It started off as every other night had; falling into an exhausted sleep filled of endless nothingness. It was one of the longer nights, where, in place of dreams, he merely floated in a vast emptiness, aware of every moment as if he had been awake, where every moment was almost more exhausting then being awake. But it was different somehow. The nothingness around him felt tense and tight, like an old shirt that had been outgrown, as if he could streach just a little, and it would rip apart and fall away.

In an almost painfully slow motion, he forced himself to reach out. He could feel something just beyond the barrier, like sunlight just outside a darkened room. Just a little farther now... a little more...

There was a strange sensation as his hand pushed against the barrier a brief moment before falling through. Suddenly, the darkness was replaced by blinding light, burning like the merciless desert sun. Hatred. Pure and thick.  He'd make them pay for everything they had done, oh yes. He'd show him how *foolish* they had been to ever discount someone as great as him. He'd find the weakness to exploit and crush them, laughing as they bleed under--

"Shin!" a voice broke through the drowning hatred, pulling him back to reality. "Wake up before you make me pass out."

The boy's eyes snapped open, his breath coming in short gasps as he clung to the sheets tight enough to turn his already pale skin whiter around the knuckles. Slowly, he turned, brown eyes straining to focus through the adrenaline. "G--Gij...?"

"And stop panicking before I have to do something," the blond snapped.

Shin made a visible effort to try and get himself under control. "Gij, I-- something-- it--" He took in a shuddery breath, flexing his fingers to try and regain circulation in them. "Never happened before..."

Gijs pulled out a slim piece of paper and began muttering over it. Slowly, his own tension eased.

"Sorry..." Shin sighed, putting an arm over his forehead to shade out the light of the room. "I think... I think I understand a bit better how you feel when you can't tune out someone's emotions," he said softly, eyes closing slightly.

"That's lovely," the other boy said drily. "And yet you're still doing it." He leaned over and placed the paper carefully over Shin's chest.

The paler boy gave a deep sigh, body relaxing. For a moment, it looked almost like he had fallen back asleep. "Thanks," he said softly. "I should have you set these things up in my room, shouldn't I?"

"Yes," the other agreed. "Because I'm going to have a voice mail message from my mother when I get back to my room."

Shin opened his eyes to look at his friend in confusion. "But your mother's a 30 minute drive away from here...."

"Yes," Gijs agreed darkly.

"I was that bad?" Shin asked in a small voice.

"I barely got in here, you know," the other boy added, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You'd better be glad you're my friend or I would have locked myself in my room for the duration."

Shin gave a small smile. "I'm glad you didn't. I couldn't get back out from wherever I somehow went to." He shuddered slightly. "Though if I was as bad as you say, I'm amazed half of campus isn't here," he gave a small smile that seemed almost shaky.

"No one else who could feel it wanted to get anywhere near you. I think Henry was measuring me for a casket when I left class to come here. And the ones who couldn't feel it had no idea what was going on so they wouldn't come."

"So nice to know they care..." Shin sighed, looking to the side. "Guess I can't really blame them," he continued softly.

"And now, I need to meditate to clear my head," Gij announced, curling his legs lotus position on the bed. He closed his eyes, then opened one and peeked at Shin. "You too," he demanded.

"I don't think I can move, Gij," Shin pointed out. "Must have been tossing or something, my back shifted out again.  Can't even feel my legs too well."

"Then meditate lying down, but you're going to clear your damned head before I leave here or no one will ever forgive me."

Shin sighed. "Easier said then done," he half muttered.

"Humor the psychic. The psychic just risked his sanity to protect you."

"And isn't about let me forget that debt anytime soon?" Shin asked with a small smile.

"With what I had to get through to get here? Fat chance." Gijs gave a small smile as well, closing his eyes again as his breathing slowed.

"I'll make it up to you," Shin promised, eyes closing again. "Just wake me if I start drifting off again...?"

There was soft laughter. "Now isn't that a switch from the norm. Usually I'm supposed to hit you over the head with a broom so you WILL sleep."

"If you were in class, it's past when I should be up anyway," Shin pointed out with a smile. "And there's no way in hell I want to go back to that dream..."

"Tell me about it while I'm meditating," Gijs practically ordered.

"Wouldn't that defeat the point of the meditation?"

"Look, I can concentrate better like this, and as long as you don't start radiating again I'll be fine."

"Long as you're not going to be ignoring me," Shin smiled slightly, before taking a deep breath. "You know how I've said that when I 'dream' it's like being in a small room you can't get out of? Well... I managed to get out, only... I don't know where I wound up except that it was... it was..." He struggled a moment with the wording. "It was like... if hate was a place, that was where I was." He shuddered slightly. "And-- and someone else's thoughts were there, and the landscape was... it wasn't solid, even though it was. I couldn't even see who was talking, it was all just... hearing things as if I were thinking them, only I knew it wasn't me." He bit his lip slightly. "I really don't know how to explain it. And I couldn't get back out, like I was trapped in that person somehow. I kept trying to get back to the darkness but there wasn't any shade in that dream."

"So you got pulled into someone else.  Weird."

"Something like that..." Shin sighed. "But it doesn't really make any sense. Isn't that more what happens to telepaths or empaths and the like?"

"Tell me about your Dreaming again.  From before you lost it."

The pale boy sighed in near frustration. "I was three, Gij, before the accident. I barely remember any thing about it..."

"Try."

Shin sighed again, looking up at the ceiling. "It was something my father and I did together. Kosei and Mom couldn't reach it, so after we were tucked in, Dad would meet me inside and we'd explore. And there was something about a white wolf, I think, but I don't remember if that was with Dad or just a normal dream."

"So you met your dad, which means one of you went from your head to the other's," Gijs translated.  "Which means it's not quite like telepathy and definitely not empathy.  Empathy is emotions and impressions."

Shin propped himself up slightly to look at his friend. "So... you think I somehow... met someone else in their dream?"

Gijs hands didn't move from their rest on his knees.  "No, I think you went into someone's head.  Whoever it was wasn't aware of you or there would have been more than hate."

"Maybe the hate was because I was there?" Shin suggested, then paused. "You're probably right. Whomever it was... It was like... you know the traditional evil bad guy in James Bond movies who wants to rule the world because he had a really stupid hair cut so everyone laughed at him? Like a more serious version of that. Kinda."

Gijs laughed. "Sounds like a winner. Why did you go there?"

"You say as if I chose to do it," Shin half snorted.

"You didn't? Hell, that's not good, Shin."

"Have I EVER had any control over what happens when I sleep, Gij?" Shin pointed out.

"No, but you never left your head before. If you don't have control over that you could end up floating around the ether forever."

"Better then being tied down in a body that's half broken," the paler boy half muttered.

"No it's not," Gijs reprimanded. "You'd just drift forever not having any real experiences except seeing in people's dreams and not having any interaction with people at all."

"And you know this as a fact, I suppose?" Shin replied bitterly.

"It stands to reason that a disembodied intellect can't do anything with people who can't go disembodied," Gijs snapped. He paused, then muttered softly to himself and put more energy into his meditation.

The white haired boy lay still, eyes half closed as he looked up at the ceiling. "Sorry," he finally whispered.

There was mild grumbling from the blond on his bed. "Waking up from a place of pure hate can do that to you," he said, with more than his usual tact.

"A lot of things will," Shin sighed before propping himself back up. "I should call for someone to bring a chair over," he said glumly, reaching for a two way radio at the side of his bed. "Want to push me around some?"

"Sure. Now that you're not spraying panic like a skunk you're actually the most pleasant person in the school to be around."

"Doesn't say much for everyone else, does it?" Shin commented dryly, before switching on the radio.
 
 
 
 

"And on top of that, they changed the nature of the character!" Shin exclaimed as Gijs wheeled him towards the kitchen. "How can you have a character who's all cool and calm all the time suddenly acting like he's gone evil or something just because someone called him a loser?"

"Well, even you snap sometimes," Gijs pointed out reasonably. "You even hit me once."

The paler boy fidgeted a little. "That's different," he protested. "You were taking bets on my love life. This was someone that the character didn't even know making a generic insult."

"Maybe he just had a really bad day. Morning, Maggie! Anything delicious and nutritious for Shin?"

The large, motherly woman smiled. "Isn't there always?"

Shin gave a smile. "Nothing too heavy this morning, please," he requested as he was parked next to a table. "I think my stomach's still a bit on edge."

"Pancakes, then," the woman said decidedly, setting a plate on the table.

Gijs sat next to him and grabbed one of the pancakes. "Anyway, everyone has limits. Even your sweet little baby girl who's hiding under the table."

"Eh?" Shin blinked, pushing back a little to peek under. "Kim? What are you doing under there?" he smiled at the redhaired girl.

Kim blinked at him then clambered out from under the table and half threw herself into his lap. "People coming scared Kim," she said.

Shin winced slightly, shifting her weight slightly. "Careful," he cautioned. "Shin's back is hurting today." He put an arm around the smaller girl half hugging her. "What people are coming?" he asked.

"You. But Kim didn't know it was you." The girl wriggled happily at his hug.

Gijs laughed, stealing another pancake.

Shin covered a small laugh. "Have you eaten yet?" he asked, nodding a quick "Thank you" as Maggie set a plate down before him.

Kim nodded, producing a half eaten cookie from a pocket in her overalls. "Maggie watch Kim."

Shin smiled, gently mussing Kim's hair. "Because Maggie isn't scary, right?" he prompted, attempting to eat his pancakes around the three year old.

"Kim likes Maggie," the little girl said, before squeaking and hiding under the table.

Within moments, a double set of footsteps reached the kitchen door and Mrs. F entered with a redhaired stranger.

Gijs looked up and got a very pointed look from Mrs. F. Understanding, he slipped under the table and pulled the little girl out into his arms. "I'll go make sure she doesn't miss Sesame Street," he said to no one before exiting.

When he had gone, the two women sat.

Shin did his best not to fidget. "Is something the matter...?" he asked in a small voice, feeling uncomfortable and not quite knowing why.

"I have been given to understand that your condition has changed," Mrs. F said, raising a brow in question.

"Kind of..." Shin admitted, discomfort growing. He looked over at the red haired woman briefly before turning back to his pancakes. There was something about her.... "Something changed. Gij thinks I went into someone else's mind somehow." he continued, poking his fork at his plate.

Mrs. F looked at the other woman, who made an expression that very clearly said 'I told you so.'

"So I've heard," the woman said dryly.

Shin looked back over, blinking in confusion. "You-- you heard? But-- but I've only talked to Gij... I've only been up for a half an hour..."

Mrs. F sat back and looked at the redhead expectantly.

"See, we have people who can tell these things," she said, leaning against the table. "So we knew when you did that."

The pale boy pulled back slightly. "It-- it was an accident, I didn't mean to!" he defended, paranoia growing. "Gij-- Gij said he'd stay and shield while I slept so it wouldn't happen again!"

"All the time? Every night?"

"Miss Amontillado--"

The redhead held up a hand and didn't take her eyes off Shin. "You'll do it again, boyo."

Shin shrank back further, hands going to the wheels of his chair. The rational part of his mind was trying to assure him that Mrs. F wouldn't have let someone into the school if she didn't trust them, but the rest of him was screaming for him to run before it was too late. But he couldn't run....

"So," she continued. "I've come to take you home where we can get you all squared away and safe to normal humans again."

"Home...?" Shin repeated warily.

"I live in a highly warded building. We specialize in.... people with more extreme differences than you see here. We are better equipped to deal with you."

"Deal with me how?" the white haired boy asked cautiously, still tense.

"Make sure you don't get lost in space. Danger, danger Will Robinson and all that."

Shin looked down uncomfortably. "Can't that be done here...?"

"No," the woman said firmly. "There are too many people, too many distractions, too many responsibilities, not enough people who understand these things, and not NEARLY enough wards. We could tell from out in the middle of nowhere. Certainly everyone here must have felt it much stronger."

The pale boy fidgeted slightly, remembering Gijs's comments.

"So, when you're done eating, I have transportation parked out front. We'll gather your things and be off. Best to do it quietly so you don't have to answer a lot of questions and get delayed. Half the day's gone already."

"I-- I can't just-- just pack up and leave like that!" Shin protested, looking up again. "What about Kim? And Aunt Elaine needs to be told too!"

"It's not like I'm taking you off the planet, boyo. You'll be able to call them later, but right now we don't have time for long explanations. The longer you're without shields the worse it'll be."

"But I can't just leave Kim," Shin insisted. "Gij doesn't live on campus and he's the only other one she feels safe with."

"And having her around you will not help you. Mrs. Ferdinand? Some help here?"

Mrs. F sighed. "It may be for the best, Shin. And if you had already asked Gijs to spend the night then he can watch Kim for the time being."

Shin fidgeted again. "How long...?" he finally asked in a small voice, feeling very uncomfortable with the situation.

"That depends on how quick a study you are," the redhead said challengingly.

Shin said nothing, playing with his hands in nervous unhappiness.

"So you're done? Good." The woman rose and took hold of the wheelchair, pulling it away from the table. "Let's go, then."

"I have to at least tell Kim I'm going first!" Shin protested, hands balled in tight fists to stop himself from grabbing the wheels.

"No. No you don't. We can't take the time, and I can't take the tantrum. You'll call when you get settled."

The boy tensed further. "Stop acting like I'm a bomb you need to defuse," he half whispered.

"You are. Popping out of body and going into other people's dreams with no control? You'll get lost, get caught, have your body taken over, and find out things you really don't want to know. We have to get you to a safe environment immediately and start your training as soon as we're there."

"How do you know what happened? And who are you? You're spiriting me off and I don't even know your name!"

"You can call me Aralu. And I already told you we could feel it."

"But that doesn't explain anything! All anyone here could feel was panic! That doesn't tell you anything of what happened!" Shin protested.

"And I told you we're used to things much more extreme than anyone here is," Aralu fired back, pushing the chair up to his room.

"That still doesn't explain anything," Shin replied in a much quieter voice, looking down.

"And right now, as I believe I've already stated multiple times, I need to get you somewhere safe before anything else," Aralu answered, pulling clothes out of drawers and folding them into a bag. "When we're there you can ask all the questions you want, but not here."

Shin sat quietly as she packed, toying with his fingers unhappily.

Finished, Aralu brought him around through a side entrance to a midsized blue car parked out front. "I hate having to use the car," she muttered, settling Shin easily in the back seat, then climbing in next to him. "Home," she ordered.

The car started and began moving. There was nothing in the front seat, although the driver's seat looked like it was obscured by smoke.

Shin stared, eyes wide. "There's-- there's---" he stammered. "How is-- is-- I can see through it!" he finally exclaimed.

"Young Shadow," Aralu said by way of explanation. She leaned back in her seat, relaxing with a deep sigh and suddenly seeming to take up much more room. "You can start asking questions now."

".. Shadow...?" Shin asked in a small voice, looking over at the woman with worried eyes. "How can a shadow drive a car....?"

"Because dad told it to when he said he didn't trust me behind the wheel last time I got in an accident on the Thruway."

Shin stared, eyes wide. "...What?" he asked, voice utterly bewildered.

"Wasn't a bad accident," she assured. "I was already in the slow lane so I just went off and into a tree. Car got hurt, I didn't. Helena yelled at me more than dad did. It was her car."

Shin tensed, trying to force himself to stay calm. With everything else, he didn't need to start having flashbacks. Especially not while he was trapped in a car. No, don't think like that, there's not going to be anything wrong. He flattened his hands against the cloth of the seat below him, forcing his breath out slowly. Concentrate on something else. Like the shadow driving the car. How could it control the car if it was just a shadow? No, no not that. He was starting to panic now. Think of something else...

"Joe's a good driver. Stop that," Aralu said without opening her eyes. With the air of reciting, she began. "Shinkou Tensou. Parents: Hitomi Tensou nee Kaminaru and Akimu Tensou, father a naturalized immigrant, mother a second generation child of an immigrant family. Age 22.  Orphaned in a car accident... right, sorry about mentioning mine... raised by a maternal aunt--"

"I don't need my file read to me," Shin almost snapped, fists clenched. "I know what's in it..." he continued, forcing his tone to be softer.

The woman's lips twitched into a half smile as she continued. "Dreaming talent inhibited: age 3, reason: lack of instructor will cause powers to be developed without proper controls. So soon after a major life-changing event, moving subject to a more shielded facility is not recommended. Follow up when subject reaches adulthood or dampeners cease working efficiently enough to hold subject within his own dreams."

Shin's head turned to look at Aralu with an almost unreadable expression. "...Dampeners...?" he repeated. "You-- you mean..." His eye twitched slightly.

"Adverse reactions were noted, but it was decided that it was more important to keep you in a stable home while you were young and deal with it later."

"Deal with it later?!" Shin repeated, indigent. "You mean you just-- You made my life more of a hell then it already was because just you didn't have the time to deal with me?!"

Aralu made a face and suddenly was just a woman in a car again. She opened her eyes. "No. To help you, you would have had to be moved. For an extended period of time. We put together a stopgap measure to take you through childhood without losing yourself, killing someone, or getting enslaved."

"Some childhood. Half the time asleep, the other half in the hospital," Shin said bitterly, rubbing his eyes, entire posture upset.

"I never argue with dad about a Tensou or a Kaminaru. And when it comes to the last of the most promising bloodlines of both families, I don't even use the wrong tone."

"What are you talking about?" Shin asked, rubbing his eyes again.

"Look, the important thing is that I know how to do this so you don't kill someone. Especially yourself. Everything else is dressing."

"How to do what?"

"Free you from your own head. Although once I've done that you're probably going to wish I hadn't. Damned shields."

"Why would I? Being able to dream properly means I'll be able to be awake for more then three hours at a time," Shin pointed out, sounding slightly tired and cranky.

"And any time your shields drop a notch you'll be flitting off into someone's head and learning things you didn't want to know about their love life, their deepest fears, their ambitions, or just randomness. It tends to put a damper on friendships, as the closer you are to someone emotionally the more likely you are to touch their minds. Who were you with this morning? The blond?" She paused and frowned. "But he was awake...."

"Not being awake puts a damper on everything," Shin half muttered with a sigh. "Gij was the one who woke me up when I was trapped in-- in whomever's head that was."

The car slowed and pulled to a stop in front of a large building.

"We'll figure that out later," Aralu said, slipping out of the car and walking around it to pull Shin out. "Joe will bring your bag up. I've got you."

Shin tensed as his back shifted and he bit his lip to keep from crying out. "Careful!" he half hissed, wincing.

"I've got a chair waiting near the door," the woman answered, not bothering to close the car door as she walked away. The front door opened as she neared, leading into a wide entry. Near it was a cushioned easy chair. She lowered Shin into it.

The boy noticeably relaxed, giving a relieved exhale as he leaned back against the chair. "Is there a wheelchair...?" he asked, eyes closing as he waited for the remains of the pain to pass.

Aralu snapped and the chair rose an inch off the floor. "Easier to maneuver than a wheelchair and it can take stairs," she said with a grin. With a wink, she turned, motioning for the chair to follow as she walked.

Shin blinked, looking down. "Wha...?" he asked, utterly befuddled. "You're-- telekinetic...?"

"Only sort of," she answered after a moment of deliberation. "It's complicated, so I won't get into the technicalities right this second."

Shin gave a small nod, leaning back against the chair again, eyes closing. So tired....

He was almost jolted back to fill wakefulness a moment later by a very insistent voice.

"Danger! Danger Will Robinson! The Ice Man comith!" A dark skinned and grey haired man gestured franticly, half running towards them.

Aralu stopped, eyes widening.  "You can't mean....?"

"He's on the back roads, half the way here. No announcement or anything," the man scowled. "Probably trying to catch us off guard. Like that could happen," he muttered, glaring off to the side. "Best get the silver child stowed out of the way and dealt with right quick."

"Why NOW?" the redhead demanded.  "There is NOT time to deal with Shinkou AND get ready for the 'official' visit at the same time."

"He had a meeting with Omadon last week, he's probably been reprimanded further and is looking to get some kiss up points by getting some dirt on us," the man scowled. "The Zeros are doing what they can, as are whatever Ones that were around.  Most the kids are off at Nanna's, thankfully, so no real worries there. Anyway you could get him back to the school?"

"Hell no," Aralu said firmly.  "Not after the fight I had to put up to get him here in the first place.  I'd never get him back again and he's not safe out there."

The grey haired man gave a sigh, running his hand through his hair. "Great. Can't put him in the library because Ice Man'll be there, how about your room? That shielded enough to keep him inside?"

"Is it supposed to hold me when I'm asleep or is it not?" the woman said grimly.  "He won't go into my bedroom, just the sitting room, so it'll have to do for now."

"And if he can stay awake and not conk out, that'd help too," the man nodded, looking over at Shin before giving a small chuckle. "Did you ever check him for one of those chaos demon thingies or some such? Between his crap luck and his knack for somehow being the center of things, I wouldn't be surprised."

Aralu made a face.  "I've read his file back to front.  If he had one, dad would know and it would be in there."

"Might be just him then, eh?" The man paused, looking up and to the side slightly. "Crap. He's here. Gotta to get the door."  He took a step back and gave a half salute. "Welcome through the looking glass, Alice," he grinned at Shin before stepping through a shadow and vanishing.

Aralu swore quietly.  "Hold onto the chair," she ordered before moving again, her own feet leaving the floor as she swooped up a set of stairs and into a room that opened on their approach.

Shin's death grip on the chair's arm slowly relaxed as he felt it glide to a stop. "What--"

Aralu held a finger to her lips and maneuvered the chair through the room they had entered and into a sparse bedroom.  "You need to be very quiet," she said, voice soft.  "And above all you have to stay awake."  She looked around, then pulled a thick notebook off a shelf.  "Read about yourself.  I'll be back soon."

Shin gave a small nod. "I'll do my best," he said softly, voice laced with worry and doubt.

"This is really important, Shinkou.  Not everyone is nice.  And having you here is very dangerous to you with someone that not nice here."

"I just-- don't know if I can stay awake much longer," Shin replied, hands tense. "Especially not if all I have to do is read." He bit his lip slightly.

The woman swore again.  "Ok, I'll keep him out of here and increase the shields, but promise me you'll stay awake as long as you can."

Shin nodded.
 
 

"I am not falling asleep, I'm still wide awake, see, I'm writing that I'm still awake..." Shin's words were almost slurred with exhaustion as he did his best to focus on the paper in front of him. He had written the sentence in both English and Japanese and in what he could remember of the Spanish he had taken in school. His cheek was probably half stained with ink and he had written on his hair with out realizing it at one point as well, as he had given up trying to stay sitting up right the first time he had nearly collided with the table.  Thankful it was high enough up that his back was still mostly stright.

There was a very hesitant knock, and then the knob on the outer door was rattled.  After a moment, the door opened and closed again.  Soft footsteps crossed the room and there was the sound of papers rustling.

Shin looked up blearily, his eyes taking a moment to focus. "Aralu...?" he asked, noting the red hair.

The figure stopped abruptly, turning and nearing the bedroom door.  "Who are you?" he asked in a soft quavering voice.

Shin pushed his hair from his face, forcing himself to be sitting up again. No, it wasn't Aralu... shorter hair, and male. Not Aralu. "Why are you?" he echoed sleepily. There was a fuzzy sense of something being rather wrong with the situation but he was too tired to figure it out.

"I-- I don't understand," the man said, one hand pressed to his chest as the pitch of his voice rose in panic.  "Everyone registered to Amontillado is downstairs...."

"To who?" Shin asked, rubbing his eyes to try and clear them.

"Why are you being hidden?" the man demanded, clutching at the door jamb.

"I am?" Shin blinked, blearily. "I just need to not fall asleep yet..." His head drooped slightly.

"Can't you even answer a simple question?  I can't go back like this...."

"Go back where? You haven't answered any of my questions either..."

There was a pause before the man answered.  "You're not supposed to be here.  You must answer me first."

"I was told to be here, so I am suppose to be here," Shin pouted, sounding even to himself more like Kim then an adult. "So you have to answer ME first."

The man tensed, eyes widening.  "I-- I have to answer no one's questions...."

"I had a classmate who tried to use that defence on a math test, he still failed," Shin yawned.

"I-- I--"  The man raised the hand from his chest to his mouth.  "I am not your schoolmate."

"Didn't think you were. He was taller," Shin nodded, head starting to droop again.

The man backed away a step.  "You are... not right in the head...."

"Of course not, I'm half asleep," Shin yawned.

Without another word, the man fled.

Shin gave a sigh, which turned into a yawn half way though. Well, at least he'd have something new to write now... he thought tiredly before picking up the pen again.

A long while later there was another approach into the room.  Swearing accompanied it, so Shin was easily able to figure out that it was Aralu this time.

He pushed himself up. "Can I sleep now...?" he asked, tone almost pathetic. "Or at least lie down...?"

Grabbing the book and returning it to its shelf without looking, Aralu heaved Shin into the bed.  "You'll have to stay in mine for the moment.  He's still wandering, so I can't make anything up for you now."

"I wrote in that," Shin mumbled eyes closing. "About trying to stay awake and the confused person."

"Confused person?" Aralu asked, stilling.

Shin nodded. "Thought it was you at first. Kept asking questions. Wouldn't answer mine. Wrote down everything. Even tried drawing a sketch. Couldn't think anything else to do. Used a blank page though."

"But everyone was down--  Damn him!  He oversteps himself."  Aralu growled.

Shin made a small sound of curiosity as he slowly lost consciousness.

His eyes opened again in the pure darkness of his Dream and he gave a sigh, sitting up.  Still the same emptiness. But at least he could think again, unlike when he had been awake.

He paused, mid stretch, noticing a small place in the empty space that seemed somehow different then the rest of the darkness around it. Curious, he kneeled before it, placing a hand on it. It wasn't as firm as the rest of the barrier, feeling almost plastic, like something half melted.  He gave a startled exclamation as his hand began to sink into it and quickly tried to pull back. There was a strange sound, like something being torn and the darkness around him began to crumble, sending him off balance and careening into the softened space.

Confusion. Bewildered confusion. A figure in the distance he was trying to reach. Nothing made any sense, nothing ever made any sense. He needed-- he needed....

Shin's eyes widened in recognition as the figure turned.

Reality returned with an abrupt rush as there was a loud smack and his cheek began to burn with the heat of the blow, his head reeling.  Shakily, he put a hand to his cheek, breath coming fast.

"Damnit, I shouldn't have let you lie down, should I?"

"What...?" Shin asked in a small voice, trying to push himself up. "You-- you hit me...."

"Because I couldn't shake you," Aralu said grimly.  "And I didn't know if you would hear me where you'd gone."

"Heard Gij when he called..." Shin half mumbled, rubbing his cheek. "That hurt..."

"It was supposed to.  Jack says Ariel passed out.  What did you do to him?"

"Who...?" Shin asked, confused. "And I didn't do anything to anyone... I fell though something..."

"And where did you go then?" Aralu asked, brow arched.

"I don't know... it was all confused and... and the bad James Bond villain was there somehow." Shin's brown furrowed as he tried to recall the details. "And he did have bad hair..."

"James Bond villain?"

Shin nodded. "The hate filled person I first found. He was going on about wanting to destroy something because of some indignity he suffered, just like a bad James Bond villain."

"And you saw him in...."  Her eyes widened and she swore quite creatively.

Shin blinked in confusion. "Did I say something wrong...?" he asked in a small voice.

"You entered the dream of a very dangerous man this morning.  This may call for damage control.  Especially since he MUST be aware of you by now."

"He didn't react though," Shin yawned, rubbing his eye. "Gij said he would have if he knew I was there."

"And he knows so much because...?"

"Gij knows stuff," Shin shrugged, giving another small yawn. "It's what he does."

"Yes, well I know more than he does.  And Ariel must have told him by now, unless you made him pass out first."

Shin blinked a few times. "The man who was here?" he asked.

"Yes.  He was spying for his brother."  She said brother as though it was a curse.

"Oh..." Shin blinked.

"And THIS is why you have to be here and not there."  She hesitated.  "Although maybe not right here if they know I have someone in my rooms.  We'll have to risk moving you to another room...."

"No one comes to the school," Shin pointed out with a sigh, slowly flopping back down against the bed.

Aralu made a half disgusted noise.  "Just go to sleep.  I'll make sure you can't get to anyone outside this room and once it's safe you'll be moved."

Shin nodded tiredly, eyes closing again.
 
 

Slowly, green eyes opened to blearily blink at the ceiling. Where... Oh right.  Shin gave a long, silent yawn, stretching slightly as he sat up.

The room was empty and quiet, the light from the window showing that it was evening.

"Slept later then normal," Shin mumbled to himself. Experimentally he tried to flex his feet, sighing when he found them still unresponsive.  No radio to call for anyone, no wheelchair he could pull himself into...  He scowled slightly. "Stupid broken back," he grumped, arms crossing as he turned to look out the window.

There was motion and a dark shadow moved away from the shadows in the corner, approaching him.

Shin blinked, looking at it. "Like the driver..." he commented to himself, looking at the small shape.

It wriggled slightly, twisting in circles to get his attention.

"Did... did you want something...?" Shin asked hesitantly. It was acting like a child. He gave a small smile, remembering Kim doing a similar dance for attention.

It flitted to the chair, then back to Shin and turned upside down in question.

Shin blinked again. "Erm..." he hesitated. "I... I kinda can't walk..." he pointed out.

The shadow bobbed a moment, then disappeared through the floor.  Within minutes, Aralu entered.  "You rang?" she asked with a smile.

"Possibly...?" Shin blinked. "There-- there was a shadow that... wasn't a shadow of anything."

She lifted him into the easy chair.  "I'm going to bring you down to the library.  It's big, and he knows better than to go in uninvited.  Besides, dad can keep a better eye on you when you're in his domain."

"Is your dad the headmaster here or something?" Shin asked, settling into the chair. "And--- and that was a shadow that was trying to talk to me, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Aralu said with a fond smile.  "Too new to talk yet, but they don't get that ability for a long while.  Even Joe can't talk yet, and he's old enough to drive."  She laughed softly.  "Dad owns Amontillado.  There currently aren't any other... students here.  We knew we were due for an 'inspection' but didn't think it would be for at least a few days yet."

"Never saw a living shadow before," Shin commented, shaking his head slightly. "Gij is going to be asking so many questions of me," he laughed softly. "So... so is this like when the state sends in someone to check up on the school to make sure Mrs. F isn't misusing the funding or something?" he asked, trying to get a handle on the situation.

"Something like that," Aralu said with a grimace, checking out her door to see if it was clear.  "Only imagine a corrupt state sending an officer looking to blackmail you into giving HIM all your funds."

Shin grimaced. "No wonder you're upset..."

"AND one who sends his brother to spy on you when you're not paying attention.  Damn him."

"He didn't get to see much, he ran away because I was confusing him," Shin pointed out, hoping to be helpful. "I make no sense when I'm that tired."

"But the fact that you were there is something they'll try to use as blackmail.  You're not supposed to be here.  You haven't been fingerprinted or declared.  Consider yourself an illegal alien."

Shin rubbed an eye. "One of those closed schools or something where only current students can be on campus...?" he guessed.

"Something like that," the woman allowed after a long moment.  A door opened in front of her, and they entered a large room filled with bookshelves.

Shin looked up with a small sound of amazement. "A three story open library?" he observed.

Aralu grinned.  "And it's at least half research.  You can read up on your family history while you're in here."

The boy turned, looking up at her. "Why would my family history here...?" he asked, half curious and half wary.

"Twenty generations he's been studying the Kaminarus.  Only three or four on the Tensou side.  Akimu moving to the US was amazing luck for him."  She smiled sadly down at Shin.  "And now you're all that's left of that line of research, poor boy."

Shin blinked. "I-- I don't understand..." he said in a small, confused voice. "How-- how can someone study a family for 20 generations? And why mine...?"

Moving around one last corner, Aralu stopped in front of a book desk.  A thick volume was on it, seemingly turning pages on its own.  "Dad, a bit more solid, please?"

The pages paused in their motion and there was a vague stirring of the air around it, as if something most invisible had turned.  With almost a rippling effect, the air began to darken and become thick with a smoky mist, much like that of the driver and the small shadow that Shin had seen before.  "Is a human form required as well?" an almost unidentifiable voice spoke.

Aralu looked at Shin.  "He didn't seem to like Joe much, but that was probably because he was driving.  The Zero in his room just amused him."

Shin was staring in mild surprise, rubbing his eyes slightly as he tried to focus on the form. His lips moved a few times in an attempt to form a sentence before he settled with a very confused: "Who? or what?"

Aralu stepped back.  "Shinkou Tensou, meet Kajiro, the King of Shadows."

Shin blinked, looking from Aralu to the shadowy form and back again a few times. "Shadows have kings...?" he finally asked in a befuddled voice.

"Shadows," Aralu corrected.  "With a capital S.  The living ones, like the Zero you said acted like Kim."

Shin blinked a few more times, trying to wrap his brain around the concept before giving a small nod. "Never knew those existed until today," he said with a small, somewhat unsure smile.

"Shadows are much over looked," Kajiro commented, mild amusement evident in his voice.

Aralu smiled as well.  "As a Shadow, dad doesn't really have a lifespan like you do.  He's been around since the dawn of time, I think, and will likely be here until the nightfall of time."

Shin gave a small nod, still looking a bit shell shocked.

"It is my understanding that he has yet to be properly eased from the stasis he was placed in?" the Shadow asked, smoke shifting focus to give the illusion of looking at the red haired woman.

"What with our dear guests, no," she answered, making a face.

"A most misfortunate timing," Kajiro seemed to sigh. "The young did not report of Ariel's motions until he had returned. My apologies."

Aralu shrugged.  "It's my own fault, really.  Who pays attention to Ariel?  He was counting on that, and now he probably knows about Shin."

"Jack is working on a proper fabrication in that instance.  I am, however, most curious as to the matter of Ariel's collapse..."

Aralu jerked a thumb at Shin.  "He says he fell through something, and apparently it was Ariel."

Shin fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Taking into account Ariel's weakened state, it is unsurprising that an unfocused effort caused him to fall to unconsciousness, however, it was not expected for Shinkou to have the ability," the Shadow mused.

"No, it wasn't.  And no, it isn't," Aralu answered out of order.  "And I'd just as soon take care of the block so he doesn't keep trying to push through if you think you can keep our esteemed guest from feeling it."

"I do believe that my esteemed second is leading a trail of breadcrumbs out the back door as we speak," Kajiro replied with an amused tone.

"Oh good!"  Aralu turned to Shin.  "Close your eyes, go to sleep, and don't you dare be surprised by anything that happens."

Shin almost startled a moment before giving a small nod, eyes closing.

It took him a long moment before he finally drifted off and found himself once again floating in the endless void of his dream.

With a strange suddenness, Aralu was there with him.  She looked around the featureless void distastefully, then hooked her fingers around the hole he'd made and scrunched it into a ball in her hands.

The boy started, reaching out in half protest as a panic gripped him. "What-- what are you..?!"

"Look around," Aralu said with a laugh, reaching out and taking his hand.  She held him tightly, as though to anchor him.

Shin turned, feeling suddenly very shaken and exposed as he clutched at Aralu's hand.   It was almost impossible to describe what he was looking at. Where the void had been static and empty before, there area around him was now pulsing with life, almost like standing in the middle of a rushing river.

"And now," Aralu laughed, "I get to talk you through creating your own shields so you don't get washed away."

Shin nodded, feeling utterly overwhelmed.

"First, you might want to sit.  Since you're not used to sitting midair, create a chair to sit in."

"How..?" Shin asked, utterly lost as he sat mid nothingness almost automatically, pulling his knees in so he was sitting Indian style.

Aralu laughed again.  "All right, that later.  Shields first."  She paused, thinking.  "Imagine the place you feel the safest in the entire world."

The white haired boy nodded, curling his knees to his chest, eyes closing.  The vague outline of a bedroom began to form around him, a soft breeze gently moving lightly tinted curtains as piles of pillows formed a soft nest around him.

"Hold it," Aralu said softly.  "Make it stronger.  Feel it around you."

The scene became more well defined, the pillows gaining texture as soft sounds of birds and children playing drifted in from the window, accompanied by a soft, warm beam of fading afternoon sun.

"Hold it," Aralu whispered.  "And now take one end of it and tie it to the other so it will always be here.  Don't think about it.  Just do it."

There was a strange sensation and the scene seemed to settle, becoming solid.

"There," Aralu said in satisfaction, releasing Shin's hand.  She looked around with a smile.  "Good, good.  There's even a door so you can go visiting if you want to."

Shin slowly opened his eyes, blinking in confusion. "I-- my room at home...?" He looked around, befuddled.

"I said the place you felt safest, you picked it."  Aralu scanned the shelves.  "I remember this one!" she exclaimed after a moment, pulling a book off a shelf.  "I left you this one for your birthday five years ago."  She grinned, flipping pages.  "Complete with words.  Good job, Shinkou."

"You-- you sent that?" Shin asked, getting up from the bed and walking over. "But how is it here? I know I'm still dreaming, I can feel my toes properly..."

"You made your room, and I told you to make it detailed, so everything you remember is here.  I'm sure it's not everything."  She smiled happily.  "It means you liked my book."

"But-- but how is the room here?" Shin insisted, tone utterly befuddled. "It's always just been... been darkness."

Replacing the book on the shelf, Aralu flopped onto the bed experimentally, looking up at Shin who was still floating midair.  "You put it here.  There was darkness because of the shields we put on you that kept you from doing anything here or leaving.  Now that I removed them, your mind is your most powerful tool."

"Oh..." Shin said softly, slowly lowering to stand on the carpet beneath him. "So... no more falling through holes? And I can actually sleep like a normal person?" he asked, tone hopeful.

"Yes and yes.  Although if you really want to go spelunking through dreams there's the door."  She pointed.  "But don't do that until you're properly tethered and protected as well.  I seem to remember a white wolf, but I don't see him now...."

"Wolf..?" Shin repeated. He hesitated a moment before gently picking up a stuffed animal from his desk. "You mean Shiroi?" he asked, hugging the toy closely.

Aralu grinned.  "Aww, isn't he cute?  And he can't BITE me like that either, can he?  No you can't.  Nooooooo, you can't."

Shin blinked again. "It's a stuffed animal, it can't bite anyone..." he pointed out in confusion.

Aralu laughed again.  "Tried to bite me when I warded you closed the first time.  Don't suppose I blame him, really.  It's funny having a stuffed animal try to bite you, but you were three."

"But... but Shiroi was from my dad." Shin hugged the slightly worn stuffed animal closely. "He gave it to me when I was two."

"Yes, I know that," Aralu said patiently.

"How could a stuffed animal from the waking world try and bite you in a dre--" Shin paused, blinking. "No, no that would make sense. I keep forgetting what normal dreams are like. Like the one Gij had with the waffle iron and the pudding..."

Aralu giggled.  "I'll let you sleep now."  With a wave, she vanished.

Shin blinked at the space she had been for a long moment before covering a yawn.  Stuffed wolf still in his arms, he padded over to his bed and snuggled under the covers, drifting off into a deep sleep.