Welcome to Gaia! ::

[November 23rd, 2005]

[We only have to be afraid a little bit as we sit here under the beautiful blue sky.]

An island, wonderful, precisely the place she did not want to be at the moment.

"Peaceful, isn't it?"

"The river's hard to ignore."

"Ah yes, I suppose the water's a bit much, but if there wasn't water we couldn't fish."

Aido's eyes shifted, taking in the sight of what was, indeed, a fishing pole set up, its handle dug into the sand next to where the Kibeth woman, was sitting, blinking up at her.

"You may wish to sit down, otherwise one of us is going to end up with quite a nasty neck cramp," Kibeth commented warmly.

Moving closer the Tale sat down, legs curled up to her chest, feet staying firmly away from the slips of water that coursed over the rough sediment that littered the bank and, most likely, the river bed itself. "What're you fishing for?" upon closer inspection the fishing pole had only a string attached, the hook that should have been at the end was missing.

"I will, or we will I should say, know when we catch it. But onto bigger things where do you think you are?"

Aido risked a small glanced around, "on an island or possibly asleep."

"Tis' the later."

"Then what are you? A dream?"

"I'm a fragment. I'm you actually. Possibly. Maybe."

One dark eyebrow quirked upwards.

"Ah! See! Definitely a maybe I think, I never could get that trick down, Raelhem would always do it at me, it was infuriating."

"I'm confused."

"I'd be frightened if you weren't."

"What are you?"

"I already told you."

"No you didn't."

"Yes, I said very clearly 'I am a fragment.'"

"A fragment of what?"

"Of you."

"We're going around in circles."

"A very keen observation. Have you ever argued with yourself? Yes? This is like an extreme version of that. Now try this; start asking questions."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Kibeth."

"Are you alive?"

"No, I died a very long time ago."

"But you're here? In my mind?"

"Yes. Or perhaps you're in my mind or we might only have one, shared mind."

"You don't know?"

"Do you?"

"No, that's why I asked."

"Then I don't know either."

The Tale's face fell and she tilted her head, "I think this is only making me more confused."

"Ah yes, well, let me try to explain as best I can. We have two conflicting knowledge bases from two completely separate times, well, actually three, I don't know if we share a spirit or a shadow or what else, but you have my memories, though you've only remembered a few of them," the older woman scratched at her cheek, "it's quite weird actually."

"Three? There are only two of..." a flicker of a memory, the other girl from the dream before she'd gotten lost.

"Yes, her. She's our third."

"So...we're all separate?"

"I a way, I know myself and our Other were separate but the manner of your existence is quite different from ours. Someday you may very well recall all of both our lives along with your own."

"So that means...I'm not me?" she was... a patchwork quilt of sorts?

"Of course you're you! Whoever you are, have grown into, have become as your bizarre 'I was born from a book' self you did so with influences, yes, but despite those influences your are neither me nor the other, you are merely you," the woman was staring at her intently and Aido gave a slight nod as a reply.

"Were you both Shadow Mancers?"

"I was, the other... was, but wasn't."

"Are all your answers going to be vague?"

"Of course, we're working off your knowledge base."

"So you are a figment."

"No, I'm a fragment."

"Is there a difference?"

"You don't know."

"I don't suppose hitting my head against some hard surface would work here?"

"Nope, and don't pick up that habit, it never helps."

"Aemu does it."

"Still a bad habit."

Aido huffed slightly, she was still exhausted, flustered and feeling very off balance because of the events of the last few days and this conversation with...herself wasn't helping in the least.

"I agree completely," Kibeth chimed, "let's turn to lighter topics, hrm? How goes the Shadow Mancing?"

"I couldn't do it when I was facing the Illis."

"Of course you could, if you hadn't, you'd be dead right now. How old are you now? Ten, eleven months? No more than a babe! I agree you must teach yourself to be focused during a fight, but you did admirably."

"I feel like I need a teacher."

"For Shadow Mancing? No. Never ever take a teacher."

Aido blinked in surprise at the suddenly sharp tone, "why not?"

"Stand up," Kibeth stood, dusting off the dress she was wearing and dug her feet into the ground. With seamless ease the older woman pulled a shadow upwards into her palm.

Aido was forced to cup the shadow herself, dragging it upwards as she stood, causing Kibeth to quirk an eyebrow.

"Before you learn anything else you need to know how to draw the Shadows out of themselves and to you otherwise you'll forever be contained to the need for touch."

Aido nodded slightly, "how do I learn that?"

"Feel for it and practice your grey matter out."

"Grey matter?"

"Organs, brains and suchwhat. But, anyway, watch," Kibeth took hold of the shadow which immediately stiffened and changed, becoming a long, elegant whip. "Can you do that?"

"I think so..." it took a moment and several tries but soon Aido was standing, facing her.... other self?

"Now attempt to strike me."

Aido did, only to watch as her whip was grabbed and dissipated in her hand, falling in whisps to join its fellows in the shadows around their feet, "what was that?"

"See? To learn from another is to subvert yourself, at least in the case of a Shadow Mancing technique. If you copy another they have the ability to disperse what you create."

"Why would a teacher do that?"

Kibeth blinked, taking in the girl's sincere expression, "not everyone in these worlds is kind."

"Oh...."

Trying to lighten the tone and bring the conversation back to its original subject Kibeth smiled slightly, "but what you can do is supplement your technique with other things, whatever martial arts and such what your world offers is a good place to begin, though I would suggest that you start with something that focused on meditation and sharpening your focus so that you don't need someone to protect in order to get the shadows to do what you ask."

Aido groaned and cradled her head in her hands, "can't I just rest like a normal person and have dreams about flying goldfish?"

Kibeth sighed and rubbed at the back of her neck, "alright, no more heavy talk if you're so against it..." blue eyes glanced up, a sly smile on the older woman's face. "So then~what about that redhead you were with?"

Aido's eyes snapped up at the subject change, "what?"

"You know, the redhead about yey tall," the woman motioned with one hand then pointed to her chin, "bit of fur on his chin, I was never for that, not really, thought it looked silly, but if you like it go for it! Or shave it when he's asleep. He might be a bit pissed off if you take that route. Though I'm sure he'll forgive you."

Giving the older woman a baffled look, Aido finally stood, threw her arms in the air and walked off.

And ended up right back where she started.

This wasn't a dream, it was a repetitive nightmare.

"I think I hate this place."

"But you like the red~head!"

"He's none of your buisness!"

"Ohhoho, but he's your's?"

With a scowl Aido grabbed at a bit of shadow and pelted her other self with it. The rule about not hurting other didn't apply to herself.

The older woman grinned and danced away. This was too much fun. Had she acted like this around puberty too?

Probably, but hey, there was nothing like taunting yourself. Fun without a guilt trip.

She paused and her next quip died on her lips as a light from nearby caught her attention, "aha! Looks as if our quarry has arrived!"

Aido, who'd been readying another bit of shadow glanced to the side. The shadow fell back to its fellows in the form of grains of sand.

"The Golden Carp..."

Eyes shifted and Kibeth smiled slightly, "of the sky. Ixtili, Denizine."

The fish's eyes swivled and its fins waved, with the motion it's golden sheen increased and suddenly flared with a flash of blinding light, forcing both Kibeth and Aido to look away.



Eyelids wrinkling Aido pressed her head against the soft surface of her pillowcase, struggling back to wakefullness as the echoes of the duel voices followed her back.

Golden eyes slid over towards her as she pressed herself up, willing seemingly lead lined limbs to work as she struggled to obey the commands set upon her.

-You should rest.-

"Can't... suppposed.. need to..." the words spilled out but didn't connect. She couldn't seem to think properly....

-If you don't do it willingly than your body will force you,- Rael warned, drumming his fingers. How odd to be in bipedual form.

But then again nowadays everything seemed to be a bit odd.

He looked to the young Shadow Mancer. Bi-colored eyes were clouded as she wavered between obeying her body's screams for rest and something Rael couldn't identify, but was sure he didn't like.

-Sleep,- the word was laced with command and over their link there was nothing Aido could do about it.

If she remembered about it later she'd probably be angry with him, but somehow the Shadow doubted she was awake enough to recall anything.

"'Kay..." the girl finnally conceeded and slumped back onto the bed, eyes sliding shut.

Rael smiled and leant back, he was tired as well....

Blue eyes slid open again, "Rael...?"

-I thought you'd gone to sle--

She didn't let him finish. "Rael... not Raelhem...?"

An odd sort of smile quirked his lips, a motion that didn't quite belong to him, -no. Not Raelhem.-

A smile tugged at too young lips, "waiting?"

-Always.-

"M'glad..." eyes slid closed once again and both presences slept.

An odd feeling passed over Rael as he watched the gentle rise and fall of the girl's chest beneath the blanket. He couldn't, or perhaps just didn't want to, name it.

Standing his form slid into it's 'normal' quardraped form and he melded into the nearby shadow of the wall.

How long had it been? Angelus couldn't keep up counting the days it had been since he'd seen Aido last. Silent had given him an allowance and instead of using it for himself, he saved up and purchased gifts for his dearest friends. Tis the season or something to that effect. He didn't understand the Christmas season all that well. But the presentation of gifts was easy to understand.

Angelus asked Silent for Aido's address. It seemed like the Tale owners were given that kind of information because Silent gave him a sheet of all the Tale's home addresses.

Angelus headed off to his destinations and Aido was on the top of his list.

Carrying the basket, a blue egg tied in silver ribbon was placed comfortable among a white blanket. It was to be a surprise and he didn't want Aido to see him. Yet. Walking along the path, he walked up towards the front door. He let out a sigh. He wanted to see Aido again. It's been way too long, he thought.

Placing the basket before the door, he slipped an envelope next to the egg. He made sure the egg was bundled warm before he left it for his new caretaker.



Angelus hurried off to a few more houses.

This is what the letter said:

Dear Aido,

I'm so glad to have as my best friend. I miss our adventures and fun times together. I didn't mean to leave you alone without saying goodbye. I'm sorry. Can you ever forgive me? Well, I bought you this small gift and I hope you like it. If I only I had a better allowance I would buy you something better. It should be hatching soon so take care of it.

I miss you and I can't wait to see you again so we can go out on another adventure. You're my best friend and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Love always,
Your best friend, Angelus

P.S. Merry Christmas!

::Listen to Your Elders.... ::

"Aiai! Aiai!" Reid threw his weight against his sister's door until it creaked and slid open.

Dragon plush grasped firmly in his hands the firefly Mishap flew towards his sister's bed, divebombing the curled up figure that lay atop the sheets, cradling a book and, apparently, attempting to ignore him.

With a squawk the half asleep girl tumbled off the side of her bed, her overexuberent sibling landing atop her and quickly shoving a plush in her face.

"Look! Look! It's bigger!" Well, the entire plush wasn't bigger, he'd only managed to get it's head to grow. But he'd been practicing almostly constantly since he'd fallen into Ike's bedroom and the desire to fix himself had been rekinded.

A pair of blue eyes blinked back at him and a frown pucked his forehead as he pulled the plush back to him, emerald eyes glaring as he took in the woman wearing his sister's face.

"You're not Aiai. Where is she?"

Kibeth mentally sighed and returned Aido's sibling's glare with a slight smile, "she's asleep."

"What're you doing out...?" he paused and tilted his head, before resuming his glare, "Kibeth."

Kibeth started slightly and frowned, "now how, little one, do you know my given name?"

Reid's expression didn't shift, "I could hear it, answer my question." The melody in the back of his head had started up again.

Holding up her hands Kibeth smiled, "I was taking care of necessities, her bladder would've exploded otherwise. Now, what do you mean, you could hear my name?"

Reid crossed his legs and fully sat on the Kibeth woman, still glaring, "I heard it, that's how I knew it. Why did you have to take care of things? Aido knows how to use the bathroom herself."

Aido's eyes narrowed in consideration as Kibeth eyed the firefly boy, "names are dangerous things to know, espically if they're not freely given." She replied slowly, before mentally shaking her head, feeling Aido beginning to rouse herself. Apparently the restorative sleep her mind needed could be damned to hell when her brother was around.

Kibeth sighed and smiled, "Aido's waking up, ask any other questions you have to her." She blinked and Aido's bi-colored eyes were suddenly on her brother, blinking sleepily.

"Nyeh? What? Reid? Wha'reewdoin'inmaroomh?" she garbled out, putting a hand over her eyes and rubbing. What time was it?

"Aiai!" Reid hugged his sister happily, "what was Kibeth doing out? Where were you?"

"Kibeth? You talked to her?" Aido blinked, her... whatever Kibeth was, had never talked to her family before.

"Mmhmm, she said you were sleeping."

"I... was," it was too early-late... whatever for all this. Still, the Tale offered her brother a tired smile, "what's going on anyway?" Kibeth poked at her consciousness, "did you want to show me something?"

"Oh!" his earlier excitement returned quickly and Reid presented his elder sister with the enlarged dragon plush.

She took it and smiled, "I take it the casting is going better then?"

Reid nodded happily, glowing warmly.

Aido hugged her younger brother and yawned again, returning the plush to his hands, "I'm glad."

Reid's smile shifted slightly to a half frown, "you alright, Aiai?"

Aido smiled and ruffled his hair, "I'm alright, just...tired."

"You're never this tired."

Aido chuckled, "well you and Kibeth did wake me up...."

Flushing Reid fluttered up and landed a few feet away, head bowed. He scratched at his hair, "sorry Aiai, I thought you were awake...."

Aido waved him off, climbing out of the heap of blankets and shoving them back onto her matress, "it's fine. It was an honest mistake," another yawn and her head wavered, eyes fluttering, "sorry Reid... I can't seem to stay awake."

Reid shook his head, "don't be sorry Aiai, just go back to bed." Waving he hopped into the air and headed out the door, "g'night Aiai! Sleep well!"

Aido returned the wave sluggishly and collapsed back into bed.

[January 24th, 2006]

[A step in time, yeah it's a lot to move, I know this will be temporary]

The morning dawned, dim through the heavy set of clouds which promised more snow later that day.

Aido was slumped against a book, desklamp still alight and reflecting gently off the curve of her halo, which was rotating gently on it's own axis, as if it was attempting to mimic the rings of a planet or something similar.

The door slid open quietly and Aido twitched before cuddling deeper into her arms.

Keeping the level of quiet Reid flew into the room, placing a plush dragon, one of his finest faction members, by Aido's cheek and gave his big sister a pat on the head before flying back out the door to tell the rest of the waiting family that their target was still sleeping like the dead.

Aido, oblivious to any conspiracies by her family, merely cuddled the plush closer and stayed wrapped firmly in her oblivion.

It was nearly noon by the time Aido actually woke up.

Yawning and stretching she nearly fell off her feet when she first stood up and was forced to sit again as her legs finished waking up.

Rael's snout poked into the air by her ankle, sniffling before submerging himself back in the shadows. Noontime, he hated noontime.

Aido quietly sent him a short wave of calm and stood up, unhooking her belt and dropping the pants she'd been wearing since the night before onto the ground. Stepping out of the legs and shivering as the winter air hit the bare appendages she shuffled about, yawning to herself.

Another late night and a nearly useless book. She couldn't seem to find anything on Illis' and gathering up the courage to go back and investigate for herself was much easier said than done.

Being at the mercy of those claws again wasn't something she was going to go willingly to. Not if there might be another way of going at it. A head on fight would probably just result in the same outcome as before, or worse, with her luck.

'Coward,' something, her conscious or perhaps just a vicious mental voice, jeered at her.

"I am..." Aido admitted quietly to her wardrobe before shrugging her shoulders and pushing it all to the side. Picking at herself wouldn't get this done faster.

Grabbing jeans, a long sleeved shirt, socks and a t-shirt she pulled on layer after layer to help guard against the cold and stretched, discovering a hole in the corner of her sleeve and then another on the other.

Mindlessly she popped her thumbs through them, wiggling them about until the fabric stretched to a comfortable place and exited her room.

Only to be tackled to the floor then bodily thrown into a fireman's carry.

She made a small, muffled noise of shock and fear, the shadows snapping to alert and nearly to her hand before she realized it was her brother who seemed to be kidnapping her.

"Fai! What're you doing?" she asked squirming in her brother's grip.

Fai looked back and pat her back, "escorting you downstairs, sleepy head."

"I can walk you know."

"Nu-uh, not today you're not."

"I don't think that made any sort of sense," Aido clung a little when they started to go down the stairs.

Fai hefted her up a little higher on his shoulder, "today is special. Special 'no work for Aido' day. No stress either."

"You're asking for a day that can't exist right now," Aido replied, patting his head awkwardly before she was abruptly placed back on her feet at the door to the kitchen.

Poppers exploded with various snaps and cheers, there was a massive meal set out and Fai slapped a hand full of confetti onto her head, narrowly missing her halo.

"Happy Birthday Aido!" her family chorused warmly.

"Birthday...?" Aido questioned finally, looking around in confusion.

Chao strode over and grabbed her daughter in a warm hug, "exactly a year ago you showed up at the Stationary shop with many theatrics. Congrats Aido! You're officially one," Chao chuckled, ruffling her daughter's hair. Not that Aido looked or acted like a one year old, but Chao decided to wave away the silly clashing details for now.

"So we're celebrating!" Reid chimed in from his place next to Rico, leaning his head against two of his hands.

Aido smiled, finally catching on, "this is... for me?" she flushed in pleasure, feeling warmth wash over her.

"Yep! Now come on, let's eat then we're going out," Chao said leading Aido to the table where everyone sat down a moment later.

The day passed by fairly quickly. True to her word Chao had dragged the entire family out, into the woods.

Aido wondered if all birthdays involved impromptu snow wars and contests about who could shove the most snow down everyone else's shirts which dissolved into yet another round of snow war (she and Rael had teamed up and eventually allied with Fai against their parents and Reid, Aido still wasn't sure who'd won.)

If they didn't, they were certainly missing out.

The day had ended with sparklers, which Chao had sworn to never give her children ever, EVER again as Fai had gone to great lengths to show his 'younger' siblings how to best light off a heap of them at once.

Cake and presents (another shock to which Aido had actually objected to, since she'd been told that she wasn't allowed to buy them stuff in return. Chao and Rico had thrown her out in the snow again as punishment and she'd had to change) had followed and now Aido was back in her room, feeling lighter than she had in a long time.

The small stack of presents was sitting on the tail end of her bed. A new pocket watch gleamed in the gentle moonlight filtering through the window, as did a new compass and the spines of a stack of books.

A necklace was dangling from her neck, just under her scarf, the obsidian surface reflecting moonlight and shadow. Aido knew she wouldn't be wearing it much, too high a chance of losing it, but she appreciated the thought, along with the silver ear cuff her mother had given her to go with the necklace and act as a replacement should she ever lose her's. Chao had also promised to take her to get her ears pierced someday (Aido had turned down the offer, not in the mood for self imposed pain.)

But the most interesting gift was the book she currently had in her hand. It was an old book, she wasn't sure if it even had a name, but it was apparently a first hand account of many other worlds and inhabitants, not to mention creatures.

A bold word caught her eye and Aido paused to read the paragraph.

Sentinel Class There is a curious 'class' of creature. They are all "man made" and commonly known as 'sentinels', though their specific title varies from world to world and culture to culture. The common trait seems to be that these creatures are bound, through physical or spiritual means, to an area acting under specific orders from their creators (thus the term 'sentinel' or "One that keeps guard" ). These orders can be as vague as "kill all, save myself, who enter this area' to a specific message meant for a singular, expected person.

While a sentinel may move freely within it's given area it cannot move outside it nor can it cross worlds to follow a person who stumbles into the area it is meant to protect.

The sentinels I've encountered so far include; Duartsis, Kafirils, Illis-

Aido stopped reading and let out a breath she hadn't realized she been holding, immediately she was off her bed and dancing about. Yes! Oh gods, it couldn't come after her! It couldn't! It couldn't! YES!

Rael peaked his head up and in no time was dragged into the impromptu dance session as girl and shadow celebrated the time they'd been given (for there was still a deeper mystery here and a problem to be dealt with, but there was no longer the frantic edge to it all) and their own freedom.

[[Angelus and Aido]]

[ Message temporarily off-line ]

[Valentine's Day:: Part IV]

[Lapse of Self]

Janet yawned slightly, damning the lateshift and the caffine crash she'd apparently just experiences. The nurse idly finished checking the various IVs and the bandages covering the young woman's bloodied, winged appendages, along with the various, often beeping machinery before finnally moving on, intent on making herself another cup of black coffee, shutting the door behind her.

It was several minutes later that Chao began to stir, grumbling and shifting, stuck on the edge of consciousness. Something was stirring, just under her skin. She could feel it and within her mind's eye a six-year old version of herself looked at the small dot of silver on her arm and wondered why the men in the shiny uniforms had seen fit to put a needle in her arm.

With a huff and a strain her eyes cracked open, misted and completely unseeing as the burning began to sharply increase and spread. It moved from just under her forearm upwards and down until it was just under her fingertips before violently spiking in heat.

With a gasp and a strangled cry she sat up, hands fluttering to paw at her throat desperately. All at once she was six and sixteen, memory and reality violently colliding as she tried to yell but was unable to vocalize more than a whimper.

Her pupils had shrunk to mere pinpoints, the washed out grey of her irises were nearly glowing, giving light to the room which otherwise had none. The whitewashed walls were almosty blinding bright, adding yet another layer to the pain.

She screamed again, fingers gripping at her neck so tightly it came out muffled as her muscles spasmed and fought against her own crushing grip.

The machines at the side of her bed merely continued to nonchalently beep in the same pattern as before, detecting nothing as her heart rate spiked and she finally wrentched herself up and away, ripping Iv cords out of her skin and stumbling over her own feet as she threw herself out of the bed, landing hard on the tiled floor.

Mewling in agony she pulled herself up and half stumbled half crawled towards the small bathroom, crashing in through the door. Her gaze latched onto the showerhead like it was some blessed artifact and she stumbled into the stall.

--

It was some time later that Janet found the young woman bleeding in the shower with the water set as hot as possible, scrubbing furiously at her skin.

It had taken the help of two other nurses to get the distraught patient out of the bath room and she'd fought furiously against them until finally being sedated, leaving the weary trio scratched and bruised from her feverent kicks and swipes and wondering why the machines set up had never alerted anyone to the situation.

They moved her to another room and thankfully the remainder of the night passed quietly.

[[-home, getting things explained then heading up to the hospital.]]AKA, back to Aido x3