Walking Home && Other Adventures

"Ooh, damn, so far away!" avoiding hugging for too long, she didn't like to be hugged back, Ayame chuckled with Aya. She could allow him for this gesture, but for a moment, only short moment.

Tilting head to the side she snorted and laughed. "You're pure gay, ne? Didn't took girls to consideration at all!" sacrifice spoted next place where she could slide on ice. Never getting rid of her childlish actions, no surprise that she got few confused stares from strangers, when giggling she passed by them. "Yaa ... you act much more mature but look like younger ... I thought that you'd be either younger or much older than me~"

"And what, you can't stay in pj's all day when it's not holiday ... indeed you can't." Ayame tapped her cheek with fingers. "That's bad side of being employed~" she smirked slightly. Thought her 'jobs' were low payed and completly random, at least she was free do live as she liked, without any time frames.

"Opposite of me then. When you rely on someone, they rely on you and ..." she frowned "... and get demanding." laughing this matter off she crossed legs and turned, sliding on ice backwards. There was long path made of ice there; probably water that dripped from icicles hanging from roofs edge. It wasn't safe idea, she could felt her balance being off and then she was chatching it again. On the edge of falling down Ayame jumped to the side, off ice, landing next to Ayane, avoiding landing on her ass by graceless swinging arms.

"Ah~ I feel like skating. Lake should be still frozed ... We made snowman with Nori." she added suddenly. "He will be scaring children today. She called him Riku and I Etsuko ... and along the way he ended as Ritsu." corners of her lips twitched when she imagined meeting of two Ritsu's, one made of snow and other one acting as if he was made of snow.

"Indeed 20 is such an old age ..." Ayame tilted her head and stared at Ayane. "It is, for you, ne?" she gently removed his hand from her shoulders, not really paying attention to it. Though she herself was overly affectionate with anyone, getting touched back was ... uncomfortable. She was able to stand it but if she was thinking about something else out of habit she was avoiding getting touched.

"Ah, poor you! After accident I had fucked up balance for a while too; but it's back now." answering with laughter, she patted her lips with one finger. "Etsuko? Kanji for this are 'joy' and 'child'. I decided that it was suitable, though his face doesn't show much of joy ... but he must enjoy scaring kids, I'm sure of it!" sacrifice giggled.

"For me, yes." It wasn't really a happy thought, so he simply left it at that. The bag had swung from his shoulder down to his elbow, but Aya really didn't seem to mind. His gloves were thinning, so in fear of frost-bite he jammed his possibly frozen digits into the jacket pockets.

Raising an eyebrow, he stared at Ayame, "So he's bringing you more joy than the children?" He really didn't feel much like talking about Nori right now.

Ayame allowed small smile show on her lips. "Keep this a secret, but you're not only one." not explaining anymore she returned to counting icicles hanging down from roofs. Never admiting it to anyone, Ayame wasn't planning getting older that 40. It was her limit, after that it was only worse; weaker body, weaker mind ... she wasn't planning on letting that happen.

This time she presented teeth in wide smile. "He was. Now they are both not enjoyable; Etsuko and children. Things that brings me joy ... needs to be present." tilting head to the side she brushed hair from her eyes. "Ever heard it? 'Yesterday is already history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift. And gifts are to be enjoyed.'" she clasped her hands glad that she remembered it correctly ... or almost correctly. "So, why so many people is focused on either past or future, and only few on present?"

Laughing silently Ayame pulled her too loose jeans up. "It depends how you see it ... are you person who wants to hug all population or only those that are closest to you?" playing with red wisp, tickling with it tip of her own nose she smiled to herself. If she'd go further with this example, she was someone who wanted to wrap arms only around herself.

Putting end og wisp between lips she turned head to Aya. "And can you actually enjoy every of those microscopic moments? Magic of this sentence lies in fact that everyone knows about it, but actually noone can do it. I heard it in cartoon~"

Dark clouds on the sky were making day shorter, as if it was 24 hours lasting evening. Not only dark, but also so heavy, she got the feeling that they could suddenly fall down and crush her under their weight ... shrugging to stop shiver traveling up her spine, she would be much more happy to get off street already. But on the other hand she wanted to stay there, under this thrilling feeling of slight fear without reasons.

"What do you think does that means? 'Think a wonderful though' ... like ... be positive? But when you think wonderful things you can get lost within your own mind and never find way back. Person who created this sentence had experience with drugs or was shizophrenic~" after al she was the one knowing the best what was happening when thoughts were becoming better that reality. In the end they were becomong material, like Isa, cherfully skipping on the other side of street.

"Metaphor, Hime, it's metaphor." batting her eyelashes she giggled, but didn't continued explanation. Fact that not many people were able to follow her thoughts, randomly changing from one topic to anoyther, was usual for her; she was never bothered with it.
Ayame glanced at Ayane again laughing at his expression. He had aborable face, his expressions were so amusing ... she could see why people were mistaking him for girl sometimes.

"Some try. Other one creates sentences with underlying messages without effort. Some by mistake. It's always fun to try guessing wat they thought about. And of course. Gift is gift only in moment of getting it. Moment later it's already belonging to you, so it's stopping to be gift." she nodded her head agreeing with her own words. "You think, how long gift stays gift? Being positive is unrealistic. Rather than being glad what they already have, they dream about they will have ... that's being positive. Finding good thing in all bad things. It's waiting for gift rather than being happy with gift they already have. And then, say, when optimist obtains what he pryed to obtain, how we call him?" Ayame clasped her hands, happy as puppy with his words. She wanted to hide inside some building; she was cold.

Ayame laughed, brushing hair off her face. "I'm not good with those as well. Teachers wanted all of us to completly agree with their idiotic opinions. No way, now way ..." wind was getting quite strong, playing with red mane, messing already wild wisps even more.

"Nope, it's other kind. It's precious thing you received. But no longer a gift." jumping over next puddle full of melted snow she got an idea. "Hey, Aya-hime, what was first thing you received from Izzie?"

Following Aya she looked around curiously. Yep, she knew this street, as well as other streets in town ... but it was so fascinating to enter those buildings, to see how people lived. Getting small part of story everyone were living on their own.

"That may be the case ... or I just liked pissing teachers off?" Ayame took hair band from Ayane and tied her hair up in high ponytail. Since strands were already messed and never same lenght part of them still were falling down on her face. "Thanks ... this hairdo have it own brain I swear."

"Sentimental, huh?" she murmured and smile lit up her face. "He forced presents on you? Damn, that's cute~" she stared to laugh.

(Hope you don't mind me butting in.)

Ai shifted nervously as she walked. It felt weird not having to tell her grandparents where she was at but she wasn't complaining. The girl shivered as a cold wind rushed by her. She liked the cold but this was just crazy; she was freezing! She was a little anxious about telling Raven about the sacrifice/fighter bond but figured if Juuri thought it was okay then she was okay with it too.

However, Ai was cautious by nature and she couldn't really be too safe. Like the old saying goes she'd rather be safe than sorry. So deep in thought the girl failed to notice two people just in front of her. The girl walked right into one of them. Glancing up she almost did a double take at the unlikely duo. She felt kind of rude staring and not apologizing about running into the girl so she just looked down and mumbled out, "S-sorry."

Someone ran into her, making her loose balance on iced over pavement. Mindlessly Ayame wrapped arms around girl and spinned around with her, causing them to keep balance instead of falling down.
"Yaa ... kitten, watch out. I don't want to end in one of those puddles~" Ayame let go of her and scratced her thigh. Through touching girl she made sure; girl was other unit.
"We don't mind, do we, Hime?" she turned head to Ayane smiling at him. She was happy, after all she loved amusing situations and it definitelly looked like it could turn out very amusing ...

Ai blushed hotly and muttered more apologies. "Sorry, sorry. I don't pay attention. I was so deep in thought sorry, sorry." After saying this the girl took more time to study the two people. The woman had bright red hair with a bit of blond at the top of her head and was about an inch or so shorter than Ai. The man she noted had short brown hair and was about the same height as the red head.

Sighing softly the girl shifted akwardly and stared down at her feet. She always tried to make her self seem smaller when in these situations and this was no different. She kind of curled in on herself; slouching down slightly and bringing her shoulders forward and in. Feelilng the need to apologize again she glanced up at the two then down again, "Sorry, sorry again."

Ai was sure she was going to die from embarrassment. She knew her face probably was an unhealthy shade of red. Looking to the older man she shook her head quickly. "N-no, no. I was just out taking a walk because I got restless. Again I'm so sorry!" She was stunned by these random strangers' kindness; not many people would take her apology. Most would probably scream at her for being an idiot and ruining their day. 'Oh man they probably think I'm some clutzy little ditz.'

Ayame clasped her hands. "Now, enough of this apologizing. It's not like you killed someone, no?" she put hand on girls head, though she was shorter than brown haired girl and this looked quite weird. "No 'sorry-ing' again, okay?" looking in brown eyes she smiled. Neko looked even more shy that Tsu. She already managed to say 'sorry' six times.

"Oi, Hime, I'm female there, I should be now showing my maternal sides." Ayame chuckled silently and turned her attention to girl again. "Now, care to say your name or I can call you 'kitten'?" she tilted head to the side, resting one hand on her hip; mostly to keep her jeans from falling down.


(I think we should go in order, so noone will be left behind. So, me, Wolf and then Lala, ok?)

(Good idea Majo.)

Ai blushed for the billionth time it seemed and nodded at the woman chuckling a little at the woman's words to the man. It was hard for her not to say sorry again, in fact she almost slipped in her speech, "Sor--, I mean my name is Ai Kurotsuki. Nice to meet both of you. And if you want to call me that then you can, I guess."

The shy girl laughed nervously and scratched the back of her head. She really did hope she didn't look or sound like a fool. Though with her shyness she figured that wasn't the case.

Ayame pursed lips pouting. "Malicious snowman ... he just has his little hobbies! And his crappy face is your sis fault ..." she laughed silently scratching her thight. meeting new units were quite annoying.
"By the way, isn't 'ai' written with ..." she draw with feet some kanji in melting snow "It means 'love' doesn't it? Are you loved, Love?" tilting head to the side she observed kitten. Although girl was taller she was giving feeling like she was much shorter. She also didn't looked much younger; but Ayame was feeling like she was talking to little girl, shy and adorable.