Welcome to Gaia! ::

Yume cried tears of joy. At least her family was safe, and so were the villagers. She didn't care what they treated her like back then...it didn't matter now, did it? Yume thought to the tattoo on her neck. They had drawn it there...she remembered everything now. They drew it on her as a sign of their power over her. They'd carved it in with a rusty knife, and used the juice of poisonous berries to color it. Her immune system wasn't that strong, so she had to suffer for a few weeks before someone in the village heard about the tattoo and actually pitied her. Now that she thought about it, Jangen was the man who took care of her...he didn't sleep very much because of her...and she felt so bad for it...but eventually, she got better thanks to Jangen-dono. Pander, what happened to Jangen-dono? I have to thank him. He's the only one who took care of me when I got this tattoo... she turned her back to him and moved her hair out of the way so he could see the cursed mark. I...am happy that the village and my family survived...but...the scars they left on me...will never leave. The memories of what happened may dissappear, but it will haunt me...I know...I can't explain how I know, but...I have this feeling that something very wrong is going to happen... Yume's tears turned into tears of bitterness and sadness. I don't know what to do...! she buried her face in her hands and let the tears continuously fall. Pander...I know this is a odd favor, but could you just...hold me...just for a minute?

Feeling a bit nosy, Rachel jumped off the rock into the water and swam to another, slightly farther away rock. She climbed up onto it and stared at the sky with a dazed look. She thought of all the things that had been left behind when she came to Ria High. All of her friends, dogs and humans alike, had been left back in that small town that she had called home. No, not had, she still thought of it as home. It was where she grew up and where she would return if she ever had to leave. This was not a matter of importance right now, however. The only thing important to her was making that girl feel better. She had smiled at Rachel in the locker room when Rachel told her that her tattoo was cool. Rachel looked down at the water and then to the boy and girl. Rachel smacked her forehead, suddenly feeling very stupid for intruding. She had walked in on a moment and probably ruined it. 'Yeah...maybe it was wrong of me to swim over here. I'm such an IDIOT!' Rachel scolded herself. As she finished her mental beating, she remembered the other boy who had indirectly told her to drown. She looked for him and decided to stay where she was; out of everybody's way.

(note: when writting is in blue Yukiko's spirit is in the Realm of the dead)Yukiko stood in the Realm of the Dead she gazed around her surroundings and said "Am I...dead? Did I..." Daniel her dead lover stood before her. Both smiled at each other as Yukiko hugged him. Daniel stepped back pulling away from the hug he looked down at her and said "Yuki, I know you want to die to be with me forever but this is not the way you will go. You know as much as I do that you can live with out having that shield of hatred, saddness and well strangeness around you. Show your self for what you really are." When he had finnished talking he hugged her again as Yukiko came back to conciousness.

Yukiko came back to conciousness as she took in a huge gulp of water. She gaged for a moment as she rose to the surface. Soaking wet she took in slow deep breaths of air. She was shaking as her thoughs went to what Daniel had just said. What if they think I'm just soem snobby selfish spoiled brat that loves to show off. I dont know... Yukiko thought to herself as she slouched against the wall of the spring.

((Yeppers ^^ I thought I was the only person to notice... ))

Yume contemplated going off of school grounds to see her brother. Do you think I should? To go off of school grounds, do I need to see the headmaster and inform him? Yume's brow furrowed in thought and she lifted her head. I should see my brother sometime this month...It's been so long since I saw him, all I can remember is his face...I'm horrible...he did so much for me when I was little, and I can only remember his face. What if he's changed? Yume sighed and laid on her back, letting the sun shine it's warm rays on her. She stretched and shielded her eyes with her arm, looking out into the sun. Pander was laying on his stomach, his ribs almost getting crushed by the rocks. Pander, you can move onto this side of the rock instead of being poked to death by the murdeous rocks... Yume rolled around onto her stomach and poked Pander in the ribs and giggled. Are you getting over here or would you rather be stuck over there, rolling around uncomfortably?

I don't feel anything. But sure.

He moved over, laying next to Yume. He looked at her, thinking.

If we can go, I'll go with you. I feel like getting back my sword and dagger.

He drapped his arm over her stomach as he looked up at her. He smiled. for once since he left his home, he was happy. He had found someone he could talk to. He finally saw his arm and realised that his tan had darkened.

Without a second thought he was up on the dge of the rock and backflipping into the spring. Only a small fountain of water cascaded up from where he had dove in. He surfaced, looking at Yume.

I faintly remember your brother. I should go say hi too. I think everyone in the village remembers the boy born with tattoos.

Jo's body had equalized with the hotspring water as her muscles were soothed by the water and face warmed by the sun and steam. She was idle and the thought of it made her involuntarily start to stare and examine people. Her eyes rolled around to observed the various characters who were congregated. First and foremost was the couple laying in the sun [Yume&Pander] as they seemed to become intimately familiar with one another. Their conversation was too far and too quiet to hear, but Jo didn't really care anyway. Jo was becoming eager to leave, but the wark water beckoned her to stay.

He walked in on one of Jangen-sensei's lessons. He stayed and watched for a while. I caught up to him later that day and we talked. I forget about what but we ended up spending the day sitting around in trees.

Pander swam back to the edge, proping his chin up on his arms. He looked at her again and smiled. His expression was soft, almost loving in a way. He pulled himself out of the water, sitting on the edge with his back to the rock.