Welcome to Gaia! ::

The cinema was starting to empty as the show ended. Standing up, Hazeline turned to Xiu. “So, how was it? The movie?” the guardian asked as her charge floated alongside her down the aisle.

“There were…lots of killing and deceit…,” replied Xiu slowly as he thought over the events of the movie. It had been a mafia movie with lots of trigger happy humans in it. Apparently it was the next big hit but…Xiu could not understand how people could watch a movie so filled with…vice. It was troubling, that.

“Yeah, well...I got this premier tickets from a friend who couldn’t make due to personal reasons,” said Hazeline with a shrug. “I’m not too big on all the killing either but the main character was certainly interesting,”

“He’s just a human who has developed rather interesting methods of killing his enemies due to an old conflict of sorts,” said Xiu. “The story was of an average quality,”

“That’s why it’s a sort of action movie, I think,” said Hazeline. “People are in it for the action,”

“So I see. So what are we going to do now, Hazeline?” asked Xiu as they stepped out of the cinema and into the shopping complex. “Planning anything?”

“Yes, there’s a couple of stuff I’d have to get,” replied Hazeline as she took out a short shopping list. “You wanna come along or would you rather head for the bookstore or something?”

“I guess…I wouldn’t mind tagging along,” said Xiu with a smile.

Xiu had barely had time to react when he felt the body of someone slamming into him. This was then followed by a loud squeal of ‘Ghostie!’.

Ghostie?

“I-I’m afraid you might have got the wrong person,” said Xiu trying to disengage himself from the other’s overwhelming hug. “My name’s Xiu and…you are a raevan!”

Blue eyes stared at the golden figure who incidentally was still in the act of glomping him. Odd though, Xiu could not remember ever meeting this particular raevan and yet, she was treating him like a long lost friend…or something. That, and the fact that innocence radiated off her like an overzealous air freshener made Xiu uneasy. Besides, people were beginning to stare.

“I don’t believe…we have met,” ventured the white frei as gently as he could while trying his best to look unfazed by the stares of the passersby. “What’s your name?”

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Hazeline meanwhile had watched the entire incident with open mouthed surprised. Was it possible that…Xiu had not told her about this particular raevan? However, at her charge’s question to the other, it was clear that her frei was just as baffled as she was.

“Uh, are you lost?” asked Hazeline with concern. “Do you need help finding your guardian?”

Xiu took the offered hand with a sheepish smile. The other was certainly a lively raevan. “Indeed, nice to meet you, Tari. But…I am not really a ‘ghostie’,” said Xiu with a soft laugh. “I am alive, for one thing,”

At Tari’s exclamation, Hazeline turned to see Tari’s ‘Mama’. “Pleased to meet you Kali, I’m Hazeline and yes, that raevan’s mine. He’s Xiu. And raevans do seem to have the knack for finding each other out don’t they?” said Hazeline with a laugh. “Xiu and I, we were just about to head off when Tari greeted us. She’s really a lively young lady,”

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” said Xiu politely as he turned to face Kali. Xiu wondered if the other had to leave soon. The white frei certainly hoped not. It would be a shame to not know more about this new friend of his.

“Oh, no,” said Xiu with a soft laugh. “I’m not based on a ghostie either… It’s the white blood, I think,” said Xiu after a pause. “And uhh…some sort of warrior? Tari? You certainly seem like a knight in shining armour; a lady knight of course,” added Xiu quickly. He had learned that some females were rather proud of their feminine nature and to equate them to men was a one just asking for trouble.

“Why, yes,” said Hazeline. “As a matter of fact, I do have some things to pick up here,” the young woman then cast an amused glance at Xiu at Tari. “Would you like to play with Tari a little longer, Xiu? We could arrange for a meeting place later,” said Hazeline looking at her charge.

“I would like that very much, Hazeline,” said Xiu with a smile. Then turning to Tari, the white frei asked, “What would you like to do, Tari?”

The white frei laughed. “Perhaps,” said Xiu with a shrug. “But I am made of it, nevertheless,”

At the other’s hand clapping, Xiu couldn’t help but smile. “That’s a very noble being, Tari. A fighter angel; and you look every bit as capable of fighting off evil things, I am sure,”

“Well, I’ll be off then,” said Hazeline as she gave the two freis a wave. “Take care now,”

“Will do, Hazeline and see you around ma’am,” said Xiu as he watched Tari’s guardian depart as well. Then, returning his gaze to the warrior angel, Xiu looked surprised but the white frei nevertheless allowed himself to be led by the other. “Clothes? Dress up? Why Tari?”

“Me? Dressed like a mafia?”

Alright, perhaps it was quite safe to say that at this point, a little spark of worry was beginning to form within the white frei’s mind. Xiu understood the concept of Halloween but…wasn’t Halloween over already?

As the two frei neared a fancy clothing store, Xiu had to pause to reconsider. Mainly because…fancy clothes were expensive and…it was obvious that the both of them wouldn’t be buying any. “Umm…Tari,” said Xiu uncertainly. “This store, I am not sure that we should….,”

Xiu watched as the female raevan struck a pose and…simply had to smile. Her exuberance was similar to Domevlo’s and it was hard not to be pulled into the whirlwind of childish excitement that was Tari.

But… the warrior angel seemed to have come up with a sort of plan; the manner in which she was looking at the store’s entrance. Then, just as a woman (with a considerably lifted chin) entered, the warrior angel had pulled Xiu into the store and behind a couple of red curtains. It appeared to be the changing rooms and there were a couple of suits in a nearby basket. No doubt clothes that were tried on by previous customers but were not bought. Xiu turned to face the excited angel. “Tari, we shouldn’t be doing this!” whispered Xiu feeling afraid.