The second day of school is in the books. Thankfully, there wasn't anymore introductions today. Thank heavens for that one! The Blunette is quietly walking out the front doors of the school. It is a truly beautiful day. She wasn't kidding yesterday, She is wearing nylons which actually don't look terrible with her uniform. She just wanted to be warm after all. Quickly she moves towards one of the benches to do two key things. People watch and do her homework. Better to get it done quick.
Silently she shuffles through her bag, looking for her homework. Some Mathematics, A little Biology and a chapter in a book. Not too terrible. She starts with her math and quickly begins working things out in her head."
Tadase Hotori and Amu Hinamori are walking across the school yard, incredibly close together, talking about something. To those watching it might've been something romantic, or more. In reality, it's a discussion about Virtue and the threats Tadase's aware of - something that needs almost as much privacy. Kiseki is, for once, nowhere to be seen - but what can be seen, and almost heard, is the rather constant din of gossip directed around the two Guardians.
When Tadase stops to have a look around, though, everyone quickly finds Things To Be Doing.
Oddly enough, Eru is by herself today, which is unusual because she rarely leaves Utau's side. Of course at one point she had stayed with Kukai for a while, but lately she hasn't strayed far from Utau.
Today however, it seems that she was ordered to pick up an exercise book that Utau had left in her locker. Although the young teen idol was mostly home schooled, there were some classes that she still took with the regular students.
"Ugh, physics!" she murmurs as she floats out the front door of the school, fortunately the exercise book is not too heavy. "Why is Utau-chan studying physics?" as luck would have it, she's headed in the general location of Sierra.
Amu Hinamori never does anything the way she's supposed to. Seiyou's Cool & Spicy Cheerleader can't just wear her uniform, no she has to spice it up with leg warmers, a black bandana pinned to one arm, and of course her perpetually fashionable hairstyle held together with an X-shaped black pin. Today it's a side-pony, which on just about anyone else would look utterly ridiculous. Yet somehow she manages to make it work.
Floating around the pink-haired girl are her trio of Charas. Ran is busy turning cartwheels in the air, bored of the discussion about Virtue, because she's already made up her mind on the topic. Miki, meanwhile, seems to be taking the conversation the most serious: seated on Amu's shoulder, the blue-haired chara is staring at Tadase with a stern expression. Meanwhile, Su is only peripherally involved at all: the little green chara is busily humming to herself as she floats from flower to flower, smelling each one.
Sierra is completely enthralled by her homework. At least that is until people start gossiping about the Guardians. Now, Sierra has only met one of the Guardians. That was her first day in Tokyo. She's only heard about the others but, kinda hard to miss them by their capes apparently. She looks up at the students talking about the amazing love affair between The school Prince and the Joker. She rolls her eyes and speaks up, "Umm, If they are a couple, wonderful. If not, big deal. Honestly though, I've been all over and I've never seen a situation where gossip didn't hurt someone. So please, If you would be so kind, I'm a little busy with school work." She starts to a couple of the gossiping people. Thats about the point that Tadase looks up and people just stop.
The girl quickly returns to her homework. She does happen to hear Eru. She can't see her of course but she can hear her. Whats worse, she doesn't look up. Instead she just speaks. "Someone like Utau would need benefit from physics because sound is a part of physics. She sings and produces sound waves. Those waves move through the air to people's ears. Different environments can make sounds sound better or worse. That is how acoustics work." She still doesn't look up. Nope too busy with homework.
Tadase looks at Amu, smiling a bit. "Still though, I'm glad you;ve decided to keep helping us anyway. Still trying to get Lindy-san to get the time for that meeting I owe you." he says, verbally stepping away from the discussion about how to handle things and enemies. "More importantly, what are you doing today? Do you have plans?" he asks, leaning in a bit.
It turns out Kiseki is around, but he's making badly-done stealth slides around the outside corners of the area, keeping an eye on Tadase and Amu, while simultaniously keeping himself safe from any predations by Miki.
"Huh? You can hear me?" Eru turns to peer back at Sierra, buzzing right in front of her nose, but of course she cant see her. Hearing her of course is another thing altogether. In fact, she recognizes this girl from the other day!
"Oooh! You're Sierra-chan! Hi, again! How are you doing!? Are you really smart with physics? I'll bet Utau-chan could use your help.."
She stops talking when she sees the two Guardians, which is made obvious by Tadase's cape and the multitude of guardian-charas floating around Amu. Yeah, she's heard of them of course, doesn't know 'em personally but if they're the Guardians, that would technically make them Utau's enemies, wouldn't it?
"Wow, she has three guardian-chars..." she murmurs aloud.
Sierra's observation on gossip do not fall on deaf ears. Amu turns to glare at the girl, as if she's not entirely sure whether Sierra is a threat, an asset, or a speedbump. Her expression had turned serious during her conversation with Tadase; now it's gone as far as stern. Maybe even 'scary'.
When Tadase changes the topic, though, Amu doesn't press the issue further. "Don't get the wrong idea," Amu sternly instructs him, "I'm not doing it because of you. But someone has to do this, and you can't do what I do, and apparently even she can't do it the way I do it, so I guess that means I have to."
Finally, Amu turns her head back towards Tadase, and she reaches out to grab his hand almost forcefully in her own; an undeniable claim about their relationship status. "I just need to know you're going to back me up if even if I make a decision you don't like. I'd rather you make the decisions most of the time, but once in a while I feel compelled to step in. It'd suck to find out then that you're backing out on me."
But the question he asks is not related to this topic at all. It takes Amu a moment to even process it. "Not really. Cheerleading starts up tomorrow, and I didn't get much homework, today."
Sierra looks up, but doesn't see anyone save for the occasional passing student. "Err, huh??" She frowns a little and begins panicking a little. "Oh no. NOt again. Please not again! I'm not crazy. I know I'm not crazy!" She is getting a little loud.
She starts trying to rationalize and just answers the questions. "Yes I'm Sierra. "I'm okay err, mysterious voice who has me convinced I need to see a psychiatrist." And then Utau is brought up. "I could help with Physics but I don't think she likes me much."
She doesn't see the daggar gaze she gets from Amu. She's a little preoccupied with her current mental break down. Then the voice comments about guardian-charas. She gets a curious look on her face. "Okay I know this isn't in my head. It can't be. I am not crazy!"
"No, you're special." Tadase concedes, even though that concession means Amu is, to some degree, trapped as a special part of the Guardians at least. And then she grasps his hand, and he blinks when he looks up to her. "I will always back you up. Even if I think you're wrong." he promises, smiling a bit. "Much less if I just don't like it. I'd rather fall with you than be right alone, anyways - at least, as long as you don't make that an intentional habit." he says with a smile.
"I'll always be by your side though, Amu." he says with a nod. "...and if that's your schedule, we should go get mochi today before your cheerleading practices start to eat up time." he adds.
Meanwhile, Kiseki is whispering to himself as he creeps along in front of her. "Silent like a ninja. A ninja king. The greatest ninja king ever. MASTER OF ALL NINJA KINGS!" he shouts. And... nope, he's out there alone making a bunch of noise and in no way stealthy or sneaky or ninja at all.
Eru continues to warily eye the Guardians and their charas but makes no move to acknowledge them. No need to draw attention to herself. Well, live and let live, that's the way to go!
Instead she focuses on Sierra, "Wait, wait! You're not crazy! i'm not a voice inside your head..I'm real! You just cant see me because! Well...Eru's not sure why you cant see her.."
She pouts, checking her hands. Well, she seems to still be visible. "Oh yeah, Iru thinks maybe you just havent developed your heart's egg yet! You should talk to the Guardians! I'm sure they can help you! Oh, I'm Eru by the way! I'd shake your hand but since you cant see me.."
She shines a negative light on Utau and Eru pouts, "Aww, Utau-chan doesn't dislike you! Well....Maybe. But, it's nothing personal, she was just...Er..Having a bad day! Pay no mind to it!" Eru might go into more detail, but with the Guardians nearby, she has to be careful..When Kiseki starts talking loudly, she cringes a bit, peering at him like he's a weirdo. "Ninja King? You're not very sneaky.." She murmurs aloud.
Miki perks up at the sound of Kiseki's shout. Hastily, the blue-haired chara turns her head left, then right, then looks backwards (upside down!) and, "... KISEKI!" she calls, then zips right off of Amu's shoulder, flying at lightning speed towards the crowned Chara. Poor Kiseki is doomed to either running for his life (possibly right into the girl who's convinced she is going insane), or suffer being smooched. Actually, possibly both.
"M-mochi?!" Amu asks, ignoring the antics of her over-amorous chara. "Really? I love Mochi! Don't we have Guardian business to do today, first, though? Can we really just go get mochi right now?!" That would be the sound of excitement in her voice.
Sierra Earhart sighs softly, "the Guardians? Why would they? Ugh." She looks around. Spying Tadase and the pink haired girl with him, "Fine, I guess I'll talk to them." She sighs and quickly packs up her things. A moment later she picks up her bag and starts walking toward the two.
This is so far out of her comfort zone that she feels like she could just faint right now. Still she has questions and they may have answers. It never makes it easy. She is dragging her feet. At least she is getting closer though.
And the survey says: Both. It's probably a strange thing even if you know what charas are and can see them, but only being able to feel the WHUMP of the Kiseki/Miki ball and the noises of Kiseki trying desperately to escape (okay maybe not as much as he could be, lets be honest here) has to be strange.
"Well, normally, I would tell you that we have an important responsibility..." he says, giving a stern look and a puffed up chest "...buuut the others already skipped out so I say we just go get mochi together." he adds with a grin.
Miki and Kiseki slam into poor Siera, and suddenly her stomach is a bed for smooching charas. Oh no! "Howcome you were hiding, oh King? You should be out where everyone can see and follow your orders!"
"... those jerks," Amu says, eyes narrowing just a little. they had to have planned this. Surely they manipulated these two into getting alone time together. It was appreciated, when Amu was too nervous to admit her feelings to Tadase. Now, however, it's just annoying. Especially since she was looking forward to talking to Nadeshiko about something!
... on the other hand, "Mochi sounds wonderful," Amu says, perking up suddenly. "But you're buying."
Eru steps back as Sierra heads towards the Guardians. She wanted to talk further to the girl about how Utau didnt mean to try and steal her heart's egg and X-ify it, but it was pretty complex and probably a bad idea in front of the guardians.
With a little smile and wave (before realizing Sierra cant see her), she heads off. "Good luck, Sierra chan!"
Sierra keeps approaching. For a brief moment she reaches down and scratches her stomach. Her attention is wholey on the two Guardians. A few more steps and she is close enough. Giving a polite bow, she speaks up. "Hello. I'm Sierra Earhart. I'm new to the school. Someone told me that I should speak with the Guardians concerning something."
Slowly she brings her bag up and embraces it. She is nervous and it shows on her face. She looks down at the ground for a moment. "I'm sorry for disturbing you. I didn't mean to interrupt."
Tadase laughs. "I think it's less of a conspiracy now than it used to be..." he says. "...though they were really transparent about it, weren't they?" he muses. "Of course I'm buying. It'd be ignoble not to." he says, but before they can vanish off to acquire mochi, Sierra is in front of them. Tadase tilts his head a bit.
Whenever someone says they need to speak to the Guardians, it's usually either incredibly mundane, or quite magical in nature, so he can't say anything until she completes her announcement. "Okay, go ahead - I'm Tadase Hotori, King's Chair."
Mochi, mochi, Amu gets Mo--! What. Why is there an incredibly annoying foreign girl standing here in the way of her and Tadase going to get Mochi? Irritated, Amu shuts her mouth and glares daggers at the girl. She crosses her arms and stays just half a step behind Tadase (perhaps subconsciously trying to avoid him noticing how irritated she looks).
Well. This bodes well. For the second time within her first week in Tokyo, Sierra is being stared at like someone has homicidal intent. At least the last time she was offered a song. Quickly Sierra bows and then speaks up. "The other day I was minding my business, when I started hearing voices. I had met one of your people, Kukai-san. Also Utau Hoshina-san. I was hearing these voices around me but no one was there. The voices said something about eggs and Guardians."
She frowns a little and looks to Amu. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything. I'm just very worried for my own sanity. Anyway Someone named Eru suggested I speak to the Guardians. She seems to be close to Utau-san or something. This is all really confusing. Maybe it's the stress of moving... again."
Tadase perks an eyebrow, and then after a moment of thought, tries a different tactic. "Earhart-san, it might be the stress of moving. I find, in times of stress, one of the best things I can do is sit down, relax, and think about my goals. About my dreams. Not what I want to do tomorrow, but what I want to do years from now. It helps me to center. That might help you." he says, with a kind smile. Because he knows who El is, but Kisei is also telling him that he doesn't sense an egg. So maybe coaxing it out will at least change her 'hearing voices' to 'oh I'm a chara-bearer'.
"About the hearing voices and telling them to come talk to us - that's odd. Usually we just like... send a letter." It's not like he can just spill the beans, even if Eru is talking to her. After all, she didn't react majorly to the Mikiseki Pileup, so... he has to do the best he can to guide her without dragging her along. "I'm sure if you figure out where it is you want to be... everything will make more sense." he says with yet another smile. Tadase is full of smiles. May contain bishie sparkles.
Amu's glare does not lessen at the apology. She frowns severely, then leans in and says, "If you are going crazy, you should probably talk to someone like Tsukasa or a school councilor about that. The Guardians are here to solve problems, but we're not psychologists or anything. Going crazy is a big deal, unless that's who you really want to be."
Sierra Earhart sighs softly, "Thanks." So much for any useful information. Still there is a little and a little is more then she had. "Thank you Hotori-san. I do have a dream. Its just one that I dunno if I will ever achieve. Anyhoo I think I will go do what you said."
With a smirk she glances to the burning glare of Amu, "Who would want to be crazy? Straight jackets totally cramp my style. Besides, I don't like padding on my walls, I prefer them with aeroplanes." She states with a wink as she looks around.
"Well then I will be off. There is a lot on my mind I need to consider. I gotta try again." Try what? She doesn't say. Instead she simply turns and walks away. As she does this the sunlight captures the pilot's wing pin on her uniform. She just keeps going though.