Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ronin and Lena were sitting on the bed and stared at the necklace on the wall. "It's shiny." The young Simulacra commented and the mother just nodded, still in awe about her wonderful present. There had been no other chance for her...Ronin didn't let her rest before she allowed him to at least look at it.

Lena still wasn't sure if he wanted to destroy or love it. But it was indeed more secure to be around.

"It moves !" Ronin exclaimed and Lena thought it was another trick for getting it down the wall. But actually the boy was saying the truth, the necklace had started to rattle and to shake against the wall. "I knew there's always something..." She had wanted to say wrong, but it could have had a very negative effect on Ronin. "Does it live ?" He asked and Lena just shrugged staring at it. Should she get it off the wall before it would fall down ?

"It will fall ! Quick, quick !" Ronin got up and tried to reach the shaking necklace, but wasn't able to reach it.

It was at least a good spot...

Lena decided that the necklace was too precious to be destroyed so easily and followed her son. As she approached the pendant changed it's colorfrom blue towards a warm reddish tone. Holy Sh...
"It looks just like my clothes." Ronin shouted full of joy, which was pretty rare for the young Simu.

As Lena was just standing in front of the wall the necklace became still and she was able to take it down. It was neither hot and didn't smell strange in any way. It just looked...different now.

"I think, it's much better now." Ronin said and earned a strange look from his mother for this sentence.

Ronin looked at the necklace with a very friendly expression and Lena couldn't resist to hold it closer to the young boy. His right hand reached out and stroked the surface very gently as a faint smile appeared on his face.

It almost seemed like a miracle to Lena and she felt the sudden urge to put the necklace around his neck. Just as she did so the necklace started to shake again and Ronin screamed trying to make it stop.

As his hands tried to get hold of it the silver jewelry....vanished ! His mouth was opened and he gasped. This was too much for the boy and the mother, who had already been prepared for something strange. But total disappearance ?

"It's gone." Ronin whispered and sobbed slightly. He had hoped for a friend like dagger and now everything was gone within seconds.

Ronin was just whiping a tear away as both of them suddenly heard a strange noise from not so far. "That...was coming from my room !" The boy gasped and ran out of Lena's bedroom to find the source for the sound.

The mother followed quickly and almost stumbled over Ronin, who was standing in the doorframe and stared at a teenage girl. Lena closed his mouth gently as she looked at her too. She should have expected something like this, but somehow she didn't get used to getting children from objects. And this girl looked already so...teeny ?

She had long black hair and pale blue eyes, which matched her icy blue fingernails. The necklace hand loosely around her neck as she surveyed the room interested. One of her hands rested on her hip, which was comforted by tight blue jeans featuring a black tripled belt. Her top was short, red and looked asian styled. And she had a tatoo on her right arm...

Ronin continued to stare as the teenage finally found the time to notice them. "It's tidy, at least tidy." She muttered with a firm voice and smiled at the little boy. Lena just blinked as the young Simu stepped forward to touch the necklace. Being very shy around people usually it was strange to see him acting like this.

"My name is Ronin." He said quietly and the teenager nodded just as she had heard a well-known word. "Kyoko." She replied and he smiled.

"And I'm Lena, welcome at your new home." Wow, what an experienced answer. The mother waited for a reply and she earned a sceptic look and a grin.

"Do you have a room for me ?" Kyoko asked and petted Ronin's head, who seemed very happy for the first time. Alright, this was a new treat of a child, who had just made her appearance. "Erm..sure...I think." Lena answered, although the black haired one didn't listen anymore...

2nd Annual Gaian Ball

Taking Part : Sarria ( Xannyia ), Ronin, Ray ( emme ), Kyoko, Kami (Pata Lover ), Yeste ( Sao Kasai )

The teen had insisted on taking him with her as she explored the mansion. Lena was off somewhere else and took care of the other children, as Kyoko dragged Ronin trough the different rooms. Both of them hadn't dressed differently, although Lena had wanted them to do so.

"I don't like so many people." Ronin said and frowned slightly, as he looked at his new sister. Her blue fingernails were coming desperately close to his skin as she smiled. "Let's try to find the other ones like us."

Sarria had decided it would be fun to visit the ball and had just now arrived. Xannyia was behind her, examining the interior of the mansion closely. "All right...go have fun. If you need me come find me." The woman told Sarria as she left the Simu all by herself.

"Okay!" Sarria replied happily as she walked around. When she noticed two others that appeared to be Simu or closely related to; she walked over there and gave them a friendly smile. "Hello." She greeted them.

Kyoko turned around and made her eyes examine the new one scepticly for a moment before she smiled as well. Japanese clothes too...
"Hello. My name is Kyoko and this is my small brother Ronin."

She explained and Ronin just nodded looking around for the Kerryn girl, which was the only child he knew. Teenagers were boring.

Giving Ronin a smile, Sarria turned her attention back to the older one, "It's nice to meet you two. My name is Sarria." After introducing herself she grinned at the other girl's shirt. "I like, no love, your shirt!" She complimented. Afterall, red was her favorite color. "And your little outfit too." She smiled at Ronin once again.

Kyoko returned the favour while she sat down at the reserved table. "I like your outfit too. It seems like we're all having the same style."

Ronin refused to sit down and walked around the room looking for interesting people.

"I'm quite new to this world. I just...arrived a few days ago. Do you have someone who wants you to call her Mum too ?"

"Yes, it appears we do. And it's a good style." She grinned, "Oh, just a few days ago? That is new. I bet you're happy to be here." She assumed and then looked around a moment.

"Yep, that I do. In fact, that's her right over there." She pointed to Xannyia who was now in the process of tapping on one of the walls and taking a closer look at it. "She's a bit uh...obsessed with the color blue so not only is she probably having the time of her life...but she's probably trying to see what sort of material the walls are made out of...and estimating the cost." She stopped herself from rambling and shook her head some. "Where's your mom?"

Kyoko nodded and grinned. "Yes, we're pretty."
Her eyes followed Sarria's finger and looked at the woman. Indeed blue seemed to suit her likings. "Blue and red are nice colours." The teenager commented, while her eyes wandered back to her partner in conversation.

"Lena is off somewhere else with my other siblings. There are two girls and a fuzzy boy beside Ronin, which need her care. They are more of the active kind, while Ronin and I are calm. Although this doesn't mean we don't like to have fun. What do you think about this festivities ?"

Kami walks into the strange looking place but has nothing but a smile on her face as she walks around unsure of where she is. Wondering where the other's were, she adjusted the gauzy piece of fabric that she held around her more into her grasp so it wouldn't fall. The Simu was eager to see Ray again, orbs landing on him while he was coloring. "Can I color too, Ray?"

Pata grinned as she watched Kami walk over to him, it was all she ever talked about besides wanting to fly and asking her sometimes if fairytails were true and there really were fairies. Of course, she belived in anything so she always told Kami yes when she asked about that.

"Yes they are. Red is my favorite color." She stated, "Xannyia leaves most of her other children at home. Although she could have brought Nicolai, and the other one is already an adult who can care for himself."

After thinking about an answer to the question, "So far I like it. It's good to be able to see others of our kind. How about you? What do you think of it?"

Ray looked up at Kami, stunned yet again by the transformation of his former playmate. He nodded, his blue eyes wide, and held up a crayon and a piece of paper for her.

"I think it's much to crowded. You can't get your soul to rest. Nothing compared to the beauty of the nature, it's simply decorated too...much." Kyoko stated and watched a pink girl enter, who looked as she was in the same age. Sarria seemed very nice so she continued the conversation.

"I was actually looking forward to see people from our species.It's interesting to meet people in my age. I just met babies the last days..." She rolled her eyes and sighed.


"I've met only a few of the older Simu. Some of the older children that is...since I've grown up. I have seen Aurora however, and now you." She paused when she noticed Kami, recognizing her by the pink hair immediately. "She just grew up I think. Last time I saw her was when we were both little, which wasn't too long ago."

"Oooh, you like nature too? So do I, I love to mediate in the garden of the shop next to the pond. It's quite peaceful and relaxing."

Ronin instead focused on the other child being called Ray by the teenager and wandered over slowly, his hands and dagger behind his back. He sat down on the floor not far away looking at them colouring. "Um..." The young boy had never coloured before, because he had always retreated to do so. "I'm Ronin." He said very quietly.

"Well, she looks nice but...very pink. So you grew up?" Kyoko blinked and looked at herself for a moment. "I was always like this as far as I remember. That's strange...well, probably it's just normal. But what does it depend on ?"

She seemed confused for a moment but as the topic was changed she beamed at Sarria. "Ooo yes ! I like trees and all kind of nature. A healthy life is so important and it makes you calm and feel good. Lena doesn't understand me somehow..." This Sarria-girl seemed at least to get her point about nature. Perhaps they could become friends.

"Yeah, just a few days ago, maybe a week. Hmm, that is strange, but yeah, I'm sure it's normal. I've heard Xannyia telling me something about 'companions' whatever that might be. But they are like us."

"I haven't even tried to explain it to Xannyia. Although she does seem to like nature a bit as well. She's got a nice garden at her home where I also like to sit. Yes, being healthy is good, and having a clear mind." Sarria had already decided she liked this girl. She was the first one she had met that shared similiar views.

"Companion ?" Kyoko shoved the thought aside and connected her mind with different things now.

"A clear mind is definately very important. I see we understand each other in this point." The teenager smiled and looked around for some tea. Tea was a good drink to relax. "You have a garden ? Wow that's awesome. We're living deep inside the city. It's terrible, cars are everywhere and such. I would love to live on the countryside."

After exploring the rest of the mansion, Yeste' and Sao come to the tea room and see some other Simu and their Guardians gathered around at a table. They walk over casually to the table and take a seat next to eachother.
"Ello'..." Sao greets everyone as she sits down. Yeste' is silent, but she smiles lightly when she sees Sarria.

Sarria nodded, and she wished she could have told her what they are, but she had only heard the name used once or twice. "Yes, it's not a large garden. And nothing elaborate. In fact, not even a pond. A pond might be nice though, sometimes listening to water can help me mediate." She said with a nod. "The city? I don't think I could imagine living in a city like that. Although we live close enough to the city. Maybe you can come visit sometime? I can show you around, or we could meet in the Shoppe Garden too. Both are pretty."

When Sarria noticed Yeste' she returned the smile and motioned for her to come over so she could introduce her to Kyoko.

As Ronin didn't get a response he walked back to the table and looked at the new people. He was playing around with his dagger and hesitated to sit down beside the new girl. But the place beside his sister was already taken and so he had to. "Ronin." He mumbled and nodded, still playing around with dagger.

"There's a shop garden ? I haven't been to the shop yet, but I just have to see it." Kyoko answered and smiled. She imagined herself sitting beside a pond and listening to the water. "I would love to visit you. Thanks. We could talk about meditation and such. Do you have any other hobbies ?"

"Yeah there is. I visit it quite often. And I'm trying to get Xannyia to put in a pond similiar to the one there." Sarria nodded, "Yes, that would be fun." She had to pause though, to think about the other question. "Um...I'm not really sure. I'm sure I do, but I don't think I would consider them hobbies. I like reading a lot though if that counts. What about you?"

"I take care of Ronin...Lena said something like there will be classes in Yoga soon. I would really like to take this one. Have you heard of it as well ?"

Reading sounded interesting. She had ask Lena to buy some good books. Actually she needed pocket money to buy some.

Sarria's face suddenly lit up, "Yes! In fact, I might be teaching it. Or at least that's what I was told. Since that's what Xannyia heard or something along those lines. If I'm not I'll be sure to take it anyway." She ended with a nod.

"I'm lucky I guess, I don't end up having to babysit very often. But Ronin seems like a nice little guy." She glanced over in his direction and smiled, "Does he listen to you?"

"Yes, gladly he is. He never said a word against me and just listens. I don't know if this is good, but at least he doesn't annoy me.

I think I'll take the class if you're in there then. At least I'll know somebody." She smiled. "But I think we have to go now. Talk to you soon, alright ?" The teenager got up and waved to Ronin.

The boy quickly got up and followed Kyoko out to find Lena.

7th March 2005

Taking Part : Itsuki ( Ian ) , Kyoko

The day was breezier than normal when Itsuki headed to the antique shop. He kept his hands in his pockets as he braced himself against the wind, frowning at his hair getting blown constantly into his face. Before long, he arrived at his destination so he quickly headed through the doorway of the shop. Not sure what he was expecting, nor what he would find, he decided to explore his 'birthplace' a bit more on such a boring day.

Having had about the same intention Kyoko was all about to strode trough the shop's different rooms. After about an hour of exploring and no one else showing up, she sat down on the couch on the first floor staring at the ceiling. What a boring day, indeed.

It was too stormy outside to spend a nice day in the garden and so she was pretty much disappointed. Her younger brother was still on this cruise and she had hoped to meet somebody else here.

Upon entering the shop, Itsuki removed his hands from his pockets. After pushing his locks out of his face, he glanced around at the entrance. He frowned again, taking notice to the empty store. "Is no one here?" Disappointed, he decided to explore, having not seen much of what the place had to offer.

Cautiously, he stepped past the counters and looked around before walking into the backroom. The boy noticed the staircase first and contemplated going upward until the teen caught his eye in the back of the room.

She was beautiful... and older than himself, but thankfully still young. But more importantly, he realized he had not met her before. Itsuki felt the boredom she shared with him as well as the familiar feeling of the other children he had met. Curious now, and determined to involve himself in some sort of activity, he decided to take his chances with this stranger.

Walking up to the teen lounging on the sofa in the back, he stopped infront of her and initiated the speech in order to get her attention. "...Hey. Some weather we're having." It seemed neutral enough to start a conversation without rousing suspicions. He just hoped she was interested in talking.

Kyoko had been looking out into the backyard as she heard someone approaching. She turned her head towards the stranger and smiled slightly. "Indeed, I hate it. I wanted to go out, but somehow nothing sensible seems to happen. Something like...sun coming out and letting me relax in the garden..." She mumbled, the boredom and angriness still making a sound in her voice.

"So, you were bought at this shop as well ?" Her blue eyes came to meet his and she wasn't shy to look at him directly. He seemed younger, but not too much, so probably he could at least talk to her for a while. During this phase of boredom even the most annoying child would have served her intension to talk.

"Yes, that's what it seems like. I came out of a mirror bought here a few months ago." He picked up her calm demeanor once he found her interesting in continuing the conversation.

Itsuki put his hands in his pockets and looked at her necklace curiously. After watching the light dance off the charm, he continued, "You must have been out for a while, right?" He had a feeling about the necklace but figured she could tell him herself, just in case he was wrong anyhow.

So he was older than she was...at least in this kind of world. As she followed his looks, the teenager raised an eyebrow and coughed. What the hell was he looking at ? Her chest...if yes, she'd kill him for being so obvious. Or probably it was just the necklace ?

So she decided to test it by playing around with the piece of jewelry a bit. "I came from this necklace." Kyoko stated and wondered if he was one of those 'pretty boys', because he came out of a mirror. "What were you up to, anyway ?" She asked, pretending to stare outside again. Her head tried to find a reasonable subject to make him tell everything about him.

Satisfied with her response, mostly because he had been right, he looked back to her face.

"What do you mean... since I arrived from the mirror?" Itsuki thought about it for a moment before answering, "Not much really. I've met a few of our kind now but I'm only close with two of them."

The boy decided to use the opportunity to open up to something else he had been wondering, hoping she would have useful information for him. "Actually, I've been trying to find our more about... what we are and how some of us are connected. I haven't had much luck, but I haven't been able to search this whole shop for answers, either."

Kyoko smirked. "Well, actually I was talking about today. But anyway, I've met two girls and my younger brother, of course, yet. All of them seemed pretty alright. But I wouldn't say I'm close with anybody...not yet." She laughed slightly, wondering if he was interested in staying in the doorframe forever. Did he think she had problems with him sitting down on the couch ?

"Actually I think we're all pretty unique. I met a girl called Ardre, who had wings. Do you have anything special ? Well, otherwise I don't know much, besides all of us are coming from items...Sarria said something about me being a companion, although I sadly didn't understand what she meant."

Companion? Itsuki started to become more interested and decided to get closer by sitting up on the edge of the counter right by the couch. He felt more comfortable being a little farther than sitting next to her and found it easier to look from infront of her.

"Sarria I have met, but she was little and didn't talk too much. ...Ardre, I have not." He wondered about the companion comment again as he thought how odd it was for her to know so little people when she must have been around longer than himself. Unless...

He smirked a little to himself and swung his feet slowly. "I think those that come from necklaces must be different. ...Like Urahara." He figured he probably didn't recognize the name but gave it a shot anyhow. "Do you feel like you... have a connection to someone?"

Kyoko grinned as he sat down and put one of her legs across the other one. "Sarria is a teenager now, just like me. I bet she has grown...yes, I think she said something like this." The companion said more to herself than to Itsuki.

As he mentioned someone else coming from a necklace, she raised an eyebrow and straigtened. A guy even ? "Urahara, I haven't met him yet. Do you know him well ?" She blinked and looked at her blue fingernails as he asked his second question. "Sure, my little brother Ronin." Kyoko added, it was obvious to her.

Surprisingly, we are. I've only met him once though." Itsuki frowned slightly at his own statement then refocused on what she had said.

Sarria was now a teenager? Then, this meant that they grew... It had been something Itsuki hadn't even considered before. He was somewhat surprised at her reaction to meanting Ura. Did she think she was the only one from a necklace?

"Urahara is from a necklace, too. He looks like he's around your age," the Simu wondered if he had heard of a Ronin before and decided he might've been mentioned to him once. "I've just been trying to find out what these connections mean. Ronin is your brother, it would make sense why you two are connected but... Ura and I don't look alike and have barely met but it feels like I've known him forever."

"Yes, Ronin seems very familiar to me as well. It's like, we just understand each other. Probably this Ura is your brother too and you just don't know it ? I mean...your items' metal could be from the same kind...or something."

"Ronin is your age. At least I think so, but he's more childish. You seem...quite alright to me." Kyoko said, wanting to sound nice. If you act nice, people are nice in return and tell you interesting stories. That's what she had learned during the past days.

Itsuki raised an eyebrow at the comment, not sure how to interpret it, and just shrugged. "Thanks. You seem alright." She was different from each of the other girls he had met, that was for sure. Just how different, he wasn't too sure as of yet.

"That sounds probable," he knew their antiques had been together for a while, but he wasn't sure if he could call Ura his brother without the redhead giving him one of those weird looks, "I'm sure I will find out more about it if I keep looking." He made a mental note to speak with Sarria again.

"You will inform me about new information...will you ?" She smiled friendly, really hoping to get to know more about this miracle. Actually she hadn't been much concerned about this lately, but more about getting to know more people from this shop. Somehow it seemed important to her to be up to date and to know what's going on.

"Do you have any special hobbies ? I mean, something you like ?" Kyoko continued to ask as she tightened one of her belts. "I like nature a lot. Meditating is good for your soul, you should try !"

"...Meditating?" He wasn't sure if he had heard of anything that was good for the soul and Itsuki hoped it wasn't some kind of bad-tasting food. "Never heard of that actually..."

"But nature is kinda nice," the boy shrugged, "especially being on rooftops... it helps me think." He brushed some hair out of his face but continued to answer her question, "I don't think you could call it a hobby but... I have knives I train with."

After a few moments, he looked up at the ceiling and stated, "...I just want to be stronger. All around..." Itsuki didn't know why he was telling her this, but he looked back to her to see if she related any.

"You haven't heard of meditating ?!" Kyoko almost jumped up from her seat wanting to shake him. Indeed she wasn't a good example for being quiet and self-centered...harmony. "Well, I need to show you."

She smiled liking the idea a lot as she listened to his words. "Rooftops ? Kind of adventurer, aren't you ? My brother has a small dagger, which he even talks to. Sometimes a bit strange, but I guess boys like weapons."

Watching him staring at the ceiling Kyoko felt pretty confident. "You know, meditating makes you find your inner strength and connection to nature. Strength isn't just the physical way, but has to come straight from your soul so you can call out to the world : Heya, here we go !" She jumped up to demonstrate. Nothing more, she wasn't really in the mood to go. The rain annoyed her desperately.

Itsuki found himself smirking at her passion towards meditating, finding it amusing at least. He did become interested after listening to her last part. "So what is meditating, really? Just how can you do something to 'bring out your inner strength'?" She gave a good pitch and now left him curious.

Kyoko enjoyed her teaching position and wandering around the room, still looking at the boy. "Itsuki, it's the easiest thing in the world and everyone of us has once done it in life. You can do it everywhere, but it's most effective in nature, when you're just surrounded by yourself and your bond to earth."

She took a deep breath before continuing her monologue. "See, you just sit down somewhere in the grass and close your eyes. You concentrate on yourself, think about nothing and after some time, when your mind is empty, you reach this feeling of completely...you." Kyoko stopped for a moment, wanting him to feel the tension.

"It's like your resting and walking, sleeping and being completely awake. You finally recognise yourself and everything around you. You're a part of it...and if you discover the truth of yourself...you're strong."

suki leaned forward on the counter, holding the edges to brace himself as he stopped swinging his feet. "You mean, that's all there is to it? Its kind of like... a self-awareness thing?"

He was interested more than ever, she certainly knew which words to use to catch him. "There's no discipline involved... or pain?" It seemed odd to him nonetheless that sitting could make someone stronger in any sense.

Kyoko thought about an appropiate answer for a moment and then smiled. "No, not at all. Well, it's not easy to actually concentrate on nothing at first, so you need a certain kind of discipline. But if once found the path, you'll know the way."

She walked closer to him, watching his feet dangle. "See, we're still young and our soul doesn't carry heavy burdens yet. So pain shouldn't be involved at all. For the grown-ups it might be painful if they discover a self they pretended not to have for a long time. For us...it is freedom."

His eyes had a pretty orange color indeed, Kyoko noticed.

"Freedom..."

Itsuki looked at her as he thought upon her words. He had already knew concentration was an important thing and something that improved that alone would be useful to him. But she had opened up a different door enitrely that he hadn't thought of being there. He didn't think much on the 'self' issue, but now it started to make some sense.

"How can I expect to know an enemy if I don't even know myself... right?" The boy looked up at her in a new sense of admiration at the knowledge she was willingly sharing with him. If this kept up, he knew he'd be really strong by the next time he met Urahara.

"Indeed." She said and the smile broadened. Finally someone who seemed to understand. What a good student this Itsuki was !

Due to this great emotion of success she leaned over to hug him slightly. "Great Itsuki, you got the message." She just liked him for saying this sentence, nothing more, nothing less. At least a good partner in conversation.

He was startled at the gesture at first, never really being hugged before, but was pretty sure it had something to do with her excitement at his understanding and it was probably a girl thing.

Of course, he shrugged in response, "It didn't seem to complicated. ...Have you been trying to teach others?" The strength in her excitement, he figured, must have been attributed to failures. He could see why others wouldn't be interested, a lot of the people he had met didn't seem that interested in self-improvement but more on outside issues. The boy also decided that Kyoko must be someone who thought a lot as well.

Kyoko stopped hugging him and for a moment she kept silent. Should she actually tell him about being the first understanding ? Well, truth was a good thing.

"Actually just my little brother, Ronin. But he's on this cruise trip now and so I hope he's still understanding everything when coming back. I bet he has changed a lot. Journeys always change people...I guess."

She shrugged and smiled again, playing with her coal black hair. "So you know, you're the first one really getting it."

"Yeah? I bet I won't be the last. You just need to find the right people to teach it to." He nodded to her. Why he felt the need to encourage her, he wasn't sure. It seemed like the right thing to do.

The talk of journies and people changing made him think for a moment. Then he shrugged before suggesting, "Maybe when your brother comes back, he'll have grown like Sarria?" He wasn't sure how all that worked, but it seemed logical.

Kyoko enjoyed his words having found someone who finally encouraged her. Lena, her 'mother', always said she was exaggerating. She had no clue, this was pretty obvious now.

As she heard Itsuki talking about growth her eyes widened in fear. Her young little obidient brother should grow ? Not having thought about it before she was kind of shocked. Of course she would manage to make him do what she wanted, but when he was a teenager, probably taller...

"Oh no, you're right !" She gasped, now extremely unhappy about Ronin going on a cruise. She should have gotten the ticket, not the little one. As her eyes moved back to her partner in conversation an idea trickled into her mind. "Itsuki...will you grow soon too ?"

The question threw Itsuki off guard and he stared at her for a moment. Even through the conversation, it wasn't something he had thought about at all. Him... getting older, looking different? It sounded rather scary to the boy but it was something that made him curious.

"...I don't know. Should I know? I never thought about it before." He admitted to her. Her fear of Ronin growing had only made him more fearful of what could happen to him. Was it really something to be afraid of? ...Maybe she wasn't the right one to ask for that.

"Sorry, was a stupid question. Nobody knows when it happens, I guess. It's like you don't notice when you're blinking." Kyoko smiled shily, as she noticed that she had moved him into the wrong direction.

When he would grow and be a teenager as well, he could probably help her to spread the love of nature. He would be good at doing this, having such convincing eyes. She smiled and played with her belts, as usual when she was thinking. "I would like to see you older." Great, something more stupid didn't came to her mind.

Another comment that he hadn't seen coming, but Itsuki reacted much differently to this one than he had to the other.

"...Really?" Somehow, a smile had formed on his face and it was too late for him to change that now, "Its nice of you to say." He wasn't sure what she meant by that exactly, but he figured that it couldn't be too bad either way, coming from a girl like her.

"I'd like to see it myself," he added, in hopes of making the situation less awkward.

This conversation was moving in a direction of friendliness, which was quite unfamiliar to Kyoko. She blinked several times and hastily played around with her necklace. Damn, she had gotten herself into this and now she didn't know how to respond.

"Well..it's the truth." She said, trying not to avoid his looks. The teen didn't want to seem embarrassed or something. Oh no, now he was even smiling. Kyoko returned the favour by smiling slightly and couldn't control herself anymore. So her cheeks got the colour of a glowing pink.

Ouch, this was just a young baby boy, why was she blushing anyway ?

Itsuki had jumped down off the counter and he looked up in time to see her blushing. It only took a few moments of looking at her cheeks before he started blushing too. He knew this feeling in the air, he'd felt it somewhere before.

Oh man...

"Aah.. well. Thanks. But, I should be going now." He scratches his head, suddenly nervous. "Thanks again for teaching me... and your kind words." He took a step back, then nodded to her.

"I-I'll see you soon." With that, he turned tail and hurried out of the shop.

"See you soon." Was all she could say before he saw him dashing off. Kyoko was pretty relieved as Itsuki had left and her cheeks finally got a normal temperature again. Whatever had made her blush, she didn't like it at all.

The weather didn't seem to clear up and so she decided to leave this place quickly. Lena would await her anyway. So the teenager left the shop hurrying back home.

16th March 2005

We haven't heard from Ronin yet and so Lena is rather worried. I think he'll make it, he's not so stupid and naive as mother thinks. But some kind of notice wouldn't be bad, although I guess we would be informed if something bad happens.

I met a boy called Itsuki at the shop the other day. I first wanted to go meditating but the weather was too bad. After all, it was a good day indeed, because I could at least talk about my favourite topic. Itsuki is the first one who really seemed to understood. Before he left there was a strange athmospere though...I felt a bit...well, I don't know, don't ask me to tell you !

Now to a different topic : Because I was kind of scared of meeting the boy again, I walked out of the city to find some peace. I met a little kitten-like pet there, which is even able to talk. Elisa, her name. She's living with me now. Lena first wanted to protest, but it didn't work. The woman has too many pets for herself already, this one is with me.
At the moment she's sleeping on my bed. She's got so pretty earrings, I wonder if I should buy some for myself as well.

Finally to the most important aspect : A party ! My second one already, but this time many ones like me will be there.



I found this invitation in the mailbox today morning and I'm very excited, I have to say. I wonder who'll be there and if I will probably meet some new people, who are interested in meditation. I'll go alone of course, parties are nothing for children and Ronin is away anyway. I'll just tell Lena thatI will go outside the town or stay at someone's place. Probably Sarria or Ardre or so...I wonder what this Ray looks like...

*Kyoko