Welcome to Gaia! ::

things were finally calming down after Elda's epic battle.... things are downright... normal even. It's calming. relaxing. Karins been learning to control her little... problem, and Kenta is cheerful enough lately that it hasn't been much of a problem anyway. They're all having lunch in the classroom one day, kenta eating the box karin prepared, karin with maki, probably trying to ignore winner-kun while maki is trying to get him to notice her.... when the teacher comes into the room. she's wide eyed and pale. too pale. she's stumbling, not quite moving properly. she leans against her podium as soon as she gets to it, and seems to be clinging to it for dear life. Karin's eyes widen and her hands go over her face as she rushes from the room

Winner gasped as he saw his "beloved" run off without him. Sometihng must of upset her! "Maaka!" He called after and went to rush after her. He paid no attention to the teacher's strange actions. These things usually didn't phase him. Kenta's attention turned away from his food as he heard Winner's voice call out Karin's name. He really didn't like how he always stalked around after her when Karin clearly didn't seem to appreciate it. He frowned when he realized Karin wasn't here anymore. He stood up. Did she run out....? And what was happening with the teacher? There wasn't much time for him to think about it. He needed to make sure Karin was going. If she had a nose bleed now.... that wouldn't be good.

Karin, aware winner was after her, ran to the one place he wouldn't follow her, she hoped... she shoved the door to the ladies room open and ran in, making it into a stall just in time for the nosebleed, one bad enough that a small amount of blood ran along the floor and under it, the smallest bit visible from the hallway

Kenta ran out quickly. He didn't trust Winner enough to stall. Winner ran right past the trail of blood and kept running, calling Karin's name loud enough for the whole school to hear. Kenta, however, noticed noticed the trail of blood that came from the girl's room. "M-Maaka?" It was smart of her to go in there, but he couldn't help her while she was in the bathroom...

"Ke.....kenta?" she asked tentivly, and muffled, he could tell her hands were still over her nose.

"Are you okay?" He asked. He looked down the hall just to make sure no one was around.

"y....you alone?" she asked nervously.

"Y-Yeah. You can come out, Karin. It's alright. Winner is probably on the other end of the school...." He smiled slightly, but he was worried about her...

After a moment the door opened a crack and she peaked out then she opened it fully and stumbled out, covered in blood, hand over her nose again, looking like she's ready to have another nosebleed already.

Kenta backed away a little. Him worrying about her probably wasn't helping. "It's not me is it...? I wasn't unhappy when this started...We should get you cleaned up...." He tried to think of happy things, but the look on her face made her worry more.

She colapsed into him, near tears herself, her free hand grapping his shirt, she was shaking baddly all over.

Kenta's face turned red as he blushed and he embraced her. "It's okay. I'll protect you..." He reassured. He looked around again cautiously. "Come on. Let's get you somewhere a bit safer though... Before Winner or someone shows up..."

She nodded, letting him lead her off as she fought to not have another nose bleed

Kenta took her hand and quickly moved, going the opposite way Winner went. He looked around, trying to find a place for them to hide. He wondered what caused this though. Everything had been fine... He had been happily enjoying the lunch Karin gave him. What had gone wrong?

Her steps faltered and she had another nosebleed as she passed out::

Kenta caught her before she fell. He gritted his teeth. If only he had found a place to hide the two of them. Then he could let her bite her and everything would be alright. He picked her up. Leaving the school was the only option now.

Winner returned to the classroom in complete distress. "Has Maaka-san returned here? She has disappeared!" he'd come back to find the classroom empty "WHAT?! WHY IS NO ONE HERE?!" Winner was stunned. He looked around. "Something is a foot... Perhaps... evil vampires are attacking the school?! Only I can save everyone and Maaka-san then!" He rushed out again. he'd find a crowd of people leaving the school, most of them looking shocked or stunned. Winner gaped as he saw the people leaving. What was going on. He grabbed a random male student to question him. "Tell me! Why the evacuation?! Who has attacked the school and taken Maaka-san? I know something is a foot. There is no way you can hide it from me!"

The kid blinked. "you didn't hear about Erin-chan?" he asked, naming one of the girls in their class that always mooned over winner, but was absent that day.

"Who? What about her? Did she take Karin? Tell me more about her and I shall find her right away and put everything right!" Winner was as clueless as ever.

"Who's karin? Erin-chan was found dead in a janator's closet, so we all get to go home early

Winner gaped. "Dead....?" He narrowed his eyes. "So it really was evil vampires..." He tilted his hat down so it was over shadowing his eyes. "I know what I must do then.... Do not worry, Maaka-san..."

Winner was distracted enough so he didn't notice Kenta, sneaking around the school and out of the sight over everyone else. "What's going on....?" Kenta asked himself

Okay. so after nearly an hour Karin would groan awake. "wha....?"

"K-Karin!" Kenta smiled. He was happy to see her awake. He had let her rest on a bench in the park. "Are you feeling better? Sorry... I wasn't fast enough..."

She shook her head a bit and pushed herself into a sitting position. "I'm sorry..." she said, looking down at her feet, covered in blood.

Kenta took off his school jacket to give her. "I should probably get you a towel... I couldn't leave you alone which is why I haven't gotten one yet..."

She nodded a bit, hugging the jacket around herself. "Thank you...."

Kenta smiled. "I'll be right back, okay?" He ran off. He knew somewhere where he'd be able to get one pretty fast...

She watched him go, trying to figure out what had happened

Kenta came back with a towel and sat next to her. "Do you have any idea what happened? A lot of people were leaving the school...."

She shook her head. "I don't know...but everyone was so miserable...."

"....Something must of happened. The teacher did look funny."

"Sleepy huh?" He laughed a little, but soon yawned too. Yawns were contagious. He blushed and took her hand. "Let's go..."

She flushed a bit too and took his hand, walking with him. "What do think tomorrow will be like...?" Karin asked softly.

"I have no idea... I was sort of wondering if they would cancel school, but I haven't heard anything like that," He replied. He had been wondering that himself.

She noddded a bit. "I wish they would."

Kenta nodded in agreement to what she said. "I don't think anyone is going
to be comfortable going to a place where someone just died...."

She nodded a bit.

Kenta stopped walking as they got to the front of his house. He reached into his pocket to pull out his keys and then opened the door. He held it open for Karin.

thank you:he said softly, ducking ehr head as she walked in::

"Mom, I'm home!" He called out. There was no answer. His face turned red. He had just brought a girl home... with no one else around. He shook his head. No! They were here to watch television... nothing more. "Guess she's not home..." He mumbled.

She nodded a bit. "She's working then?"

"Y-Yeah probably. I don't remember her saying she's going to work late though..." He sighed and turned on the small television they had. They had only got it a week ago. It looked pretty old though. He flipped on the news.

She removed her shoes, because mun realizes she should have before, then sits down in front of the tv, hands on her knees,sitting on her feet.::

Erm... And Kenta already did when no one was looking. ( XD; I forgot too) and sat down next to her.

She flushed the smallest bit and made herself focus on the screen, which was difficult. especially as nothing was said about Erin-chan

Kenta switched the channel to another news station after a few moments of watching. "Maybe this one..."

She nodded a bit, glancing at him, then flushing and looking at the scren again

Kenta frowned a bit. It was such an odd event. One would think the news would be eating up a story like this...

And yet, nothing

Kenta switched it off for a bit. "The one time you want to hear something from them..." He turned to Karin. "You think it will at least be in the paper tomorrow?"

She nodded. "probably. should I pick up two papers on the way to school?"

He nodded. "Sure. I'll pay you back."

She shakes her head. "We would have known more if you didn't come to help me... so... my treat... okay?"

"Things happen. That's not your fault." He insisted. He sighed. "I really wouldn't mind, but... fine. If you insist."

she nodded a bit, and yawned.

"Want to go home?" He asked.

She hesitated then nodded.

"Alright. I'll walk you..."

She nodded again, getting up to get her shoes, but she stumbled and tripped, falling against him

Kenta stumbled, almost falling back with surprise. He held her and seemed a bit worried. "A...Are you okay, M-Maaka?" He blushed a bit as he realized what their position was like.

"ye...yeah...."she replied flushing as well.

Kenta opened his mouth to say something, but stopped as the door opened. "Kenta I'm-" Kenta's mother had come up. She stood in the door way in shock as she saw ehr son embracing Karin. Her look of shock turned to a smile. "Oooh. Kenta! You finally invited Karin to your home alone! Just make sure you're careful, okay...?" She giggled. Kenta turned even redder, "M-Mooom!"

Karin flushed darker and stood streight bowing to her deeply. "I'm sorry. I just fell!"

"Theres no need to be sorry..." Miss. Usui giggled. "No need to make excuses either."

"Kenta kind of just stood there in shock that his mother could be so calm about this. He was home, alone.. with a girl!!!

"I...I'm going home." she bows again. "Thank you for letting me watch the news here." she then grabbed her shoes, and bolted, embarassed.

"W-Wait, Maaka!" Kenta reached his hand out but withdrew it with a sigh.

Miss. Usui frowned. "I scared her away..."

Kenta continued to blush.

The next day at school everyone was buzzing about Erin chan. Kain came over, and handed him a newspaper and a lunch box then sat with her friend, blushig

Kenta watched her. He was going to apologize but she walked away too fast. He looked down at the paper and opened it up.

"Maaka-san~ <33" WInner-kun bounced over to Karin. "I'm so glad you are okay! I was looking for you for hours!"

She blinked and looked up at him. "ah.... winner kun....."

Maki scowled at him. "Don't you care about Erin at all?" she asked him, her crush taking a hit, though not a fatal one.

"But of course, Takiwaba-san. I was looking for the killer too." He said with a nod.

Her heart soared as he called her by something other then miss karin's friend,. it might not have been her real name, but a step was a step. "I know you'll find him. I feel safer knowing you're looking!"

"Thank you, Tubawka-san! All shall feel safe for I am on the job. I shall protect everyone in this school," He nodded in self assurance.

The sensei came into the room then, dressed all in black. "Class, please come to order."

Winner-kun stared at the teacher. It took him a few minutes to figure out why she dressed in such a depressing attire. He looked down at his own outfit. Was he wearing enough black? He went to sit down. "I shall talk to you later, Maaka-san~ <3"

Karin sat up streight, still seeming flushed, a hand to her nose now. she hardly acknowledged winner's departure.

Maki watchied him go then turned to face the teacher.

"I have just been informed of the date and time of the funeral for Erin chan. It will be on friday, and anyone who wishes to attend is excused from school on that day. (Gonna say today's tuesday, if that's okay?) Now, lets have a moment of scilance for Erin."

As everyone got quiet, Karin put both hands over her nose, struggling to stay seated.

"Found something?" The nurse asked.

"Uhm... Uh... A body..." Kenta said nervously. He didn't know how else to put it.

the nurse blinked and frowned, before leaving the room

Karin got into one of the beds, and pulled the blanket over her head

Kenta sat at the end of her bed. He fidgeted a little nervously. What to say... That sure was.. something they saw. He was still a bit disturbed.

"Why does this keep happening?" Karin whispered

Kenta frowned. "I don't know... But I do know something isn't normal about this..."

She nodded a bit, under the blankets.

"I hope the cops can handle it..." Kenta said mostly to himself. He sighed and rest his head on his fists.

"You think they can?"

"Most likely, but... It just seems weird..."

She nodded a bit, but before she could speak, the nurse came back in. "Can you help Maaka-san home? The school is closing for the rest of the afternoon."

Kenta nodded. "Yeah. No problem.."

She nodded and went about closing up the office

Karin slipped out of the bed, hand over her nose.

Kenta took her hand. "Um....Once we get out of the school I'll let you bite me." He smiled encouragingly.

She shook her head a bit as she walked out with him, her hand clinging to his cutely.

Kenta smile grew a little more. "Alright..." He looked around. He wondered if the other students knew yet...

She nodded and walked along side him, her face red, head down, free hand over her nose. "I don't have a shift tonight," she mumbled. "So I told Anju I'd spend the night with her...."

"Oh.. Yeah. I'll walk you home then." Kenta said. He sounded a tiny bit disappointed, but he understood.

"Thank you," she said softly.

He nodded his head. "Anytime."

She smiled a bit at him. "Thanks."

"Does your family know whats going on...?"

She shook her head. "I tried to tell them, but I kept getting inturrupted. Then I realized they might decide to move... so I kept my mouth shut..."

"You'd really think they'd move?" He frowned. If that happened.. He'd go right back to being miserable again.

"Yeah, See you." He turned to leave, stopping only to look back once to wave to her, before disappearing and heading home.


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The next day in school, the teacher started things off, and the atmosphere was somber. When she started to call roll, she choked up. She finally did the attendance silently then took a deep breath. She avoided looking a the empty seats that belonged to the students who were no longer with them. "It... it looks like everyone is... is present today...except for Maaka...." she said, taking a deep breath, trying to compose herself.

Maki turned to look, wide eyed as she realized that as well... Karin's chair was empty.

Midway through the day a student comes rushing in and whisperes to the teacher. her eyes widen.

"Class... another... another body was found, another student. School is closing for the day, please go home. The school will stay closed for the rest of the week...." the sensei was shaking badly as she spoke, tears welling as her eyes landed on Karin's chair.

Maki chased after him and grabbed his arm. "Please.... tell me she's at home or something.... tell me you spoke to her today," she begged, her eyes wide with unshed tears.

"We have to look for her, all three of us together!" Maki insisted. "We have to find her! "She can't... can't be...." Tears began rolling down her face.

Maki grabbed Winner's hand and followed Kenta. "Where should we look? The park?"