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Koni really wasn't all for believing a word of it, but he could only shrug and go in it. If it was the only way to get anywhere, what else could he truly do? His ears flattened as the racket from the children overwhelmed his sensitive hearing, making him long to hurt something. It didn't help that one of them had caught a look at his face and pointed, asking if he could possibly look like that when he grew up. Oh heavens... that caused a babble of children to surround him for a bit.. before they saw Akiya and ran away. They were probably afraid of his huge height, but the angel didn't seem overly bothered by it all.

"Ha ha.." Koni didn't take well to such things as trains, and didn't take the joke very well at all. He just made a face and dealt with it, sitting down as soon as he was able to. But he didn't keep Reika in his pocket. She would have suffocated in there during such a long trip. So he took her out of the pocket and when akiya made a fussing sound, rolled his eyes and handed the girl over to him. Though he knew Akiya liked to get to hold Reika whenever he could, since he was often too busy to get to spend alot of time with her, it still irked. Since he knew Akiya and that bird got along quite famously. How annoying..

The girl looked up at Akiya and tried to smile, but it didn't quite work. Instead, she gripped her hooded cloak more tightly around herself and snugged against his chest. Ave's presence was making her nervous... and his words were resounding in her head more vividly than ever since he was there now.

A brow shifted up slightly when he saw her pleased expression. Or was it amused? Either which way, he wasn't sure if he should be irked further by it or simply let it slide. It was, however, how she was and it wasn't like that was about to change anytime soon. Though his gaze flicked over to her little charge, and seeing how upset she was made him long to grind his teeth, he focused on what was being offered to him. Pastry? Did he look like someone who ate sweets on a normal basis? But.. there was no need to be rude and Akiya would pout if he didn't get one himself so he shrugged and reached over to take one. "Thank ye...."


Akiya, on the other hand, was trying to get Reika to cheer up in some way. Lightly tickling her sides didn't work, nor did telling her that funny story of how Koni could never be allowed to have caffine before bed. Nothing was making her smile the way she always did. And he knew the reason why and his eyes shifted over to the bird who was pretending he took no notice of the girl, but he knew he was looking. They needed to talk... somewhere where Koni wasn't. though he was a friend, Akiya firmly believed Koni was way too over-protective and in the long run, would only damage Reika more than he would want. Maybe cause he was a family man himself, he could understand koni's actions better than most. Not approve of them, mind, but he did understand. "Lady Hayaharu.. would it be all right if I took Aversham on a walk around the train? Walking for a bit calms me.. and I'm sure Reika would like to see more of the train as well..."

Koni's eyes were instantly glaring a new hole into Akiya's back, but he ignored it. This needed to be resolved and it had to be done now.

"I mean no offense.. I only ask as is polite, though I should have just asked him, neh?" Bowing gratefully when Aversham shifted over to his shoulder, he stood with Reika held close and headed out of their car and into the hall. "Hmmm.. now then.." Not overly caring that he had to duck his head a big so it didn't drag on the ceiling, he went to find a place for them to settle in peace. The curious peeks meant nothing to him, overly used to it, so he continued until he found another car that was empty for the time being. "This shall do..."

He knew Reika was starting to understand what was going on, as the girl was shifting in his hold, wanting to be freed and return to Koni's side. But this was something the Angel would not allow and with a tsk, gave her a gentle squeeze before setting her down on one of the plush cushions and moved Aversham to one not far from her. "Now.. I know not what is going on, but I feel that if we are to travel together in peace, you two need to cleanse this tense air between the two of you. Would it kill you two to speak to one another?"

Reika's lips formed a pout but she could only shrug helplessly, not bothering to look up from the fabric of the cushion she was on. Where could they begin? What should she say anyway? He didn't like her anymore... as far as she saw it.

Back in the first car, Koni was very.. very irritated and eating his pastry with a bit too much relish.

Akiya's head tilted a bit when he repeated his question. It wasn't a difficult request, so he saw it. But he figured, if they were all to travel together, they needed this.. whatever this entailed... to happen. Aversham's outburst, however, wasn't what he had been expecting to hear. Caged animal..? He supposed he could see what he meant.

"I'm right here, ye know!" Her voice was shaky but strong, the outrage clear there. Her face pale, she looked set to cry but she was gripping the hem of her coat so tightly, her knuckles were turning white. "It probably was too much for ye to just explain what ye meant! Course I dinnae understand! I dinnae know what ye mean even now! Caged animal!? Is that how ye see me?!" Large tears rolled down her cheeks but at least she looked at him. "Should I apologize for the way I was raised? Not everyone has yer freedom, ye know! Koni-papa looks out for me the best way he can! Maybe I'm not out as often as ye are.. or get to do what ye can.. but... he doesn't harm me." Her voice turned into a hushed whimper as he just turned his head and looked away from her. Was that.. how it was going to be then? Aversham was no longer her friend cause he saw her as a caged animal?

The pain the thought caused made her start to wail, covering her eyes with her hands before blindly turning and rushing towards Akiya, needing desparately to be picked up. "Akiya-uncle!! P-Please... please... take me back... he dinnae like me anymore!" All she could do was shake and cry, no matter how much she wiped at her eyes, the tears wouldn't stop. Why did it hurt so much? "Ye heard him... there's nothing else to say..." her voice was a whimper still as she gripped onto his shirt, since he wasn't picking her up. "He dinnae want me near him..."

"I don't think that's the case." Tenderly, he stroked her hair and wiped at her little face. Poor thing... but he looked at Aversham and smirk. "Why don't you say what's on your mind, Aversham. Clearly, there's a strong need to and maybe then, she can gain some understanding of how you see things."

The book...? She suddenly became rather still. Odd how those words seemed to make everything different. ".. Hon..?" Hon meant book in japanese, something she had learned from one of Akiya's kids, so sometimes she accidently used it, which made it sound strange with her accent. Akiya could tell how her grip had suddenly shifted, becoming something else. Like she was clinging to him for dear life. What was this book he spoke of and why did it bother her so much?

But before he could ask her if she'd be all right, she slowly let go of him and turned to look at Aversham. Her face was red and puffy, more tears streaking down her face. But there was something to her eyes that he had never seen there before. A coldness... that was definately unlike her. "So ye see fit to judge me.. and cast me aside because I dinnae fit yer image of what I should be? Dinnae speak of something ye cannot understand!!" Her fingers dug into her palms, cutting into her flesh. "The nightmares... I had always wondered.. why I felt so trapped.. suffocating... I couldn't breathe.. think... past the fear..." Aversham's words were vibrating in her head. Had Kona-papa made such a promise?

"Mayhap.... he doesn't think tis time? Maybe.. that's why he's allowing me to go now... he didn't want me to go, ye know. He said t'would only make me sad and upset. But I told him.. I needed to go to the Range. I needed to see things... the world.. the way people outside our dimension are... And he still said nay..." Pressing a hand to her forehead, she tried to get her thoughts together.. but the coldness in Aversham's voice.. the way he looked at her.. like she was some child he had to scold because she was too stupid to know better.. It hurt her more deeply than he could probably ever understand. Aversham was her friend.. she had thought, and she had looked up to him, since he was older and had seen more things than she had. But if this was really how he saw her... Swallowing hard, she glared at him, trying to push her hurt back but it was easy to see. "Tis nice to know that this is the true way ye see me, Aversham..."

"Reika..." He placed the tip of a pinkie over her mouth to stop her from finishing what he knew she was going to say. "Do not say things while you are angry.. you'll only regret them."

Angrily, she pushed the finger away. "Why should I care?! He sees me as nothing more as a spoiled child! Hidden... aye... I am... I suppose to someone like ye, I would be. But I know a lot of things! Just not the same things as ye but I learn a lot! Akiya-uncle's world is filled with people.. traditions... love and sadness... death and life... I see these things! I don't see yer world.. Gaia or the humans or those creatures... but I am not completely blind! But... I suppose that doesn't add up to what ye think I should know... aye?"

By now, her entire body was shaking and her throat burned. Why was there such pain in this? Why couldn't it be how it had always been? With Aversham being happy to see her.. ask her to dance or talk with him? Why were the happy times gone now? She just.. didn't understand his way of thinking. Now she doubted she had ever known Aversham... "Are.. ye no longer me friend... because I dinnae fit yer standard? Is that... what yer trying to tell me...? Instead of trying me to help me... yer just going to leave me to continue to drown? is that.. what friendship is?"

"...Isn't that something ye choose... shouldn't it be something of yer own choice? Ye act... like yer actions have no choice from ye... like yer made to do them against yer will....." Her voice was cold as well but she only shook her head. "I suppose ye have lived in a cage... for ye let it rule yer life, Phoenix.... I never said I was trapped, ye did. I am happy as I am. Learning this outside world ye speak of little by little. I was happy with ye being around me as we were! Laughing and being happy... why.. why did ye let it bother ye? ye take it like Koni-papa is some monster! Do ye even understand why he does what he does? Do ye even care to ask him?!" She gave a short laugh, but it was clogged by her tears before she wiped them away. "Of course not... for ye two are so much alike, ye clash... no matter how much it hurts me to see ye two at odds... at odd ye always remain..." There was a pause as she shook her head, trying to get her thoughts together. This journey.. she guessed.. would have to be done on her own.. without Aversham's help. Somehow, she doubted she'd be strong enough but now.. she had no choice but to be. "Should I... Should I say forgive me for not jumping into this world headlong like ye did? Should I apologize to ye for having my summoner with me unlike ye? I was raised differently than ye... that much is obvious... But yer version of a cage and me own are nay the same..." She then looked up at Akiya, who looked rather upset by this conversation. He was a gentle soul, her uncle. That she knew very well. So she felt bad to upset him like this, nevermind her own pain that was sweeping through her body like ice. Maybe this is what death felt like... maybe it would kill all these feelings she had. Maybe.. if she was cold like Aversham... maybe it would stop hurting.

After stroking Akiya's hand a bit, she turned away and wandered over towards the window. She didn't need to ask Akiya anything as the angel lifted her onto the wide sill so she could see there and gaze out. Aversham was running.. that's what he was doing. Running out on her... on their friendship. Suddenly, her crown felt too heavy so she shifted it off her head and held it lightly on the tips of her fingers. It didn't take long before it fell but she didn't care. "Dinnae... speak, uncle... just.. open the door." There was no further emotion to her voice nor did she gaze away from the window. No matter how lifeless the air was in there, the scenery outside was nice. It was just as beautiful as the scenery back in Uncle's world. "He wishes to flee... so let him... let him cast me aside.." So it's easier on him... she muttered more to herself than to anyone else. If he heard, it wasn't like it mattered anymore.

His lips pressed into a flat line but he only did as requested. "I'll be in there shortly, Aversham. If you could deliever the message, that would be wonderful." But his eyes were on the girl who was only wrapping her coat about her so tightly, she could have cut off her own air. This was bad.. for both of them. At the moment, he sensed they were just purposely hurting each other to try to make things easier for each other. Reika reacted by her feelings, infantile as they were and Aversham by his own logical thinking.. least that's how it looked to him. This mission was not going to go well if they would be like this... "Reika.. will you come back with me?"

"........I like it here just fine......." She could feel Akiya's eyes on her bt she didn't turn around. This box was empty.. she would stay here. And away from the one who seemed to detest her presence so much. But even as she thought that.. she wondered if she was running herself. In a way, she most likely was. Even with how her mind worked, she knew that it wasn't just his fault.. it was just as much hers.. if not more, she supposed. But what to do.. she didn't see her life as he did...

Koni's eyes narrowed when he saw that bird come in by himself. So.. it happened, much like he knew it would. But instead of saying anything, he just looked out the window. Reika's pain was as clear as day to him, but he knew his presence at her side wasn't required. Akiya would most likely be returning as well. Maybe now she would believe what he had tried to warn her against... But, even so, he felt slightly bad for the bird. Not that he'd ever admit it.

When Aversham left, Akiya gently closed the door behind him, but didn't leave himself. Reika was in no state to be left alone right then. So he watched the little dancer as she stared lifelessly outside, her little fingers running along the glass. It was a long time before she said something. "Maybe... Koni-papa was right... I never should have..."

"Oho? And what did the Grand Hermit say about Aversham, hmm?" Shifting over to be closer, he placed a finger along the glass and murmured a soft spell which caused the window inside to frost over. "Draw.. and tell me what's on your mind right now."

Akiya was always like that with her.. he always made her talk.. even if she didn't want to. "He said.. that the phoenix is too proud... too arrogant. He sees his world in his way and he sees fit to judge others who don't live the way he does. Birds are meant to be free... so they crave it more than any other." Her fingers moved over the chilled surface, making little doodles that didn't seem to represent anything, just gave her the escape she needed. "He said.. he would never understand why Koni-papa does what he does... he would never understand his reasoning. I told him.. that he was wrong. That Av... Aver... The Phoenix... wasn't like that. He wouldn't just judge me... but he was right..." Her tears were slower now and she had more control over them, but they were still there. "I don't understand... we were happy at one time! Sure.. he and Koni-papa nay got along.. but Koni-papa never told him to stop coming to visit me! Even though he disliked him as much as he did, he never once told him to keep away from me! He glared a lot and was rude.. but that was about it... That bird... is so set in his own ways.. he refused to see that.. Koni-papa was being kind enough now.. to let me come away with you, even though that bird wsa with us too! Why... Uncle.. why?!"

A heavy sigh left the angel before he gently made her turn around, gently wiping away her tears. "Neither is right.. and neither is wrong. This world is based on people's opinions. I think you remember we spoke of this before. The reason why it hurts so much... is because you care about both. You fret losing Aversham, so you cared about what he had to say and even now, you're trying to make sense of his words. You love Koni as your father, and therefore you wish to understand the words he speaks. But... in the end, it's what you think that matters. What you want to do. Right now, it's best to just stay away from Aversham.. least until you feel back to normal."

"I... dinnae think I ever will... be back to normal..." Roughly shaking her head, she glanced away from him again. "The excitement I had about going to Shoichi has dimmed... though my need to go to the Range has not dimmed... I wanted to see Shoichi with him..." As a mocking smile twisted her lips, she tossed her hood over her face, hiding her features from him. "It matters not now... Uncle.. could ye pick up my headdress? Give me a moment.. and I'll return to Koni-papa's side. I know he's worried..." Nothing the angel could say would make her change her mind so he took up her tiny headdress and placed it into his pocket for safe keeping. Right then, the last thing she needed was something that was more fragile than she was.

Twenty minutes later found them both returning to the car where the others were. Without speaking, Reika was handed over to Koni, who placed her in her lap and bade her to rest, for she looked exhausted. The Starlet fell into a troubled sleep but her guardian only looked out the window again.. and Akiya looked for someone to order food from. Tense moments made him hungry...

Taking the offered food with a pleased grin, he thanked her before he ate some in a few gulps. The words she spoke made him watch her carefully. "It would be rather odd if it happened in just this train journey, considering how tight the security has been of late, yes?" Koni was only half-listening, watching them out of the corner of his eyes. Reika was out like a light. Not much was about to awaken her. "But I agree that things will not be easy given how it stands. I fear I made have made things worse instead of better..." Looking remorseful, he rubbed the back of his neck a bit. Maybe it had been way too soon to have the two of them speak again.. or something.

"We will be able to find lodging, aye?" Koni's voice was distracted and bothered and he refused to look at Aversham for even a second. "I am not exactly keen on sleeping on the ground..."

The words of Onion caused Akiya much amusement and he snickered. "You remind me of Reika's moomba. He has a love of shiny things as well!" Oh yeah... hadn't she brought him along? Koni seemed to be thinking the same thing as he produced the bag which held Reika's things and her travelling case and Akiya opened it. The moomba was in there still, sleeping away like he had nothing better to do. Carefully taking him out, he placed him besides his Mistress. Maybe he would help her find some comfort, no matter how little. And even in her sleep, she wrapped an arm around her familiar and slept on. "But how much longer til we reach the trader towns then? Perhaps we should get some extra provisions.. just in case." Akiya liked to be ready for just about anything.