arms and hands of the woman until she was within the grasp of her own, trusted butler. Eyeteeth so usually hidden behind shining lips elongate, giving the impression of a colorful cobra poised to strike. "The danger I was in was no matter to me, for as we've all seen, the danger began once I entered her home. I do not care who you are and or were to my friend. If you touch me without my permission ever again, you will find your hands severed from your wrists. Marco." Turning her head away from the woman, in impolite dismissal this time, Marjorie bade the giant man carry her down the flights of bloody stairs.

"As you wish. But I will point out..Marjorie. That me and Toby spent plenty of time searching for you as well. Because we thought she was with you at first..Information wasn't denied until you acted like a spoiled brat when people.." Katt pointed towards the door. "Were trying to protect you.. You may not care about throwing your life away but there are people who care about you that do. And I was willing to tell you every..painful detail of what happened." She started to walk down the stairs.

"If you think any of this has been easy for me..If you had any idea of the pain I went through..You have absolutely no clue..But again..you don't give a crap about me." She continued on her way, pausing a little to look up to the room.

"I will not apologize for not informing you of my family's travels," sarcastically hisses, "I didn't know you would need such information. My situation and yours are on two completely different planets. My sympathy for your plight ended the moment you grabbed me. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, or so Mother says. But you are most definitely correct. I do not care about you. So, if you would be so kind, shut up." Marjorie's fur coat finds its way onto her little body via Marco's gentle touch, his arms held tightly around her.

Mayu huddled over herself, lurching forward, trying subside what agony she could feel eating away at her. It would fail tremendously. There was no viable release to the feeling that washed over her, as she had no voice to speak her piece. Silently, she met the floor, sprawled out in a less than defiant reach across the floor. A pop, like kernels of corn being cooked in the microwave. Residue of sapphire sparkles, like dust that glistened from the wings of fairies, began to flake from her being. That agony grew more intense, then cooled.

"Oh of course. Blame me for not knowing of your travels. And I grabbed you because Melissa told me to. You were suppose to be made safe. And Mayu would of wanted it." The silence was bothering her. She didn't like it. Frowning she turned and started back up the steps. If anything..she wanted to place herself between the child she tried to protect and herself. Monster...She sighed.

That green gem was an iceburg in reality's balmy weather, fracturing at first in tiny clumps. Seconds passed, and tiny clumps became entire fragments of her person. They split from her, rupturing her presence, flaking away into nothingness. She was immobile with the wracking pain that she was reeling from. Lain out as she were, even she couldn't see what was transpiring.

"I do not like that woman, Marco." Little hands fist into the fur of her coat. "She is very pushy and seems to think that she is the only one who," sniff, "lost someone. H-How am I supposed to act..? My... m-my friend. I h-have never lost a friend..." Marjorie squeaks at the tickle of mustache upon her brow, leaning her head aside into her butler's chest as he spirited her from the building. "We must come back when you have restored yourself."

That would make two of them. Just.. Katt didn't have anyone to tell that to. Crossing the path towards the door she peeked in and blinked seeing the Maiden on the floor, breaking away like fairy dust. "Nhh..M-Melissa?" Panic surged up through her and she quickly hurried herself across the floor. What was going on? She reached out then paused, not daring to touch. "Mayu?" Her voice squeaked out, strained painfully from her throat. This..this couldn't be right..Could it? "Mrmm..You ..hhh.."

The Maiden was motionless, shedding limitless sparkles like some kind of glitter dispenser. She was cracked like a pristine vase had fallen from its shelving, with Ria's once claimed body sloppily thrown out several meters away. Although she was mobile for several brief instants following Melissa's disappearance, she no longer was. Nothing was, in fact. Except those sparkles that were growing by the second.

Her head whipped around. "Melissa?!" She lowered her eyes back down to Mayu, tears freeflowing down her cheeks. This..wasn't right. This couldn't be right! Whimpering she flattened her hands to the ground. "I'm sorry..I'm sorry..I.." She didn't know what to do! Mayu was suppose to go back safely wasn't she? And..Melissa said the body was going to be destroyed. It was ..still there? Her eyes turned to the body as if it actually provided a clue. This..couldn't be right.

Another chunk split from the girl. She was solely holy in the divine sense anymore. Questions and callings came without responses. Glances and peerings went unseen.

She whimpered and watched the collapse through tear filled eyes and fell without any sort of attempt to stop them. "P-Please..don't..go..Please.." Her hands slipped along the ground, closer to the fallen figure. She didn't dare touch. Feared if she did... She knew it was fruitless and the figure didn't know what she was saying.

The flooring trembled with the vicious power of the creature, bearing down on the pair andtaking flight in a do-or-die leap of faith. Given its distance, it were certain to make landing and tear into any that sought to contend with its might. Midflight, hooked claws raked the air in eager anticipation of feeling flesh shred and blood pour. Only... emerald particles instead shed from its massive frame. Like colliding into a pool of water, it dove through nothingness, leaving in its wake a haze of neon coloring that dotted the apartment's main room. One body to another, which was flaking away and nipped at by otherworldly powers. That foreboding act ceased immediately, coming to an eerie standstill.

Face twisted up, Katt leaned forward, hands slapping the ground as she bowled herself over the body and spirit. It wasn't hard to feel or hear that the creature was storming it's way to her but she wasn't going to let it have the body! Toby..would just have to forgive her. Inhaling sharply she waited and blinked. Nothing. An eye crept open to spy..colors. Lots of them. Stomach twisting she slowly leaned back, her head rocking once towards the body below her then over her shoulder. Torn again she scooted back some. "Marjorie? You okay?" Glancing around for the creature she furrowed her brows then glanced to the body. Was..it safe now?

Sapphire condensed, imploding on itself in a prismatic shower that dusted the downed girl. That emerald array kicked up in an intimidating whirlwind; blending with the sapphire shards that seeped into the cooling flesh of the dropped girl. Both vanished within, and all was still once again.

Mere silence was Marjorie's response. Previously shining lips didn't part for anything save breaths too shallow to fill even her small chest. Beneath her, and joining the carnage already within the building, was a slowly widening pool of fresh blood from the back of her lavender head.

Katt grunted quietly, brushing her hair back from her face as she scooted back more. Shiny colors and wind..Through her past experiences with these as a couple it normally didn't mean a good thing. A frown crept in when ..things just stopped. She didn't understand. And the silence was stifling. She waited a number of moments before forcing herself to her feet and moving off to dig for the poor Marjorie. When found she was pulled out from the debris. "Yeah you gunna hate me for touching you again.." Grumble, grunt.

As clean as a spot can be the girl was set down and the white t-shirt was torn into a halter, the strip of cloth used to wrap the girl's head and staunch the bleeding. During this process she kept looking over to the body then down to Marjorie. Maybe..she did something wrong..

Putty in Katt's hold, simple murmurs ease from lips that had still yet to part. For the second time that evening, Marjorie's features underwent a shift; the most noticeable of which are the jagged cyan markings slashing across her cheekbones, one beneath either closed eye.

Lips pursed faintly as Katt watched the small figure. Nothing she really could do at this point. Setting Marjorie down she placed her hands at her sides. Nope! Wasn't touching! "Marjorie? Marjorie come on." Her brows twitched and she whined, looking between the two bodies. Talk about feeling in an element she didn't want to be in. Memories were stacked upon one another and added with a touch of new ones. "Mrmm.."

The stillness remained. That ominous presence of a fox was absent indefinitely now; where the emerald was fully consumed by the motionless girl that was cradling a similar presence no longer seen. There was no breathing to speak of. There was no signs of life to speak of. But, on the plus side, there was anything but continued flaking of sapphire that screamed doom and gloom.

Bloodied digits, tipped in curved periwinkle claws, ripples like seaweed upon the ocean floor. "Did..." scratching voice barely above a whisper, "did... work, we... did... did it work..?"

The body was stared at. Any signs. Any... No so much as a rise of the chest to fill lungs. Brows furrowed and Katt turned her eyes down to Marjorie. "Take it easy, Little Miss. And .." She didn't know either she wanted to sigh, whine, or whimper. They all seemed so approperate. So..she kept to a silence she was sure would answer better then any word could.

The girl utters all of those in one pathetic sound. "Presence... presence of... beast is gone..." Coughwhimper. "Maybe... moving... Is, is she..? Soul... should have..."

"She's not breathing.." Katt's lips pursed and she gently reached out then stopped herself. She wanted to comfort the girl but.. "I'll go check, though. You just rest here. We should find you some help soon.." She pushed herself up to her feet and moved her way towards the body. She felt a lump in her throat that she just couldn't swallow down. A dip had her squatting down, hand brushing out first to sweep aside some hair before lowering to the neck to check for vitals. Though they didn't fill her eyes, she could still feel the creep of tears at the corner of her lashes.

She was cold to the touch. Frigid, fresh from the freezer and prepared to be fit for a grave. There was no life pulsing from a laughable chest, as the heart had no function. The insides were as tattered and distraught as the outside; the only exception since most of them were in relatively one piece.

Nodding against her fists. "Maybe..." Marjorie left the wrapped bandage in place when her hands lower to her knees, feline ears drooped to lay flat against her head.

Katt knew Marjorie didn't like her but that was okay. Sliding her arm around the girl she attempted to draw her over so she could lean and/or hug if need be. Swallowing she watched the maiden. So..her powers were gone too? Did that mean she needed to feed like..Ria did? That..could be asked later! That thought disturbed her so yeah, it could wait. "I guess back to the other side of the tear? She said that it would be the last time we met when I asked her to meet me afterwards.."

"She must have gone back to provide maintenance," groaning explicitly as she shifted, rising to her feet. It wasn't as daunting as it sounded, but it required a little effort. "If you two will excuse me..." She turned, wobbled, and began to take a one-way trip toward the floor.

"Eek!!!" Too weak to fight against the tug and support provided, both physically and emotionally, Marjorie didn't fuss and remained silent after her squeak. Except for the twitches of several sniffs.

A hand settled to the side of Marjorie's head and she leaned down to whisper. "I know it hurts. Trust me I do. But try to hang on and I will explain everything..but later." Chin raised, Katt blinked as the maiden went splat. "You are weak. You shouldn't move too much." Lips pursed she shook her head. She needed to get the both of them to the church. Contact Zenny and Matilda. Maybe Sera.

"Maiden Mayu, you may not like me requesting this but I think it would be best for you to return to the church. At least until the situation has been spoken about and answers given. And possibly..Melissa's return. I don't know yet.."

She hit the floor with a sickening thud, bouncing once like a deflated basketball courtside. She didn't budge from that place. And for that matter, didn't protest said impact.

"The church..?" breaking her ironically unspoken vow of silence, "but that's also quite a journey, is it not? I... Oh, I could... I could have a vehicle sent for... her. I could d-do that."

Katt's chin dipped and she kept an eye on the fallen maiden. That looked like it had hurt. "How would you do that?" She asked Marjorie though her expression was heavy on thought. Lips pursed then relaxed. "I could carry you both but.." Her eyes drifted down to Marjorie and she smiled faintly. "You would have to not be scared of me and ride piggy back." She was worried about Marjorie's bleeding and Mayu's condition. Yes she was a fretting mother hen right now.

"No," response sharp and immediate. Her solid voice grants her the strength to remove the bandage from her head, its caked stickiness tossed carelessly over a shoulder. "I think I have had enough of being carried this evening. My own legs will be sufficient, thank you."

"As you wish.." Her arm moved away before she was shoved. In fact she moved her whole person from Marjorie. Pushing to stand she started her way towards the fallen Mayu. She would of torn away more of her shirt if it meant offering more of a bandage but she had a feeling it would of been dismissed. "Just try to take it easy. If you feel dizzy don't push yourself. You might have a concussion." Once close enough to the fallen frame she leaned a hand down to a shoulder. "Mayu?"

No response. She was out cold. And still relatively cold, although some warmth could be discerned. It was progress.

"I... In my coat, I may have..." Suddenly determined expression, the girl flops painfully to her stomach so as to reach the soiled remains of her once pristine white fur coat. She manages to drag it to herself with the claw of her middle finger. "A vehicle will take too long, and then I must travel to the street. I must have some Relocators that have not been broken..."

Katt sighed out a breath and glanced around. Sliding her arm under Mayu's shoulder she lifted her up then collected her into arm for another time. She paused and tilted her head to look over to Marjorie. "I am worried about you..if you haven't noticed. You may hate me but you are my concern. I care. I know you don't care that I care and that's fine." She smiled faintly and looked away. "But please..let me help..." Her eyes lowered down to Mayu. Was Melissa really gone or ..was she going to come back and take Mayu away..again.. Lips thinned to the point it hurt.

"Your worry over my well being is appreciated, but unnecessary. Damn..." Marjorie's stoney face lifts to Katt. "What is not unnecessary are the facts. I've never said that I hated you, and I feel I must apologize for my conduct this evening. My opinion of you hasn't really changed, but you did seem useful. Thank you for your concern, but I will be fine. I have a Relocator attuned to my estate, but not to the church. I'm sorry."

She shook her head a few times. "Don't apologize. And normally I wouldn't snatch someone up like that. But.." She glanced back over and nodded. "Melissa said to get you to safety. Last time someone told me that..the whole building went up. So I didn't know how much time we had or if that was going to happen." Again she was concerned. Turning more towards her she nodded. "You have..to be in the street for that?"

"No, I do not. Once I break it, it'll send me right back into my room." Nods softly to avoid the pain in her head. Marjorie gathers her bloody coat to herself, burying her face into its stained softness. "Please take care of... Mayu. It's not uncommon for a soul to lose one's memories when... when going through a trauma. I'm sure that she will remember in time, given good care," keeping her eyes downcast upon the ground.

"Oh. It will teleport you back home." She nodded quickly. "Then please do so. And please..please get yourself looked at. When you are ready with questions and are feeling better you are welcome to seek me out." She paused and lowered her eyes to the maiden. "Marjorie.." Lips pursed she shook her head and looked back to the girl.

"Listen. This..isn't 'our' Mayu. She only knows me and Toby through our meetings but she doesn't remember the past we share. She is a Maiden from um.." What was the word they used. Her face twisted up. Her mind was a jumble. She sighed when she couldn't pin it. "But she is still our friend. Maybe a new one for you?" She smiled meekly to the girl. "But I promise I will take good care of her and that she will have the best care. Even if I have to throw the church and Zenny into an uproar."

Her face presses firmly into her coat as feline ears struggle to lift and twist to the explanation she's receiving. She merely sits and absorbs the information in its entirety. The moment silence reigns, the girl slaps her hand down upon the ground and a neon pink circle with unreadable runes scratched throughout it flames brightly. Her form sinks into it, as if the ground was only water. "You talk too much..." The magical circle disappears a second after Marjorie does.

She sighed and tilted her head to the side, eyes closed. That's..what she gets for caring she guessed. Turning on her heels she started weaving her way from the carnage. She needed to get things in order in her head. She took leave from the building as fast as she could or rather her legs would allow.