May 25th..

They had talked about scars. Her scars.. He just..didn't think she'd want to go looking for something to fix them so soon..

He had woken up to his room feeling..muggy. His eyelids peeled open, he pitched the thin covers away from his body and rolled over.

It wasn't even light outside yet..and it was this warm..?

There was a folded up, yellow piece of paper on the floor.. Someone must have shoved it under the door. Maybe that's what the knock had been about.. He hadn't wanted to get up, or answer the person he heard several hours ago.

"Mmph.." He pushed from from the bed, his pillowcase and sheet sticking to him as he did..swung his legs to the ground. He wouldn't be able to go back to sleep..

It only took half a step to reach the paper. He leaned down to grab it..unfolded it to read.

Toby,

Your friend Katt is asleep in my old office, you should remember the way, and I think that you should be the one to be there when she wakes.

Also, I need to warn you to be prepared for what you see. Her appearance may come as quite a shock, but whatever you do, do not panic. The bandages and wraps look worse than they really are.

~ Matilda

He vaulted from his room and pitched himself into a sprint.

******

The next thing he knew, he was leaning against the open doorframe..Sister Matilda's note crumpled in his hand. He fought to calm the thudding in his chest and his quickened breaths. He only remembered jumping down the flights of stairs and running through the halls because his ankles hurt..

He slid into the room, nudging the door shut with his heel. He didn't know what Sister Matilda had meant.. She looked just fine.. If a little weird because she was on a cot under an ugly grey blanket.

He slowly stepped around the edges of the cot. At least it was cooler down here.. He wadded up the note and shoved it into the back pocket of his jeans. If he remembered right, there was stuff to drink in the icebox on the bookshelf.. He went to it and pulled a bottle of water from one of the small shelves.

Sitting in the desk chair hadn't worked..neither did sitting on the couch, or the window seat.. Finally, he opted to settle right next to the cot..his legs tucked up against his chest. He leaned a little to pull the colorful scarf off of her pile of clothes..bringing it up to his mouth and nose..

It smelled..nice.. He wrapped it around his neck..pulling on it so it was securely in place.

Sister Matilda said to be here.. He didn't have anything else to do. He was sure he wouldn't leave even if he did.

He leaned back into the couch..and waited..

He had pushed the thought to the back of his mind..when that shadowy thing stabbed him, and he turned out just fine.

Maybe he'd just been too messed up to use his yoki.. But..those were usually the times when it was the easiest.

A sound in the church, the doors banging open..someone panicking. He'd raced down to the first floor, wanting to know who it was.

Selene..and something else..

He just wanted to leave.. He didn't think anyone else was in the church, that thing could just eat her..and that would be it..

He remembered telling Selene that he wouldn't even try to stop it.

Its attention shifted. They didn't get to escape in time. Pain in his stomach. He was starting to notice..things hurt a lot more than they were supposed to, what he was used to. He became disoriented a lot quicker.

Things were happening, and he wasn't aware of it. Somehow its attention had shifted again, and was focusing on Katt. He tried to shove it, as hard as he could..knock it off balance enough to where they could run.

He'd pushed it closer to her.. She got hurt anyway..

He watched like he wasn't even in his own body. He felt slower, weighted down by the realization that he wouldn't be able to do anything. He was staring their end in its creepy, white face.

He could just barely get a hold of her, start running. Thrown back.. The ground came up hard, quickly. He wasn't going to let go of her, he wasn't..

The thing tore her away.

He screamed. He put all of his anger, fear and frustration into it. He couldn't believe that a sound like that was coming out of his own mouth. It felt like knives..he ripped his throat open.

He didn't stop screaming until he ran out of breath..and his voice died.. He vaguely registered that they weren't in the same spot.

That was pathetic.. He felt useless. The only thing he could do, again, was slice open his arm..and feed her his blood.

He could, at least, do this right..

"Hey."

"Uh..hi.." He felt like he could cut the tension with one of his knives..and they weren't even inside anywhere. The cool almost summer breeze stirred the leaves on the lone tree in the graveyard, tickled the grass.

"They send you out here to talk to me?"

Toby nodded quickly. He hadn't moved to venture in further and didn't really want to. They could talk with him there..right..?

"So are you gonna just stand there, or are you gonna man up and spill it."

"Uh.."

"Heh. First lesson about saying your sorry, kid," Patrick began, a metallic click preceding a heavy sigh that he didn't have to look up to know was laced with smoke. "Is that to do it right, and to be believed, you've got to look people in the face. So get your ass over here and sit. I'm not gonna hit you again."

He grunted. Apparently not.. He forced his legs to move..his feet to crush one footstep's worth of grass at a time. He wound his way around the headstones and sat on the corner of the bench furthest away from Patrick.

They were quiet. He figured that Patrick must have been waiting for him to start..and he had no idea how to.. He just listened to the long inhales and exhales, then finally the soft scratching as Patrick stubbed out the cigarette.

"Look, what--"

"You guys didn't--"

"Huh?"

"What..?"

Patrick snorted dryly, waving at him to go first. Toby shook his head softly, grunting and sighed.

"You guys didn't have to do all that stuff.. Look for me or be worried or anything.."

"What the hell, kid? You're saying that like you don't think you deserve it. Or that you just don't give a sh*t how what you do affects other people." Toby flinched. Patrick stared at him. "Which one is it?"

He shook his head sharply. He didn't know how to answer that..

"You don't just scream like that unless something's really wrong. You know how much of a f*cking mess you put everyone into?" His eyebrows rose. "Do you? Agatha running around like her head's been cut off, Matilda barking orders. Sera's freaking out 'cause there's blood all over the floor and the last thing she heard was you screaming. Now we've got some Asian woman in here directing everyone in putting new seals and wards on the church.

"I mean, seriously, kid, what the hell did you think we were gonna think?"

"I don't.. I don't know.. I wasn't thinking about it..I was just so..pissed off.."

"What the hell happened, anyway?"

Toby started to shake his head, but Patrick lifted a hand. "Don't even think about bullsh*tting me. It's serious enough. If even one person got hurt, we all could get hurt."

He licked his lips slowly. "Something..followed..this person into the church.. We don't know what it was.."

"We?"

"Uh..yeah.. My friend..my best friend, Katt.."

"Oh, right, right. Go ahead."

Toby shifted around in his seat..leaning his elbows to his knees, his hands folding loosely. "It went after the one person, then it came after us.. We both got hurt..pretty bad.. I kinda wasn't thinking about anything other than that.."

Patrick was quiet again and when Toby looked over, he found him frowning at the ground..sitting in almost exactly the same position he was in.

"And what about this 'one other person.' Who were they?"

"Just some..girl..that Katt and I know.. The thing didn't really go after her after it switched onto us.. No one else got hurt, did they.."

"No, they didn't. Everyone came down or up or what the hell ever after they heard what was going on. Nothing was here."

"I'm sorry.. I didn't..really want to scare people or make you guys worry or something.."

Patrick huffed a heavy sigh and stood up. Toby jumped at the feeling of a warm hand clapping down on his shoulder.

"It's no problem, kid. And I'm sorry about the, uh.." he grinned, gestured to his face..indicating the angry bruises on Toby's skin, who snickered.

"Don't worry about it.. Happens all the time.."

"Yeah, according to that story of yours, that's the truth, ain't it?"

Toby snorted, nodding. Patrick jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

"Come on, let's see if Marlena's got a steak or something to slap on those things. You didn't let anyone touch'em up?"

He shook his head, slowly stood..following Patrick out of the graveyard, and through a hidden door in the wall.

"Nah.. It's not something I can't live with.."

"You've got balls, kid. I've been pissed off banging my shins into tables."

Toby snickered. "Balls.. Yeah.. I've got them.."

Early morning, May 31st..

He'd stayed glued to that spot in the street for several minutes after Katt had left. His stomach felt like it had dropped clear out of his body.

He had only wanted to tell her that she didn't have to follow him..because he was okay.. He hadn't wanted her to leave..

It was..fine..even though it sucked.. And he didn't know why it bothered him so much.. He never used to be this irritated..or this.. He didn't know what he was. But it had something to do with being by himself.

When had it all started..?

They were all okay..and talking to May.. Katt had sang the same song she had up by the flowery trees.

Then there was talk about a double date..or something.. It didn't sound so bad.. It sounded nice.. A double date, a date..with..

He shook his head, rubbed his face as he started walking. He didn't know where he was going. But if she thought he wanted to be by himself, he figured he could just act like it..

This stuff..wasn't supposed to sound nice.. He wasn't supposed to like it.. Did he want to..?

They'd..gone on lots of dates already, though.. If they meant just going outside and eating and talking together.. That would mean they'd been doing that since they were younger..

Why would it be any different..? Why did different sound..better..?

This was the second time..

He just..needed to walk, clear his head..and hope that things would look better later.. Like they always did..

June 7th..

He had barely even felt it.. Two knives sinking into his chest. At first, he just thought he had been punched or something..

Looking down had been a surprise..

It didn't hurt at all..except when Katt pulled them out..

He clutched his chest with his hand as she helped him to a nearby bench.

The vial was still empty..

He said he would be fine, but he wasn't sure how true that was.. He couldn't heal himself anymore..

Something was wrong with him, he couldn't use any yoki..even though he knew it was there..

They both knew..the only surefire way to heal him now was for him to take blood.. She had already sliced her wrist wide open..

It tasted disgusting.. Coppery, warm, salty.. Even if her skin was soft and smooth.. He didn't want to have to do this again..

He didn't want her to be worried either.. It hurt a lot more..than he was used to..

Blood didn't really help all that quickly, he had to take a lot for it to do anything.. But it worked. He had new scars now..he could live with them..

But, he couldn't really live with looking at her face..like it was.. She was crying..holding onto him like he was really going to disappear. It felt..nice..a little.. To be this important..

He didn't really think it was worth this, though..

He had to fix it..find out what was wrong..

They would go to the church.. It had started right after Sister Matilda had fixed him..

She'd know..

Katt's player. Thanks! ]

"It hasn't.." Matilda frowned, the lines around her mouth deepening. "I see.. Removin' the seal is sort of like the process ye went through with yer scars. Since it's not just branded into the flesh, but deeper still, it'll take a lot more to do so. The fact that it's not faded concerns me. In most situations, it would have started to after the first two weeks.. However, not that many people survive such things, and the conditions weren't exactly ideal. It could not be fadin' for several reasons.."

"Such as..?" Katt eyes raised, nail finally released from it's torture. Attention returned to the sister. There was a small realization that she found she wasn't all too happy about. But she could come to that concern..later.

"Usually, the brands used to force the Servant out are painted on with ink or another permanent substance." Sister Matilda shrugged softly. "Because I had to work with the markin's of a highlighter..though, I'm not irritated whatsoever. Little Mayu was an excellent help, and had we done nothin', the boy would have certainly died. That could be a factor. Another could be that we got to him at a much later date than would've been ideal. When a Servant of Ruoh takes over a body, the palms of their hands and soles of their feet become branded as time goes on. He had three of the four brands."

Katt head tilted and she gave a sound that showed her absolute disturbance of the offered information. "If the seal is broken would the Servant immediately return?"

"No, it wouldn't, but it'd open him up for another to take its place at another time." Matilda shook her head, her frown still etched along her mouth. "There's a third factor that I'm considerin', but it's one that I don't necessarily wish to be true."

"Ah yeah..and frowning about it you know that makes me want to ask, right?" Katt gave a little teasing smile but it was faintly so. "What would that factor be?"

"The sealin' brand is meant to keep the demonic forces of a Servant from enterin' the body again. However.." Matilda nodded, looking up to meet Katt's eyes instead of the open space she'd been studying for the past several minutes. "...if the boy himself is any bit part of that category, the seal will react and remain.."

So she was right. It was the seal. Welllll hell! "I see." Katt's head craned to one side as she met the sister's eyes. "Tell me sister, out of curiousity. If I..were of such, would you look upon me differently then you do now? I am pretty sure you are aware that I am not exactly human in full nature."

Matilda took a deep breath and let it out in another sigh that was meant to calm her. Her frown deepened even further..she folded her hands in front of her stomach. "The Lord commands that we do not bare false witness, but that commandment's hard to keep. I would try not to, dear, as the Lord also loves all His children no matter who or what they are, and what they've done..but I've had dealin's with several demons and none of those experiences have been good."

For some reason the sister's words sort of hurt. Not that she was really surprised.. "I..see..." Katt's eyes dipped away and she slipped her hands into the pockets of the hoodie. So if the sister knew then she'd regret helping her..and maybe even Toby. It was sort of sad really. The rain was indeed a well placed omen wasn't it? "Thank you for the information. It's helped out a lot to understand what happened."

"I'm sure it's not that last factor, dear. Could be se'eral more that I'm not even thinkin' of. Ye talk to the lad about all this when ye see him..and I'll speak with Zenny when I see her." Matilda nodded, the frown not quiet working itself off her face. "She's much more skilled with the dealin's of demonic presences beyond banishin' them."

Katt felt fickled about the idea of introducing more people into the situation. Specially Zenny. If the woman, who was training Mayu, even dared attempt to raise her sword at him..There was going to be some complications. She blinked and tilted her eyes to the sister with a small nod. "Oh. Sure I'll tell him..."

"I can only assume that yer askin' these questions for a specific reason, but I shall not ask what that is. If ye care to wait for him, I know he was here earlier, and is probably finishin' up somethin' outside or in the kitchens." Matilda patted the loaf of bread in the basket with a smile that could have been warmer. "I need to go there myself. I hope I've answered what ye wanted to know."

"Actually there is two concerns I'd like to speak with you before you do go? One being his stay here. I am not sure he's spoken to you about that.." Shuffling her feet Katt glanced down the hall as if Toby was going to pop up at any moment.

"Two concerns?" The Sister blinked, turning back to face Katt instead of the side hall that would take her to the kitchens. "No, he's not spoken to me in a while. Though, I haven't seen him about..I usually try to let him roam without too many thoughts or worries."

Katt nodded slowly. "He's considering giving up his room here and collecting pay for his work here. I am not sure if that is his complete choice yet so I am sure he will speak his mind when he is ready. However...I'd like it if he could keep the room. I'll pay for it if need be. He likes it here and finds peace when his mind is...troubled.." She thought on that for a moment and slowly gave a nod. That word would do for now.

"Really now?" Matilda laughed heartily, waving a hand. "Well, thank the Lord for knockin' some sense into that thick head of his. I told him just acceptin' the room was an odd thing to do. And ye don't need to pay for it, dear, he didn't..and if ye wish for him to have a place in the Lord's house, it shall be kept open for him." Matilda nodded.

"Well he doesn't exactly need the money but he figured since he's not using the room..." Katt shrugged a bit and grinned, hands shoving into the pocket of the hoodie. "He's spoiled to me paying for stuff I think. That or .." Ohh she doesn't need to know that! "Now regarding my other concern. One of the sisters here. The one with the ruler.."

Matilda laughed, this time softly, waving her hand again. "Och, I'm sure that's not the case. He's a strange lad, he is.. And yes, Agatha, she told me about your meeting in the kitchens. It's a lot better to just ignore e'erythin' she tries to tell you and learn to duck. She's like that to e'eryone."

Katt gave a throaty sound. "I will warn..She hits Toby and I have no problem with cracking her own ruler across her skull. I'm sorry but she presses herself into business that she has no concern nor does she have the right to judge others the way she does. Specially when she is wrong." Obviously she didn't think it funny at all. Arms folded across her chest and she exhaled slowly. "I don't appreciate her disrespectfulness. Sort of added to my concerns of coming here.." Shaking her head she managed a smile. "Anywho...."

Katt's player. Thanks! ]

Katt spluttered, not sure she heard him correctly. "Thhh....Huh?" Her eyes drifted up to him to give a stare. Mostly out of disbelief that he, of all people, went there. "L-Like....?" So shouldn't of asked that. She knew she shouldn't of.

He just grinned. It was a little too crooked to suggest anything good. He shuffled a bit more underneath the stall, looking back to where they'd come from. "What did she say..?"

Thank goodness he looked away cause that grin had her shading all sorts of red. Even if she knew better and he was just joking. Slowly her head turned and she leaned back into the stall. "From what she's said..I think it might be that seal on your arm.." She seemed to drift back into her thoughts with a little frown hidden within the shadows of the hood. "Though the seal is suppose to protect you from being possessed again it will react and remain because of the yoma..At least..that's what I think. She referred to Servant as a 'demon'. So they fall into the same category right?" Her eyes trained down on her shoes, not allowing herself to think too much on Toby's tease.

"The sun thing..? Really.." He blinked, not sure how to take it. "I thought it looked kind of cool.. But yeah..Yoma are demons.. There's really no question about that.." He sighed, rubbed his forehead with his fingertips. "What am I supposed to do about it..?"

"It needs to be broken." Her eyes drifted towards him. "I think even though I was just being curious the sister seemed to know that there was a reason behind my questioning. She said she would speak to Zenny who had more information about dealing of demonic presences beyond banishings. So..I guess we would need to speak to Zenny as well.."

"Huh.. Guess that's not that big a deal, I was supposed to talk to her anyway, or something.." He shrugged, shoved his fingers back through his hair. "So I've gotta get it busted, or else I'll not be able to do anything.. And if I do, the same thing'll happen.. 'Cause you said it's protecting me from that kinda stuff, right..?"

She nodded slowly. "But not everyone is protected by such seals. I'm not..so I mean it's not like possessions happen every day, right?" Oh yeah says the one who was possessed sometime last year around this time? Maybe a few months longer along.. Pff.

"Yeah.. I just have to be careful..or something.. I know what it felt like the last time, I remember it.. If we have to..she can just do it again.." He huffed a sigh and hung his head, rubbing the back of his neck with his fingers. "Least we know why.."

Her brows dipped and she stuffed both hands into the pockets of the hoodie. Slouching a bit she nodded quietly. She couldn't tell him he didn't have to. He wanted it. Sorta.

"Did she tell you how it's supposed to be taken off..? She kinda just..slapped it on my arm last time.." He shook his hand and water droplets went flying.

Katt was silent, not sure she wanted to answer that. Thinking of her own workings she lowered her head. "It..is sort of like what they did for me but a lot..deeper ..."

"What'd they do to you again..? They opened the scars and healed them again, right..?" He looked up at her, one eyebrow curved on his forehead.

"To quote her words she said that it would be like the process I went through with my scars but since it's not just branded into the flesh but deeper it would take a lot more to do.." She didn't see the look he gave her, her mind swimming with the idea of putting him through that. Or worse...

"Do you want to be there when I do it.." He poked his tongue around all of his teeth after he asked, looking down at his soggy shoes..and the wet noodles that were his shoelaces.

Her eyes snapped up to him. Why did he ask her that? Slowly she nodded. "Yes..Unless you do not want me to be." His choice that she would have to respect even if she disliked it.

Toby grinned down at his shoes. "Just checking.. And, I kinda wanted to let you know I was going to.. Besides, it's just my arm.. It shouldn't be that bad.."

"I don't care how bad it will be. I want to be there." She pushed from the stall and nodded firmly.

"Yeah, I know you do.. I wonder what's supposed to happen though.." He shuffled on his feet in thought. "I kinda got used to seeing that mark there.. It'll be weird without it.. I probably shouldn't get a head of myself or anything.."

Katt grinned a bit and reached out to poke where the brand was. "We can always go get you a tattoo." She blinked and tilted her head. "I..noticed you rub it a lot sometimes. Does it hurt you?"

"No..it's just a habit.. Like when I did it here.." He touched his chest with his hand. "Although, that *actually* hurt.. This..it's just something to touch.. 'Cause it's a new thing.." He shrugged. I'm probably not explaining it right.."

Her eyes drifted to his chest and hand. Denise had called her on doing the exact same thing. Difference was she still did it..He didn't. Nodding she glanced back to his shoulder even if she couldn't see the brand. "We...can go back to the church. Talk to the sister.."

He blinked, looking up at her. "Like..right now..? What would we talk to her about..? I thought we were supposed to get Zenny too.. I've never seen her..I don't think.."

"What better time then now? Or do you still need time to think about it?" Her head tilted as she continued to stare at his shoulder.

"What better time than now.." He huffed a sigh and looked over at the road they'd taken to get to the stall. "Why not.. And if she's not there..whatever.. I'd really like to not have to drink any blood if I got hurt again.."

Katt's player. Thanks! ]

Katt nodded slowly and slipped up to Toby's left side, that hand reaching out to brush his hair again. It was okay to touch him right? "Is there anything you need me to do, Zenny?" Anything of course was stressed to be the key word.

"Hold him down when he fights. If my assumptions are correct, he will indeed do so. I will try my best to both soothe his mind and remove the brand as swiftly as possible. But just in case." Zenny peered hard at Katt, then looked over at Matilda..who crossed herself twice and muttered a prayer.

Katt scooted closer and nodded gently. "Okay." Osh why was she given such a hard look! Shaking it off she lowered her eyes down to Toby. It was going to be okay..

"How long has he had this brand? Indeed, you said it had been a while since you performed this?" Zenny glanced at Matilda..shaking her hands out and produced a brush from one of her sleeves. She thumbed the tip and dotted the tips of her fingers. The area around the chair started to buzz with invisible energy.

Katt's tongue brushed across her teeth. Why was she so..nervous? Well for one she worried about the ending outcome and also if Toby felt that maybe he was pushed into the current. Looking up slowly to look between the two women. "It was there since the ritual, yes.." Even if it wasn't directed to her. Comfirmation!

"Indeed.." Zenny said thoughtfully. The brush disappeared back into her sleeve..she hovered her right hand over the black brand. "Are we all ready? Matilda, ready yourself. And you too, Katt."

Slowly Katt's hand slipped around to Toby's shoulder, resting at the curve of his neck with one hand while the other rested against his left shoulder. She nodded meekly. "Yeah.."

"Here we go, then." A couple seconds before her fingers actually touched his skin, the black dots on their tips began to grow and sharpen to skewers. Zenny poked her index finger into Toby's shoulder, cutting a circle around the brand that drew blood instantly. Matilda's glowing hand sprinkled golden dust..keeping the wound from growing terribly large. "Hold him." She shoved the rest of her hand onto his shoulder..fingers digging into the red line she'd cut.

Toby's arms and the muscles of his neck went rigid.

Katt twitched, wanting to slap Zenny away with force. It was simply a reaction. Inhaling she pressed firmly into Toby's shoulders. She murmured something quietly to him, trying to ease him in some small way even though it looked like it hurt like hell. Her eyes lowered from Zenny's work to focus on Toby's face. That helped with not wanting to do something she'd regret.

Zenny laid her left hand against Toby's forehead..the fingers of her right hand curling. Her own arms tensed when Toby's relaxed..muscles vibrating as she dug into the flesh of his shoulder. Crimson bubbled and dripped..slicking her knuckles. Sister Matilda crossed herself with her free hand. "You're doing just fine, Katt, though we are indeed not out of the woods yet."

Katt nodded, keeping her hold on Toby. Slowly her eyes drifted to Zenny's work. Lips thinning to stop herself from frowning she watched his blood.

"It is indeed abnormal for this brand to still be here. This should have been brought to somebody's attention long before now." Zenny frowned, relaxing her fingers against his shoulder..waiting for Matilda's light to catch up with the waterfall of red spilling onto the floor. "San, ni, ichi.." Zenny's arm tensed and she pulled at his arm, digging at the brand with her fingers. Toby tensed in the chair, his hands curling around the armrests..shoulders pressing against Katt's hold.

"Well we sorta didn't realize. Thought it was suppose to be like that." Katt grunted quietly and pressed her hands firmly to pin Toby back into the chair. Swallowing hard against the dry sensation in her throat she tried to speak more to inform Zenny but instead there was a raspy grunt.

"You did not tell them, Matilda?"

"I did, but apparently the lad chose to not pay enough attention." Her tone was light, but her face was hard..set in concentration.

Zenny's fist began to close around the separated skin and several layers of muscle beneath. Her lips moved, chanting quietly..now wasn't the time for speaking.. Toby lurched forward in the chair, grunting.

Placing a foot to the chair so it didn't move Katt applied more pressure to keep Toby from moving too much. She almost threw herself to hugging him but for now she could handle just this. Fingers curled gently, using her palms with the most force that way she didn't end up hurting him. " It's okay Toby.."

"As much strength as you are able to exert, exert it." Zenny said through clenched teeth, her hand on Toby's forehead shaking as much as the one she was digging into his arm. His eyelids started to drift open, irises paling to a silvery aqua, then flickering gold. Toby's jaw clenched, he threw himself against the holds on him.

Sister Matilda muttered another surprised prayer.

Katt's player. Thanks! ]

"Matilda w-wait!" Katt's voice squeaked out and sung of the unfairness of her actions. She would of taken chase after the older woman if it were not for the fact that she felt entirely too weak to do so. Clenching on the chair she frowned.

"Insufferable woman. Hypocritical beyond belief. I am now indeed reminded why I left in the first place." Zenny snapped at the closed door, turning to face the two in the office chair. "Is there anything either of you need? Are you both feeling alright." Zenny frowned as she moved to the window seat and lifted it..pulling out a few sheets of bandages and swabbing blood from her hand..then dropped them on the floor, kicking them around in the puddle of blood there.

Toby stared at the door, his eyes feeling wide. He pursed his lips into a line so they wouldn't quiver..shook his head quickly to Zenny's question.

"Nuh...I should...I should go talk to her.." Her eyes lowered to Toby and a hand raised from the chair to the back of his head. "I just..need rest.." She informed Zenny. She pushed from her lean into the chair and carefully made her way towards the door. "I'll talk to her Toby.."

"Katt, don't.." He blinked away the sheen of moisture in his eyes, swallowed the lump in his throat. Zenny stepped in front of the door and smoothly turned to face Katt..her unbloodied hand raising.

"Indeed, I do not suggest that. She is not in her right mind currently, and she will retaliate with force if necessary. The best thing you can do for this boy is stay with him, for he has been dealt the lowest of blows."

"Stay here..please..?"

"Mrmmm.." Katt stared at Zenny's hand and slowly nodded. "Can we have a couple of blankets and something warm to drink. Err..Soda?" She peeked over to Toby then looked back to Zenny. She looked tired but at the same time quite frustrated. "Thank you Zenny.."

"Indeed. I will have Sera bring them for you while I search out Her Highness. I apologize for Matilda's behavior." Zenny's mouth remained open, like she wanted to add something it it, but she shook her head..turned and slipped out of the door through an impossibly small crack, closing it gently behind her.

Toby covered his mouth and nose with his hands immediately afterward.

Katt waited a moment or two after Zenny left before turning and making her way back to Toby. Reaching out she weakly placed her hand to the side of his head. At this rate she was going to exhaust herself into bed for days. "Shhh. She didn't mean it Toby, I'm sure. She was just surprised."

He shook his head softly, covered the rest of his face with his hands..leaning forward until his elbows pressed into his knees. He just..needed a second.. He wasn't going to cry.. He really wanted to.. After a moment, he ended up sniffing.

Katt's fingers curled into her palm when he moved away. Swallowing she turned her head to one side then lowered it. Slowly but surely she moved to stand in front of him but she didn't move to touch. He'd probably just pull away anyways. Sorry. It was just one of those times where it didn't sound like it would cut it.

He grit his teeth..sucked in a breath through them. When he breathed it out, it shook. His fingers threaded into his hair. He slid ehis hands away from his mouth so he could talk. "I'm glad I didn't t-tell her.."

"Stop it.." Her hands moved forward, brushing the fingertips spying from his hair. Slowly she knelt onto the floor and her hands lowered to his knees. "She is just surprised, that is all."

"No, she's not.. She's never y-yelled at me before.. And she yelled at you t-too.." He sniffed again, rubbed his face..looking up at her with red rimmed pale eyes. He shook his head weakly.

It had been a long while since she had last seen him cry out of sadness or such pain. Gently she squeezed his knees. "Shh. She doesn't understand is all. That happens when you don't tell people everything. Zenny will talk some sense into her. So ..." Her brows knitted up and her eyes dropped a bit from his face. He was right. Matilda did yell at her too. It didn't feel all that great when she thought on it. Her eyes closed but opened a few moments after. Closing them for too long was a bad idea. Slowly she looked back up and raised a hand to his cheek. "It'll be okay.."

"I've never had that happen..b-before.." He sniffed, licked his lips..lowered his palms to rest on her knuckles. "It was always just me..who did it to myself and other p-people.." His chin dipped down when she touched his face, but he didn't pull away from it.

Katt blinked at him. He had never been yelled at? Her hand drifted forward and she pushed up, hand resting to his head while she leaned to hug him. Lucky him to never be yelled at. "Shhh."

He swallowed again, not knowing what to do about the hug for a moment. Gradually, his arms relaxed enough to where he could return it..the touch careful, like he was handling glass. "I don't think she would've underst-stood even if I did tell her.."

"Understand what? That you are a little different?" She snorked a bit and shook her head, nuzzling her forehead up to his. "She knows you. She's seen you. This..what happened. Once she's settled down she will understand. I mean I told her that there were things..You are a good person Toby. She knows this and will come to remember it."

He shook his head softly and lowered his face into the crook of her shoulder. The coat didn't smell like her.. It wasn't all that comforting..

Head tilting to lean into his she hugged him a bit firmer. "It was just a shock. You know how that can make a person say and do stupid things..Just..give her time."

"I don't..like Humans.." He shifted to look up at the door when a soft knock came from it. The handle turned and Sera squeezed into the office muttering apologies..her small arms wrapped around thick blankets. One bottle of soda poked up from the folds. Her hands carefully cradled a ceramic plate and mug heaped with warm cocoa and whipped cream. She silently set everything down on the desk.

Katt's head tilted to watch Sera. Slowly she pressed her cheek to Toby's hair, whispering softly. "You don't mean that. So shush..." A gentle kiss was planted to his hair before she stood. A sad little smile was offered to Sera as she sluggishly made her way towards the desk. "Thank you, Sera." A blanket was collected first followed by the soda.

"Are you two alright..?" Sera folded her hands in front of her, looking between the two of them, concern written clearly on her heart shaped face.

Toby sat back in the chair when he had nothing left to hug, his arms folding tightly over his stomach. He nodded a couple times.

The smile faded as Katt murmured quietly to the smaller female. "I don't know.." Bowing her head as deeply as she dared she slowly straightened and returned to Toby. The soda was offered first then the blanket worked over his shoulders.

Sera nodded to Katt, then looked down at Toby..shuffling a step back toward the door. "I'll..tell everyone that everything's okay.." She hurried out the door and closed it quietly behind her.

Toby took the soda he was given, huddling into the blanket with it. He didn't open it.

Katt glanced to the door wondering if there was something going on. People worried? She wasn't sure. Slowly she began to sink back down to her knees. It was easier then standing up. Heel pressed into her eyes she sighed out.

"I shouldn't stay here.." He shifted the bottle around in his hands. "She doesn't want me to stay here.." He bit his bottom lip and looked over at her.

Fingers drew slowly over the ridge of her eyes, trying to push away the sensation. "Toby. Why don't you wait before making that decision. Give her time to cool down and think clearly .."

"If she's anything like me, she's not gonna change her mind.." He twisted the cap off the soda bottle angrily..and peered at the newly bent piece of metal in his hand. He'd squeezed it so hard.. He smiled sadly down at his palm.

He found..that it made everything worth it..