Listening to the breeze

Wandering the streets of New York City, once again, Albatross, collector of souls, had decided to learn more than it already possessed in its mind. The rogue being dressed in its human skin of a young girl. Its light brown pony tails waving in the wind, as the tough gusts swirled around the enormous concrete and metal buildings. Sensing every being wich entered into its sphere of influence. The Soul collector listening to all the sounds around itself, as it relaxed.

Turning a corner onto a different street, Albatross had its small hands in its coat pockets, the warm white fur keeping itself warm in the brisk breeze. As its brown-red boots hit the sidewalk with every step, making a small clacking sound from the sole of the boot. Never one to be caught off guard, Albatross giggled from behind its mask, which was in the form of a fox face. Painted and decorated with many wonderful hues of yellow, red, blue, and white. The eye holes showing off two bright emerald green eyes, seeming full of light and joy. The just behind the eyes of what appeared to be an innocent girl was the hellish mind of a cruel monster.

A sinner through and through, Albatross giggled again for no reason, as its insanity seemed to take over for a split second or to. Tightening its jacket, Albatross continued walking around the human city of New York. The monster deciding to pay a visit to an old monument which it remembered well. A small graveyard.

Treading uncautiously, Albatross headed towards one of many back alleys. Turning left, then heading North in now real direction, but surely Albatross reached its destination. A small unkept graveyard between old styled houses, rundown and pass their prime.

The sun was up, and beated down overhead, but the numerous white clouds overhead blocked out every now and again, giving a slight cooling temperature in the mid seventies. All the while, Albatross laughed as it opened the rusted metal gate, and slouched down onto the ground as it stared at the few grey tombstones. Its spiritual energy not being given off, nor anything which could give it away, such as sound, scent, heat, and the like. If it were not for Albatross' hysical presence, it would have been like the sinner did not exist at all.

"How drull..." It spoke between its young lips, in a small voice, its human skin appearing not much older than fourteen years of age. Its fox mask still covering its entire face, besides the back of its head.

A soft step, a sort of hesitance. A person in Rukongai had asked her, a while back, to come to here, in New York, to visit their mother's grave. Her clothes were unique for the area : a japanese style cut of clothing. Her blonde hair bounced with each style, a large amount of flowers in her hands : the knight was in normal garb, and was here to deliver flowers.

Many thought it surprising that she was able to adapt to technology, considering some of her seemingly intimate knowledge of Arthurian times, but she spoke none of it. In fact, the girl looked regal, arythian in structure, with that blonde hair and the eyes of forest green. Her stature was small, and yet it seemed imposing all at once. That regal air, that soft and yet defined jaw of hers. She was a unique person, her entire poise seemingly ethereal, as if she was fae. That was presumed from her time, in her time, as now she would just be called ''classical'' or maybe even ''old-fashioned.'' Though, the knight would not deny the use of the words, she was content in herself.

Arriving at the graveyard, it was certainly unkept. Her first remark was the way the grass was uneven, or how the gates were already open. But it did not matter : without a shred of fear for her own safety, the knight walked into the area. Her steps were soft and flowing, as she stopped at the plot of the grave that required her attention. Thinking a small prayer for the mother that had lost her life, the girl placed the flowers. But her attention snagged on someone else : a brown haired girl, not older then her own appearance.

The blonde walked up to the figure, assumed to be female of course, and she smiled. ''Hello there. Are you lost?'' spoke her gentle voice, like the sound of a lullaby. She had honest eyes and an honest face, smiling at the young girl before her : seemingly not caught off guard with the edges of the fox mask. But.. Meimu would wait for the other to acknowledge her before doing more.

Watch the stranger walk into the cemetary heedlessly, holding a handful of flowers, Albatross could not help but grin grotesquely from beneath its mask, as its cheeks stretched high at the magnetitude of the smile. Its eyes watching the woman for what she was, a shinigami, of lieutenant level strength. Laughing inside its dark mind, Albatross moved its pale skinned legs into a more comfortable position, cross-legged. Looking between gravestones, and markers alike, Albatross saw the blonde haired stranger, as she spoke a prayer and laid down the flowers for whomever's bones rested in that place.

Though, as the woman seemed to notice Albatross, and asked if it was lost, the sinner remained silent for several seconds before it responded. always being one for dramatic effect. Lifting its eyes, Albatross had decided to play along with the question. Always first to amusing itself. Albatross raised its head slowly towards the shinigami, teary eyed, Albatross spoke in a go between of sobs and softness. "Y-yes," Albatross sniffled as it raised its right hand to wipe away a tear from its already reddened eyes. The fox mask, looking as if it was made of cheap plastic from an amusement park, from close up.

Turning away from the blonde haired girl, Albatross continued to milk its performance, as it stood up from the dirt, only to fall back onto the ground with a small thump. A few salty tears hitting the dirt, dampening it into a darker brown color. Furthering the act, Albatross all the while laughed inside its mind, debating whether it should simply kill the stranger, as it had with so many others, or continue relaxing this day and not get its hands bloody.

Raising its left hand onto the rusted fence, that was behind Albatross, it stood itself up, with wobbly knees, and a heart of sadness, or so it would seem. "I-I can't find m-my par-" before the sinner could even finish the word, parents, it burst out into tears again and sat back in the dirt, as its jacket and boots became stained from the few patches of grass.

Meimu's instinct told her something was.. strange but yet she ignored it. Giving this girl the benefit of the doubt in a very paranoid world, the blonde simply took the girl's hand : the contact of flesh on flesh. With a soft tug, she pulled the crying figure in that soft pair of arms, and hugged her lightly. ''Don't worry, I will help you.'' she said softly, her voice still gentle, and very much soft. Pulling the girl to her feet, Meimu's fingers wound around the other's hand, as a seemingly cheerful smile, a smile from the very bottom of her heart. It was a sincere smile, as she tugged lightly, and began to walk away from the cemetery. ''Well, do you remember a street name or an area?'' she said, tilting her head softly, the blonde strands tickling the side of her face. She wasn't quite sure what to do next, but she knew that no matter what.. she had to make the girl before her happy.

Because that's what she would strive to do.

The feeling of flesh pressing against flesh excited the monster to no ends, as its small delicate hands were taken into the other girl's. Not showing its excitement, as Albatross read the woman's body with ease, with the direct contact, it memorized the girl's spiritual energy signature, along with her atomic structure of spirit particles, and the like. But as the small amount of ecstasy Albatross felt faded in mere seconds, as it was lightly hugged, it then went forward with its fine acting. Slowing down the tears which were free flowing a few seconds earlier, Albatross quieted its sobs, and released the tension from its body. Feeling the arms around its false appearance.

Hearing the words spoken by the stranger, Albatross looked upwards into the woman's eyes, who was not much older than herself. Listening to the kind words flowing from her mouth, the sinner stood up with her help, still moving unbalanced to an extent, and almost unwilling. With caution, however, Albatross stood up, and let its hand be held by the shinigami, yet remained careful, not to be found out just yet; the sinner, after all, wanted to play its fun game.

Letting the girl take itself out of the cemetery, the Collector of Souls, prepared its answer, while remembering the smile full of kindness and gentle intentions. Containing itself, Albatross smirked slightly under its mask, at the blessed occasion it was given. Though as they exited the cemetery, Albatross turned its head back towards the rusted all gates of the decrepit place. Glad that the cemetery had given Albatross prey.

Taking a gulp, and withdrawing its hand from the woman though, as they went further down the sidewalk, Albatross backed up slightly from the stranger and spoke its reply. "H-hold on! I-I don't... even know your name... " Albatross spoke in its female voice, as its voice seemed to crack out of mild fear. "I-I, umm," The sinner fidgeted with its pale hands, while aiming its eyes to the side of the concrete walk, "How... do I know i can trust you...?"

Laughing inside its own head, Albatross regained its composure, to listen to the woman's next words, satisfied with acting like a scared little child for the time being.

That instinct crawled into Meimu's stomach like a chill. But still, she ignored it : nothing dangerous had happened yet, therefore the instinct, warning her, was not yet realized. The girl pulled away after leaving the cemetery, and the woman just gave another smile. ''Trust is earned, not given. Therefore, you should do what feels right to you : trust me with this now or not trust me and still let me do it. If you wish to run, I will not be angry.'' she said simply, even as the girl curtsied, her blonde bangs fluttering softly. ''I am Meimu Forpath.'' she acquiesced to the demand of a name : and out of courtesy, Meimu gave it. The girl could respond in kind, or not : like the knight had said, she would not be angry and simply respect the choice the girl made. For a knight forced not others to make their choices, but only offered. The woman yes, would like to protect this girl, but should she choose not to accept that, then it was not Meimu's place to impede. That was what the knight had decided, all on her own. And thus, it was exactly fitting of her. Her previous question remained, should the girl decided to trust the blonde.

With a frown Albatross was annoyed at the woman's quick tongue, ruining its parade. However it had discovered the shinigami's name, and would use it accordingly. Looking side to side, and back to Meimu, Albatross played with its hair unconsciously, as it decided to follow the stranger, and continue the game.

"Okay..." Albatross whimpered as it let go of its pony tail, and walked closer to the blonde. The Sinner in disguise, planning its next course of action. "W-well I guess I do... owe you a name... now... I am Cassandra..." Albatross lied flawlessly, as it moved slowly towards the shinigami again, being sure not to let anything slip for the moment. As it rubbed its eyes, from the eye holes of its mask.

"But... I'm afraid I... really don't know a street name... I recently moved to this... city, for mom's job. I-I, ummm, know an area where it might be... but I don't know where I am in correspondence to that place." The monster in human skin uttered, as it walked next to Meimu. "There's a small park next my house though!"

Meimu smiled gently at the child, before pulling the girl close to her. As she seemed to be a bit shy of course, Meimu did a mostly motherly thing : kissing the top of the girl's head, she hugged the child. ''Don't worry Cassandra.'' she spoke with a flawless pronunciation, if not a bit archaic. ''I thank you for trusting me, and i will do my best.'' she said. Her face was now serious, and it was a spark of life : something was deep in those depths, as the blonde's crystal voice was solemn. ''I vow you to, Cassandra, on my name and honor, that I will aid you until you should no more need it.'' She said. She understood it was an ambitious vow, but the knight was sincere : there was no lie in her eyes, as her arms hugged the girl to that soft chest with a tenderness. Lifting herself, she took the girl's hand, as she spoke of herself. Nodding at the girl's words, her fingers curled softly. ''Well, I did catch the sight of a park nearby. Maybe you are closer to home then you think.'' spoke Meimu. Although, parks littering around in New York was rare. So if this one didn't work, an internet café could easily yield a map.

With a few soft steps, Meimu led the girl down the streets she had crossed only once : as if a map was forming in her mind of the area. Within five, six minutes, they were now in front of a small park, with children giggling and laughing. Mothers were watching their children and fathers were playing. It was a familial sight : one that made her heart ache. But nothing showed in the face of the knight, except that her hand squeezed the one that she held. Her vow was right : she would find this girl's family no matter what it took. That was her decision, as she felt her teeth lightly bite into her lips. ''So Cassandra, does it look familiar?'' asked the blonde, knowing perhaps it was needless, but she would anyways.

Living for as long as it has, Albatross noticed an aged old pronunciation when it heard one. Looking down into the depths of its mind, as it felt the soft lips on the top of its head, the sinner squealed with delight on the inside. It loved the feeling of flesh, such warmth, such comfort, the belongings which it had never experienced personally, when it was first birthed into the world of violence and death. But even more so, Albatross loved the expression Meimu had plastered on her face, when she had hugged the demon again. Though before it let the contact distract itself Albatross made sure to stay in character.

Freezing solid for a mere few seconds as the kiss landed on the top of its head, the young child, Albatross held its breath, as if fearing to be stricken. Shy was an understatement, Albatross knew personally how the soul of the child it had devoured truly was. If Albatross had not devoured the girl's soul and body, which it was utilizing to its advantage now, the sinner would never had known how cruel humans could be to one another in such depth.

After all, Cassandra, before being eaten alive by the demon known as Albatross was an introverted little girl, living in the New York City, several months ago. A child beaten by her own mother, where they lived together in a fragile apartment complex on the North side of New York. Those days where history, of course, but Albatross still reveled in the girl's past, having gained even more ways which to torture souls which come asunder.

Coming back to reality, Albatross shook its head, as it continued the role of Cassandra; who listened to her guide's stalwart promise. The sinner amused at how the shinigami could pull of such a feat without taking Cassandra's soul from Albatross and returning it to the soul stream, where it belonged. Yet, it remained peaceful for the moment, not wanting to spoil its good mood over some vow.

"Perhaps..." Albatross thought to itself, as its pale hand was taken again into the soft skin of Meimu's own hand. "Just, perhaps, I should..." The sinner continued in its decision, wondering whether or not it should leave the blonde at the nearest park, or strive to spend the day with the girl until, the small hole, in its own heart was filled with sinister joy and cruelty. With a nonchalant shrug, Albatross listened to Meimu's words again, as they came upon a park.

A park filled with parental affection, and peaceful merrymaking. From underneath the fox mask, Albatross watched as the ringing sound of a baseball bat hit its target and went flying into a group of younger children as they scrambled to grasp their prize. Their eyes seemed full of innocence and ignorance; both of which Albatross loved to destroy and spread, respectively. But then it felt a squeeze upon its small hand. "Ouch..." Albatross whimpered quietly, as it tugged at the Meimu's hand just slightly enough to grab her attention.

Responding to the shinigami's question, Albatross replied in turn, as it kept its eyes on the baseball which was then thrown to the second baseman, a mere eight year old, which dropped the ball. "So close..."

Turning its head to Meimu, Albatross spoke softly, as it saw a father and son play on a swing nearby. "No... it's almost too nice to be the one that I remember... its so clean... here... no glass on the ground... no sirens... so nice..." Albatross trailed off, as it looked at a tall oak tree several feet away. Almost having a longing to climb its thick branches of brown hues, and feel the bark underneath its feet, where it could then peer out from behind the foliage. Though it was a mere fantasy if anything, but Albatross could not help but stare at that tree for several seconds, before it could stop daydreaming.

Shacking its head sorrowfully, Albatross tugged its hand free softly, and inspected the area, while fidgeting all the while, not sure what it should be doing at this point and time. "Umm... Miss, ummm... Miss Forpath... why make such a promise...? It's bothering me... it just seems... umm... un-unnatural..." Taking a few steps towards a small information sign, detailing what the park had to offer, and one jogging path, Albatross visibly sighed. As it walked towards the shinigami once again, its own hands dangling at its sides. "I... see... nothing... familiar... here..." Albatross whispered with a small sob at the end, which soon disappeared after a few seconds.

Hearing Cassandra speak, Meimu blushed upon realizing that she had put more strength in her grip then intended. ''Sorry.'' she said softly. Remembering the wince earlier, Meimu was starting to wonder if it was a good thing to bring this girl back to her parents. And that longing look at the cemetery : her eyes missed nothing, recording everything she noticed within perfect accuracy. She spoke of the one she knew, and Meimu knew that feeling in her gut was right. Danger was not only the girl but her environment : such girls usually die quickly. But stopping that train of thought, the blonde noted that the girl stared at the tree : at least, that's what she assumed, her mind assimilating something quickly.

The other now started to say something else, as if a bit estranged about her vow, and re-affirmed that nothing was familiar. The blonde made a split decision, as she smiled at the girl, softly ruffling her hair. ''When I was about your age, I was lost myself and someone helped me. They stayed with me until I wasn't lost anymore : and to this day, I still remember that. So.. no matter what you go through, maybe you'll remember the kindness of a stranger, and not lose hope or something. I'm not sure : but I just want to help.'' she said, her voice gentle, and light.

Without a warning, she hoisted the girl on her shoulders, and hopped over to the tree. The child was now high enough to grab one of the branches and climb. ''Go ahead. We have time to relax and play a little, alright?'' she said, smiling up at the girl. ''And call me Meimu : Miss Forpath sounds a bit stuffy for someone that's trying to help, right?'' she said, still smiling. The instinct of danger still coiled in her mind, but such a thing wouldn't let Meimu get distracted. After all, this girl required her help : and that was first. Before anything else.

Standing in silence, an awful quietness which seemed to taint the air with a depressing atmosphere, Albatross hung its head down, staring at the soft green grass beneath its boots; As the small demon listened intently to the woman's short speech. The words having been heard several hundred times before. Those words which Albatross took into its self, gave the sinner a headache. It was the moral of the story which bothered Albatross to no ends. Not even feeling the touch of its supposed savior ruffled its hair. The monster had delved deep into its mind to escape the aching pain which it then felt.

Pain, unspoken, pain, ruinous, it was a deadening feeling which Albatross felt, not because of its trickery, no; it felt no remorse as of yet, but the sheer innocence reminded itself of the past. A past smeared with that crimson substance called blood. "How many has it been?" Albatross thought quietly, as it counted imaginary fingers. "How many... have done this same action before...?" Perhaps it was the early signs of remorse, or it was possibly a passing phase of another soul's emotions that had mixed in with Albatross' personality. All the sinner knew was the pain was unacceptable. Blinking once, Albatross was swooped up by Meimu.

Staring at the branches above its head, within arms reach, Albatross shook its head swiftly, to escape its inner thoughts, as it realized the opportunity it was given. Reaching upwards with delicate fingers, Albatross grasped the first oaken branch. As it then raised itself slowly, enjoying every moment of the experience. The demon climbing deeper into the foliage, as it left Meimu's shoulders. Looking down at the woman, Albatross' green eyes seemed somewhat sorrowful from beneath the mask of colorful paints. "O-okay, then... Miss Meimu..." Albatross responded as it climbed to another edge of a thick branch, where it then dangled its feet softly over the edge. "Just, one thing... helping... s-strangers could... get your hands... burnt... in the p-process..."

Albatross looked over the park from its new vantage point, as it rubbed the sides of its temples, its headache returning in force. "Why won't this headache leave...." It thought viciously, as it shifted its weight on the branch, the wood starting to bend. But as soon as Albatross noticed the weakening branch, it crawled swiftly to the safety of the tree trunk, as the branch cracked and fell off; the leaves rustling loudly in the air, as the sharp crack cut through the air. With widened eyes, Albatross spoke in a somewhat timid voice, "O-okay... ummm... I-I'm done relaxing now. Umm... uh..." The demon starting its descent down carefully, Not wanting to break its acting performance just yet; the back of its mind still throbbing from its headache.

With a short scream Albatross foot slid across the rough bark, in one instant, Albatross lost its balance and started plummeting down as the branch had done just a while ago. The sinner falling down the short few feet with a thud, as it hit the grass on its back. "Ow..." was all it could say. The fox mask bouncing off from the impact, landing face up on the ground near Albatross body. Exposing its small sharp nose, wry pink lips, and a small scar stretching from her right ear to the bottom of her right eyelid.

Meimu was smiling at the girl : she seemed to take to the tree like water, her gaze following the small child with a watchful eye. It seemed like the whole world didn't mind them : no one looked their way, neither children nor parent. The child mentioned to her something about getting burnt. ''I wouldn't stop, even if my hand was burnt to ashes : even if it pierced my heart and slaughter my pride. I would do nothing less, since I simply want to help.'' she said, stout in her belief, in her faith. There was a sort of almost divine grace about her words : those were words that would never be taken back, and a creed that would be followed until the ends of the earth. The blonde knew that : and her very being seemed to emit that she has lived so for long. As a branch cracked, Meimu's mind was brought back from wandering thoughts, her gaze searching for the girl immediately. She knew better : as the child began to come down, she slipped. But Meimu misjudged the distance : her fingers barely touched the girl, as she landed. But the mere seconds in between, the knight was there.

Her eyes were sparkling clear, with an emotion like regret. But within those eyes, was a burning flame : determination to help. The child's face became exposed, and for the girl, it was like had stopped. The scar was visible : it became understood why she wore a mask. Many possibilities entered her mind, but her instinct cried otherwise - for no parent would allow such an injury to the child. Unless the parent themselves was the cause. However, the blonde would not jump to any conclusion, as her fingers picked up the mask, the world moving. However.. no one paid attention to them still - how unsettling. The blonde softly drifting her hands over the girl in such a rapid movement that normal eyes would be lax to see. No injuries, just a few bumps, as she smiled thankfully. ''You'll be fine. That was quite a fall.'' she said, unperturbed by the scar. Meimu, honestly, has seen far worse.

She didn't mind, but she thought the girl would, hence her hand offering the mask back again. Not even such a thing would deter Meimu : it would take her death for her to stop helping this child, to stop caring. And even then, she didn't doubt her will would bring her from the edge of death itself in order to acertain her mission. Because that was her : and her knight's vow was absolute.

Watching the sky from the filthy ground, Albatross let out a sigh as it blinked its eyes several times, as if trying to take a mental picture of the scenery around itself. But the sinner was no slouch, it could feel the hands of Meimu drift across its body swiftly; the motions seeming to be checking for any wounds. Tilting its head forward, Albatross sat itself up slowly, as its right hand moved to the back of its head, rubbing a small bruised area underneath the brown hair. "Yeah, I guess... I'll be fine," Alba spoke as it looked around for its mask, with a frantic expression plastered across its face; the bulging scar blotched with a darker hue of color than the rest of its pale skin.

As Alba looked up at Meimu, and the offered mask, its hand moved quickly, fast and with a motive, snatching the plastic mask with a flick of the wrist; Albatross quickly shoved its toy onto its face, taking a deep breath all the while. "T-thanks.." The sinner whispered as it glanced around the park, noticing that the other people had not even batted an eyelid at the pair. With a twisted sadness, Alba frowned from behind its mask, it craved attention, yet when it did receive its desire, it had no idea how to proceed. Alba was almost saddened to tears for a mere moment, before it pulled itself together.

"You're too nice... and y-you seem, to have... a response for everything... I say." Alba stammered, trying to continue its acting, however it seemed to have lost its touch, the longer it spent in the company of the shinigami. Albatross' soul seemed to swell with bitter hatred at the kindness offered, for it saw pity, it saw those actions performed as charity. And with its own twisted mind, Albatross did not know how long it could keep its cool. Whether it was out of any kind of feeling or emotion, or not, once the sinner had the idea of pity in its mind, it felt an urge to commit something violent. But, Albatross knew it could not break from its heart warming performance, even if there existed only one member of the audience.

Tilting its head to the side, Alba spoke quietly, as usual, its pony tails caught in a small breeze, "W-we did something... for me... h-how about you? D-do you have anything you... want... to... do...?" Alba asked, as its eyes closed at the end of of its question, partially embarrassed for having to ask such a thing. The words it spoke making the sinner want to wash its own mouth out with soap, even if it was to progress its plan, whatever it was. Standing up, Alba dusted itself off from the dirt, and debris from the tree. Frowning at the sight of grass stains across the back of its red coat.

The girl seemed to be better already : however, Meimu knew blotches when she saw them, and her instinct was crying that something was off. But she payed seemingly no attention to it, as she tilted her head with a smile, golden strands floating. ''Good.'' she responded to the child's admission that she should be fine. Meimu knew that even though she was like a saint, there was a second part to it all : and it wouldn't be long before the child would pry. After all, everyone was always curious about the girl, and why. But the shinigami didn't have to wait long, as the child asked. Surprisingly, from the knight, came a bitter laugh, suddenly a stark contrast to her very being. ''Of course I do. Too nice? After all, I bet you must be wondering : what do I gain from this.'' said her voice, a strange tone in it's inflection. No child would understand, but that tone had the edges of a bitterness that never faded : some may think self-hatred, due to the light venom, but yet.. few would actually guess it's cause. ''It's simple : selfishly, I want to help people, make them smile. It's.. a way of finding a place in the world.'' she said, unsure why she was telling a child such a thing.

But Meimu's instinct cried out still : that sense of danger had never left her, and however miniscule it was, she had always been on guard. Watching the fox mask, the blonde kept her gentle smile, so in contrast with the words she spoke. ''It's satisfying my own need, and to accomplish my own desires, in a runabout way.'' she let go, softly. It was almost under her breath, but having noticed how fast that hand moved for the mask, Meimu's suspicions were clear. Should she be lied to, should she be betrayed, hurt, beaten, left to die, drained. Meimu cared not : for her selfishness was the belief that she helped someone. That she was useful. Many may think of it as selfless, but Meimu knew otherwise : for her existence tied around helping people, and even should the devil himself come to her for aid, she would aid. For there was no moral other then the driving need to fufill her existence to the fullest of herself.

The girl's words brought her out of her reverie, as she smiled still, the bitterness now seemingly gone from her voice : for that brief moment, the child had seen something others never have. Just a glimpse of something deeper. ''Well, honestly, I'd rather do what you want.. but if you insist, I have an idea.'' she said, before picking up the child in her arms, as if it was perfectly natural. With just a smile, the knight began to run with the girl in her arms : it was exhilarating in a sense, but Meimu's eyes had caught something that was curious to her : and thus she ran, out of the park. Down the street, twisting through narrow alleyways as if she had a map, the blonde let the air whip past her, let her energy flow into a burst of speed. Running always did the body good, and it built strength.

Bursting into the street, she dodged the cars with a grace and an ease of movement. Unaware, a smile had begun on her face. Abruptly stopping, she put the child down, and pointed at the store ahead : it was a store of stuffed animals. Taking the child's hand, she guided them both inside, as the smell of fabric and cleaners tickled their noses like aromas. Although selfish, Meimu simply wandered through the aisles, watching the child with her. Perhaps.. she would like stuffed animals as well. That would be pleasant.

For it was just a selfish wish to see the child smile, because of something she did.

"S-selfishness...?" Alba could not help but repeat the word it heard from the woman, who appeared to be too pure of heart to say such a word; the estranged laugh that came from Meimu odd in comparison to past actions. Thinking at the odd word choice, Albatross did not utter a sound just at that moment; however, the way she spoke her reasoning made Alba shudder in its own skin. Feeling the emotion put into the words which came into reality, Alba remained the lost little girl, who would feign innocence of age. Even though, Albatross wanted to leave a remark, it decided not to, for the moment anyways. With a quiet chuckle, Alba smiled, the woman did succeed in making the cruel monster crack a smile, despite it being filled with an innate evil.

Letting its headache fade away into darkness, Alba became much more interested in the woman, figuring that it would not have to devour such a shinigami. After all, chancing upon a person who could genuinely make Alba smile was a rare product. "I-it may... be out of... line, but your words... they... seem dark... a-at least to me..." Alba responded in kind as its smile died. "I don't really understand... but, ummm... isn't what your doing... putting yourself... and o-others... in a peculiar position...? I-I mean, what if... trying to help someone... smile... you end up hurting them...?"

Being scooped up in the arms of Meimu, rather abruptly, Alba looked behind as she ran, watching the park seem to fade in the distance, before disappearing all together after a turn. Witnessing the people of the city, Alba saw a homeless man sleeping in a corner of an alley, before they past him with decent speed. The man looking so serene, despite his situation. But just as fast as Alba saw the stranger did it see him vanish out of sight. The sinner turning to face forward, as it felt the wind brush against its exposed skin and hair. The excitement of the unknown gripped Albatross, as it let itself be carried away.

The excitement soon declined once the breeze stopped however, tilting its head down to face Meimu, Alba noticed her eyes with a new light, how they seemed much more elegant than others it had met in its long life. Closing its own eyes for a moment, Albatross remembered the very first girl it could remember, a delicate human, but the memory floated away, as Alba brought itself back to reality. Not even gripped by the delicious sensation of skin contact, the warmth of another no longer exciting Albatross in the slightest.

Gazing forward, as Albatross landed on the ground softly, with barely a sound, it accepted the hand of Meimu's as they proceeded into the store. The numerous stuffed animals coating the walls from floor to ceiling surprised the sinner, having not been to a shop such as this itself before. Looking around in somewhat of a daze, as the scents and smells reached its nose, Alba took a step forward as it gazed at a small stuffed dinosaur, a triceratops to be exact. Its small beady eyes of bright blue looking out into the distance, as its light brown cloth looked well kept and clean. Turning to the blonde Alba moved its mask to the side, still covering the scar, while at the same time revealing half of its feminine face. Its eyes lit up with a sort of enjoyment.

"I-I take it... you like... stuffed... animals?" The monster spoke with a small grin on its face, as it freed its hand from the woman with a gentle tug, so it could wander around the store. Stopping every few feet to poke an animal that struck its curiosity. It was up until Alba reached an odd looking stuffed toy, did it pause completely. It was a ragtag piece of work, sown together with various color cloths, and both of its eyes were different kinds of buttons. It was no doubt a gorilla, from the general structure of the body, its mouth stitched into a smile. "C-cute..." Alba whispered, as it let its eyes wander around the store some more, all the while wondering what Meimu was thinking. But it could not help but keep bringing itself back to the same ragged gorilla of brown, pink, and blue, as its uneven eyes kept bringing a familiar interest, that Alba could not put its finger on.

Taking a deep breath, Albatross walked away from the small gorilla, which was about eight inches tall, the sinner wandering over to Meimu's side, hovering behind her to see what she was up to. Albatross had become intrigued, its interest piqued. Wearing a small grin on its face, as it stepped away from Meimu, Alba could not help but speak. Breaking its acting guise, it went ahead and whispered as it whispered something out of character. Albatross had decided after mauling over the fact, it had chosen to end the farce it was playing, it was not set on anything violent, but acting as a shy child was not on its list of favorite things to pass the time.

"Well, Miss Meimu I keep finding myself more interested in your idealistic fervor the longer I'm around you, come now... when you're ready I'll be outside..." Its voice was dark, chilling in fact, it sounded neither human nor dangerous. Albatross spoke with an odd echo at the end of each syllable.

to the front door it headed almost immeaditly, but not before it returned to the small multi-cloth gorilla, picking it up with both hands, Alba didn't say a word as it brought it up to the front counter, and paid for it with soem money it had in its coat pocket. "I-I'll just be... waiting over here... the scent... is giving me a h-headache..." Walking out of the door, Albatross took a quick left and sat itself down at a bench, and waited for Meimu, when she would appear out side the store, Albatross would stand up and head towards the alley behind the store. It had grown bored of waiting, and would speak to the woman personally, the human skin of the young girl which it wore uncomfortable. But as the sinner waited it was content in looking over the animal it had purchased.

A smirk plastered across its face. The air had a chill to it, as a small gust blew by, shifting a piece of paper on the ground into flight.

The blonde just kept smiling and shook her head. ''No no, don't get me wrong. It's not a bad thing : just think of it as something that will keep being good until someone decides to not accept it. So don't worry, alright?'' she said, affectionately rubbing the girl's head. The shinigami had unwittingly frightened the child, but that was alright : her calm smile and warmth was easily able to overwhelm such easily sad words. The child seemed to be easily carried away, even as she revealed half of her face, the blonde smiling. ''Yeah, I guess so.'' she said, not really sure why she was here, just that she was. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see the young girl attracted to a patchworked Gorilla : and in an almost amused sense, she knew it fit the girl. The blonde herself was carefully picking through the animals, before she found a lion. Nodding absently at the words of the girl, she had picked up the lion, and brought it to the cash, her eyes.. well sparkly. Paying for the toy, she wandered out, and found the small child easily.

''So.. Cassandra.'' she said, softly, remembering the chill of the words from the same feeling in the air. However, the shinigami did not move as if threatened, tilting her head at the girl. ''I am here.'' she just said, her instinct raving that something was off. But the girl just smiled and sat beside the younger girl, sensing that something was changing, and calmly accepting it. ''But I guess that's not what you meant, back in the shop, is it?'' she acknowledged softly. After all, the time of soft and kindness would move to something greater : she understood that. Knew that. Felt it. And thus, she would wait patiently for it, as any other.

Waiting upon the bench for Meimu's arrival, Albatross delicately played with its small toy; lifting the arms of the gorilla, then raising into the air as if it were flying for a mere moment. But as all moments come to pass, so did the patchwork's, as the gorilla descended into the little girl's lap, upside down, the animal's mismatched button eyes staring at the concrete slabs, that was the sidewalk. Watching all the small little cracks and crevices spread across the square of boring grey, each tiny fissure having a story of its own, a past to how it had come to be, just as everything in the world had.

Tilting its head, Alba lightly smiled as the shinigami came out of the shop, with a stuffed lion, her eyes still a beautiful shade of green. Feeling the hardness of the bench, Albatross' smile soon left, as it shifted its body into a more comfortable position. Sitting cross legged, the monster in human skin let out a small chuckle, a dark exhale of air tainted with the vile emotions of the sinner. For, Albatross felt giddy all of a sudden, more excited than it had been for quite some time, as it no longer had to play the role which it had been so masterfully. Reaching for the painted fox mask, Albatross yanked it off in one swift movement. It no longer cared to hide, it no longer wanted to act, and certainly Albatross no longer enjoyed its frail human body, which it borrowed.

Replying to Meimu's words in an almost sarcastic voice, Albatross stopped laughing as it whispered enough for just the blonde to hear. "Yes, you are here. But I'm afraid you misunderstand my intentions..." the sinner spoke with a wry smile, as its once green eyes changed to a pitch black, covering the entire span of both eyeballs. "Though it has been... oh what's the word? Oh! A pleasure, you shouldn't dawdle around this place, too long. Might it become... savage." Albatross finished as it cracked its neck with a slow twist. Its voice still in the form of Cassandra's young vocals.

Placing the small stuffed gorilla on its lap, Albatross listened intently for anything which the woman may say, the sinner still deciding on its next course of action. It's pale hands gripping the toy with a casual viciousness.