Valentines...Whatever

[Lenore]

((Anyone can interrupt I suppose....Nicely, please ))

It was a rather lovely Valentines Day. The sun was out, although the air seemed determined to stay chilled, and there was barely any clouds to taint the precious blue. Birds were chirping and flowers were everywhere; some would say that love was in the air. Lenore could have sworn she saw a little chubby cupid flying about.

But, of course, cupid was not real, as was this holiday. It's just a Hallmark sales gimmick, Lenore thought blandly as she walked through the flurry of light pink cherry blossoms, her ebony hair swooping around her face fluidly like the wind, her cheeks whipped the same color as the blossoms by the wind. Her black, baggy jeans whipped around her as well, while her tight green shirt did not move (in the spirit of the "holiday", her shirt had a broken heart emblem on it).

Her green eyes, flat like normal behind her oval black glasses, were looking forward but through the pink flurry as if it wasn't even there. To some, it would be a perfectly romantic spot, but to Lenore it could have been a compost drop-off and she wouldn't have paid it anymore attention.

A black and white capucin monkey was wrapped contently around her neck (in the 'piggy-back' style), one of it's hands were twisting in her long hair. A white and light brown spotted beagle puppy was running in zig zags between her legs as she walked. Although she didn't think she was, Lenore was content in that moment. Walking along with her best and only friends, she felt as happy as she had since---well, awhile. As Valentines Day does not mean much to her now, it was a big thing for her family in the past. That was probably why it hurt so much now: No one loving to share it with.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Charlie," Lenore whispered to her monkey once she sat down underneath a large cherry tree. Just then, the beagle ran up and shoved her face into Lenore's, not liking the singular attention to other animal. Smiling, Lenore said, "And you to, Lady," as she ruffled the dogs' fur. In response, Lady grabbed the ball Lenore brought with her and ran off. Laughing for the first time in awhile, Lenore chased after her, Charlie not too far behind.


((sorry if it bites a little....))

[Yasuo]

It was chilling. And to Yasuo that chill was doubled, maybe even tripled, to freezing. Almost as cold as...
He shook his head, his auburn hair swaying with his movements and then returning to blow contently in the wind.

Why he was out here today, he wasn't sure. He didn't know why and he wished to turn back around and heading into the safety of the school. But he didn't. He couldn't - something just kept pulling him away from that warm interior that held all the emotions of his friends and others. Now he was out here, on the other side of the window...

He sighed and leaned against a nearby tree, stuffing his cold hands into his jean pockets. His eyes were almost cold as the wind passing by and his face shown that same message to anyone clearly: do not disturb.

He could hear the laughs outside and some of the loud chatter from within the building that seemed so far away now. Today was one of the many days he felt that same feeling of guilt, of total responsibility and fear. This was the only thing he feared... and it was--

"Too cold," Yasuo sighed, drawing his shoulders up to his chilled neck. He shivered, his backbone feeling that same sensation of ice. The trees around the area had leaves blowing around and caused some of the couples outside to head in. Yasuo wanted nothing more than to join them. But, again, he found that he could not move.

"Too cold," he repeated.

[Kayoko]

Kayoko ran out, no matter how her skin was refusing.
*Wow, it's freezing..But the only place I haven't tried..*
She didn't bring a coat, only a light grey shawl that matched the color of her dress.
"Yasuo-san? Lenore-san? ...Cold.." Kayoko said as she shivered.
She held the chocolates in both hands, making sure not to lose either.
"Guys??" Kayoko asked as she looked at them both curiously.
Did they not want to go to the party?
Why?

[Lenore]

"Lady, you get back here right this instant!" The fun of chasing the dog around the orchard had worn off quickly. Lenore was finally winded and she just wanted to sit down and cool off. Her eyes were hard with annoyance now, her long hair was wild around her pale yellow face, and her cheeks were pink with effort. "I really need to get outside more," she huffed to herself. And these pants aren't helping me much...

Slowing her jog to a trot, and then her trot to a walk, Lenore slowly gave up on her dog. Charlie, her capucin monkey, finally reached her, and with an annoyed call, he climbed up her leg to sit at her shoulder. "I know how you feel, Char," she mumbled, petting the monkey's head. She walked up to the nearest tree and leaned her forehead against it; closing her eyes, Lenore focused on regaining her energy. That puppy just seemed to be pure energy. A little fireball. Tiny but large enough to take down a house...

A tiny bark drew her thoughts to the present with a sharp jerk. Pursing her lips, she opened her eyes to see Lady at her feet. "Oh, you little---" As if knowing that it irked Lenore to no end, Lady darted off again. "Good God!" Lenore cried.

Using new found energy, Lenore bounded after the dog and came to a crashing halt when she saw where it was. "Insufferable little pr---" she began to say, but stopped herself once she saw that Lady was jumping around at the feet of the boy from science class. Lifting her pierced eyebrow, Lenore crossed her arms across her chest, making no moves to stop her pup. Just as suddenly, Kayoko arrived making Lenore's eyebrow to arch further.

[Kayoko]

Kayoko sighed in relief. *I'm so happy I'm not the only one that brought pets..*
Kayoko walked over to them both.
"Guys?? Do you want to come in? ..Are you ok?" Kayoko asked.
She saw Yasuo shiver. Kayoko automatically took off her thin shawl.
It was the only thing she had that could keep him from getting a cold.
Kayoko put the shawl around Yasuo.
"Are you alright, Yasuo-san? You look a bit pale..Are you too cold?"
Kayoko asked worriedly.
Kayoko looked at his feet.
"Hello, cutie! How are you this cold day?"
Kayoko asked to the dog.
She laughed as the dog licked her face as she was bending down.

[Yasuo]

That same sort of feeling entered his body. A dog barking at his feet, someone putting something on his shoulders. He couldn't help but start to remember his past days. His eyes suddenly became distant as the memories returned to him. It wasn't that far away from this day...

He heard nothing anymore. There was no chilling wind, no leaves rustling in the trees and no hair flowing in his face. There was a sudden emptiness that Yasuo couldn't fill, a void that had suddenly appeared unannounced and unwanted. But it stuck.

He could see the blood and fire in the distance of this otherwise devoid reality. He knew then that he was dreaming and nothing more. But yet, he felt scared and tried running. Only the cold of guilt and unshed tears met him. He desperately held onto his sanity...

"Too cold," he finally heard himself say. He blinked himself out of the trance and looked over to Kayoko. When had she gotten there? "Kayoko! I--" He felt the shawl on his shoulders and he looked to it. "Oh, Kayoko..you might get a cold. Please, keep it on," Yasuo grabbed it and placed it carefully back onto Kayoko's shoulders.

"I'm fine. Just thinking," Yasuo said, looking away. No longer was it just the wind that chilled him.
Too cold...

[Kayoko]

Kayoko shook her head.
"You're been out longer, you take it! Oh, yes! Lenore-san, Yasuo-san, Have some chocolate!"
Kayoko said smiling happily.
"You both deserve it for being such wonderful people and friends!"

[Yasuo]

Yasuo heard Kayoko mention Lenore. Looking around, he did spot the girl from science class. And his first impulse was to get away. Quickly.

"Thanks Kayoko, but I don't really care for chocolates. I uh, get cramps," Yasuo muttered, holding his stomach. He slowly inched away from the tree, trying not to let his eyes wander to Lenore. Something about her just made Yasuo feel that...coldness. And it wasn't her attitude: he could handle that. Just something...

But he made no more moves. He wouldn't be weak anymore. No matter...how cold it was.

[Lenore]

Lenore was momentarily puzzled by Yasuo's moment of blankness. Although her face did not show it, she was touched by an eeriness that she didn't know how to explain it. For a moment, Lenore forgot about Lady and Kayoko, Yasuo to, and all that was left was herself and the wind. No thoughts, just the eerie familiarity of the blankness covering Yasuo.

Her reverie was broken by Kayoko and another sharp yip from Lady, who was tired of being ignored and had trumped over to Lenore. Charlie pulled at one of Lenore's earrings.

"Chocolate? No, thank you. I'm allergic," Lenore said absently, her past blank nonexistent anywhere. Her green eyes were flat as always behind her glasses as she looked from Yasuo to Kayoko. After a moment, she blinked. "Oh, yes, this is Charlie," she said pointing to the monkey at her shoulder, who chirped and switched sides. "And this little bugger is Lady." Picking up Lady, who squirmed a little but gave up quickly, Lenore stroked her.

"So, what're you two doing out here?"

[Yasuo]

"Thinking," Yasuo echoed. He felt that suffocating feeling rise up within his chest again and the crawling feeling of extreme hate make its way up his spine. That overwhelming need to atone seemed to always make its way to the front of his mind whenever Lenore was around. Something about her...

She'd make a perfect match for someone like him.. I can't seem to remember his name. Oh well, he's dead now. No need to worry about it, Yasuo lied to himself. He knew he had to worry about this. It was the only thing that ran through his mind, other than a few random things.

"Echoes of fear," Yasuo blinked. Was this...an echo of something greater?