Welcome to Gaia! ::

She was sweating quite a bit. Atta ghoul, Xiu. Was'a good workout today. They'd amazingly slipped passed the hoard of interviewers parading around the campus grounds as of late due to the Horsemen Trials.

It had just been the day before that they were put to the test by giant crabs and sandcastle making/guarding. The press wanted to know about their going-ons and it was difficult to do anything outside the dorms without being prompted for answers. Levi had already gotten stuck answering things once.

So the ghouls found their solace in the woods near a familiar cave, only recently opened to the students. Patting at her forehead with one end of the towel swung over her neck, the tatzel ghoul grinned at the baku. Good thing ya'll could meet me out'ere today, eh?

Dang reporters. Levi didn't mind large crowds, but it was their manner that made her want to flee. Their mouths spat out words like pistols, she thought.

With a chuckle, the ghoul was about to respond to the baku's inquiry when a rustling of leaves caused her to recall something. Ya know... It would take a minute or two of standing still with a blank expression until those rusty wheels in Levi's mind worked their way towards a thought. Aha! As if to visibly -ding!-, her tail wriggled in delight at her brilliance.

Aye Xiu, whaddaya think 'bout hot springs? Like 'em any? A light smile was on her face as she began to move in a certain direction. Indeed the environment was familiar; they weren't too far off now. Without the worry of reporters knowing this newly opened area, Levi figured it would be a good way to end their training session. Hot springs were good for relaxing the muscles, she once read and RETAINED. Working up a sweat, they could use this relaxation to be prepared again for the following day when their trials would begin anew.

The bonus to this? Levi had homework to complete for adventure class by bringing someone else to the springs. She was actually benefitting from this plan in more than one way! The tatzel felt an amount of pride worth a jar of candy corn from thinking of all of this.

Closer and closer they were heading. Levi's attention was on the baku, smiling in response when she replied. Excellent! Well thar just happens ta' be- A snapping twig a distance away caused a white ear on the tatzel's head to twitch. At first, Levi's worry was that it was an enemy so she quickly grabbed Xiu's arm and swung her onto her back, jumping into a tree. Taking the Horseman's stealth class, as well as the ninja's class, had helped Levi to quiet her sneaking just well enough to gather Xiu in what was, hopefully, a silent enough manner for whatever was lurking.

Shh... ya'heard that?

Whispering, the ghoul gently parted some leaves in the direction she'd heard the noise, hoping to find the source while remaining unseen. Sure enough, a pointed finger from Levi would reveal a figure in the distance to the petite ghoul beside her. They were on a thick branch overhead, crouching to keep a low profile, but there was still a good amount of distance still between where they were and were the reporters were. Just looks 'ta be tha' two of 'em.

The two figures had microphones and following cameramen behind them, so it was easy enough to identify them. This was just proof of how far these reporters were willing to go to get those interviews. Dangit. Well- I tell ya'what. We'll meet back 'ere 'nother day. Looking through the brush of leaves, Levi then turned back to Xiu as she whispered. Don't reckon we wanna be givin' em anythin' all tha way down 'ere in th'woods anywho. Them fellers would all be flockin' in then. Fer now- think it's best we sneak back ta'tha dorms.

She smiled to relieve the tension. We'll save tha'fun fer 'nother day! Can promise ya that. Like a pinky swear, Levi's tail coiled around the end of Xiu's, giving it a small shake. Whaddaya think? ...sounds good fer yew? Unless the baku wanted to talk to them after all...

Levi was able to successfully escape the reports in the woods that day with Xiu without being seen. Once the trials had ended and the way seemed clear for returning back to the spa area, Levi sent word to Xiu via her window. Waking up one morning, the baku would find a note tucked into her window.



Levi took care of all her chores for the morning despite having woken up an hour later than her usual early rise. She had her reasons...

The tatzel ghoul adjusted her scarf upward slightly while waiting by the tree she and Xiu had been in last time they were there. Her notes usually seemed to work on West, so she assumed the same would go for Xiu.

Maybe the baku wouldn't take note of anything different...

A chill went up Levi's spine when Xiu hugged her today. There was just something about the sensation of touch that had her a bit edgy. Coughing in correction, the ghoul forced herself to ease and return the hugging gesture. Aye, Xiu! Mornin'! Ya sleep well? Instinctively following, her tail brushed against the baku's, but it was a short greeting; again- touch.

Xiu's eyes seemed to ask something of her, but the tatzel tried to reassure herself that nothing was there to be seen. There was no way for Xiu to know...anything. She would go on with their arrangements as if everything was just dandy. Got somethin' on ma'nose? kekeke. Must be tha'soil from tha'corn. She wiped at her nose while speaking, shifting so she faced where the mouth of the cave would be and beginning to walk towards it.

Nothin' a little water won't wash'way. No, Levi wasn't embarrassed about the possible blemish of dirt; more like the fight she had the previous night with a certain demon boil.

Just don't think about it, just don't think about it...

Indeed, they would be heading to a place with water. Levi did her best to keep it a secret to the ghoul, only stopping at the opening of the cave to smile widely and watch for Xiu's expression. It's in'ere where we're goin'. Ya ready? Inside the strange sounds of a couple of mole rats might have been heard.

Nah, no apologizin', screecheart! kekeke ain't no need. Xiu had looked at her scarf but the tatzel took no notice of the baku's watchful eyes, trying to peer a bit into the cave. If yer ready! Sure!

Leading Xiu in, the two would find the springs just as they were when she'd attended the course. The giant mole rats they tamed had sounded, but by the looks of it, they were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they had a home in the stoney walls somewhere.
Found out 'bout 'em inna'class! Springs fer dipping' in'! One'a tha'best things ta'do after a day'a tense trainin'. There were changing rooms and towels... and gnomes. This time, Levi didn't require the help of a gnome with a bathing suit for her to wear- she'd brought the last one and wore it just under her attire. This pool look good? Levi placed her bag on the edge of one of the springs. By'tha'looks of it, ain't nobody 'ere but us so-! Got tha'whole place ta'ourselves! She began to undress down to her bathing wear, stepping into the spring while folding her garments and laying them on top of her bag on the sidelines.

Had she noticed the baku's wandering eyes on her scarf earlier, Levi might not have considered her next move. However, with the comfort of good company in a warm wet pool, she instinctively removed the scarf that had been hiding it without a second thought.

There before the world, and Xiu, was the blemish on Levi's neck that refused to disappear. It contrasted in color with her skin, making it quite evident that this was not something she usually walked around with everyday.

Ahh~ ... feels relaxin', eh?

Gets all them muscles loose as laces.

She smiled, rolling her head over to look towards Xiu, making the mark that much more evident.