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"I suppose." Mel said softly. "But I've always been able to do that. It just used to tire me out more." She wondered if, perhaps she had gotten better, but it was only in the past month where her powers had changed. She used to only be able to heal surface wounds, minor cuts, perhaps relieve some pain. But now... Her father had said that it was because she was getting older. Come to think of it, it was only a month ago since she's been able to see pale people and evil spirits looming about. Some of them seemed kind and she had conversed with them. They were all very sad.

Mel wondered what Kira had meant when she said that she would be in high demand. "It sort of made sense," she thought. "People were always getting hurt no matter where they were. There were always bruises, scrapes and paper-cuts." Yet she knew this was not exactly what Kira had meant. She wondered if her mother had been in high demand also. Maybe that had something to do with how she died. Mel thought for a moment and then decided to ask Kira. "Was my mommy in high demand too? She was also a healer."

If anyone had noticed Vyrkomod's disappearance from the reception, the boy himself hadn't seen anyone object or try to ask him what he was doing at the very least. Either he was sneakier than he had originally estimated (Madame Beltois always was able to catch him when he had tried to 'take a break' from his studies) or they merely thought he had to go find the restroom or something. A reasonable assumption he thought, considering he had come across a pair of those facilities just beyond the foyer leading into the northern part of the east wing.
Scanning the long hallway that now stretched out to his left to now ascertain that he was in fact alone, Vyrkomod swiftly pulled the sleek black device out of his pocket and flicked the on switch. Now, eyes glued to the small indicator in the corner of the system's screen, he began pacing down the hallway in search of some, any wi-fi signal.

Fifteen minutes and two stifled explicatives later, the young VanAlen found himself sitting grumpily in a large empty meeting room on a chair that was just as comfortable as it looked, i.e. not very. The downstairs had proved fruitless in in quest, the classrooms and lecture hall he had found had not been locked, but as they contained no wi-fi signal, that had been a very very small triumph. Further down the hall he had come across an impressive golden door built into the wall that seemed to ooze the message 'treasures inside!' but as he drew closer to almost rest his hands upon the wooden frame, a chill as if thousands of ants composed of liquid ice rolled across his body and, shuddering, he was forced to retreat. Apparently whatever lay within was Not to Be Touched.
The final door on this hallway had opened into what, on paper would be described as a library, but in reality could only be described as a mazing (ha ha). Rows upon rows of books pored into view as he slipped through the finely polished doors, repeating for shelf after shelf in a dizzying display. Through these stacks Vyrkomod wandered, occasionally picking up a volume as he waited to see if the faint wi-fi signal he had finally found would grow stronger. Some books he smoothed appreciatively, wondering at the soft bindings on some of the more well-loved copies, some he picked up and immediately shoved back on the shelf (in approximately the right location) after catching a whiff of that unmistakable odor of old books. How some people found that attractive, he would never know. Finally, after exiting the second-story doorway out of the library and entering into a strangely jarringly modern hallway, he finally found a strong enough signal. Fifteen seconds after this discovery however, the second explicative softly burst out of his mouth. (the first had been in the library when a particurally old tome had dislodged a shower of dust and dead insects onto the boy as he had attempted to coax it off of a high shelf.)

All the wi-fi in the world wasn't going to do him any good if he didn't have to password to access it.

So, after a few more moments of wandering, Vyrkomod finally came to a stop in an ostentatiously decorated meeting room just next to the closed door of an office at the end of the hallway. It was the only one he had yet to hear any voices coming out of but, as no action button to open the door had popped up as he approached, apparently the cardholder did not have the timing right to move onto the 'ask for the wi-fi password' event. So with a heavy sigh he had collapsed into one of the previously mentioned chairs-sans-comfort, and set his head down on the table as he waited for the timer to run out and the people in the office to continue onto the next part of the story.

"Bleaaaagh"

((Hoshi, please forgive me if I took a few liberties with the layout of the castle. The little floorplan in the Headquarters thread gives a rough idea, but I feel can by no means be a complete and whole set of blueprints. If they are, then the only toilets in the whole castle are in the dorm rooms of the West Wing! I really wish I was an architecture guy, then we could set up the whole shebang, even down to some furniture to make it a really good reference for the RP.))

BAM!

Suddenly the heavy double doors burst open to illuminate a tall willowy figure. Once ones eyes adjusted to the daylight pouring in from the door, they would see the figure slowly crossing the hearth. She was like a porcelain doll. Dark raven hair expertly drawn back into an elegant bun ontop her hear while tendrils of black bangs framed a high cheekbone face. Her body was clothed in a spring inspired yukata and wrapped around her waist was an ornate gold pattern obi. Tucked snugly through the obi was a long sheathed nodachi. Her black liquid framed eyes scanned the lobby in apparent distaste.

More voices could be heard coming from outside and drawing closer to the door. Soon to other figures entered through, one was Constance who had made her way outside to greet more visitors after the official meeting upstairs. She looked slightly disheveled, her cheeks were slightly flushed and her nose was slowly flaring with every breath. Next to her was a young man, who seemed to be trying to comfort her. He was tall and had shared similar features to the women who barged in before them. No doubt they were related. Yet, where she wore an ornate gown, he had chosen a more subdued hakama for the occasion.

The pair paused behind the lady. The young man gave Constance a comforting pat on the shoulder before stepping slightly aside. Constance brushed some of the flyaway hair out of her face before clearing her throat and announcing, “May I present to everyone Ms. Akemi Yamano and Mr. Haruki Yamano of the Yamano Clan.” Haruki bowed deeply and said as he rose up, “Please treat us kindly,” with a smile. On the other hand, his sister made no gesture and continued to stare at the crowd. Until noise from behind the corner caught her attention.

From behind the corner strode Hidiyoshi into full view. He paused to look around the hall and was about to say something when his eyes spotted Akemi. Almost as if in slow motion, he turned and was about to sprint away when the predator took flight. So quick was she that you almost didn’t have time to blink. Akemi’s stony composure finally cracked as she shrieked, “Is this how you treat your betrothed?!? Ignore her for weeks and not even bother to pick her up from the airport!! Why I ought to!” The nodachi was now drawn and aimed at Hidiyoshi throat. Hidiyoshi’s hands were raised in defeat as his eyes shifted from side to side for an escape route. Women...especially this particular woman, were never something Hidiyoshi understood. Hidiyoshi gave a slight gulp.

“Ahem!”

The cough came from behind the corner, from which Radik lieasurely strolled out with one hand in his pocket. “Ah, Akemi, you’ve arrived, good. Well, shall we start the feast then? I can see that one of us is very hungry.” He patted Akemi’s raised shoulder as he passed by. Still disgruntled, she lowered her arm and returned her sword into its holder with a thud. But before Hidiyoshi could make a run for it, she grabbed his hand and dragged him along with her as she followed after Radik. “You will be seating next to me!” she demanded.

Whew! whistled Kiwan. “So that’s the famed princess from the Yamano Clan. She’s going to be a terror isn’t she? Might give a banshee a run for its money” ”Kiwan! Hush! Lenka protested as the people in the lobby began to group and head towards the banquet hall. A comment like that could be easily overheard. “Oh don’t worry. She’ll calm down now that she has Hidiyoshi in her clutches. Poor man.” said a voice behind them, who turned out to be Haruki. ”You should have seen the tantrum she had at the airport when she found out that Hidiyoshi was not coming to pick her up!” Haruki grinned.

The members filed through the rooms until they arrived at the banquet hall. “Please sit where you like.” said Radik who had waited for them at the door. Lenka, Kiwan, and Milos veered off to the left table and sat on the outside. When they sat down however, they each left a chair in between them to allow for other to sit next to them. Constance waited patiently on the opposite side of the door as Radik was. And poor Hidiyoshi was steered to the right side of the left table where he sat across from the trio, but had Akemi sitting on his right, while Haruki, with helpful intentions, sat on his left.

Mel nodded as Kira walked away from her. So much had happened today that she wasn't exactly sure if she could process it all in her mind. Mindlessly, she followed the procession into the banquet hall.

She wondered if she could really find out more about her mother if she asked Radik. Deciding that was going to be her mission today, she spent a few minutes tracking him down and then standing awkwardly around the seat besides him. Would it be rude for her to sit there? Should she find somewhere else to sit instead?

Schraeder had been standing to one side, looking around at the hall they stood in. Its make, the trappings within - they were all exquisite. He could definitely enjoy being in this place.

The doors banged open and he instantly was on guard. They were here because the Cardholders were under attack, and if this was one such attack then he wouldn't be caught off-guard. Instead of assassins, however, it was simply the Yamano siblings, accompanied by the typically-composed Constance. Schraeder made a note to himself to inquire about what was wrong.

Akemi's outburst caused Schraeder's lip to curl slightly. Lovers' spats were not something to be aired publicly, as far as he was concerned. It was nobody else's business, and making it so was shameful. He didn't even bother watching it to the end; instead, he headed for the banquet.

When they all arrived, he decided that he would sit next to Melody, the only person with whom he had really spoken since arriving. He almost felt responsible for her, having come with her to this point. "Making friends?" he asked, smiling at her.

---

Shae was following along behind Radik when he heard Akemi began shouting. His grin was wide and wolfish; this was the one thing that always got under Hidiyoshi's skin and broke that infuriating composure. How could Shae have forgotten? Of course Akemi would be here.

He came around the corner, doing his best to conceal his glee, and saw Akemi still holding her sword. Radik had stopped her from attacking Hidiyoshi? Shae sulked a little bit in his mind before shrugging it off. He stepped in front of Akemi and bowed. "Yamano-san," he said, smiling widely at her. She was something of an ice queen, but at least Shae bothered to greet her properly.

"And Haruki!" Shae waved much more informally to the brother. He liked Haruki more anyway. Shae sat with him during dinner; they had catching up to do after recent events.

Kira laughed, "Ah yes. And if I remember correctly I got lectured for abandoning my fencing practice and playing with you." She frowned slightly remembering they had told her that non-card holders were not appropriate playmates for a card holder who should be training to hone her craft. Kira never understood the Yamano's strict tradition about cardholders and proper behavior, even if she came from a card holding family herself.

"I always wondered why you never wrote to me," she added. "I've been good, though. Been keeping myself busy with fencing, my academics, my job, and I got engaged..." She held out her hand and added with a sly smile, "Freddy is spitting nails that I left to go to the Arcane Society, though. He thought proposing to me would keep me in the States."

Still laughing she said brightly, "How have you been? Hopefully the Yamano clan hasn't been that hard on you..." She added her last statement in a lower voice. She had always worried slightly about Haruki who was at the mercy of the Yamano clan and its traditions.

Mel didn't really understand anything that Mr. Schraeder just said. What did he mean by the real world? Wasn't this world real too? And making friends is always exciting, she thought, maybe adults think differently. She wondered if she would understand when she was older.

Her story, what about her would be considered her story?

"I live in a house." she began. "with my dad. And we have turkeys and bunnies and deer and sometimes even bears around our house and then we play for a while. My best friend is named Ralph. He's gotten sort of old so he doesn't play around as much anymore but he's still my best friend. There aren't really many people around where I live though, so I don't have any people friends. Do you have many people friends where you live?"