Hunting by the Moon-Light ((ISO: Kaori))

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon, who was never one for rules, was out in the Forbidden Forest. It was about midnight and the moon was full. He had seen many things in the forest since his first year. But nothing he'd seen in the forest before seemed threatening, Until three nights before that is. He had been in the forest when something indescribable emerged from the under brush. All Deakon knew was that this 'thing' was not natural and had killing him on it's mind.

That brings us to this night. He wore a black duster, Black pants, and a black A7X t-shirt. A ciggerete danngled from his mouth and his lighter was gripped in his hand. He had only one thing on his mind hunt and destroy. If something that unnatural and evil was residing in this forest it would have to be killed. And Deakon took it upon himself to rid the school, faculty, staff, and students of this monstrosety. In his mind, the 'thing' could very well be something Voldemort left behind to destroy the school from the inside out. And that wouldn't be good.

He walked through the forest occasionally hearing familiar sounds of the beast that had helped and hunted him alike. As he walked he left burn marks in trees to mark his trail. He could feel that someone, or something, was following him, but he dared not turn around. He finally felt that it was time for whatever was following him to reveal it's self. He spun around and shot a blaze into the sky to light the area. What he saw surrprised him drasticly.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

Kaori was very keen on spending time with her new boyfriend. Not that she did not spend a lot of time with him when they were just great friends, but now she wanted to a lot more. Could she help it, really? She had harbored her crush on Deakon for nearly a year before it all came out between them. In lieu of this, Kaori had asked some fellow fourth years from Ravenclaw that she met in the hall if they had seen Deakon. They said he had headed outside so Kaori had run out there with out even going back to Gryffindor tower.

Stepping out into the December night she had on fitted blue jeans, a black long sleeve tee, and a red zip-up hoodie with her black and white chucks. Her thick dark hair streamed out behind her in a breeze and she shivered as she scanned the grounds. It was a wonder she got out unspotted, but she had been extra stealthy. All she had on her was her wand in her back pocket, as was the norm, with a spell that kept it from falling out so she wouldn't lose it.

Just when she was going to give up her dark eyes caught sight of a faint orange glow, very tiny, off near the edge of the forest. She knew that familiar light of a cigarette simply because she had known Deakon and his habit for so long. Grinning at being able to find him she sprinted across the grounds as he entered the forest. This was a fact that brought much dismay to her but she crossed the threshold into the forest anyway. She kept herself quiet now, however, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to them from the terrible creatures she knew were in this forest.

What on earth is he thinking..!? Kaori thought to herself watching him go deeper and deeper in, though she was glad he was marking the trees because it allowed her to catch up. Of course Deakon did suddenly stop and Kaori had to stop herself quickly in this forest that seemed pitch dark to her. Suddenly Deakon shot a bright fire ball up, an interesting spell she noticed he knew, but she gasped nonetheless because she was afraid that a> he had seen some terrible creature or b> that he thought SHE was a terrible creature and was about to attack.

Therefore she instinctively raised her hands up in front of her head (because it was bright and because she was scared for a moment) and crouched down to a squat in case he was about to fire something out not knowing it was her. Through her hands she called out to Deakon.

"It's me-it's me-it's me!!"

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

THe words of his girlfriend reached his ears and he went into a panic. For a moment he thought about turning and running. THen he decided to tell her what it was that surprised him. It may have been Kaori but even she hadn't known about the truth behind his power over fire. Most just thought he had a adeptitude at fire magic. Others thought he used some item that made him better at it. But few knew the true reason. He walked up to her, raised his hand, and shot a fire ball at what was following them, which he had not seen until then. Whatever it was it fleed at the shight of the flame. He knelt down and took Kaori's hand. "It's all righ. It's gone." His forehead was beaded with sweat. Not from the heat but from what he was about to say. What he had held within him since he first attended Hogwarts. "I need to tell you something." He said "But I'm not sure how." He hoped it didn't sound like he wated to break up. Or that he didn't love her. That would be terrible. But what he was about to say might be worse. Being an elemental was a thing that was in Deakon's blood, and if Kaori didn't love him the same after she found out he wasn't sure what he'd do.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

"It's all right. It's gone."

Peeking up Kaori jumped as Deakon shot a fireball behind him at something. She realized that he had been tracking something and lowered her hands so she could hold his as he squatted down like she was. Letting out a sigh of relief at her momentary fear she felt her face redden as well. Fine Gryffindor I make... Kaori thought roughly against herself, always feeling that she never lived up to the Bravery and Courage a Gryffindor was supposed to have.

"I need to tell you something." He said "But I'm not sure how."

Following her train of self doubt, though she was a pretty confident girl, Kaori did worry over a few things. After all, even the most self-confident people had self doubts anyway. She did worry that her and Deakon would break up...and their friendship lost. Often she confessed this to their mutual best friend Bella, but of course not to Deakon because that would be a moot point. She knew Deakon would say that would never happen, that they'd be friends whether they stayed together or not...but Kaori had seen otherwise plenty of times.

Deakon's words now sent a ripple of uneasiness right through her. Slowly she stood up bringing Deakon with her since he held her hand. Though it was cold out here she noticed her was beaded with sweat. Sure, Deakon was exceptionally warm all the time but...Kaori had to wonder if he was nervous about breaking her heart? For truly, what else could he had to say with such a serious look?

He was out of the Hospital wing and they had been dating a few weeks. The only serious thing she could think of that he would have to tell her was that he wanted to call it off with her. Being totally unaware of the elemental students, Kaori was obviously only going to think on a normal-everyday-real world plane.

Deakon...Wo ai ni...

Kaori thought to herself 'I love you' in Japanese...wanting to say it aloud to him again, to remind him if he needed it, but her words were caught in her throat. This forest terrified her, as Deakon knew, but she was focused on him at the moment letting dread sink deep into her being. Kaori was trying very hard to stay calm, let him speak, not to be hasty...but emotion was welling up in her and she was not about to cry in front him, of all things. She had to keep her dignity after all and at least appear brave.

"No..." The word came out before she even knew it, a habit of hers as it were, but once she breathed it out she found some part of her voice there.

"I have to go!" Kaori said clearly, though her voice was shaky and soft, and tugged her hand free of his. Of all things she was not about to let him break up with her. Already she felt hot moisture in her eyes and since she had no warning about a break up, no preparation, she knew she could not stand here and take it. No matter the reason, she could not stand through it and keep her dignity without taking a day to harden her heart to him.

Even though she hated this forest, the ominous nature of it engulfing her, Kaori figured she would just run away from him. She could stand to be hurt by anyone, even Bella, but not by Deakon. Even if she got lost, which she probably would because she would probably miss some scorch mark he'd made, Kaori knew she could not stay here. So, she turned her back to Deakon and swallowed hard at the prospect of going back through this forest alone...

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon watched for only a moment as Kaori ran than he realized something terrible. She wasn't even heading for the exit. It was the giant spider that called the forest it's home. Deakon bolted after her. "Kaori!" He shouted after her, "Don't run!" but he was stopped by the thing he had been hunting. It was gray and bald with ocean blue eyes and stood about three feet high. Deakon being in fear for Kaori and now rage of him being hindered from following her Shouted a few simply words, "BY THE THE POWER OF FIRE YOU WILL MOVE!" With that he shot a torrent of flame from his hand and burned the being to a crisp. Next thing he knew he was next to Kaori with her arm in his grasp. "I'm not normal. I'm something diffrent. I'm an Elemental." the words escaped his mouth before he had time to think. But somehow he already had. "ANd Kaori I still love you."

[Bernadette//Kaori]

Having no idea which way to run she just simply went. Little did she know the exact direction she went led to the rumored Giant Spiders' den. Thankfully Deakon's rage had many benefits. For one, he quickly disposed of the hideous creature he was hunting before Kaori had a real look at. Second, his torrent of fire at the creature stopped her in her tracks to turn back because she thought he may be in trouble. Seeing he was okay she was ready to get away again but Deakon caught up to her and grabbed her arm stopping her dead in her tracks.

"Deakon don't!" Kaori started, blinking a few times so she would not get all girlie and emotional.

"I'm not normal. I'm something diffrent. I'm an Elemental." ---- "ANd Kaori I still love you."

Kaori paused and dropped her free arm to her side. Several things happened in her mind at that moment. A huge sense of relief that he still loved her and was not breaking up with her. It was actually wonderful that he was "something different" because it abashed her fears. Then confusion went through her, eye brows creasing as she replayed his words in her head.

An...elemental...? She thought, trying to understand what that really meant. Seeing as she had no knowledge of the elementals, that term meant very little to her. Kaori had no clue what that all entailed.

Then curiosity set through her, a half smile peaking and her dark gaze moving up to meet his. She was not at all embaressed for thinking he was calling it off because, for all intents and purposes, that was what it had all seemed like.

"What do mean...elemental?"

At realizing some of what that meant, Kaori's eyes widened. Fire. Deakon had an aptitude for fire. Perhaps that was what he meant. Although, what that really meant she did not know but she was awfully curious now.

"Fire...Deakon! Oh! Tell me all about it!!!" Kaori preened, forgetting their location and being over taken by her desire to know.

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon, hearing the question for the third time in his life, Opened his mouth to speak, but Kaori had already figured a piece of it out. His mind became at ease, even with being so close to the giant spider den. His instincts still told him that they shouldn't be anywhere near there. "First we've go to get out of here. There's something big and hairy with eight legs down that way." He said with a colorful expression. He may not have liked the thing but that didn't mean he was afraid of it. It was only a few stories high and fire had no limits. So it'd be easy to kill, If he had to that is. He walked off with Kaori's hand in his Explanning the basiscs of elementals. He follwed an "unchartted" path through the forest though he knew it like the back of his hand.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

"First we've go to get out of here. There's something big and hairy with eight legs down that way."

Kaori grimaced getting the image of a giant spider instantly. Though she was not mortally terrified of insects, she was not a fan of spiders at all. Not-at-all. Gripping her right hand in his left she allowed him to lead her away from this area. He seemed plenty confident in the forest so she trusted him and did not doubt his sense of direction. She did not fear getting lost while with him.

As Deakon explained to her the basics of the elementals she listened with rapt attention. It amazed her how magic had formed these eight students. Of course, she understood that Deakon had to keep this from her given the War and that he could not tell her who the others were. It was his choice to reveal himself but their secret was not his to tell as a whole. Made sense to her perfectly.

The fact that Deakon had powers of Fire also made sense. What had been thought as a mere aptitude for fire, or pyromania, was really something special. His fiery personality seemed to match what was magically true about him. Kaori smiled at this thought and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. Being a very open and understanding girl, this was nothing short of awesome to her. It even amazed her a bit how okay she was with the fact that he had kept such a huge part of his life from her for so long, but it just really did make total sense. In any case, it was fun to know now and it brought light to a lot of things.

"So...you have different skills with fire? That is pretty neat, Deakon! Do you learn more and get stronger as you get older and practice, like we all do with regular magic?"

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

"In a sense." Deakon replied, "You wanna see sumtin?" He lit his lighter and formed a small non-burning fire rose. He held it only for a few seconds, him not have trained him self enough to make the flame stay in a selected form for to long. He dropped his head and sighed. The practice of creating the torrent had wore him out already but he didn't want to let Kaori know that. The grounds were now visible through the thick forest, but He wasn't emerging where he thought they would. Some how he had managed to get them up by the castle and nowhere near the hut, which was his intended destination.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

"In a sense." Deakon replied, "You wanna see sumtin?"

Kaori nodded and smiled, glad she was able to keep up with all of this. It was really wild that this was true, too. Kaori had thought all they knew about magic was it. Nothing new could happen that someone did not already know about. Yet, there was this and it excited her.

"Yes!" Kaori replied, glad to see anything he could show her.

As they stopped for a second she let go of his hand so he could show her. Watching him pull out his lighter she smiled seeing yet again that it was more than just pyromania. As he formed a small non-burning rose Kaori gasped in wonder, like when you open a Christmas present and it was something great. Giggling softly as it went out she realized Deakon must have tons of things he could show her now!

As Deakon hung his head and sighed Kaori went right next him and then moved around so she was in front of him more. She was shorter than he was, much shorter at only 5'2" to his 6 feet, so she tilted her head to the side a bit and gandered up at him. Half smiling she put a hand on his shoulder and reached up, tip-toeing, and gently kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks." Kaori was glad and thankful that he felt he could share this with her and that he had shown her that rose and that he still loved her. It made her exceedingly glad.

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon, who was at the momment obblivios to Kaori being in front of him, felt her soft lips touch his rough skin. He looked down and smiled. This was truly love. Or at least it was in his mind. The world to him was a wasteland before Kaori. Now it was more like a lush green forest. He had already decided that when he told her noone else, not even Lupin or Mcgonagal would find out. Hell, the whole world would know of the elementals soon enough. "It's not much farther." he said but still staying rotted to the spot. Deakon took her hand and knelt down so they were at eye level. He knew what he was doing, but not sure if he should. He brushed aside the thoughts of doubt and moved in closer. his lips touched hers. Now he realized how soft her lips were compared to his. He had known that her lips were much softer but now he knew that his lips were much more rough. Not all that rough. Yes there were a few scars but not so rough that every time he spoke they cracked. HE slowly moved away, now even less sure if he should have done what he had.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

Kaori was ready to go whenever Deakon was, naturally, so she nodded as he told her it was not far now. She was not even tired nor concerned with whatever she had to do tomorrow. When she was about to take a step back, to give Deakon room again from where she had closed the distance, he stopped her by taking her hand. Kaori's dark slanty eyes stayed trained on Deakon's as he bent down to her level. Normally she would think for half a second how embarassing it was to be so incredibly short.

However, Deakon was leaning in towards her and she felt her heart go crazy inside of her. Surely it was thumping so loud that Deakon would hear it. Kaori had not had her first kiss yet. Though she was a hasty and often irresponsible girl, she totally believed in guys making that move. Kisses on the cheek she had plenty of, even a kiss on the hand once, but never a 'real' kiss...on the lips. She was sure , as Deakon leaned in, that her breathing stopped and her heart was doing the Can-Can in her chest.

For the briefest of moments Deakon's lips pressed to hers and she was aware only of that. At some point she had closed her eyes, though she could not recall doing so. And then he had pulled back and Kaori felt him take a step back though she squeezed his hand gently. Suddenly she was aware of a smile pulling at her lips so she opened her eyes and gazed up at her boyfriend. The smile extended and Kaori let out a soft chuckle, glad that Deakon had fulfilled her first kiss and that it had been meaningful and not a random guy.

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon slowly stood to his natural hight. Or at least his normal slouch of a stand. His demeanor seemed to have changed. Before his attitude toward the world was that it was an object that needed protecting. But now, his worldwas the single most important person to him, Kaori. No longer was it something that was to be protected alone, or even a thing for that matter. Now it was someone who now had possesion of all his love and his heart. Now this person had his deepest secret. "We might wanna head up. They'll be looking for us soon enough." He said. This had happened before and it wasn't a preety sight. Teachers searching the grounds and then the forest expecting to see his mutilated body, yet finding him sitting somewhere with a fire blazing and some creature roasting over it amd then the horrible yelling. They would drag him up to detention telling him the same stories of students who wandered in and that were either found dead or never found again. But somehow every time when Dumbledore had been there head be let off easy and soon not even punished, that is once his powers were discovered not to long into his second year. He figured Dumbledore felt it was good training for a young fire elemental.

[Bernadette//Kaori]

The cool night air chilled her but she did not really notice. How ever tired she ought to be as midnight drew nearer was of no concern to her. Detention...falling asleep in class...missing a Quidditch practice even...all things that did not matter to her at the moment. She would stay out here all night if that was what he wanted. Even taking whatever giggling and gossip she would suffer for coming out to the forest alone with Deakon was worth it. She could take whatever crap girls had to throw. No problem for her.

"We might wanna head up. They'll be looking for us soon enough."

Kaori, feeling giddy from having her first kiss, wrapped her right arm around Deakon's left arm and grinned up at him. She was right next to him feeling rebellious and maybe even a little flirty. It was hard to tell where her feelings went from one to the next but she just was not sure she wanted to go in yet. A shrug issued from her in response to his suggestion. The only ones who would notice she was gone were her dorm mates, who could alert a Gryffindor Prefect of course...who could alert their Head of House Professor and Headmistress McGonagall...but all of this did not register as a problem at the moment. Merely...a set of facts or possibilities.

"Afraid of getting caught?" Kaori said this lightly, joking, knowing full well that it was not at all the case but seeing if she could egg at him enough to get him to stay out a little later with her.

[The Flame brothers Deak & Bam]

Deakon was caught in shock. He wasn't sure if she was hinting at some thing or if she was just joking. He decided to play along. "Well, no... Just wondering if you were. But, if you're not we could stay out here all night." he said slyly. He smiled in his little happy evilish way. He gave a quick wink to Kaori. He figuered that she would take his wink as a hint at something. So he tried to make it as quick as possible. Deakon, being tired from walking so far in one night, sat down with his back against a tree. Deakon, being the kind of person who kept himself shut off from most of the world, didn't really listen to gossip and certainly didn't spread or condone it. So, he didn't really care what anyone said, he and Kaori would know what happened that night, and unless someone else had been told, no one else would.