Welcome to Gaia! ::

A bright smile lightened her face as the stage director as she snatched the mics from the girls as they passed. Making sure they were switched off, she set them and her clipboard aside before bounding back out to the stage front.

"Wasn't that awesome!?!! Give another hand to Fyte and Tsukiko!" she cheered with the crowd.

"So now, before our next solo act, we have our very own campus band! Give it up for Soundbite mania!" In a flurry of red she turned and exited the stage as three students made their grand entrance.

One boy walked to one edge, a keyboard strapped over his shoulder. A girl in gothic frills stood to the other side and brandished a guitar, her mic barely visible in her mass of black curls. The final member stood at the back and between the two, shaking his hands out. A slow beat pounded the amps softly as they tested their instruments.

"We are Soundbite Mania and this is Butterfly," the girl announced before the lights went out. As they began to play, the point of the member in back became instantly apparent. As the music fluctuated streams of colored light twirled above the audiences heads.

"I yai yai am your little butterfly. Red black and blue, making colors in the sky," the girls sang. At first they were simple streams of colors, but as they continued they separated, becoming shimmery butterflies that had trails of lights. The longer the performance went the more intricate the light show.

Katanna couldn't be more elated at the sight.

Getting the signal from her crew, she sighed. The next act had finally arrived. She had been a little worried, since the kid was a bit shy. Remembering her encounter earlier that day, she couldn't resist putting him on stage. He was so adamant. As the group finished their song and the lights were returned to normal, the director sighed before stepping out onto the stage once more.

"Another fantastic performance! Give 'em a hand!" She clapped with the crowd. "And now, an impromptu performance by one of our newest students! Show some love for Nemo!"

Tsukiko looked up when she heard someone else was singing. "Whe-" She just herself off and smiled slightly. She hadn't know the young boy was singing, let alone a song she was so familiar with. She mused softly as she watch the younger boy. In a way she felt bad, she had want him to understand her, but still he was just a kid. He had his own burdens and he had been right when he say they where nothing alike. Why was she never satisfied, why did she have to have a conscious. Her eyes grazed to a certain blonde haired boy and she looked back at the table. Tsukiko had her own habits to break, she was such a hypocrite. In her own little way, just just wanted to be happy. Shaking her head she wanted Nemo to be happy. She did look at him as a younger brother, she didn't want anyone to try and control him or his powers. Even if that mean sacrificing her own happiness. In the end it was all for the better, and she could smile slightly at that. After all 18 years old was to young of an age to make life long decisions. She needed to mess up a few times, but no more did she want to.

She needed to talk to Nemo, she needed to talk to him badly. This wasn't the time though. This was his moment, and she didn't want to ruin that for him. Looking at the time she got up and started making her way through the crowed. Once she reached the stage she look up at the young boy. Listening to him sing she couldn't help but mutter one line. "I'll paint it on the wall, because I'm the one at fault." She didn't even really realize she had sang it. To busy turning again to make her way back stage.

((If I need to make a back track post for you Sai I can kay.))

"Clutching my cure, I tightly lock the door, I try to catch my breath again," Nemo sang in a low voice. His cheeks were bright red, he could hardly stand to look at the growing audience before him. Half the time he had his eyes closed, trying to visualize himself alone to make the act of performing more bearable. Yet, he knew this would not last long. He couldn't stand there, eyes closed, and hope to finish before making a fool of himself. When he opened his eyes again it was to a brush of wind. Fyte stood at the base of the stage, watching him. His throat tightened, but he wouldn't let this opportunity be ruined.

"I hurt much more, than anytime before, I had no options left again." He clenched a fist to his chest, one foot tapping to the music .

"I don't want to be the one, the battles always choose. 'Cause inside I realize, that I'm the one confused." Sweat glistened on his brow, as he continued to sing. The more the song went on the more it changed from him singing to a crowd, to him singing to Fyte. It seemed easier somehow, though he couldn't figure out why, to pour out everything to her. Always, she had been there to smile and laugh. She never spoke down to him, showing always the deep well of compassion in her heart. He wanted to show her that he wasn't perfect, damn far from it, but he was trying his best here. Even if it was just to stand on his own two feet.

"I don't know what's worth fighting for, or why I have to scream. I don't know why I instigate, and say what I don't mean. I don't know how I got this way, I know it's not alright. So I'm breaking the habit, I'm breaking the habit. Tonight"

"I'll paint it on the walls, 'Cause I'm the one that falls. I'll never fight again, and this is how it ends," he cried as he took a few steps back. The lights followed him as smaller ones danced around to the beat.

"I don't know what's worth fighting for, or why I have to scream. But now I have some clarity, to show you what I mean. I don't know how I got this way, I'll never be alright. So, I'm breaking the habit. I'm breaking the habit. I’m breaking the habit. Tonight." As he ended the last refrain, he lowered his hands and drooped his head, panting. Stormy eyes raised a little, half in fear of what he'd see.

The minute Fyte jumped up on the stage, was the minutes a curtain that didn't exist covered the stage. "Fyte sweetie get back here please don't run off." Tsukiko didn't obviously care about the show running smoothly, it for the most part was her idea. Having gone to Kat with it was the best way to make it happen anyway. Though she had to many options run after Fyte, send Nemo after Fyte or to go preform. Looking at the curtains she grimaced at her over kill. Though she doubted Nemo nor Fyte would give her secret away. Even if neither one of them knew it was a secret. Obviously she didn't want to go anywhere near Nemo at the moment so she picked her dress up and ran after her friend. "Fyte, you didn't mess anything up. Please get back here." Tripping on a cord she grimaced again. Not caring to look at her leg she continued after Fyte. Catching her she took her hand. "One day you are going to thank me and thank me, but you are going to have to hate me first. Now get back there and talk to him." With that she started dragging Fyte back. No matter how this ended someone would hate her. She knew she was never going to get what she wanted. So she might as well make good use of her time. "When I'm singing my solo I better see you to dancing, one of us really needs to, and we both know no one is going to dance with me." Tsukiko sighed she wanted this to happen, she wanted to but her own dreams out of her mind. She didn't want to wish or to hope that what she wanted to happen was going to. Even with all her magic, it just wasn't going to happen, it just wasn't possible. "Please Fyte tell me what's the worst that would happen, that you'll both be embarrassed for a few days. Its will blow over please believe me. I'm not wanting to hurt you, if you think I did then go look at the stage and tell me whats different."

Tsukiko smiled and turned around. "Excuse me I have a performance now.... Though I have a request....This next number is a nice little slow dance song, Nemo will you do me a huge favor and dance with Fyte. I want to get the whole audience dancing to this song." With a playful smirk all her own she turn and left patting Nemo on the should as she went.

"Go get her tiger." She said in a low whisper as she walked away grabbing a ready head set from the stage manager.

"Testy as always, remind me if I ever go into this as a profession to hire you and pay you very well Ms. Kat." Tsukiko had always been amused by the girl, she knew how to push her, but not in a cruel way.

Laughing she step up to the curtain. Laughing was a way to get rid of her stress. She felt better now, she had done the best she could do. Now it was time for her to be back in her element of music. How she became a water witch and not a music witch the world would never know.

As the music slowly began she snapped her fingers and the curtains turned to a dancing furry of raining glitter of all colors. It was a beautiful slight once it got caught in the changing stage lights. It circled and danced around Tsukiko giving her this look that was all to magical for people not to know she was a witch.

'My hands are searching for you, My arms are outstretched towards you, I feel you on my fingertips, My tongue dances behind my lips for you.'

As she began she could took a few steps towards the edge of the stage. Her hands where searching and would never reach. Her her would be forever outstretched, but he wasn't coming back for her. Even know though all she could think about was the last time she kissed him. How she wanted to hold him again, and just stay in her dreams forever and never wake up just so she could have him....just so he would keep her....

'This fire rising through my being. Burning I'm not used to seeing you.'

It was her problem, every time she thought about him, the fire in her heart was just set blazing in her. He was just a dream demon, he was never going to be fully apart of this world if Nemo every had anything to say about. It would never be fair to anyone no matter the scenario, someone was always going to end up hurt.

'I'm alive, I'm alive.'

She sang with her whole heart to try to prove that she was alive. Right now she was here, she was here nothing had killed her. This magic, her father, herself, her witch, everything that had ever tried to kill her had failed. Nothing ever stood in her way, so here she was. Proving that she was alive.

'I can feel you all around me, Thickening the air I'm breathing, Holding on to what I'm feeling, Savoring this heart that's healing.'

She could feel him all around her, but it was just in her imagination. After waking up in the hall alone, she realized that's just how it was always going to be. Clinging to this feeling was all she was ever going to have of it. Every time she saw him, her breath would get caught in her throat and she would feel like a school girl. Her had made her feel alive, and oh how she loved the feeling of a healing heart, but it just shouldn't be. It wasn't right, everyone had told her how she was going to hurt in the end. The made this the end, this was the end, so this is where it was going to hurt. Rip it quickly like a band-aid...it wouldn't hurt as bad now.

'My hands float up above me, And you whisper you love me, And I begin to fade, Into our secret place.'

Raising her hands she slightly danced to the music. To everyone else this was an act to go for the performance. Maybe it really was just an act, she was losing her grip with reality. This was her wake up call, this was what was better for everyone. Fyte and Nemo could end up together like they should, Ryo could move on now that she was safe, and she could end up with up with well...someone someday....Someone that would tell her how much they loved her, how much they could love her....how much the really would never love her...she wanted to be a mother, and she highly doubted he would ever marry her let alone actually have children with her. He didn't really exist, and if she could just tell herself that enough. Then she would never fade back into those sweet dreams that always ended in nightmares. Nightmares that he didn't care about, nightmares that she wanted to go away. Insecurities that she wanted to go away.

'The music makes me sway, The angels singing say we are alone with you, I am alone and they are too with you.'

She moved to the music as she sang. Even if she didn't ever want to be alone, it really was just for the better. In this confused state of her, she just really needed to figure this out. Tsukiko refused to acknowledge the crowed. There was a face that wasn't there, it was never going to be there. For now she was alone, the angels wanted her to be alone, or there would be someone here with her. Someone to sweep of off her feet, someone to give her a flower, someone to whisper they loved her. No she had to get her mind straight he wasn't here, he was never going to be here.

This was stupid, how much she just wanted to jump off stage and run away. Run away from him, run away from the people that knew she wanted him, just to fade away in her own secret place. Back to a time he didn't exist. When she was a loner, that was needed to happen. Tsukiko needed to get everything set up, so when everyone was happy she could be alone again. If they where happy, then she could deal with that. Even if it meant no children, even if it meant no love. She had herself, and well what else did a witch need.

'I'm alive, I'm alive.'

Her whole face turned a bright shake of pink, though she hugged Ace back. It's… alright. I'll make an exception for it this time." Stepping back, her hand shyly snuck out his and gently held it. "And you know… even if you did look like everyone else, I know you would've found me anyway." She admitted, gently entwining her fingers with his. Hearing the slower music, Alessa gently tugged Ace towards the dance floor. "U-u-umm… did you… did you want to dance?" She mentally slapped herself once the words left her mouth, appalled at how she sounded like a love-sick school girl. Jeez, just what is happening to me? she wondered to herself. Another question popped up in her mind, but as annoying as the thought was, Alessa was too afraid to ask it and ruin the moment. What about your double? Where is he?

"I bet you would've sent the entire security force if I didn't." Ace says smiling and brings her in more towards the dance floor "I am not that good of a dancer." Ace says with a big smile on his face as he grabs the side of her waist and her right hand, rocking slightly back and forth in circles.

The other Ace was in hiding as even he knew if more than one Ace was seen at the dance, it would mess with everything. He spotted the original Ace and Alessa dancing so he focused his attention on his original target, Nemo and Fyte. He had slipped into the shadows and disguised himself as a security guard. After doing so he gathered some items and hid them in his coat, such as a line of rope, tape, cloth, and clorophorm.

Before he had disappeared completely though into the shadows the original Ace had spotted him "Hey, Alessa? I don't mean to question, but why did you hire a security guard?" Ace asks trying to keep on step with Alessa.

Ace sighs as he tries to reassure his date that everything will be fine "Alessa, you are worried about him now? Look, the last time I had seen him was when he was going back to the dorm room, he said since he couldn't be in the dance with Fyte he was going to grab some items to get her. I think he might be making something to win her over. That was a while ago though so he is probably here to give it to her personally,so please stop worrying." Ace says and nuzzles her.