Paths Less Traveld. (anyone can join)

[Terra Kuran]

Crunch, snapp crunch....

Trudging through the frosted leaves and broken twigs of the silent graveyard was a great retreat for Terra. Outside of Lyoko her senses were only that of a humans - thankfully. The bitter cold of autumn's dusk bit horribly at her nose and her thin jacket didn't provide that much warmth. While walking with no particular destination in mind, she made a mental note to herself to bring out her leather jacket next time - spring and summer were no longer here, so why did she insist on wearing it still?

Terra spotted a headstone carved into a celtic angel. The incription carved into the stone had no particular value to her, but the stone itself was what caught her eye. This head stone was beautifully made - nearly life like. For someone to make something like this must have cost them a pretty penny or two. As Terra approached the statue, she put her hand out to feel the smooth stone. Her fingers started to feel numb as soon as it was removed from her coat pocket -winter was well on its way.

While being here, for some reason Terra's thoughts randomly wandered to the haloween dance approaching - being in school did have its perks sometimes. She wondered what the decorations would be like; some had sick ideas to take the headstone from here and use them instead of paper mache. It would've been cool had it not been a bit disrespectful to the dead.

Terra sighed and closed here eyes as she enjoyed the silence that only a graveyard could give. Her right hand went into the pocket on the same side of her thin coat and held the cool steel of her flute, wanting to play it. At home it was impossible because the very melody annoyed her mother so. For only a short moment, Terra quickly glanced around to make sure no one was around before she withdrew her flute and put its cold material to her lips and began to play a soft tune.

[kristopher]

The sound of a flute whispered through the silent air as I, A tall boy with long dark hair and wearing strange blue face-paint as normal dress; a scarf that fell all the way down to my shes and a open jacket with a fair few pockets on. My hands were in a pair of leather fingerless gloves gently pushing a sweet melody to all withing ears distance. The metallic shine of the flute reflected in the light, while it's sound echoed and the tree that I am sat in swayed slowly as I sit on the lowest branch, playing with my mystic purple eyes closed, putting my hart and soul into playing every note.

My amethyst coloured eyes slowly opened as I had been playing my flute, little did anyone else know this school-less kid had had this flute all his life, passed down from his father who he had left behind in his home country. I missed my father, though he didn't miss me and avoiding the thought of it I kept playing my flute as the wind passes me by, picking up my long drooping scarf and pushing it to my side as I created a melody throughout the graveyard. The heavens suddenly opened and rain fell fiercely making a steady beat on graves, grass and plants alike. I however had some protection due to the tree I was situated in but it was not much help for staying dry.

The amethyst's looked over to the new face in the graveyard, there we're only a select few people I knew, so to me it seams like just another new person but somthing... Something seamed wrong and seeing this my playing slowed and quietened to a stop in seconds. Focused on this stranger I hold the flute in hand and run over to this stranger in the rain and take my coat off reveling a black shirt with no sleeves. I slow down walking up to the figure, no words being spoken and hold my coat over them, keeping her dry as my long hair gets we in the heavy and so sudden rain. There was no danger, but I found it impossible to just stand aside and do nothing when people were in need.

[Terra Kuran]

An hour passes as Terra continued to play her song. Its sharp and soft notes mingled in the frosty cold air and danced about, echoing off the walls and back for her ears to enjoy. Soon, another melody had joined her's in unison. Terra paused for a while to listen to the new song, one that she hadn't heard of in her life time. She smiled, though it was a barely noticeable one, finding it amusing that someone enjoyed music just as much as she did. Putting her flute back to her lips, the two played as though they were serenading together in the darkness of the chilly evening.

Soon the rain began to fall. Slow and soft at first like a chilly mist, but then its paced increased to pouring. Terra remained where she was however. The freezing cold of rain never bothered her too much - her parents often yelled at her because she got sick whenever she went out in it. But the feel of droplets of water dripping on her like gentle kisses was as soothing as it soaked her and even though it was raining, she played on. But then the other melody stopped as who ever was playing came towards her.

The person came into a better view. His long dark hair was beautiful and his wardrobe was unique. However, it was quite unexpected when he slung his coat over her. Terra looked at the new arrival with her right eyebrow raised, wondering who he was in the first place.

"Um.. hello?"

Her expression read one of strong curiousity and bewildernment. Not once has someone actually came up to her life that and slung their coat over her in a rainstorm- not many even really cared. She laughed softly however before she spoke;

"So you're the mysterious serenader? I was wondering who was playing along with me...."

Her eyes showed interested in the guy as she held her flute close to her under the warm coat.

[kristopher]

A small smile crept across my face as I used my jacket to keep Terra dry. My flute still in hand and the rain beating at me and dripping down from my soaking wet grey hair I slowly nodded in reply to let her know it was me creating the melody with her. Slowly I put a hand behind my head and undone my ponytail, my hair was soaked and fell heavy onto my back and ended mid way down my shoulder blades. My purple eyes reaching Terra's I spoke "Come on, Lets get you out of this weather, I don't want you becoming unwell."[/i] I said, with a slightly British accent and smiled, with the rainwater dripping down my face I urged Terra toward the shelter of some trees close by to the graveyard but still within its grounds.

Feeling the rainwater drip down my uncovered arms and face, I shivered. I was slightly cold but without anywhere to stay I was used to worse. I turned to the other half of my flute duo with drooped eyes and a small smirk. Seeing how much my jacket had done to keep her dry I felt glad I could do something right. Suddenly my eyes turned to a black cat that was soaked through and meowing it us both loudly, scared and alone. kneeling down it ran straight to me and I picked it up and stoked its face while keeping it dry against my chest. I sighed to myself stoking the cats whiskers and keeping her dry, or dryer than out in the open and took a few steps toward the trees that would shelter us until the rains end. [/color]

[Terra Kuran]

Terra wasn't used to this kind of treatment as this man sheltered her from the rain - muchless from someone she didn't know, no matter how beautiful they were. His hair was flat against his head from the rain so it appeared to be a darker color of grey to Terra, but it was longer than she imagined when he took it out of his hair band.His accent when he spoke to her was adorable - she always liked men with a foreign accent, it was different from others and made them unique.

"Come on, Lets get you out of this weather, I don't want you becoming unwell."

Terra stood and pulled his coat closer to her, but she looked up at him as they walked twoads the shelter of the trees.

"You don't even know me, why do you care?"

His eyes met hers when he spoke, but for some reason Terra had the urge to look away from him. It was hard keeping eye contact with a stranger that looked so cute. She felt him shiver when she stood close and debated whether or not to hand the coat back;

Odd for it to rain in this time of year...

Mew... mew...

Terra looked up and saw a tiney black cat caught out in the freezing rain. She felt sorry for the little thing and started to go out to retrieve it, but her companion beat her to it. The cat came to him and was scooped up close in his arms. Terra watched for a moment while he stroked the cat's whiskers in an attempt to dry her before Terra looked away with a slight tinge of pink on her cheeks.

"Ah.. Here."

She took off his coat and handed it to the stranger.

"Looks like she needs it more than I do."

Then Terra leaned againt the tree they hid under from the rain and folded her arms to her chest in an attempt to keep warm. Her eyes never met his but her blush was obvious. She felt odd feelings for the guy but wasn't going to say anything about it.

"By the way, the name is Terra Kuran. What's your's?"

[kristopher]

After a second hesitation I smiled giving a gentle nod in thanks, politely declining the offer. ”It’s better if you keep it. You’ve been out here for a while and you’re soaked.” Ironic, since I was dripping wet as well, but courtesy was one of my strong suits. I spoke softly with a small smirk, often I had no interaction with anyone I had not known for quite a while but those I knew I had the tendency to fight until the end for.

The cat jumped down from my arms and I watched it with water running down my face from my wet hair. My fringe covering my eyes I smiled looking up with my amethyst eyes to Terra as she introduced herself. After an awkward pause, only the rain beating down on hard stone being heard I looked to the dark skies. The black cat sitting between me and Terra and shaking to get rid of some of the rainwater in her fur and looking to Terra with her bright yellow eyes, making a small meow and stopping purring entirely.

I seemed slightly distracted as I replied to her question ”Kris, Kristopher Kusack” I answered simply looking to the clouds before turning to Terra, ”May I ask why you are out here in the cold? Not that I’m not glad to find someone to make a harmony with...” I found myself being ‘to the point’ a little too much, I had the tendency to be at points for my own justifiable reasons. Not intending to sound rude my confidence dropped as I waited for a reply, hoping I had not offended her in any way.

[Terra Kuran]

”It’s better if you keep it. You’ve been out here for a while and you’re soaked.”

Terra bit back a frown. The guy was just as soaked as she was and it was a fridged night. She knew he was trying to be a gentilman but he was also putting himself at risk for phnumonia. But when she fought back the urge to make a snappy comment, the cat jumped from the guy's arms and started to shake the water from their fur. For a while, Terra watched the cat though not really paying attention. She was still blown away at the fact that this guy was being so nice to her and yet they just barely met.

A little too trusting isn't he? Hope he's not one of those weird-os that go after young girls. He'd lose one of the reasons for being called a male for sure.

Mew... mew...

Terra was yanked out of her thoughts by the sound of the cat. It looked up at her in the eyes, the kind of look for attention. She smiled halfway and knelt to pick up the cat.

”Kris, Kristopher Kusack ..... May I ask why you are out here in the cold? Not that I’m not glad to find someone to make a harmony with...”

Terra paused for a moment before she gathere the cat in her arms and stood. She stroked the cat's head as though she were more into that than answering the question before she turned her deep blue eyes to Kris and spoke;

"Eh.. I just needed to get out of the house. Wasn't too fond of the weather but it rarely ever bothers me. It's just going to be pain getting back home because all this rain is going to freeze over."

Randomly she thought of sliding across the ice to get home;

Heh, how much fun would that be.

Not too far off, a clock tower struck twelve. Terra hadn't realized that she had been out that late. It amused her how stupid her parents were not to realize how many nights she snuck out right under their noses.

[kristopher]

A small smirk crossed my face as I glanced back to Terra, it surprised me slightly that the cat that I had only known to accept me she was in her arms purring. Turning my amethyst eyes back to the skies for a moment. It was getting late and the storm was thinning a little. A droplet from the tree we sheltered under dripped down onto my face. Shaking my head a little to get the water off my face I listened to Terra reasoning. It made little sense to me but thought I knew how she felt, that was when I was staying with my parents.

Hearing the clock strike I turned towards her. ”Listen... If you want I could take you home. Make sure you get back safe.” It was a lot to ask considering we had just met, but I was concerned for her. Walking home alone in the night was far from what I considered safe. Then again, it made me think, if she was talking to a complete stranger in a graveyard in the middle of the night- was she considering her safety at all?

Pausing for a moment I slipped my hands into my pockets as the water from my soaked hair dripped down onto my face ”And keep the jacket... To keep you dry, I’m sure that we’ll meet again so you can return it.” I spoke with a almost unnoticeable shiver. It was a cold night. Taking a few steps forward I invited Terra to my side so we could get somewhere more sheltered.

[Terra Kuran]

Terra saw the smirk on his face as his beautiful eyes looked at her while she continued to hold the cat in her arms. The rain was starting to let up which meant of course she would have to be heading back soon. The night was cold though and the rain felt like a sheet of ice, droplets kept falling through the branches that they hid under of the giant tree and landing in her hair and on her face. A few drops slid from the tips of her hair and went down the back of her neck causing her to shiver slightly. Terra looked away and chuckled as Kris shook his head slightly to free his head of the excess water, then looked back to her new-found friend and realized no matter how hard he tried to hide it he was shivering too.

”Listen... If you want I could take you home. Make sure you get back safe.”

The clock striking in the background oddly reminded her of a Cinderella story she read as a child - the part where she had to be away from the ball before the clock struck the twelfth tone and the spell wore away. The offer though sounded pleasant and very tempting. The company home would be more than welcoming considering the storm and the hour - not to mention a better scenery in those dark eyes of his. She smiled a little as she cradled the cat within her arms still.

"I'd like that...."

Terra came to realization as the cat purred in her hold that her mother would have a fit if she went home with it. Seeing as there were no tags or collar the assumed that the cat was a stray. For the first time she was having weak feelings for another person and for an animal;
How lame is that? I totally blame Kris...
She chuckled at her own thoughts and decided she couldn't care less as she followed Kris out from under the tree and sheltered the cat under the coat. However, when she looked back to Kris she saw the slightest shiver he gave off and knew he was cold. She was about to give him his coat back but hesitated when he spoke;

”And keep the jacket... To keep you dry, I’m sure that we’ll meet again so you can return it.”

That to Terra was pretty much a message in a nutshell saying " we'll see each other again" like on those sappy love stories she knew some girls read. But Kris' jacket smelled nice and indeed it was warm.

"Thanks.. It smells nice. What kind of clone do you use?.... You sure you don't want it back though? You look cold."

[kristopher]

Waiting patiently for a reply, I watched the cat in Terra’s arms and heard soft purring. The cat I had got to know as a close friend seamed to trust Terra along with enjoying her company. I watched the kitten momentarily as I waited for Terra’s response. As she smiled my amethyst eyes travelled up to hers. Losing myself for a moment before she replied she would like to. A smirk crossed my face, though half covered with wet silver fringe.

The thought crossed my mind about the cat Terra held, it was indeed a stray by law, but it was more my pet than stray due to how much time I has spent with it outside in the forest, in fact this was even more time than I had spent inside. Though the cat still had not got a name.... ”Terra...” I hesitantly murmured over my shoulder, leaving a moment’s hesitation before hearing to the compliment on the scent of my jacket.

I thought over my response before a small smirk returned to my face. ”It’s...It’s a family secret.” I responded with an answer that she was probably hoping was more detailed but I did not go into details. Leaving her last query unanswered. I did not need my jacket back and felt it was better used by her I could deal with the cold for her.

[Terra Kuran]

A small pouting frown spread on her lips when Kris gave her a response to her question that she didn't want, but in the end it was brushed off like a bothersome fly. Still, she couldn't help but act a little out of herself and stick her tongue out at him as they started their walk. It felt odd to her walking through the nightly streets of the city with a guy - a guy she had only met this evening none the less. She thought that she was being too trusting, but the guy was also too gorgeous to pass up.

Besides, the companionship is nice for a change.

The cat well nestled in her arms was well asleep by now as they passed a coffee shop - one Terra loved because of it's atmosphere and the dark liquid smell that drifted through slightly open windows and vents to tempt in new customers. There wasn't much business going on inside that night - though Terra had only assumed it was from the rain. But as she walked by his side, trapped within her own thoughts, the rain was letting up more and more.

Dammit... This really had to happen on the way back?

She looked up to Kris and smiled a little, not seeing that a car was passing. It's right wheel tire splashed her and soaked her pants. Groaning , she stopped for a moment to check the damage.

"Great, just my luck."

She sighed with frustration and looked back up, spotting her house only a foot away from where they stood. She looked back over to Kris, not eager to leave at all and handed him the cat.

"Mom won't allow strays in the house. I think it would be better if he stayed with you.... Well .. er.. this is my stop..."

She stammered a little, trying to find the right words to say. She didn't want to say good bye but mom would have a fit for having someone she didn't know inside either.

[kristopher]

Smiling at Terra’s playfulness as they walked side by side my hands slipped into my trouser pockets while walking by Terra’s side over the damp concrete pavements of the city’s empty streets. The night was peaceful, also preferable over the day by my point of view, the only aroma stronger than the wet was the smell coming from the shop.

As Terra was lost in her own thoughts, I thought of saying something; anything. But I could see she was just glad for the company, I did not need to say a word. The rain was barely rain, more like a weak drizzle. Yet both of us were drenched from the storm before. A quiet laugh underlined a friendly smirk at her as she smiled at me before we were interrupted.

As the car drove past throwing the puddle at us it soaked Terra’s trousers and caught mine as well, shaking it off with no complaint, then turning to her as she was checking the damage to her clothing. As she did I slipped a note into her pocket with slightly out of practice sleight of hand.

The note read:



Carefully holding the cat in his arms my amethyst eyes shone from under my fringe as I forced a smile, this was the moment I was dreading, I hated goodbyes. Staying quiet I gave Terra a slight nod in acknowledgement of what she said. I turned my side to her, going to travel back in the general direction of the graveyard as if I was just going to leave without a farewell at all, but only three words followed- said so softly that t was almost a whisper. ”Sweet dreams, Terra.”

[Terra Kuran]

Damn...

She looked over to Kris and had found that he also had gotten soaked. One thing she hated about the city it was full of dumb drivers. As she was checking out the damage, Terra felt what was a poor slight of hand as Kris slipped something into her right pocket. She looked up at him with questioning eyes, but with that forced smile Terra decided it would have been best not to ask and just read the letter when they departed - though it was hard enough just looking away from those eyes of his. He turned to the same direction they came from without another word it appeared. But then just audible she heard him...

"Sweet dreams, Terra"

Her cheeks were colored with red as he left, and just as he done she muttered barely in return.

"Sleep well Kris..."

And closed the door behind her. Without announcing that she was home, Terra walked up stairs to her room while reading his note. Wondering what it was that he wanted to show her at the factory tomorrow, Terra made plans to ditch school in the usual way.

[kristopher]

Jumping down from his arms, the cat looked back as the door closed. Stopping in my steps I looked over my shoulder back at the house, the number on the front door was still easy to read. A small smirk crossed my face. I turned once more to head back home. After taking a few steps the kitten slowly followed behind, taking small and quick steps to keep paws off the wet pavement.

Before turning the corner I stopped once more, hesitantly my eyes turned to the top floor of the house we, the cat and myself, walked her back to. Though I did not hear her say good night I knew that she had done, I also had the feeling Terra would find the letter very soon if she had not already. The only part I was worried about would be her response to what I was going to ‘surprise’ her with.

Taking one final glace up to the window to where Terra shadowed figure stood, I slowly turned and walked out of sight and though I had left my jacket with her I still wore the long white scarf that trailed just behind- the bottom was slightly wet from the driver passing blindly through the puddle beside us before.

We both walked in the direction of home together. Though the kitten in close pursuit of me hesitated at the street corner, the she did not want to leave Terra behind either.

<< The note left for Terra refers to the <One is the Most Painful Number. (*Open*)> Thread, Making that their next encounter from this thread.>>