Beneath My Skin~

[Sky]

Yuji nodded, "Sounds like a plan to me, could use the bit of adventure myself." That's a good idea, I would like to see for myself his plans after all. Furai could use the exercise too seeing as he has been a little lazy lately.

He turned and looked over at Adara, feeling the shift in her demeanor. He was glad that he was not standing in a tree or anywhere near something he could break because he jumped back and stumbled clumsily. "H-holly Skies? I knew you looked familiar but I didn't think that you were her mother." He knelt and pulled the from it's position in the roots of the tree, rolling it in his hands for a moment. He looked up at the sky thoughtfully.

"I wonder if it is for the same reason Takao and I don't want Chiyoko to find out we are alive....." he mumbled under his breath. He sighed and looked at her, smiling a little. "James, I'm sure there's a good reason behind it, after all I have a good reason to appear dead to someone too."

[Holly]

"Oh, yes, my daughter has made quite a name for herself, hasn't she? Yes, Holly Skies the Mystic-in-training is my daughter, but I would thank Aria Ruoshe for that opportunity," Adara smiled brightly at the two before the grin turned a little sad at James question. Despite Yuji's kind protest, she held up her hand to him politely to stop him. If James wanted to know about why she wished not to be known, then she would share that with him.

"Seeing as you're doing me a huge favor, I will repay it with more than money," She nodded to James. "When Holly was around the age of 15, I was killed in Naktis, as was her two siblings and her father. I was brought back to life by a women with the birthsign of dendrite, however, she could not save anyone else of my family. I wanted to go back to Holly, and I knew she would be extremely glad to see me, but when I heard she had become Aria's apprentice... I wanted her to have to best life she could have and I knew I couldn't give it to her. I was so depressed about my husband and my children... I didn't think I would be able to raise her in my condition. So, I left her with Aria. I kept telling myself that I would go back, but I couldn't think of what to say..." She sighed softly, sitting on Daire's back and folding her hands in her lap.

"Adara doesn't want to make her daughter upset by saying that she's been alive this whole time, but hasn't told her," Daire finished for the lesser angel.

"Yes," Adara nodded again, this time slower. "I am waiting for the right time. Maybe when something spectacular happens. A husband? Her birthday? When she becomes a full-fledged Mystic? Oh, I'm getting off the subject," She laughed sweetly, standing up once again. "Anyway, if you could deliver the vase, I would be greatly appreciative, you two. Get it there in two days and I'll pay you double for all of the vases," The lesser angel smiled, her once bright mood back again.

[Julianna]

"I suppose you are right...'' James replied quietly as his gaze drifted to the sky for a moment, watching as a small bird twisted and dived freely in the sky. "Everyone has a reason for the choices that they make. It is not like you can be blamed if appearing dead is what will keep you, and maybe others, alive and happy." He sighed and lowered his gaze, walking over to the large pile of crystals and slowly started to scoop them up, placing them into a bag that hung from his hip.

He frowned when he lifted his gaze to see Adara's optimistic smile take on a slight appearance of sadness. He slowly stood, and took a step toward her. "I'm sorry....I shouldn't have....." his voice trailed off when Adara held up her hand to Yuji, his expression slightly confused.

Why is she telling me this if it saddens her? It is not like I am really doing much for her....

His eyes widened as Adara told her story, the blood drained from his face slowly as she spoke. He didn't notice it, but his hands clenched slightly as well, the crystals that he had held tumbled to the ground by his sides. "What did you, or your family, do to deserve something like that?" His expression changed, furious for a moment before he lowered his head to hide it, his hair falling over his face.

"It must have been hard to choose to stay dead to your daughter...." He raised his head, his expression calmed a little. "But if it had been me, I would not have cared....I would have been so happy to know that my own mother had lived, and was not taken from me forever. Maybe both you and....Aria could have taken care of her together...." He shook his head, and looked to the side, knowing that he had let his own past with his mother try and speak through his words. "I'm sorry....I'm rambling about something I don't even understand....nor is my business...."

"But thank you so much for trusting this in me," he smiled at Adara as he picked up the last few crystals he had dropped to the ground and secured the bag tightly closed so that they would not fall on the ground and scatter. "I'm not worried about the payment amount." He waved a hand dismissively. "I just want to get this gift to her in one piece so that she has it...." He walked back to where his glass blowing pole laid, and set it diagonally over the fire pit. "I do have a vase that I had made recently if you would like to look at it....see if it is what you would want Holly's to look like...."

[Sky]

Yuji raised his eyebrow when James dropped the crystals and grabbed his cat before he could dart off and play with them. Something that Adara said distracted him and is upsetting him, but what is it? I didn't see anything wrong with her story. He whispered into Furai's ear and dropped him. The cat walked over to James, ignoring the crystals, and rubbed up against him.

Yuji knelt and started to gather the crystals for James. He smiled at the offer for double the money and shook his head slightly. James will never accept that. He stood up after gathering the crystals in his hands and looked down at Furai and raised his eyebrows noticing the cat was eying the crystals. "Furai, you have played with enough of these to suit your life time, why do you insist on playing with them?"

The lesser angel turned to Adara and smiled a little. "A two day trip sounds like a challenge I would take on if my brother was here, well more of a race. The trip would be too tiring considering the distance, and I know James likes the scenic routes." He smiled at James, awaiting his response.

Yuji shook his head suddenly, a puzzled look flashing across his face. There's that feeling again...

[Holly]

"I have no clue as to why we were killed," Adara scuffled her foot in the dirt, subconsciously placing a hand on her chest where she was stabbed when people had found out the Skies parents were "black magic users". Most of the people knew the Skies as helpful and kind and out of place for Naktis, yet no one went against the guards when they got one simple tip off of the Skies family. "I don't wish to know who got us killed, though."

As James started talking, she was politely listening as she picked her way back onto Daire's back. Her wolf spread out her wings full length and yawned, deadly sharp teeth exposed. Her blue eyes brightened slightly, knowing they were going to leave very very soon.

"I will tell her eventually. I am waiting for the perfect opportunity. Trust me, James. Now, I have to go. I'm in a hurry. I know you'll choose a fabulous vase for my daughter," Adara's words were now rushed as she scartched Daire behind the ear. "I'll see you gentlemen later. Good day!" She chirped as Daire into the air and flew away.

[Julianna]

James looked over at Yuji as he knelt down to pick stray crystals that had been left behind when they scattered on the ground. Hmm, I guess I missed some of them.... he thought absentmindedly as he knelt beside the fire pit, fiddling with the pole so that it would lay perfectly diagonal on the pit without the chance of it tumbling over anywhere.

He smiled lightly when Furai rubbed up against his leg, partly from the knowledge that this had been told to ignore the crystals and go to him instead, but still looked to the shiny blue pieces of glass. He pivoted on his heels, so that he was parallel to the fire pit, and picked up the cat silently. He slowly stood up, his expression blankly calm, the smile still placed on his lips. "Oh of course. I am such a push over for a good scenic route." He replied mockingly as he bent down and placed Furai back on the ground, raising a pale eyebrow to Yuji's puzzled expression as he straightened his posture.

Is there something on your mind, Yuji?

He looked at Adara, and frowned a bit as she placed a hand over her heart.

Was that where the blow was struck to end her life...?


James watched silently as Adara climbed onto her winged companion's back, bidding them farewell as they took to the sky, his ice blue eyes brightening slightly. "Good day to you too Adara Skies..." He whispered quietly, his voice quieted from the thoughts comparing Holly Skies' mother to his own.

He smiled again after a bit, and reached into the pouch at his hip, pulling out on of the many crystals he had previously rejected before. Extending his arm up toward the sky, he watched as the sunlight played with the blue color of the crystal. "I think I have found my color for Miss Skies' vase...would you agree?" He asked his friend, his eyes still focused on the light that streamed through the crystal.

[Sky]

Yuji sighed as Adara left. He shook his head and smiled at James. "I think it'll do." he knelt down and gathered up the remaining crystals, silently pushing Furai away from the one he had set about playing with again. He smiled as the little cat spread it's small wings and flapped them a few times.

"I think the cat's ready to get going." He laughed a little and sat back, looking at the multitude of crystals int eh palm of his hand. "They almost remind me of ice crystals, the way that they reflect the light...." He tossed them up into the air and leaned back a little, catching them as they came back down. "Lets jsut get this thing over with, I do want to see what my older brother is up to."

[Julianna]

James nodded as he walked over to Yuji, and knelt in front of him. He then gently took the crystals from his hand, pulling open his pouch as he placed them inside. He looked up, and caught the others as he stowed them away as well. He turned a bit and smiled a little as well at Yuji's companion as he nodded again. "It does appear as though Furai is eager to be on his way." He replied, and pushed off the ground to his feet, brushing the dirt from his clothes.

He held his hand out, the crystal nestled into the palm of his hand. "I do agree...it does look like an ice crystal, just slightly..." He rolled the crystal in his palm before storing it away as well. "You can begin your journey to him now, you are aware of that right?" He pivoted on his left heel silently, and walked over to the fire pit once more. He picked his pole up carefully in his hand, and swung it up onto his shoulder as he walked back over.

"I do not want you to wait for me to finish my request if you desire to see your family more." He smiled a little, and lifted Furai from the ground and placed the cat on Yuji's shoulder. "It will take some time for me to create all those vases as I was asked."

[Sky]

Yuji shook his head and stood up slowly, his eyes shining softly in the dim light. "I'll wait. I've always wanted a chance to meet Holly, after all I've been working by myself on herbal practices. Maybe she or Aria could give me a few concoctions that I don't have yet." He slipped back, making sure to stay out of Jame's way.

"I honestly also just want a reason to go down to that area, I haven't been to the three southern provences before." He twirled made a small flame of fire leap from the fire pit, letting it rest int he palm of his hand. "Plus, It's always better to travel with others now adays. There are just too many dangers for those traveling alone unless they are an extremely skilled fighter or travel by dragon."

[Julianna]

James smiled gratefully at his friend, secretly happy that he had decided to stay while he completed this request instead of heading onward to find his brother, which he seemed to be consumed with doing for a while now. "I bet it's really because you are the one who wants to travel all the 'scenic routes' you seem to always connect to me every chance you get. Also, who said I was going to let you go in that far with me?" he replied, smirking as he tapped his pole against the shoulder it was now resting upon, clearing joking about what he had said.

"I can see your point clearly. I would rather not find myself spread across some rock formation from heading out alone. I value life at the moment, and would rather not see it end anytime soon. Besides, after this I would like to meet this brother of yours. You always talk about him but I have yet to see him in person. If you would not mind it very much, that is." he watched Yuji for a moment, wondering if he would actually trust him to accompany him when he truly decided to seek out his older brother.

I wonder why he wishes to find his brother now of all times....he has had the opportunity before and did not seem as determined to take it as he is now.... he mused, the connection that Yuji had made earlier to his thoughts blocked of so he would no longer hear what he was thinking for the time being.

He sighed, and watched the flames dance in his friend's hand for a moment. "I am going to head back so I can start in on this request as soon as I possibly can." He took a few steps past Yuji, but paused and turned to check if he was going to follow him to his home as well, or would wait the time out elsewhere. His smirk then settled into a genuine smile, ideas already spinning in his mind as to what he would create for Adara, and her daughter Holly.

OOC;; finished? Or continue?