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Her leaning in just cut the space between them, and that made him more nervous. The threat of telepathy didn't help him, either. He breathed, in and out. "I don't know why I did that, but..." he whispered into her ear, "I don't regret it."

Kumizu was still unsure of why she had set up a picnic in the first place. It seemed like she wanted to get closer to him, but he realized now that he may have stepped over the boundaries.

Great. You're reading my thoughts. I thought you were going to stop! "I'm not being conceited, I'm just... I've got a lot to think about, and a lot I'm trying to figure out."

The way she yawned and stretched out, then saying his name like that, Kumizu knew the moment was over. He found himself feeling sad that it was. "What is it, Ayise?"

Kumizu just lookd at her. She looked sad, but then when she returned his gaze, she was completely serious. Before he could respond, she was back at the basket, gathering everything up. "Bye." He gave a short wave as she bounded off.

Kumizu sat down on the ground resting his chin on his hand. "Don't fall in love with me, okay?" "Too late." He took out a bottle with some clear liquid in it, unscrewed the top, and took a drink.

With a deft movement, Ronan stood, opening his case and pulling forth a very magnificent looking katana and unsheathed it in one lightning move, moonlight glancing off the expanse of the wonderous blade. Ronan let his eyes wander across it. Of course there were no signs of wear of spots...and he sheathed it effortlessly and placed it reverntly to the side. He took forth a wakizash anda scimitar next, repeating the silent ritual twice more and laying them next to the katana. He let his gaze rest on them for a moment...reminiscing of his old days of wandering with his father...but htose days were gone, never to return. Sighing, he sat again, staring at the sky

Ronan stood after a moment, picking up the katana and the scimitar, unsheahting both quickly and holding both glimmering blades at his side, eyes closed. Ahead there stood the remains of a dying tree...eitehr by lack of nutrients in the soil or some outside force, the once hardy yew was now no more then a stunted shadow of its former self. It was that that Ronan targeted on. He elt all the rage and helplessness he had felt throughout these times channel into one illusion. The tree was now no longer a tree but the grinning face of teh mage taht had...had turned his fahter upon him. When Ronan's eyes opened, they leaked a dark red flame that blazed with hate and rage. An unseen signal, and Ronan was gone...simply vanished from his spot. He reappeared behind the tree, both blades wide out at his side. He paused for a moment then gave a heartless smile as the tree exploded into rotting shrapnel. Walking back and sheathing the swords once more, he replaced them in his case. He sat and took out his ink splotched book and a dragon crested fountain pen. The night now filled with the scribblings of a pen across paper.

Ronan finsihed the poem and closed the book quietly. He stared at the worn cover for a bit, lost in his thoughts and then absently reached inside one sleeve of his yukata, pulling forth a jade box. Inside lay an instrument that could have been an ocarina...yet it was bigger, and filled with more holes. The instrument's cool wood flet familiar and right in his hands. He brought it to his lips, blwoinga few pure notes in teh night air.

The swirling nexus of stars rose around him, flowing softly through and over him like waves of healing magic. Ronan felt peace then...not lasting peace, but for the moment, it was enough. For those few moments, the song took a turn, rising high and adopting the piping tune of a merry wanderer...now speaking more of warm fires and adventurous tales...freindship and laughter. For those few moments upon the cliff, surrounded by a small galaxy of magic, the true Ronan appeared for perhaps three minutes, before falling once again into the haunting tune of one lost in shadow. But those moments were enough...it proved that the true Ronan had not yet died...rather, was crushed under the blackness of guilt...but with the small spark of hope of being freed one day.

It had taken her awhile but she had finally made it.Eri scanned the area and sighed. "This place will do." she said to the emptiness. She walked over to the edge of the cliff and looked down. It was so high up. She gulped and moved back alittle. Eri stared up at the sky. Her hair was blowing all about from the nightly wind. She shivered from the cold and sat down. She pulled her legs up close to her and started to cry.