Meal of ill omen (Kaori)

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon sat at the Ravenclaw table eating two eggs and a peice of toast. It was almost mail time and breakfast was almost over. He looked around at the other students who had just returned from winter break. All of the had thier shiny new presents with them. Even Deakon had a couple new thing with him, his new Zippo that he received from one of his aunts, new flame-like collar for Blaze and a icicle looking one for frost bit. But what he didn't know could distroy his life forever. He really never expected any mail but this mourning he would recieve a letter from the Ministry. As the owls flew over one that seemed familiar dropped a letter onto his lap. He looked at it the letter front. It read:

Mister Deakon Shawn Flame
Ravenclaw Common Room or Great Hall

Deakon flipped over the letter seeing the seal of the mistry. He took on a puzzled look. WHy would the ministry send him mail? Well he was about to find out. He opened the letter carefully. He did this just in case it had been a prank. But, the only thing in the envolpe was a leter. He extracted the letter and opened it. It read:

Dear Mr. Deakon Shawn Flame,
We are sorry to inform you that your grand parents have died. They died last night at nine p.m. They both sustained injuries from the killing curse. They left every thing they owned to you. We are sorry for your misfortune.

Ministery of Magic

Deakon looked the letter over again and again thinking that it was all a sick joke But every thing seemed in order. He finally realized that his grand parents, the closest thing he had to family, other than his brother, were dead. He stod up shakily and walked away from the great hall. As he passed through the doors he noticed Kaori but he hoped she hadn't seen him. He took a right and headed for filches broom closet. Once he has in and the door was closed behind him he began to cry. No one in his family really cared for him, other than his brother but he wasn't even sure were his brother lived. he sunk against the wall and put his hands over his face to muffle his sobs.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

This was any other day like in any other year, though it was the new year now, the year 2000 in fact. Beginning the second term and all but it was still just like everything else. Kaori had worken up with just enough time to shower and blow dry her dark hair, letting it stay down today in all its bone-straight glory, and make it to the end of breakfast.

Her hair longish currently, to her shoulder blades and she was considering getting it short like she had done a year and a half ago or so. Her dorm mates sat around her and they giggle and gossiped so she joined in where she could. Always these girls wanted to know how she and Deakon were doing as a couple. Kaori always answering in just such a way to appease them but not really tell them anything at all.

Before her was a bowl of oatmeal with brownsugar melting on top into a nice syrup. She added a little white sugar and mixed it all together before picking up a spoonful and blowing on the piping hot food to cool it. She drank apple juice with her breakfast and was mulling over what homework she was now realizing she forgot to do for today. Typically Deakon and Bella would come over and they would all walk out heading to their classes in turn. Sometimes they had classes together and sometimes not. Once the mail rush was over it was a good sign that classes would be starting soon. Kaori tried to quickly eat what oatmeal she may before her tongue was too scalded to bother. She downed her juice and gathered up her things.

Since Deakon had not yet come to her and Bella did not have class with them today, she had Herbology while they had Charms to get to, Kaori stood up to see if Deakon had fallen asleep over at the Ravenclaw table or something. What she saw instead was the blur of him leaving the Great Hall without her. He seemed in a hurry to get out of there as fast as his legs would let him. Kaori felt curiosity then wonderment then worry cross her face in turn. Shouldering her bag quickly she walked quickly out of the great hall, not running so as not to draw attention. Out in the hall she saw no trace of him and bit her bottom lip gently.

Maybe he was ill... She thought to herself stepping to the right as kids began milling out of the hall and the corridor was fill with people. Kaori, being so short and petite, was quickly caught in the stream but searched for Deakon as she went. Making her way out of the throng of kids of all years she found herself pressed to the wall. Frowning she was tempted to call out and see if he had ventured back for her or something but did not want to create a stir or anything.

Where did he go....? Kaori thought growing frustrated that she was backed into the door of Filch's stupid closet. Deakon was not likely to come here to find her. She considered just going on to class and meeting him there but sighed loudly, clearly irritated. Sometimes she just hated it when things did not go her way and it was a Monday morning in which she woke up late, did not get to finish her breakfast, worried about if Deakon was ill, and would now be late to class. Mostly she was just worried about Deakon because it was not like him to storm out so she figured he was off vomitting somewhere and she felt irritated that she could not help him.

"Unzarida!!" Kaori muttered in her natuive Japanese how she was fed up as she turned around and kicked the closet door as the crowds of kids were thinning out, heading to their various classes.

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon looked up at the sound. "Leave me the hell alone Filch!!!" He yelled towards the door in a shacky voice. At the moment he didn't really care who was at the door. He had completely forgot about Kaori for the moment, along with anyone else he knew who was stilll alive. His whole life was in shambles. His Family had died. His brother was nowhere to be found. And he sure as hell wasn't going to a orphanage. He looked up again, remembering hearing a word, that was ever so silent, that sounded like Japanese. HE ran to the door and flung it open. Tears still streming across his face. When he looked out he saw Kaori standing next to the door. He grabbed her arm and pulled her in. THe door slamed behind them. And before he knew what he was doing he flung his arms around her and began to sob into her shoulder.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

Kaori was nearly ready to huff to class and take whatever point loss was coming Gryffindor's way when she the door of the closet opened behind her. Shock barely had time to register on her face before she was yanked roughly into the closet, seemingly out of haste and emotion. It was dark as pitch in the closet, but for the crack of light at the bottom of the door, but Kaori did not need to see just now. Suddenly she was engulfed by Deakon throwing his arms around her and beginning to sob.

She did not need to know why all she needed was to be there for him. She leaned up into him and entwined her arms around him and gently rubbed his back. She had never, ever, seen him cry so she knew this was dire. It did terrify her, whatever the trouble was, because she did not want him to hurt...she loved him much too much to be okay with seeing him hurting.

Kaori understood pain for the things she was dealing with, given her mum and her mental defragmentation and all that. Of course Kaori currently realized that Deakon had shared with her his secret and she had not yet shared hers. It was not to the calibur of his...but it was something only she, her father, and her mum's doctors knew about. She drew herself out of her own thoughts, however, and back to Deakon. The hot tears coming from him made her shoulder moist and the occasional tear-down-her-neck. It did not bother her but she realized it. Kaori had taught herself to detatch from painful situations and tended to observe and make notes in her mind. She could not figure out why she did this, but she realized now that she was. Again she drew her mind to Deakon and wondered at what was wrong.

"It will be okay...what ever it is...it will be okay"

Kaori only said this because she did not know what else to do. She knew these words did not help, for they had not helped her with her problems years ago either. When the family acted as though her mother had died, instead of being admitted into a mental institution -under magical control at least- she withdrew and felt nothing from their words. Nothing anyone could say could help her there. In time she bounced back into the mostly happy girl she is today, but there is that looming darkness of the past and the reasons she fears the dark when she is alone.

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon's mood didn't soften when Kaori hugged him, but it did confort him a bit. When her words reached him he shok his head saying "No it won't." he pulled out his empty Zippo and the letter. He lit the lighter but with all the emotion being released at that time it was a larger flame than in tended. It lit up the whole room. He drew away slowly and handed Kaori the letter. He sat down, his knees to weak to hold him up. His back was to the door. "Read it, please." he said in as calm of a voice as he could muster, which was calmer than he thought he could be at this time. HE became calm very rather fast, concidering they were his gaurdin.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

It did not surprise her that Deakon denied it would be okay. She knew...in times like this things felt they could just never be okay again, no matter what. She felt Deakon draw back and then a letter in her hands which she held. Hearing him move and then seconds later the light filling the closet. For a moment she was surprised by the size of the flame but the sudden calm in his tone shook her.

"Read it, please."

A short nod issued from her before she drew the letter up and hunched forward slightly to read it. It did not take long and Kaori's face puckered up in distress and saddness at the news. It was not that she knew his grandparents...it was that she knew Deakon was hurting more than a world and she knew deeply what that felt like. She hated herself for never telling Deakon the whole story of her mum...for he might feel that she at least would understand just now...but he had no idea about the surreal calamity that was her own loss. Kaori read the letter again and remained in the realm of caring for Deakon only.

Of course, what was there to say. Her gaze strayed up to meet his carefully, unsure what to do or say or if she should even move. Kaori was frozen, only just breathing softly. How was she to help him, what could she do or say that would even matter. Nothing. There was nothing she could do...she felt so helpless. In her deep saddness for Deakon she felt her eyes stinging, for she could not bear to she this one whom she loved to hurt so much.

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon stood, tears no replaced by a profound thought. He knew who had done this and someone had betrayed his trust. He knew it couldn't be Kaori she had only just discovered his power. He knew what he had to do. HE had to leave. HE had to make sure that the one who did this could do this no more. "I need to have you're help." Deakon said. "I know now who did this to my grandparents."

"We must destroy this being." Said his spirit. "Now that we are to be known we might as well fight back." But instead of Deakon's spirit just speaking in his head it spoke through him. It seemed to be as outraged as he. "But the problem is how to find them." After that the spirit seemed to be completely incased in thought. Thought that could give great wisedom.

Deakon, who was now in control again, formed a blade of flame. From emotion or practice it was not yet known. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this." He said, his voice filled with emotion. THe rage had subsided and he had the ability to think clearly. "Maybe I should speak with Lupin." Deakon thought to himself.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

"I need to have you're help." Deakon said. "I know now who did this to my grandparents."

Kaori nodded instantly, willing to do anything -ANYTHING- for him. She loved him. She set the letter gingerly on the ground before her and shifted slightly to lean on her left hip. Folding her arms under her chest, something she did to feel 'safer' or more secure and stable, Kaori took a slow breath and looked up at Deakon as next he spoke.

"We must destroy this being." Said his spirit. "Now that we are to be known we might as well fight back." But instead of Deakon's spirit just speaking in his head it spoke through him. It seemed to be as outraged as he. "But the problem is how to find them."

Kaori titled her head slightly to the side, dark bangs sliding across her face so that she peered through them. She could feel a slight difference in him. Something in the air and in his tone seemed...foriegn. She thought it was because of his intense grief but it made her uneasy. It was nothing she did not understand...for she was angry after the trauma of her mother for a time, but she was afraid Deakon would hold onto this anger. Revenge was a dangerous business in Kaori's mind.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

And then he seemed normal again, albeit grief-stricken, but the tense feeling she had went away. Kaori shook her head and started to take a half step towards him, but thought better of it. She was unsure if he wanted to be hugged still. After only a moment more of thought she decided that she would just take her chances. She wanted to hug him and moved slowly so she slid up before him and slipped her arms around his waist, being so short as she was. Pressing her cheek to his chest she tried to think how on earth she could help him. He was a far better dueler than she was, not even mentioning his fire skills, but she could support him emotionally at least.

"Do not apologize..." She said softly not moving from the embrace, "I will do whatever you need...I love you, however I can help...it does not matter..."

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon took Kaori into his arms. His thoughts drifted to makeing sure the world would know that it would have at least one new protector. Someone who could defend anything and everything good and decent. THe war would soon begin and Deakon needed to be prepared. Then his thoughts returned to Kaori. SHe needed to get to class and he needed to speak with Lupin. He would know what to do. "Kaori, I think you should get to class." Deakon said, He knew it was out of character but he would need to speak with Lupin alone. "I've got to talk to someone about this. I'm sorry to leave you in this postion, but I need guidence, and there's only one man here who can help me." With that he stood up, still clutching Kaori. HE kissed her one last time before leaving her. This could be his last kiss for a long time so he made it as passionate as possible.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

"Kaori, I think you should get to class."

At first she leaned back from him to look up at him curiously. This new determination in him was clearly showing. Normally, Deakon could not care less if she went to class. Kaori, being the independent type that she was, just about began protesting but Deakon spoke again.

"I've got to talk to someone about this. I'm sorry to leave you in this postion, but I need guidence, and there's only one man here who can help me."

Smiling in understanding and nodding a few times as well, she realized that made sense. Whomever Deakon was going to see, likely an adult, would hopefully help him see Revenge would solve nothing. Kaori would not say that to Deakon, though, because she did not want him made at her or think she did not understand. It was a thought best kept to herself.

Of course, Deakon completely broke her train of thoughts completely as he pulled her close to him. With him embracing her so, Kaori felt at home. More at home than she ever did when one of her parents hugged her. Actually, she could only remember her father hugging her a handful of times, each for specific reasons, and her mum had not hugged her as a mother in...several years. Now Kaori had her mind stopped as Deakon leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, much more intensely than any kiss they had yet shared. Heart stopping...mind numbing...wonderful, honest kiss. As he pulled back Kaori smiled and made to open her eyes, but Deakon had gone.

With a sigh she picked up her bag from the floor and went out to her class. Her thoughts revolved around her breath catching up to her from the kiss to worrying about Deakon a great deal. Why she was going to class she did not know because this morning was a cause for non-concentration and it was only like nine o'clock!